Gregor sighed. "A storm is blowing in off the sea. Will you not let us in and feed us supper? What of Highland hospitality?"

"I have no hospitality or sympathy for you," she said, only now noticing the strong wind whipping her hair and cooling her overheated face.

"Allow me to talk to the lady alone." Torrin's tone was low and deep, but most disturbing of all, he never took his eyes off her.

Chapter Two

"The lady has no interest in talking to you alone," Jessie told Torrin through the gates. Besides, she wished to go back inside before the storm hit.

Torrin merely gave her that enigmatic hint of a smile again. He then switched his attention to MacBain and gave him a warning look. "Give us some privacy."

MacBain narrowed his eyes. "I think not, MacLeod."

"Would you like shelter during the coming storm? Or do you prefer staying out here?"

MacBain surveyed the turbulent sky. "Very well, then. Let us see if you can sweet talk her into allowing us entrance. But I doubt it." MacBain and his men moved twenty feet away.

"Could I have a moment to talk to her, Aiden?" Torrin asked her brother, his tone respectful.

"Are you in agreement with this, sister?"

"Aye. I'll be fine." She didn't want Torrin to know she feared him.

Aiden stepped back a good distance, but continued to watch them. Not that he could beat Torrin off her if he decided to reach through the iron bars and grab her. 'Twas likely that Aiden, with his slight frame, weighed only half as much as Torrin did with his warrior strength.

"How long have you been friends with MacBain?" Jessie asked, making sure she stayed more than an arm's length away from the gate. But he had long arms that were thick with muscle.

Torrin frowned, looking more ominous than the dark, cloudy sky above. "I'm not friends with the daft man. They came upon us while we were traveling. Once I heard where he was headed and why, I suggested we ride together. I came to protect you."

Jessie forced an ironic smile. "I have no need for your protection." Besides, that would be like a wolf protecting a herd of sheep. After all was said and done, he'd feast on a few of them.

"Nevertheless… I consider Dirk a friend. He is not here to protect you from this knave, so I felt it my responsibility."

"How could it possibly be your responsibility? We've barely spoken."

He allowed an amused look combined with a look of determination. "I intend to speak to you far more, m'lady," he said in a lowered voice.

The feverish chills covering her, head to toe, had little to do with the whipping wind and far more to do with his intimate tone. "Why?"

He raised a brow. "I think we both ken the answer to that."

Aye, she knew he'd asked Dirk for her hand in marriage last winter. "I'm not marrying anyone. Not MacBain, and certainly not you."

His smirking, confident smile made her grind her teeth. Could naught dissuade him from his ridiculous objective?

"Are you thinking I would marry a man with a paramour and children in the village?"

Torrin frowned, his amusement vanishing. "Who are you speaking of? MacBain?"

"Nay. You."

"I don't ken who has been spreading rumors, but I have no paramour in the village and certainly no children that I'm aware of."

Ha. Of course he would deny it. But her sister-in-law, Isobel, had told her this and the information had come from Torrin's own brother. He'd said Torrin was in love with the village lass.

"Who told you this?" he demanded.

"It matters not." She didn't want to get Isobel into trouble. It wasn't her fault if his outlaw brother had lied. "What is he planning?" She nodded toward MacBain.

Torrin eyed her a moment longer, making it obvious he didn't want to drop the subject of the rumors. "MacBain thinks he can convince you to marry him, a legal and binding marriage this time." Torrin shrugged. "But he has far more interest in your dowry. He is the least trustworthy man I've ever met."

Hmph. He was one to talk. "I would imagine you also have a great interest in my dowry." Torrin had to know that Dirk had added the hundred-and-fifty acres that Chief MacKenzie had given him, which joined his own. Everyone knew he was keen on acquiring that land for crops.

Torrin's dark green eyes were troubled. "'Tis not my main interest."

"Of course not," she said doubtfully.

"I would like for us to get to know each other better, Lady Jessie." His voice was sober and his eyes hopeful.

'Twas true she was not well acquainted with him, but the most significant thing she knew about him was that he'd killed her foster brother, Lyall Keith, eight years past. She'd watched the whole horrific incident take place from her hidden vantage point in the old oak. She'd been sixteen summers at the time and had nightmares for months afterward—nightmares that featured Torrin, hunting her down and killing her, the only witness to his crime. She hadn't known who he was and, without a clue to his name or clan, the Keiths could not seek retribution. What would Torrin do if he knew she'd witnessed his dark deed? She would put him and his clan in danger. He might then be more interested in killing her than marrying her.

Lightning flashed behind her, over the sea, and thunder rumbled.

"A storm is approaching," Torrin said.

"I can see that, but why would I want to allow you and MacBain within these gates?"

"MacBain isn't trustworthy, but I don't believe he means you or your clan harm. My men and I certainly mean you no harm." Torrin lowered his voice. "In fact, we'll act as guards. I've secretly assigned one of my men to each of his to keep a very close eye on them."

"What makes you think I trust you and your men any more than I trust the MacBains?"

He shrugged. "I ken trust has to be earned. And that's what I'm here to do—earn your trust." His expression was so sincere, she found herself wanting to believe him, but she knew too much about him.

"You have an uphill battle ahead of you."

"'Twill not be the first time." The determination in his eyes made her stomach ache and her pulse rate increase.

She switched her gaze to MacBain. Even though he was annoying, he didn't knock her out of kilter half as much as Torrin. "I don't want that bastard anywhere near me."

"He thinks you still carry a torch for him." Torrin sounded amused.

"Ha."

"Do you?"

Against her will, her gaze was pulled back to Torrin and his expression of dark humor. Why did he find her so entertaining? "Of course not. He's a scoundrel who has no inkling how to be faithful to one woman."

"Prove it to him, then, and mayhap he will leave you alone."

"What do you mean?" The fearsome wind off the sea blew her hair into her face and she pushed it behind her ear.

"Prove you think he is lower than a worm, that you despise him, and he will no doubt leave in a hurry." Torrin glanced up at the sky. "But to deny him Highland hospitality, especially during a storm, would bring you down to his level. You don't want to sully the MacKay name by being unfriendly to an ally, do you?"

She rolled her eyes. "How can the most notorious Highlander in these parts ask me that?"

"Notorious?" Torrin's eyes widened. "Me?"