Highlander Unmasked Read online

  “I figured as much. But because of Jamie, we know how and when.”

  His eyes narrowed, unable to prevent the bit of jealousy, wondering how she’d persuaded Jamie to share this information—if indeed he could be trusted. “Go on,” he said carefully.

  “They are anticipating your attack on the supply ship, intending to surprise you with a new force of fighting men. While you are fighting off the ambush, Dougal will circle around and cut off your means of escape.”

  Rory’s missive had made no mention of extra fighting men. If Meg’s information was correct, Alex would have been seriously undermanned. He did not doubt he would have been able to escape, but it wouldn’t have been without significant loss of blood.

  Alex exchanged looks with Neil. Meg caught his glance, but he was in no mood for introductions. She wouldn’t be staying long enough. He would have sent her back immediately, but there were only a few hours left until daylight. She would have to wait until tomorrow night. How the hell was he going to protect her and keep his hands off her for an entire day? It was going to seem like a bloody eternity.

  “How do I know this is not a trap?” Alex asked, looking at Jamie.

  “You don’t,” Jamie said bluntly. “But it’s the truth.”

  Alex didn’t know what to believe. “What do you get out of this, Campbell?”

  He shrugged. “It makes Meg happy.”

  Jealousy tore like acid through his chest.

  “Please, Alex—” Meg clutched his arm, her fingers singeing his skin. “Just take precautions.”

  He would. They would have to change their plans. Still, he couldn’t believe she’d put herself in danger for him. Nor did it soften his anger.

  Alex turned his anger back to Jamie. “I can’t believe you allowed her to come here.”

  The look Jamie gave him returned Alex’s anger in kind. “It wasn’t my idea, but Meg was right, there wasn’t time for anything else. You should be thanking her. Were it not for Meg, I might not have been persuaded to tell what I know.”

  Alex couldn’t breathe. His chest constricted. Persuaded.

  “Don’t be angry with Jamie. If you are going to be angry with anyone, have it be me alone.”

  He was. How could she forget what had happened between them? It was what he’d wanted, but Alex didn’t think it would be so fast. He couldn’t stand here listening to the two of them together any longer. “Don’t you worry about that, my wee crusader.” He pulled her toward the copse of trees that hid their temporary encampment. “I’ve more than enough anger to go around.”

  He turned to Neil. “Don’t let Campbell out of your sight.”

  “Wait!” Jamie shouted. “Where are you taking her?” He made a move to stop him, but Neil held him back.

  “I’m just doing what the lady requested.” Alex laughed, a harsh sound devoid of amusement. “I’m going to vent my considerable anger. On her, alone.”

  Chapter 21

  Well, that didn’t sound promising. This was not going the way she’d planned at all. Not one thanks. Not one tiny indication that he was glad to see her. Meg had thought he’d at least be appreciative of her information, if not pleased. Instead, he was stiff and unyielding and angrier than she’d ever seen him.

  Angrier than he had a right to be. It didn’t make sense.

  When they’d trampled deep into the trees, well away from the men on the beach, Meg stopped short and shook off his hold on her arm. “I don’t understand. Why are you so angry? I was only trying to help.”

  He looked at her as if she were daft and took a few deep breaths, obviously trying to control himself. “Because every minute that you are here, you are in grave danger.”

  The flatness in his voice belied any thought that he might be concerned for her. Meg’s emotions felt frayed and precariously close the surface. “Why do you care?” she asked thickly. “I heard what you said to Lord Huntly. You don’t need to pretend concern.”

  Nothing. No reaction. No denial. He couldn’t even look at her. God, it hurt.

  “This is no place for a woman. What I don’t understand is why your father didn’t just send a messenger? I can’t believe he’d—”

  Unconsciously, she bit her lip; it gave her away.

  “Of course,” he said, far more evenly than she would have thought possible given the present state of his temper. “Your father doesn’t know you’re here. How could you just up and leave like that, Meg?”

  “I wouldn’t trust something this important to a messenger. And I told my mother,” she said defensively. “She knows I’m here.”

  “But it’s your father who is going to strangle you when he finds out.” He paused and said ominously, “If I don’t do it for him.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

  Her flippancy acted like a trigger. Alex pulled her roughly into his arms, crushing her against his chest. Meg felt the familiar rush of heat, the slow melting, the complete surrender of her body to his.

  “Don’t push me, Meg,” he warned, his mouth achingly close to hers. “Not this time. You shouldn’t have come here.” His lips were white with anger, and the dark edge of his voice sent a shiver down her spine. But Meg didn’t care. It might be reckless, but she liked making him lose control. At least it made her feel that he wasn’t completely indifferent to her.

  Her head fell back as she studied his face, trying to gauge the danger. If the black expression was any indication, it was considerable. Every inch of his incredibly hard body pressed against hers, ready to explode. Anger, frustration, and undeniable attraction sizzled between them.

  All she wanted to do was lean up and kiss him, force him to acknowledge what was between them. A sign. Anything to show that she was not alone in her feelings. But she knew that was probably the furthest thing from his mind. Meg had begun to accept the truth—she had made a mistake in coming here.

  But his attempt to intimidate was not without effect. “Very well,” she admitted. “Perhaps it was risky. But I was scared, I thought only to warn you. I needed to…”

  “Needed to what, Meg?”

  Had his mouth moved closer, or did she just wish it so?

  “I needed to see you,” she said softly, and dropped her gaze, unable to look at him—afraid he would see too much.

  She was a fool. Why didn’t she just admit it? She would have grasped at any straw to have the opportunity to find out whether the quick about-face that Alex displayed in Edinburgh was as it had seemed. But their reunion had not gone at all as planned.

  Now, coming here seemed foolish. She seemed foolish for running after a man who didn’t want her.

  To make things worse, she was afraid she was going to cry. Meg was exhausted, hungry, and tired of being yelled at by the man she’d missed desperately the past few weeks. At any moment, she felt she might unravel.

  Silence stretched between them.

  Finally, Alex put his finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. “But why would you need to see me? You’re engaged to Jamie now.”

  Her brows shot together. “I’m not engaged to Jamie.”

  His expression darkened. “But Jamie assured me that he intended to ask for you.”

  “He did.”

  “And you refused him?” He was incredulous. For a moment, she thought she glimpsed relief in his eyes, but then he cursed. “God’s wounds, what were you thinking?” he admonished her with a vehemence wholly un-warranted. “You can’t refuse him.”

  Meg let out an indelicate snort of outrage. She lifted her chin to his and met his furious glare with one of her own. “I can, and I did,” she said, not bothering to keep the bitterness from her voice. “Why do you care whom I marry? You did your duty and offered for me, even though we both know I came to you. Your conscience is clear.”

  His face was stony. “It’s not about that.”

  “Then what is it about?” she said, unable to hide her frustration. “Why should you care whether I marry at