Ciarán took the oars and rowed the boat to the castle while Mac sat, untroubled for the first time since she had arrived. But as she watched Ciarán row, with his arm muscles flexing, a new trouble took over. He was simply a fine man to look at. Strong body, sure mind, and a smile that made her want to lift her chin to it as though it were the sun.
He smiled curiously at her. “What’s on your mind, lass?”
Suppressing her own smile, she said, “Nothing.”
He stopped rowing and leaned his elbows on his knees. “Oh, I think not, my fair maiden. ’Twas something. Your face was fair glowing.”
A blush spread through her cheeks, but something about his self-assurance made her want to conceal it. “You don’t have to know all that I’m thinking.”
“But I want to.” He lifted his eyes to meet hers with a
