"Although I'm not too furry, I could be your new deerhound. I could go with you for walks on the beach and protect you."

She gave a short, tear-filled chuckle. "You're mad."

"You could tell me all your troubles, and I would simply watch you with my big sad eyes."

She glanced at him. "You don't have big sad eyes."

"I wouldn't even mind if you scratched me behind the ears or rubbed my belly."

She half-heartedly threw the stick at him and tried to hide her smile. "You are horrid."

"'Tis true, but I made you smile." When she didn't respond, he said, "I could go back and get my bow and a few arrows, then we could walk along the beach that way." He pointed toward the right. "And I could teach you archery. If I don't behave myself, you can shoot me or use one of your hidden blades on me."

She sent a confused frown his way. "Why are you so determined to teach me how to shoot a bow?"

He shrugged. "I think you would be good at it. You're tall; you have long arms. You remind me of a warrior princess."

She gave him a narrow-eyed look as if he were daft. "Living in a make-believe world, are we, MacLeod?"

He smirked. When it came to her, he likely did, but he couldn't stop himself. "Well, you're always threatening me with those hidden knives you carry on your person at all times. I would truly love to see if you ken how to use them like a warrior."

Lifting an auburn brow, she sent him a challenging look. "You don't believe I can use them?"

"I have no inkling. I've never seen you in action. By the time I came upon you and MacBain, you were already trussed up like a—" He clamped his lips closed.

"Like a what? A boar?"

"Nay, like a tall, elegant stag."

She snorted and leapt up. "Come. I'll show you. We'll go to the end of the beach, near the cliffs where your guards upon the ramparts cannot help you."

He laughed. "Saints! You must indeed be deadly."

"I've hurt a few men but never killed anyone."

"'Tis a great comfort to me," he said in a dry tone and stood, smiling at her cocky attitude. "I'm up for the challenge, m'lady. But surely we aren't going to fight with sharpened blades. I don't wish to hurt you either."

She chuckled and headed along the beach.

Using long, quick strides, he caught up with her. "Are you certain you don't wish me to go back for the bow and arrows?"

"Thinking you'll need an extra weapon to defeat me?" she asked.

"Ha. Not likely."

She gave a confident smile, and he was glad he'd been able to turn her mood from gloomy to merry. He hoped this would be only a wrestling match, where she ended up pinning him to the ground—he'd let her do that. Aye, indeed. His body went on high alert, for he'd long imagined what her slight weight might feel like upon him. Like a dream come true.

"We'll have to use sticks instead of real knives," he said, trying to focus on the issue at hand and not his growing arousal.

"You fear me?"

"Aye, indeed," he said in a wry tone.

She laughed.

He'd love to know where on her body she had the rest of those hidden knives secured. He wanted to take them off her naked body, one by one. How delicious that would be.

"I often see red deer coming from that direction." She pointed toward the grassy sand dunes to their right.

Unexpectedly, Torrin tripped over something, and someone shoved him from the back at the same time. His face plowed into the sand. "What the hell?" The words blasted from his mouth. Spitting out the salty sand, he quickly rolled to his back and grabbed the dirk from the scabbard on his belt. He froze when he didn't see a band of attacking outlaws. Only Jessie stood above him, grinning like a banshee. Of course, he'd known she was the only one near, but he couldn't believe she'd gotten the best of him like that. Damned if she wasn't strong. His warrior skills were slipping, or mayhap he'd simply been distracted with his fantasies of stripping her naked.

"You tripped me!" he accused.

"You mean, I tricked you." Her smug smile was clear, even with the blinding sunlight behind her.

He narrowed his eyes. "Proud of yourself, are you?"

She shrugged, and he pushed to his feet. He'd have to be more careful around her. She was more wily than he'd anticipated. He glanced back at the castle, hoping Iain nor any of his men had witnessed that. He'd never live it down.

"You don't fight fair," he muttered.

"Most Highlanders don't. We're too canny. Fighting fair will get you killed, you ken?"

He laughed, then faced her with his arms down at his sides. "Are you ready to try it again, then, lady warrior?"

"Nay. I prefer surprise attacks." She backed away from him, moving further along the beach.

He knew what he had to do and 'twas naught more than she'd asked for, knocking him to the ground like that. He ran toward her, his body hunched low.

She screamed and bolted like a deer, flying over the sand. He quickened his pace, caught up to her and grabbed her. With one arm wrapped around her waist, he lifted her off her feet.

Kicking and elbowing, she fought him. He grasped her right hand so she wouldn't grab one of those knives. He hoped she wouldn't stab him, given the opportunity, but he didn't know for certain. She was a hellion… and he loved that about her.

She hooked her heel behind his knee. Losing his balance, he dropped to the sand, taking most of the impact with his shoulder and hip, but he didn't let go. Having captured both her wrists in one hand, he pinned her to the ground, half on her side and half on her stomach.

"Aha," he said against her ear. "Now we're even."

"Don't be so sure, MacLeod," she said through clenched teeth.

Something slammed painfully into his arse. Glancing around, he saw she'd kicked him hard with her bare heel.

He grabbed her ankle and pinned it close to him with his leg, then he tickled her foot with his free hand. She shrieked and squirmed about. With a sudden hard shove backward with her whole body, she flipped him onto his back. He tightened his grip on her wrists.

"Bastard!" she growled like a she-wolf and tried to untangle herself from him.

He laughed but feared she might get the best of him if he gave in to the amusement. He rolled her beneath him again.

She giggled but tried to scream at the same time. Squirming, she twisted and contorted her body, trying to wrest herself free. All she accomplished was turning to face him a bit more.

Her face was flushed pink, her eyes a glaring flash of blue, while her lips were scrunched with determination.

Damnation, how he wanted to kiss her. But she might break his nose if he did. He chuckled, amazed at how the thought of a violent woman aroused him. He had always thought he wanted a sweet, biddable wife. Now he knew he wanted one who would knock him to the ground unexpectedly.

"Admit defeat, warrior woman."

"Never!" One of her sharp elbows speared him in the stomach.

"Omph. Truce!"

She laughed. "The mighty MacLeod brought down by a mere woman?"

Releasing her, he leapt to his feet. "You are no mere woman, but a fierce and formidable one."

She smiled proudly, stood and dusted off her skirts. Her confidence was another thing he loved about her. Her rosy lips teased and taunted him. Again, he was staggered by how badly he wanted to kiss her, but he would wait until she was ready for it.