“It didn’t turn out that way. You turned the tables on me. But I’m glad that it seems to have worked out well for you.” He got to his feet and threw some money on the table. “Very well. You’re…happy. Whoever it was must have satisfied you.”

She nodded. “Absolutely.” Her smile faded. “But you’re wasting that additional five minutes I gave you. We have to get back to the Run. Let’s get out of here.” She turned and headed for the pier at a run. “I’ve no desire to have to explain to MacDuff what I was doing here with you.”

“But once he saw your expression, he’d realize how happy I’d made you.” His grin held a catlike hint of mischief. “Though that might keep him guessing. He might enjoy the idea that I’d made you forget about Seth Caleb for a little while. I’ve noticed there appears to be a certain antagonism in his attitude about Caleb on occasion.”

“Their relationship is complicated.” She jumped into the boat as he untied it. “They respect each other, but MacDuff likes to run things and there’s no way Caleb will allow that to happen.”

“Particularly anything to do with you.” He snapped his fingers. “Fiona. Is it something to do with the family?”

“Heavens no,” she said flatly. “Caleb understands how I feel and would never interfere with my family. And he’s always had the same fascination with Fiona as MacDuff. It’s probably just two alpha males wanting their own way. Most of the time they manage to get along.” She was looking back at Kilgoray as he pulled away from the pier. “You should understand that concept.”

“I’ve never tried to go head-to-head with Caleb. It’s hard not to remember what he went through to keep me alive. It puts a damper on any aggressiveness I might be feeling.”

“I can see how it might.” The wind was caressing her cheeks and the moonlight was casting a shimmer on the sea. It was over! Everything seemed wonderfully alive in this moment. The relief was zinging through her. “Maybe you could work on it,” she said lightly. “You already have an edge. Caleb told Palik he was to keep you alive.”

“Very funny,” he said sourly. “I’m not amused.” He shot her a glance. “But you are. You wouldn’t care to tell me why you’re in such a good mood?”

She grinned. “It must be a feeling of accomplishment. I had something to do, and I did it. It’s finished.” She added, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. You’d be even more welcome if you assured me that we weren’t going to make this journey again. You have to admit there’s a certain amount of risk to a jaunt like this. Can you do that?”