A Minx for the MacKenzie [Highlanders Love #2]

Chapter 2 - Picture of Hammond

She hadn't meant to seek out the help of the MacKenzie laird at all. 

Standing in the middle of the dining hall, Ammi was suddenly acutely aware of the eyes staring at her. From the daring persona she had taken on earlier, the blonde suddenly felt gazes pinning her every corner. Shivering from the chill that crept into the evening Highland air, Amhuinn had trekked far from where she and Tamhas had built their residence over the past four years. Entering the MacKenzie Keep, the warm air that engulfed her was a welcome one. That, and her steadfast resolve to gain help in retrieving her brother from the clutches of the Kincaid clan. 

But now, after she had announced her request to the laird, she was now very aware that she was where she did not belong. The chatter which had almost deafened her when she had entered had no fizzled down to curious murmurs from the back of the hall. Interest gazes mingled with wary looks made her shuffle uncomfortably.

As if he had noticed her discomfort, the laird addressed the hall in the booming voice Ammi remembered him using when he had stumbled across the humble abode she and Tamhas shared in neutral territory between clan lands.

Requesting them to resume their meal, Amhuinn looked up just in time to see the curly-haired laird motion at another, a dark haired man with a plaid similar to the MacKenzie laird's around his waist. The man pressed a kiss to the very obviously pregnant red-head female next to him, before running towards the laird, his eyes warier than anyone else's as he came to a stop next to the MacKenzie, who addressed her at that point. "Miss Kincai-"

"Amhuinn, please. Or Ammi." she interjected. "I do not want to be related to the brutes whose clan I was born into."

His brows furrowed, and he exchanged a curious look with the dark-haired man again before returning his attention to Ammi. "Miss Amhuinn, then. This is my first-in-command, Commander Connor Gilroy." he introduced, motioning at the male, who tilted his head towards Amhuinn. The blonde did the same, but her blue eyes never left the other's green eyes. While he was mesmerizing, it was in a dark, broody manner that Amhuinn couldn't quite appreciate. "Would you come with us? I think this discussion would take better place in a smaller room."

Amhuinn nodded, eager to escape the scrutinizing gazes of the MacKenzie clansmen. Following as the other male's exited the hall, she picked the skirts of her brown dress up, falling behind their steps as they wandered down the hallway towards the main stairwell, going up one flight of stairs and then turning down another, granite hallway. The draft in the Keep was something quite common of an ancient castle built by bricks. The construction when the castle was built was archaic, with ventilation not as good at keeping out drafts as the ones recently built were. After four years of staying with trees as your walls and the stars as your light however, Amhuinn shrugged off the shiver that ran through her bones.

The MacKenzie pushed open a door just ten feet or so down the hallway, and she entered what appeared to be a cozily kept room. It was about twenty feet or so wide and across, with sconces that lit up the area in the quickly darkening evening. Amhuinn could feel the warmth immediately embrace her with it's long fingers, and even her damp feet could feel the warmth from the carpet seeping in. Watching as the red-head laird headed straight for the drinks cupboard on the left of the entrance, positioned next to a study table, she cocked her head when he grabbed two glasses and started pouring. The first-in-command moved to their right to settle himself on a settee, whilst the laird moved towards her.

"Here, have a drink Miss Amhuinn. It musta been cold oot there." he offered a glass which was now half-filled with brandy, towards Amhuinn. Caught by surprise, the blonde blinked, but took it gratefully. Her cold fingers brushed his warm ones as she took the glass from him. At that point in time, Ammi couldn't tell if the electric that shot in her was from the touch, or from the warm way in which the MacKenzie laird gazed at her, before he asked. "So, what seems to be the problem?"