She stood at the door of the barn, with Dugan right behind her, snaking his arm ’round her waist. Pulling her against him, as though he had not just made love to her again. And she had allowed it, knowing how he despised her name. “You’ll sleep beside me tonight, Maura,” he whispered in her ear. Oh God. Maura wanted to. But she wanted more than this night and knew she could not have it. Lachann and the others were counting on Dugan to pay their rents, and they all knew how nebulous the promise of gold was. She felt raw and helpless against him. “Dugan—” “Hush, lass. Go into the cottage and eat,” he said. “I’ll join you soon.” Join her? In Murray’s bedchamber? Lachann already thought badly of her, and Dugan had not even told his brother that she was one of the hated Duncansons. She left the barn and started for the cottage, unsure how she was going to face the others after what she’d done.
