Page 106 of Hollow Court
“No.” He blocked my attack. “Because I know it was harder than you’ll ever admit that she left so soon after Mac died.”
My next blow landed a little harder, and Gallagher made his irritable face.
“And I can only assume that’s why you’re being so patently ridiculous about this.”
He didn’t need to expound further.
I blew out an exasperated breath. “I said I was sorry, Gal.”
He dodged the next blow with ease, in a move that reminded me of how often he practiced with his sister and father in the ring. He had been holding back before, but he wasn’t anymore.
“You didn’t, actually, but that isn’t the point.” He lunged at me then, and I narrowly avoided the edge of his blade.
“What do you want me to say? I know you wouldn’t…” I trailed off, not sure how to finish that sentence.
He wouldn’t what? Court someone who was looking for a husband? Someone who was gorgeous and brilliant and even, very occasionally, fun? Someone who I had absolutely no claim over?
He raised his eyebrows, and I shook my head, going on the offensive again.
“Iamsorry. I just can’t seem to think straight where she’s concerned.” The admission cost me more than a little of my pride.
“I know that feeling,” he said.
My next hit was deliberately to the side of his ribcage.
“Ow,” he said, grabbing his side with his free hand. “Not about her.”
“Then who?” I asked, needing to hear him give me a name, any other name, more than I was willing to admit.
“Maisey.”
I wasn’t sure why that caught me by surprise, but I hesitated long enough that he got the upper hand once again.
“The healer’s apprentice? I didn’t think that was serious.”
“It’s…getting there. Maybe.”
I thought back to Galina’s scoff when I suggested Gallagher, the way she had hedged.
I narrowed my gaze at him, feigning a thrust to the left before attacking on the right. “Is there any particular reason you told Galina before you told me?”
He shrugged, easily compensating for the feint. “IlikeGalina.”
I leveled a look at him.
“Oh, fine,” he relented. “I just didn’t feel like dealing with the implications yet, and by the time we got back here, I was having too much fun watching you make an arse of yourself over this Galina thing.” His expression sobered. “But for what it’s worth, I didn’t mean to cause any actual problems…”
“You didn’t,” I told him truthfully.
I thought back to our conversation last night and every loaded accusation that we had hurled at the other with expert precision.
No, the problems had been all ours.
“Besides, I’m not sure why I thought it mattered,” I said darkly. “If it isn’t you, it will just be someone else.”
Gal gave me a disbelieving look. “And you’re all right with that?”
I pictured Galina dancing with the other lairds, their hands on her waist, their warm breath whispering in her ear. The visceral part of me that wanted to set them on fire for having the nerve to look at her at all.