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out the window. As promised, the snow was falling rapidly, and in no time at all the roads would be so thick with snow no one would venture out.
    But until then, Ramsey was going to have to keep an eye on Tara. Declan was as devious as Deirdre had been, so Ramsey wanted to be prepared for anything. And knowing Declan, anything was possible.
    Ramsey made the rounds of the castle, checking everything. He spotted Arran a couple of times, but only because of his enhanced eyesight. No mortal would have been able to see Arran in the darkness and snowfall.
    It was only when Lord Huntington’s female companion, a pretty middle-aged brunette, arrived and both had retired to their suite that Ramsey left the upstairs area.
    He stepped off the last stair and heard Tara call his name. Ramsey looked over his shoulder to see her head sticking out of the kitchen door.
    “Are you hungry? Chef made some extra for all of us.”
    Ramsey walked to her with a smile. “I’d be a fool to pass up his excellent dishes.”
    When he reached the staff table he found only two place settings. And by Tara’s wide eyes, he wasn’t the only one surprised.
    “Where did the others go?” she asked.
    Ramsey shrugged and held out her chair. “Maybe they doona like me.”
    “No. It’s probably me.”
    She sank into the chair as Ramsey took the one opposite her.
    “It’s no’ you. You’ve a friendly smile and kind eyes,” he told her.
    She chuckled and took a sip of wine. “And you’re entirely too generous with your compliments.”
    “I never give compliments unless I mean them.”
    She lifted her glass to him. “Then I thank you. I don’t get very many compliments.”
    “Why is that?” he asked as he cut into the braised chicken.
    She dabbed at her lips with her napkin and swallowed her bite. “You seem the kind of guy who has everything figured out. I’m sure you have me figured out.”
    “No’ so. I’d rather you tell me.”
    Ramsey was surprised at how much he was enjoying their conversation and dinner. It was an unexpected opportunity for him to learn more about Tara. The fact that he wanted to know more made caution swell within him.
    Gaining her trust or not, he shouldn’t want to know more.
    “Hmm.” She took another bite as she studied him. “I don’t normally tell anyone anything.”
    “Why?”
    “It’s not safe.”
    “For them or you?”
    She looked down and swallowed. “Mostly me. It’s better if I don’t have any friends.”
    “Everyone needs friends, Tara.”
    Her blue-green gaze lifted to his. “Even if it isn’t safe?”
    “Especially when it isna safe.”
    “Are you offering?”
    Ramsey gave a slow nod. “Indeed I am.”

 
    CHAPTER SIX
    Tara set down her fork and threaded her fingers together as she studied Ramsey. “Why?”
    “Why?” he repeated.
    “That’s what I asked. Why do you want to be my friend?”
    He shrugged and lowered his gaze to his plate to stab his fork into some green beans. “Why no’?”
    “I’m serious.”
    He chewed slowly before he lowered his fork and leaned back in his chair. Once he swallowed, he took a drink of wine to give his thoughts time to settle before he answered. “What are you afraid of?”
    “Excuse me?”
    “Why are you afraid of having a friend?”
    She rolled her eyes and swiped at a strand of hair that fell in her face. “Some people have a problem trusting others. I’m in that category.”
    “Aye,” he said, as if he were unsurprised by her admission. “I’ve no’ given you a reason no’ to trust me.”
    “You’ve not given me a reason to trust you.”
    “We could go round and round all night like this.”
    Tara survived for ten years on the run by learning to read people, and despite Ramsey’s efforts, she could tell he was hiding something. But what?
    “Do you trust people?” she asked, more curious than she wanted to be.
    “Aye. It didna always come easy, but it became a necessity if I wanted to survive.”
    Now she was really