"Well, there were quite a few lasses vying for my attention. Even as a free man, you know that criminal record just gets their knickers in a twist." He gave her a smirk. It wasn't the answer to her question, but he didn't want to think about who or what had happened without the other around. "What about you, my beautiful lass?" He reached out to thread some of those gorgeous red curls between his fingers. They bounced with the simplest of tugs.