His hand lingered a moment at her back before moving away. “All is good?” He rested his hand to her face to feel her nod. “We need an easier way to communicate. A yes or no response in the dark or perhaps in a situation that calls for discretion. How about one tap for yes and two taps for no. Will that work for you?”
She tapped his arm once.
“Good,” he said, feeling more confident with their ability to communicate more easily and with a bit more privacy.
He reached out touching soil, confirming what he suspected. “An earth floor, which means we’re in the old part of the castle.”
She felt him move away and for a moment she panicked, reaching out and grabbing his arm.
He turned back to her, feeling the fear in her grip, and hurried his arm around her. “I’m right here with you, Dawn. We’re stuck together… permanently.”
Flutters filled her stomach for the umpteenth time since meeting him. What did he mean permanently? She didn’t ask, later when they talked she would. She tapped his arm once, agreeing with him.
Permanently.
He had never given a second thought to a permanent relationship with any woman he had dated. A couple of months was the longest any relationship had lasted, if you could call a couple of months a relationship. With Dawn, however, he could see them far beyond a couple of months. He could see it being permanent. A lifetime or more.
“The torch can’t be far. I’ll keep talking as I search,” he said and once again reluctantly moved away from her. “It shouldn’t take long to find it.” He stood and began moving his one foot slowly across the earth floor as he stepped away from Dawn. “Since you are an artist and appreciated the paintings in the gallery, I’ll give you a private tour so you can enjoy them at leisure.”
The flutters in her stomach grew in intensity. He not only planned on talking with her, he planned on seeing her again.
Permanently.
Was it possible? Could he actually be interested in her?
“I got it,” Cree said, hitting something with his shoe. Reaching down, he scooped up the torch at his foot and hit the button.
Her hand went up to block the sudden glare.
Cree lowered the torch, turning his head away from the glare himself to give his eyes time to adjust. He crouched down beside her. Her arm in the sling reminded him of her injury and she looked a bit pale to him, probably from fainting. He didn’t want to leave her on her own in the dark, but he was concerned for her safety. “With your arm injured and having fainted, it might be better if you waited here while I search for a way out.”
She shook her head and tapped her chest then his, then hers again before holding up two fingers, one nearly on top of the other, and then poked his chest again.
“You’re reminding me about being stuck together.”
She smiled and nodded firmly.
He leaned his face close to hers. “You don’t mind being stuck with me?”
Dawn shook her head, patted his chest, then crossed her free arm over her chest for a moment, and patted his chest again, hoping he understood her. And wondering where she had gotten the courage to tell him she liked being with him.
Cree jumped to respond, not giving it a second thought that he might be wrong in interpreting her gesture. “You like being stuck with me.”
She nodded again.
“I’m glad to hear that since I more than like being stuck with you.”
Her smile spread at his words. He was glad to hear it. She loved that he spoke to her as if he actually heard her speak. Her disability didn’t bother him and that made her love him all the more.
Love?
How could she love him? She had only met him.
“We need to find a way out,” Cree said and helped her to her feet before shining the torch in several directions. “I know that prison cells once existed in the basement of the castle. Sloan and I searched for them on many an occasion when we were young and adventurous, but the secret passageways never led us to them. My concern is that it may take us far too long to find a way out or that any exit may have been boarded up.”
Dawn pointed up to the hole in the ceiling and made the motion of climbing.
“It would be the fastest way out for us, but how to reach the hole is the question. Let’s have a look and see what we can find.”
Cree shined the light around slowly. They had landed in a fair-sized room where there appeared to be only one exit, a doorway where beyond lay complete darkness. The floor was earth but the walls were stone, thick stone, and metal rings hung in various spots on the wall. Broken chests and a few small rotted, wood crates lay about and in a far corner there was a pile of stones. At first glance, you would think part of the wall had collapsed, but it was nothing more than stones piled in the corner.
Dawn grabbed hold of Cree’s arm when he went to move the torch off the mound of stones. She pointed at the pile.
“You see something?” he asked.
She nodded and together they walked over to the stones. She peered down at a spot, narrowing her eyes as if it would help her see it more clearly.
Cree crouched down and moved a couple of the small stones and as he did the foot of a skeleton became visible.
Chapter 8
“I’d say there’s a good chance these are the remains of Lady Ann’s relative, since he seems to have been buried under these stones. Someone most likely found out he had the brooch, killed him, and made off with it. It was probably when this section was made ready to be closed off.” Cree stood. “I’ll have his remains unearthed and see what his skeleton can tell us.” He pointed the light at the only exit out of the room. “Time to explore.”
Dawn smiled eager to make their escape and when he reached out and took her hand, she clamped hers tightly around his.
“Stay close,” he said and before he could take a step, the torch went dark. No amount of finagling with it did an ounce of good. “Dead batteries. We can’t explore in the dark. We’ll need to stay here until someone finds us.”
They both caught the sound of a voice at the same time.
Cree hurried a finger to Dawn’s lips, warning her to remain silent as if his warning mattered with her having no voice. It mattered to her since it said I can hear you.
He maneuvered them around the pile of stones, deeper into the corner, blocking her from view with his body.
Dawn understood that he wanted to make sure the voice was a familiar one before he made himself known to anyone.
“You’re going the wrong way. It’s a right at the turn, not a left.”
“I don’t get lost, mate. It’s this way.”
“No’ dae that!”
“Feck! I didn’t even see that hole. Wonder what’s down there?”
Cree kept his face rested against Dawn’s and his body cocooned around her as light spilled down from the hole in the ceiling.
“Shite, it’s an earth floor. Maybe there’s treasure down there.”
“We dinnae have time to look now. We need to get to Colum and let him know we’re having trouble getting that safe open. We can come back when we’re done. Besides, we’ll need a ladder to get down there and to get out.”
Not having a voice, there had been times in her life Dawn hadn’t felt safe and actually a couple of times she had felt terrified. Here with Cree, the strength of him wrapped around her, the protective and confident way he held her, shielded her, she felt safer than ever.
“We better get moving if you want enough time to come back and see what’s down there.
The light suddenly vanished, leaving them once again in darkness.
“I don’t want to hear I told you so, but I think you were right about that left turn, mate.”
The voices drifted off along with footsteps, but Cree didn’t move until several silent minutes past and he only shifted his body, keeping it close to Dawn’s. “If we’re not out of here before they return, you will step through that door and keep yourself hidden in the dark while I tak
e care of those two idiots.”
Dawn tapped his arm twice.
“What do you mean no? You will do as I say.”
She tapped his chest and tapped his arm twice once again.
“You won’t stay with me. You’ll do as I tell you.” Did he feel her laugh? “Did you laugh?”
She tapped his arm once.
He pressed his brow to hers. “Think again, if you find my command, and it is a command, humorous. You’ll do as I say. I’ll see you kept safe.”
Normally, if a man even hinted at ordering her about, she would unleash her temper on him, not so Cree. His command didn’t disturb her in the least. But then, of course, she had no intentions of obeying him, but she could let him think that she would.
“I mean it, Dawn. You’ll do as I say. I won’t see you harmed.”
How could she fault him when he worried for her safety? But he had to understand that she worried about his safety as well.
She gestured with touches, the dark not allowing for him to see her movements, yet somehow he understood her. “You worry for my safety?”
She tapped his arm once.
“I’m bigger and stronger than you,” he said with a chuckle and felt her laugh.
She kissed his cheek, glad for his humor.
Her gesture may have been innocent, but it felt far too intimate and it set something off in Cree. His arm circled her waist in a snug grip and with one forceful step he had her back braced against the stone wall, his body pressed to hers as his lips came down on hers in a demanding kiss.
The stone walls faded and a forest rose up around him. He inhaled the scent of fresh pine and pungent earth while the chilled air nipped at his cheeks, and the soft twitter of birds played like a melody in the trees. Dawn was braced against the thick trunk of a towering pine, passion and uncertainty warring in her eyes.
“You are mine,” he said, his words claiming her, making it so, and his lips came down on hers in a possessive kiss, sealing his declaration. His hand went to her breast, squeezing the soft flesh and he thrust his hips forward, his throbbing manhood eager to enter her. He reached down and yanked up her skirt.
“Cree! Cree, are you down there?"
The familiar voice rushed around him like a whirlwind and the forest suddenly disappeared and Cree found himself in the dark, his one hand on Dawn’s breast and his other hand having gathered a handful of her skirt to yank up while his hips dug into her hers, though that wasn’t all that was digging into her.
“Cree!”
“Sloan,” Cree called out, dropping his hand off Dawn’s breast to brace it on the wall behind her. He also let go of her skirt, though rested his hand at her waist. “I’m down here with Dawn and she hurt her wrist in the fall.”
“I’ll get a ladder and alert Dr. Elsa that she’s needed. Sloan can wait here with you.”
Cree recognized Torr’s voice. “Be careful both of you, there are others in the passageways that mean us no good. I’ll explain as soon as you get us out.”
“Will do, be right back,” Torr said and hurried off.
“You don’t have a torch?” Sloan asked.
“The batteries went dead.”
“I’ll drop mine down to you.”
When the torch hit the ground, it cast a faint glow on them and their eyes met, and Cree saw in Dawn’s eyes what he knew she saw in his… undeniable, scorching passion.
“You and I need to talk,” he whispered, “before this day is done.”
Dawn gave a brief nod, confused and a bit frightened by what was happening. She didn’t know this man and yet she felt she did know him. His kisses were familiar and so was his touch as was her response to it. Never had passion sparked so quickly in her as it did when his hand had cupped her breast and squeezed it or when he had pressed against her. And when she had felt how hard he was, she had… her cheeks flamed with embarrassment by how wet she had gotten. She had never gotten that wet before, never felt such desire before, never realized what she had been missing.
“Are you both all right?” Sloan asked.
“We’re good, though I can’t say the same for the skeleton down here,” Cree said.
“Skeleton? There’s a skeleton down there? Damn, this is turning into some party,” Sloan said gleefully.
It didn’t take long for Torr to return with a ladder and two security guards.
“There are two men trying to break into my safe in my private study. Apprehend them and also Colum Liege from Elite Catering, and find Lady Ann and keep her from leaving,” Cree ordered.
Sloan and Torr started shooting questions at Cree.
“Not until we’re out of here,” Cree called up to them as the ladder was lowered. He turned to Dawn. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Dawn nodded and planted her foot on the bottom rung and her one hand on a few rungs above her head. With her arm in a sling, she would have to rely on her one hand to get her up the ladder, but she didn’t think it would present a problem. Until she was halfway up and her foot slipped as she placed it on the next rung.
Cree’s arm shot around her waist and his body pressed against hers in an instant. “It’s okay, I’ve got you.”
She shut her eyes for a minute. Safety was always an issue with her, not having a voice. She could not call for help when needed or in danger. She had never placed limitations on herself, but she had been wise to avoid certain things for her own safety. With Cree there, she felt not only safe but freer than she ever had, and that freedom was something she never expected to find, let alone find in a man who could provide it.
“Take your time,” Cree whispered. “I’m right here with you.”
I always will be.
Had he said that? She could have sworn she heard it. Or had it been her imagination or wishful thinking? Her eyes misted at the thought of someone caring that much to always be there for her.
Dawn continued up the ladder slowly, Cree’s hand at her back and once she got near the top, Sloan and Torr reached down and gently lifted her out. As soon as Cree cleared the hole, his arm went around her and she eased closer to him, glad to once again settle against his strength.
Dr. Elsa was waiting in the library along with Wintra.
“Dr. Elsa will take good care of you and my sister will interpret for you,” Cree said. “I have to go see to this matter. You will stay here until I return.” He didn’t give her a chance to say a word, he made a quick exit with Sloan and Torr.
Dawn watched as the door closed behind him and an empty ache took hold of her. The kind of ache you get when you’re separated from someone you love and that thought upset her all the more.
“My brother can be bossy,” Wintra said. “Ignore him, I do.”
Dawn turned, the mist in her eyes having grown heavier, closer to tears.
“I didn’t realize you were in such pain,” Wintra said and slipped her arm around Dawn and eased her over to one of the soft-cushioned chairs.
Dr. Elsa walked over to Dawn. “Let’s have a look at that wrist.”
Dawn was relieved that Wintra had mistaken her tears for pain and was surprised how gentle Dr. Elsa was and how congenial her manner. It felt more like a grandmother looking after one of her grandchildren.
“I think you gave it a good wrench, but I don’t think anything is broken, though to be safe you should have an x-ray,” Dr. Elsa explained. “Until then keep it in the sling and use it sparingly.”
Dawn nodded, knowing it wouldn’t be easy to do that. She had to work.
“I can give you something for the pain,” Dr. Elsa offered.
Dawn shook her head.
“How about a drink? A glass of wine should fix you up,” Wintra said and hurried out of the room before Dawn could tell her no.
“I’m going to get some ice for that wrist. It will help keep the swelling down and ease your pain.”
Dawn nodded.
Dr. Elsa placed a hand on Dawn’s shoulder. “You’ll be fine, nothing to worry about.”
Nothing to worry about? This night had been a disaster and she feared that Event & Hospitality Servers would not only terminate her, but her reputation of a reliable and trustworthy person would be tarnished, meaning no staffing company would hire her. And what if it spilled over into her position at the bookshop. She could lose everything. She brushed the dirt off her costume as best she could with her uninjured hand, saw to freeing her hair of dirt and debris from the basement’s earth floor and hurried her apron on.
Cree may have told her to stay put, but he didn’t have to worry about where his next paycheck was coming from, she did. Quick steps had her rushing off to the kitchen.
“Where have you been? I was told all was taken care of with Lady Ann?” Flanna demanded and waved her question away. “Never mind. I’m short two servers, Colum is nowhere to be found and the wine is flowing non-stop. Grab a tray and head to the dining room. The food has just been replenished for the last time this evening. Once it’s gone, we help with the finishing touches for the dessert extravaganza.”
Dawn was relieved Flanna didn’t know anything about what had happened. It had been kept quiet, so as not to cause worry to the guests or spoil the fundraiser and tarnish the Carrick Foundation reputation. It also allowed her not to get a blemish on her excellent work record.
Her wrist throbbed, but she ignored it and made sure to keep it resting against her midriff as much as possible as she made her way through the crowd of people. Her serving tray was empty in no time and she made her way back to the kitchen.
“Where have you been?” Lila asked, walking out of the kitchen. “I’ve been worried about you.”
Dawn winced as she tried to gesture with her injured hand.
“What’s wrong?” Lila demanded, concern not only in her voice but on her face as well.
Dawn gave a quick glance around and with no one in sight, she placed the tray on a sideboard and hurried to gesture as best she could that she would explain it all later, but that she was all right, a minor injury to her wrist.
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