Love Beyond Boundaries (A Scottish Time Travel Romance): Book 12 (Morna's Legacy Series)

by Bethany Claire

  Surely there was a way to keep the worst of it from her. She would have to learn to accept that people truly could—and in his experience regularly do—travel through time. But the rest of it—namely Silva—he would have to find a way to keep that part of his life a secret. He simply couldn’t lose another person he loved.

  Loved.

  The realization occurred to him in a whisper, the thought entering so easily it surprised him. It made everything more concrete in his mind. Whatever he had to do to keep Allanah protected from the person he’d once been, he would do it. He loved her. He suspected he would always love her. And he’d lost too much love in his life to let another person go.

  He could bear the guilt of omission if it kept her in his life. If it meant keeping her, it would unquestionably be worth it.

  Sighing, she stirred against his chest. As her eyes slowly flickered open, she gazed up at him in the lamp light.

  “What time is it?”

  He glanced over at the clock. “’Tis only eight o’clock, lass. I believe I wore ye out.”

  She smiled at him and squeezed him in a hug. “Yeah, you did. I don’t know about you, but that Chinese food take-out we’d planned sounds even better now than it did before.”

  His stomach growled in answer, and they laughed together. “Aye, lass, it does. I need to take Tink out anyway. If ye will call while I take her out, I’ll pay for everything when they get here.”

  She nodded, pushing herself up from his chest. Her hair was tangled and wild around her face, and the sight of her bed head was enough to make him ready for another round. Carefully, he pushed that thought away and focused on the task at hand.

  “Sure. What do you want?”

  “I am not a picky eater. Get whatever ye want.”

  Rising from the bed before his desire to take her once more overtook him, he dressed quickly and went in search of his dog. Perhaps some cool, fresh air would help to clear his troubled mind.

  Who knew sex made me so completely ravenous? As I looked over the take-out menu while Ross readied Tink for her walk, there wasn’t a single thing on the menu that didn’t look appetizing.

  “I’m thinking Kung Pau Chicken, some noodles, egg rolls, and shrimp fried rice?”

  “Sounds perfect, lass. We won’t be long.”

  With that, Ross and Tink left. Rather than call for the food right away, I hurried to the bathroom to properly look myself over. I looked—and there was simply no other way to put it—sexed up. My hair was in utter disarray. My lipstick was smudged all over my mouth, and my mascara had started to flake off in an incredibly unattractive way.

  I kind of loved it. I was well past due for a good toss in the hay. And my God, had it been good! I’d not known sex could feel quite like that—so wholly satisfying and dirty but oddly healing, as well. I was still slightly shaky and weak, but I felt relaxed and peaceful.

  Freshening up took longer than I’d anticipated. By the time I got off the phone with the restaurant, Ross and Tink were walking back in the door.

  “Did ye get it ordered?”

  “Yes. Should be here in half an hour. You want to make a plan?”

  He smiled at me before bending to unhook Tink’s leash from her collar. “Ye do like a plan, doona ye, lass?”

  Most of the time I truly did try to suppress my desire for organization, but it usually didn’t take people very long to figure out just how Type A I really was.

  “I do. You got a problem with that?” I winked at him.

  “No. Not at all. We should talk, and since I’m leaving tomorrow afternoon, I doona have much time.”

  The dread of knowing he was leaving tomorrow weighed on me so much less now that I knew I’d be joining him. Still, it surprised me that he’d been able to put together everything so quickly.

  “What did Caleb say? I assume you’ve talked to him.”

  Removing his boots and giving Tink a treat, he moved to sit by me on the couch.

  “He was incredibly gracious, as I’d known he would be. Hannah was none too pleased with me though. I had to promise to bring her back something Scottish.”

  I smiled. “That shouldn’t be too hard.”

  As soon as she finished her treat, Tink set off at a full run and leapt up between us on the couch. I reached to pull her close in a snuggle.

  “What about Tink? Is it difficult to travel internationally with her?”

  “’Tis slightly more complicated, but I have a friend who I’m quite certain will be willing to help me with the last-minute arrangements.”

  “A friend?”

  He nodded, and I knew that once again, that was all the information I was going to receive. I often found the subjects he was so tight-lipped about strange, but I suppose he had his reasons.

  He reached out to grab my hand. “I will spend the first night I arrive in Scotland with friends at Cagair Castle.”

  I interrupted him, too intrigued by the mention of a castle to stop myself. “You have friends at a castle?”

  He smiled and nodded. “Aye, but ye shouldna get too excited by that. Ye canna throw a rock in any direction without hitting a castle in Scotland.”

  I laughed. “Really?”

  “Aye. They’re everywhere. Have ye never been?”

  I wrinkled my nose, slightly embarrassed, although I had no reason to be. My sister was the exception, I knew. Most people didn’t regularly get to go gallivanting all over the world the way she did.

  “No. I’ve never really been out of the United States. I have a passport, but that’s only because I got one for a cruise Georgie and I went on five years ago. But I got so sick the first day that I never actually made it off the boat at any of the stops.”

  “Ye will love it. ’Tis the most beautiful country in the world.” He paused and shrugged, playfully. “If I do say so myself.”

  Cautiously, I broached the subject I suspected he would avoid. “If it’s so wonderful, why do you dread returning so badly?”

  He sighed, and I worried he was about to dismiss my question outright. “Memories, lass. They haunt me there. But ye, I have no doubt, shall love it.”

  That was all I needed for now. I didn’t want to upset him by pressing further.

  “I’m sure I will. Now, what were you saying about your first night there? I interrupted you when you mentioned a castle.”

  He gave me a curt nod and continued. “Aye. I shall spend the first night there. The next morning, I shall head north to my mother’s. She lives in a verra remote part of the country, lass. I doona suspect I shall have any service at all. If ye can sort out what day ye shall be arriving before I leave tomorrow evening, I will make certain to return to Cagair before ye get there. Then we can travel back to my mother’s together.”

  That saddened me, but at least I had a worldwide traveler living in my apartment who could help me with any of my own preparations that I might have questions about.

  “Okay. I understand. I’ll sit down with my calendar first thing in the morning, and I’ll get a flight booked before you leave. Do we need to start your packing tonight?”

  He shook his head and pulled me a little closer to him.

  “No, lass. I doona wish to waste a moment of my time with ye. I willna need much. It will take me no time to prepare in the morning. All I wish to do tonight is eat, and then place ye right back in my bed for at least another three rounds of lovemaking before daybreak.”

  An anticipatory shiver of delight ran down my spine at his words.

  Breathlessly I laughed while I glanced down at my phone to check the time.

  “Where the hell is that Chinese food? As far as I’m concerned it can’t get here fast enough.”

  He laughed as he leaned forward to pull my face close to him, pressing his lips to mine as we lost ourselves in each other until the buzz from the downstairs intercom pulled us away.

  As aroused as I was, I still intended to eat my fill. If our first encounter was any indication, I would need all the strength
I could muster to keep up with him throughout the night.

  Chapter 30

  Sleep-deprived and dreading two weeks apart from him, I dropped Ross and Tink off at the airport with so little luggage that I found myself really glad that I wasn’t leaving at the same time. I didn’t want him to see what a big packer I was.

  He’d kissed me thoroughly at the drop-off point and called me as soon as he made it past security.

  “We are at our gate, lass. The friend I mentioned pulled through. Tink’s papers are set, and she is sleeping in her carrier like the well-behaved pup she is. With any luck she willna cause mayhem on the journey there. Have ye made it home?”

  With the phone connected to the speaker system in my car, I continued the drive toward Gramps’ house.

  “No. I decided to swing by my grandfather’s and visit with him a bit. I think it will be best to tell him about my plans before Georgie gets to him. He will be upset if he doesn’t hear it from me first.”

  Ross laughed and I knew I would miss him, even if it was just going to be a few weeks.

  “Aye, I suspect ye are right. I’ll send ye a text when the plane is about to take off. I canna wait to see ye in a fortnight.”

  I said goodbye to him as I pulled into Gramps’ driveway. I’d not called him beforehand, and I found myself relieved that Gladys’ car wasn’t parked outside. I knew he’d be more receptive to my sudden appearance if he was alone.

  I started to put my key in the lock then stopped on the off chance she actually was here without her car. The last thing I wanted to do was walk in on another family member getting down.

  Instead, I raised my fist and knocked on the door. I saw the light switch on in the hallway leading up to the door and stepped back as I waited for him to answer.

  “Allanah!”

  He said my name with such enthusiasm that it warmed me right through, pushing away any of the melancholy that had lingered because of Ross’ departure. I stepped toward him to hug him before stepping inside.

  “What a pleasant surprise. It’s been quite a while since you’ve been to my house.”

  I turned to look at him over my shoulder as we walked toward his den together.

  “You don’t really love having us over anymore, Gramps. I think you’re worried that I’m going to try and move back in here. I promise you, I’m not.”

  He laughed and patted me on the shoulder. “Did you come to tell me all about your Scotland trip?”

  “Dammit.” I whispered the curse under my breath before looking at him. “Georgie already got to you? She didn’t even know if he was going to say he wanted me to go or not.”

  “I guess she was pretty certain of it. She called me yesterday evening to tell me that you were taking some time off to follow your boyfriend to Scotland.” He paused and motioned to the recliner next to his. “I think it’s great, Allanah.”

  “You do?”

  He sat down in his beloved chair and I followed suit.

  “Absolutely. I like him.”

  “You don’t really know him.”

  He made a gruff sound and crossed his arms at me. “I saw a little of him before the race and at the restaurant afterwards. I appreciate how he introduced himself as your boyfriend. He has kind eyes and a firm grip. That’ll tell you what you need to know about most men if you pay attention. And all that aside, the way he eulogized Beth warmed me over to him right then and there.”

  The lump that rose in my throat every time I thought of Beth returned. “I’d forgotten that he spoke at her funeral. I wish I’d been there to hear it.”

  Gramps reached out to squeeze my hand. “It was lovely, but you were right where you needed to be. Are you excited for your trip?”

  I nodded, but the corners of my mouth didn’t pull up quite the way I’d expected them too. I was excited. But I was also quite nervous. “Yes.”

  He frowned at me. “What is it? What’s bothering you?”

  “I am excited. I’m also quite scared.”

  He waved his hand in a motion meant to encourage me to elaborate.

  “I guess…” I wasn’t even totally sure. I’d not thought about my reasons for being nervous, but as had always been the case, my real feelings about things began to spill as I sat in front of my grandfather. “I guess I know that if this trip doesn’t lead to him opening up a little more, if it doesn’t cause him to let down his guard, I’m not going to be able to stay in this.”

  When Gramps said nothing, I continued.

  “I really like him, Gramps. Like, I really like him. I might even love him, but something is up with him. I’m not frightened of him. It’s not a dangerous thing. But he’s hiding something. Something in his past he is dead set on not sharing with me. I catch it flickering across his expression sometimes. And there are certain subjects, quite a lot of them actually, that he shuts down on. He never tells me directly that he doesn’t want to talk about it, but he’s adept at giving me the least information he possibly can.

  “That’s not really something a real relationship can be built on, is it? A lack of trust so profound that you can’t discuss the things that make you you. I’m hopeful that being with him in the place he grew up will help that, but I just don’t know. He’s a tough nut.”

  Gramps laughed at my use of the outdated expression I’d heard him say countless times before as he leaned forward in his recliner, spinning it toward my own so he could gather my hands in his.

  “Do you want me to tell you what I think about it?”

  I nodded. “Always. You give the best advice of anyone I’ve ever known.”

  He smiled at that. I knew he took great pride in his ability to see things more clearly than most people ever did. I supposed it was all the past pain he’d been through, all the tragedies he’d had to overcome that made him that way. His scars had made him wise, and he knew it.

  “The kindest men are almost always the most self-loathing. They’re kind because they know what it is to be hated by the most important person in their lives, and they don’t ever want anyone to feel as loathed as they do.”

  I frowned. “That’s maybe the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”

  He nodded, somberly. “It is. But it’s true. Ross is kind. He’s good through and through. He was good to Beth. He has been a lifesaver to Caleb. Caleb’s girls adore him, and I suspect if you’re patient with him, he has the potential to be good to you for as long as you want him to. But here’s the thing with men like that: patience is absolutely necessary, but only up to a point. He will never volunteer whatever it is that you need to know. At some point, you will have to be more forceful in your demands for answers.”

  “That self-loathing he possesses comes from somewhere. It’s the result of some mistake, some wrong he’s so sure he’s done, and his worst fear will be you finding out and hating him the way he hates himself. When you learn his secret, practice empathy if you can. Past mistakes don’t always cause future ones.”

  I stared at the old, wise oracle that had somehow replaced my grandfather, and I couldn’t help but smile. “You could charge for this shit, you know?”

  He leaned back and belly laughed, pulling his hands away and settling back into his recliner. “I should, shouldn’t I?”

  I nodded. “How are you so sure about all of that?”

  “Let’s just say I recognize a lot of myself in Ross. I made a lot of mistakes when I was young; before I met your grandmother. I know what it’s like to walk around with that kind of self-loathing. And I know what it’s like to finally come face-to-face with the sort of woman who is strong enough to help you overcome it. You’re that kind of woman, Allanah.”

  “Do you really think that whatever he doesn’t want me to know is so bad?”

  He shook his head without hesitation. “No. I think he’s made mistakes. We all do. But he’s so innately good that he doesn’t offer himself the same grace he would show anyone else. You just remember that whenever you find out what it is, okay?”

  I w
asn’t sure how I could possibly agree to that without knowing, but I nodded anyway.

  “And what about you? What mistakes did you make that you didn’t want grandmother to find out about?”

  He shook his head and clucked his tongue at me. “Nope. Sorry. While revealing my past was necessary for me to have a true relationship with your grandmother, it isn’t for me to have one with you. Those secrets were shared with the only person that ever needed to hear them. I’ve truly let all of that go.”

  I couldn’t fault him for that. I imagined if I lived my life well enough, there would be lots of tales I would never want to share with my grandchildren someday either.

  “I can understand that.”

  “Good.”

  He stood, making it clear that my visit had come to an end.

  “Now, get yourself back home and start sorting out your work schedule. I don’t want you to have any possible excuses pop up last minute that might keep you from this trip.”

  He walked me to the door, giving me a great big hug before gently shoving me outside and closing the door in my face.

  “Love you too, Gramps.” Laughing, I whispered the words as I walked back to my car.

  Chapter 31

  Cagair Castle, Scotland

  * * *

  Sydney stood on the steps of Cagair Castle waiting for him as he’d known she would be, as he drove up the long driveway leading to the castle’s main doors.

  The sight of his friend, smiling and waving with her baby in her arms and her husband beside her, was enough to provide some relief to the misery that had settled deep inside him the moment he landed in Scotland. Pulling the car to a stop, he quickly shifted gears and turned off the engine, stretching his legs as he climbed out of the small, compact rental before reaching inside the vehicle to free the over-excited Tink.

  “Calm yerself, lass. I know ye are in need of a good run.” He set her on the ground allowing her to run free around the castle grounds while he went to greet his friends.