Dermot’s breath caught, and his chest tightened. What would it be like to wake every day certain in the knowledge that Sidney was near enough to hold? Some other man would have that joy, not he. His jaw clenched against the rending pain in his chest.
“I love this old place.” She smiled at him over her shoulder, turning his insides to mush. “You should come here in the spring. Waking to the sound of birdsong is amazing. It’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced.”
He nodded.
“My great-grandfather built this lodge with his two brothers. I’ve spent summers here with my extended family for as long as I can remember.”
She headed toward the kitchen while he remained glued to his spot.
“It’s been modernized over the years, of course.” She returned and handed him a mug of black coffee.
Their hands touched, and his blood sang.
“I was beginning to think you’d sleep all day.” She smiled.
A flicker of rebellion lit inside him. Immortality wouldn’t be so bad with Sidney by his side. Pushing the thought away, he took a breath, ready to tell her there could be no future for them. He had no future.
“Are you hungry?” Sidney slid her arm through his and tugged him toward the kitchen.
Another rebellious thought flashed through his head. He couldn’t have her forever, but he could keep her for the remainder of his miserable life. Didn’t he deserve a little happiness?
It was wrong. In every fiber of his being he knew it was wrong, yet there were things he could do to make up for the hurt he’d cause. Sidney was young. She’d get over him quickly. He frowned. The notion didn’t sit well.
“Dermot, are you all right? You haven’t spoken a single word.”
His breath came out in a whoosh. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding it. “Have a seat, Sidney. There are things we must settle between us.”
“Can’t even take one day off, can you?” Sidney shook her head.
“A day off? From what, being cursed or from the burden of guilt I carry? I’m responsible for what happened. Twelve men are depending upon me to end it. Tell me how to take a day off from that, and I’ll gladly do it.”
“Have you thought about maybe taking a long vacation after the curse is ended? You need to learn how to relax and have some fun.”
Now would be the time to tell her there would be no after the curse is ended. Now was the time to do right by her. Dermot pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit. She rolled her eyes and sat down.
“Okay, so what do I have to do? I remember you said something about returning to the scene of the crime on the date it happened.”
“I spoke to your brother before I came after you. He and I reached a settlement—”
“A settlement? This isn’t the Middle Ages. My brother doesn’t have a say in my life just because he’s the only man in the family.”
“I know.” He reached into his pocket for his wallet. “You were no’ speaking to me at the time if you’ll recall. You should be compensated for your help. We’re scheduled to leave on Saturday, and you’ll be away for slightly under a week.” He reached into his wallet, pulled out the certified check and slid it across the table toward her. “It’s time away from work.”
Sidney picked up the check, and her mouth fell open. “There are six zeroes in this figure. You have this kind of money?”
“We were a wealthy clan in the fifth century. Our wealth has done nothing but accumulate since.” Dermot gestured toward the check. “We will no’ feel the loss.” He watched her process the information. When she lifted her eyes to his, her expression was one of hurt and anger. “Lass, you told me yourself you have more debt than assets. This will eliminate all the debt. You can cease worrying about the future.”
She stared out the window and refused to look at him. “Once I knew your story was true…and after what happened between us…” She shook her head. “You’re paying me off.” She took a shuddering breath. “I suppose this check covers last night, as well.”
“Do no’ say such a thing. Do no’ speak of yourself in that manner. I will no’ have it.” He reached for her hands.
“No?” She shot up from her place and took a few steps out of his reach. “Wasn’t seducing me part of the plan? Get her into bed, toy with her emotions, and she won’t be able to refuse you. Isn’t that what you thought?”
“Nay.” Swamped with guilt, he rose from his place and took a step toward her.
She turned her back to him and stomped out of the kitchen.
“Where are you going?”
“For a walk.”
Desperate to put distance between them, Sidney snatched her parka from its peg and rushed out the back door. She seethed, and hot tears stung her eyes. Love is for fools and the weak, wasn’t that what he’d said? She was nothing but a means to an end to him. Last night had been a calculated assault on her own stupid vulnerabilities. What had he said about vulnerability? Ah, yes, it’s a liability.
She found herself on a favorite trail connecting privately owned land with the surrounding state park. She inhaled the cold pine-scented air and glanced at the dark gray sky. The promise of snow hung in the air. Being in a place so well known and holding so many good memories calmed her wounded ego. Here in the forest she could admit to herself that she had fantasized about a future with Dermot MacKay. She had let her guard down, and he’d gotten under her skin. A mistake she would not repeat.
What could she do with five million dollars? Such a staggering amount of money would set her up for life debt free. If he was willing to pay her so much for her help, ending the curse must mean everything to him.
Fat flakes of snow drifted down, settling in her hair. Sidney brushed them off and hiked on. The exertion cleared her mind. It was a relief after the confusion she felt around Dermot.
Had she overreacted? No. The insult had been real enough. She would’ve helped him for nothing. She cared about him, even if he didn’t care back.
Her heart ached. Did some part of her still grieve for the life with Dermot cut short so many centuries ago? One way or the other, Sidney needed answers. She’d go to Scotland. At the very least, her financial worries would be over.
Snow fell in earnest now, obscuring the path before her. Time to head back. Sidney stared toward the sky and took a step forward—into nothing. Her toe caught on a jutting root inside the hole. Her ankle twisted, something tore as she fell face-first into the wet snow and pine needles. A burning sensation ripped through her. Pushing herself up to sitting sent nausea roiling in her stomach. She couldn’t catch her breath for several seconds. “Shit.”
The wind picked up, stirring the large flakes into swirls, confusing her sense of direction. Was it only because she’d neglected to bring gloves, scarf and hat that it suddenly felt a whole lot colder? Her jeans were wet from the facer she’d taken, increasing the chill.
She studied her surroundings. Moss on the boulder next to the path indicated the direction north. If she managed to stay on the trail heading south, she’d be fine. One thing for certain, she couldn’t remain on the ground. She used a sapling to pull herself up and tried taking a step. Searing pain brought her up fast. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and stars danced before her eyes. She sat down on the boulder and put her head between her knees, taking deep breaths through her nose. Fainting out here could be fatal.
Gritting her teeth against the pain, she pulled herself up to standing again and hopped from one tree to the next until exhaustion forced her to stop. Her hands had gone numb with cold. She blew warm breath into them and tucked them into her pockets.
It would be impossible to stay warm in the dropping temperature in her present condition. She had to get moving. She shivered and scanned the area, clamping her jaw tight to keep her teeth from chattering. All sense of direction had deserted her. The path had disappeared in the blinding snow.
Her racing heart beat against her ribcage like a trapped bird. Not good. Panic was the enemy in the
wilderness. She hobbled to a felled tree and sank down. Her head spun, and she felt faint again. A twig snapped nearby. She held her breath to listen. The wolf population flourished in the state parks in Northern Minnesota, and she was in a weakened state. She shook her head at her own foolishness. Unlike her, wolves were intelligent. They’d be holed up in their snug dens during a blizzard.
Dizzy, hurting and frightened, she put her elbows on her knees, and her face into her hands, fighting like hell to remain conscious. Another twig snapped, closer this time. Sidney sat up too quickly and listened to the muffled sounds of something large approaching through the brush. She couldn’t get enough air into her lungs, and stars danced with the falling snow in front of her face. Blackness closed in all around her.
Strong arms lifted her, and Dermot’s scent filled her senses. His warmth seeped past the fear. She put her arms around his neck, buried her face in his jacket and burst into tears.
“You’re safe, mo cridhe. Hush now. I have you,” Dermot murmured. He kissed her forehead and cradled her close to his body.
“Am I hallucinating?” she asked through her tears. She felt his chest rumble against her.
“Nay. Rest now, little one.”
“Now I know I’m hallucinating.” She hiccupped against his neck. “No one ever calls me little. Do you have any idea how much I weigh?”
Dermot grunted. “I’ve a fair notion, aye.”
“I was so afraid.”
“Do ye no’ ken, Sidney? I willna allow any harm tae come tae ye.” His brogue had thickened, and his voice held the hoarseness of strong emotion. “Ever.”
“How did you find me? How did you know I needed help?”
“A part of me went with you on your walk. I never left ye.”
Chapter Twelve
Dermot lowered her into a chair, helped her out of her parka and tossed it over the couch. He took a seat on the ottoman in front of her and removed the boot from her uninjured foot. When he reached for the other, she winced and inhaled sharply. He started working on the laces. “Do you think anything is broken, lass?”
Sidney bit her lip and shook her head. Dermot didn’t like her pallor or the beads of sweat on her forehead. He couldn’t tolerate seeing her hurt. His own helplessness to make it better twisted his gut.
“We need to get you out of these wet trousers.” Dermot started to unsnap her jeans.
She batted his hands away. “I can do it,” she gritted out.
“Fine.” Dermot snatched a blanket from one of the chairs and laid it over her lap. “I’ll make a tea to help with the pain and swelling.” He left her to undress while he fetched his packets of medicinal herbs. Stubborn woman. She had not reacted the way he’d expected when presented with the check. She should have been pleased that her financial worries were over. Instead of gratitude, she’d given him anger.
Once he was in the kitchen, he set a kettle of water on the gas range, then pulled his mobile phone from his pocket and hit speed dial. After arranging things with Lachlan, Dermot made the tea, snatched a bag of frozen vegetables from the freezer and returned to tend Sidney’s ankle.
“I heard you talking to someone.” Sidney scooted herself up in the chair.
“Aye. My men. Lachlan and Niall are driving up. One of them will drive your Jeep back to St. Paul.”
“In this blizzard? It’s not safe. Call them back and tell them not to come. They’ll never find the turn off.” She lifted her chin and glared at him. “It’s my left ankle that’s sprained. There’s no reason why I can’t drive myself back. We’ll leave early tomorrow morning. The snow will have stopped by then.”
“We’ll leave this evening, and you’ll ride with me.” He returned her glare with one of his own. “Do no’ worry about the weather. I’ll take care of it once I’ve seen to your injury.”
“How can you take care of the weather?”
“I’ll divert the storm and send it elsewhere.”
Her brow rose. “You can do that?”
“I can exert my will over the natural world, but magic has never been my area of expertise.” He shrugged. “I know a few spells. I can do the basics, but I was always more healer than mage.” Dermot sat on the ottoman and placed the tea beside her. “Drink this.” He lifted her swollen ankle into his lap and removed her sock. The feel of her soft skin brought memories of the night before rushing back to him. Taking a deep breath, he concentrated on his task. “Can you move your foot?”
Nodding, Sidney grimaced and wiggled her foot against his lap, sending his pulse rate soaring. Gods, what kind of an arse would become aroused in a situation like this?
“I think it’s just a sprain. There are a few walking casts in the closet over there.” She pointed. “One of them should fit. This isn’t the first sprained ankle we’ve had here.”
“Is there a hospital nearby?” His hands skimmed her calf as if they had a mind of their own.
“I’m not going to a hospital for a sprained ankle.”
“It should be x-rayed.”
“No.”
“You’re being unreasonable.” He probed her ankle for breaks and placed the frozen vegetables over the swelling.
“I don’t have health insurance.”
“I’m sure the check I tried to give you would more than cover the cost.” His irritation got the better of him. “Why are you angry? It’s no’ logical.”
“You’re paying me off like I’m some kind of whore.” Sidney removed her foot from his lap and covered her leg with the blanket. “What’s not to understand?”
“You said yourself you have more debt than assets. You should be pleased. I’ve resolved the problem for you. The check was drafted before I arrived. I didn’t plan what happened last night. I didn’t want…” He shook his head. “I never meant for it to happen.”
She blinked several times. “If you didn’t want to have sex with me, then why did you?”
Frustration twisted his gut. “Och, lass. You’re being irrational. The money will help you. The check had nothing to do with last night.”
“You know what? You’re annoying. Quit telling me I’m irrational, unreasonable and illogical. Who are you anyway, Mr. Spock? Go live long and prosper somewhere the hell else.” She clamped her mouth shut and turned away.
He wanted to shake her, or hold her close. Maybe both. Ballocks! Dermot stood up to leave. “Drink the sodding tea.”
How could this one woman cause everything in his perfectly ordered world to spiral out of control? He needed to get a grip, and sending the blizzard away would provide him with the perfect focus. He almost looked forward to the headache to come. Flinging the front door open, Dermot stormed out into the maelstrom, welcoming the biting cold and swirling snow against his overheated body. Gods, she made him want to tear his hair…or mount her like a rutting stag.
He was so caught up with emotion he almost missed it. A trace of magic tainted the air surrounding the lodge. The storm had been sent, and he recognized the energy imprint. Had Áine meant to harm Sidney? The thought turned his blood as cold as the blizzard swirling around him. It was against Tuatha law to harm a human. Not even Áine, as arrogant as she was, would risk such a thing. Still, he wove a spell of protection over the lodge before turning to the weather.
Nay, not even Áine could have foreseen Sidney’s walk through the woods. She probably intended to trap them there until the anniversary of Mairéad’s murder had passed. Either way, she’d violated her father’s terms more than once, and this time she’d put a mortal’s life in danger. If Dagda Mór found out, he would not tolerate such an infraction, not even from his daughter.
Standing still as stone in the middle of the yard, Dermot gathered his energy. He channeled all the churning emotions to his center, feeding the power until he felt he’d burst. Raising his arms, he took a deep breath and released the energy in a steady flow into the sky. Dermot pushed with all his magical might until the front moved farther north and east away from the route his men must travel. S
pent, Dermot fell to his knees and sucked in the frigid air in gulps. Though he’d depleted his energy, the turmoil inside him continued to rage.
Sidney twisted around in the leather chair to watch Dermot as he raised his arms toward the sky. Her breath caught in her throat, and the tears she’d been holding back spilled down her cheeks. As much as he exasperated her, she found him so damned attractive it hurt to look at him.
When he fell to his knees, the urge to rush to his aid almost overwhelmed her. She had to fight to remain inside. Leaning her head back against the chair, she closed her eyes and breathed deep until the tears stopped. No matter what she felt for him, she needed to protect herself, guard her heart and keep her distance.
Glancing at the tea beside her, she lifted the mug and gave the contents a tentative sniff. It had a pleasant, herbal smell laced with honey. She took a sip just as Dermot staggered through the front door. Sidney set the mug on the table and swung her good leg off the ottoman to push herself up from the chair.
“Stay where you are.” Dermot’s voice came out a hoarse command.
“You look as if you need help.” Sidney frowned at him.
“I’ll be fine.” He rubbed his temples and moved toward the kitchen.
The snow had stopped, and the clouds were breaking in patches. All of her nerves were on full alert. She leaned to her left so she could watch him in the kitchen while he poured himself a mug of the same tea he’d given her.
He’d done it. Dermot MacKay controlled the weather. She should have been frightened. Instead, his display of strength and raw power sent a flush of heat thrumming through her. “Damn, damn and double damn.” She reached for the tea.
“Did you say something?” He sank onto the couch across from her and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.
“Yes,” she snapped. “I said damn.”
Heart of the Druid Laird Page 14