Aphrodite’s jaw dropped. How did her flit-about son know about the secret DooNell had shared with her?
“Sisters.” Cori eyed Emma over the top of her martini glass. “I always knew I liked you for some strange reason. It sure wasn’t your grumpy personality.”
Emma laughed and, instead of responding, emptied her glass and held it out for a refill from the pitcher of chocolate martini mix that Cori hogged on her side of the kitchen island. “I’m not grumpy. Just because I’m not as gullible as you are doesn’t earn me that nickname.”
“At least I don’t go around getting my heart broken to the extent you did once you bought the line Blue Eyes fed you.”
“True enough.” Emma chewed on her bottom lip as she fought back the wave of sadness that washed over her. “But was it a line, Cori? Look at who our father is—Mr. Big Shot Warlock. His main job is making up rules for witches and warlocks, and in his spare time, he watches over Whitelighters to protect them from evil demons. That one sounds like a line to me.”
“Right.” Cori pulled a barstool over and sat facing her sister. “What are you going to do, Em? You now know there is magic in this world and there are other realms where it exists, too. Can you continue to delude yourself that Ian’s a liar?”
“No.” Emma twirled the stem of glass, watching the dark liquid slosh against the sides. Bored with the game, she placed her drink on the counter. “I think he needs to be told the truth. The problem is…how do I get him to forgive my narrow-mindedness?”
“You go to Scotland. You walk up and pound on the door of that damn castle you told me about, look him in the eyes, say, “I’m sorry,” and then lay a really big smack on his mouth. A little tongue wouldn’t hurt either.”
Leave it to Cori to cut to the chase. She was right though. Any hope of getting another chance after the way she’d screwed up would require more than a phone call. And would an in person visit to say “I’m sorry” be enough now?
Chapter Thirty
Packed and ready to lay her heart on the line in less than twenty-four hours. Emma glanced at her watch and decided to do one more quick check of her email in case one of her regular tour companies had put out a job offer.
A bunch of deleted junk emails and the turn down of a meet and greet later, her finger hovered over the close button when a new email popped up from Deena. Scotland had brought about the older woman’s entrance into the world of technology in order to stay in touch with her friends. In typical Deena fashion, in her first group email she’d declared, “this is cheaper than phone calls from this Godforsaken place.”
Great timing. Emma had been hesitant to alert her friend she planned to arrive tomorrow because she didn’t want to create a conflict for her. She’d see what Deena has to say and then decide whether to make it a surprise.
Emma, dear.
Emma smiled at the opening. Some things didn’t change. She would always be ”dear” to all the women from the tour group.
I hope this finds y’all well. The weather here’s been a right bit unsettled.
Deena’s accent came through in her email and made Emma smile. She could hear the Southern slur in her mind as she continued to read.
And that’s not all that’s unsettled. The young laird is moping around here worse than a hound dog left out of a hunt. I know it’s none of my business, and Helmond will have a hissy fit if he discovers I’ve told you this, but there are times when a gal does what she has to do and lets the chips fall where they may.
Ian spends a lot of time walking the moors and sitting on the rocky cliffs, staring at the sea. The boy’s appetite is off, and he looks a bit peaked. He hasn’t turned on his computer in days and won’t return the phone calls from his friend Brian.
I’m telling you all this in case I’m right about how you feel too. If so, you need to get your behind over here and the two of you have a sit down and hash out whatever the problem is. There are times when it’s up to the woman to get a situation straightened out, and I believe this is one of those.
Emma studied the words on the screen and for the first time since she’d made the decision to confront Ian face to face, hope surged in her. They both were miserable without each other, and if Ian McCabe was the kind of man she thought him to be, he’d understand her earlier reactions and give them a chance.
She hit reply. It was time to let Deena in on her plans.
“Dear, it is so good to see you.”
Emma returned Deena’s bone-crushing hug. She was happy to see the older woman and glad she’d have a shoulder to cry on in case things didn’t work out with her efforts to reconcile with Ian.
They stood back and assessed the changes in each other. Emma knew she’d lost weight and wasn’t surprised when her friend commented on it.
“You’re skinny as a rail, dear. I’m going to have to work on putting more meat on your wee bones.”
Emma laughed at the blend of Southern euphemisms with the Scottish one. Deena had changed, and not only in her speech. She had a softer look to her face, and the hair that had reminded Emma of sheer determination in its steel color had become a soft mop of silver curls.
“Let’s get you settled. I’ve made up your old room for you, and Helmond will take care of your bag.”
Like magic, the little man appeared. So good to have you back again, Miss Emma. He picked up Emma’s large bag and started up the stairs after he gave his wife an adoring smile.
I hope Ian and I can look at each other like that again.
Emma stopped her friend from following. Her bag could wait to be unpacked. The sooner she did what she came here for, the sooner the butterflies in her stomach could settle.
“Deena, I need to see Ian. Do you know where I can find him?”
The older woman studied her for a moment and then nodded. “He’ll most likely be down on the cliffs watching the waves. It seems to calm him a wee bit.”
“Thanks.” Emma gave her a quick hug and ran out the door.
“Do you remember how to get there?” Deena stood in the doorway, concern written over her face.
Emma turned and waved. “Yes. I’ll be fine.”
“Wait!” Deena waved for her to come back. “You need a heavier coat. The wind is downright frigid.”
By the time Emma returned to the open doorway, Deena met her with a heavy jacket.
“Thanks. In my excitement I didn’t notice how cold the wind is.” She kissed Deena’s wrinkled cheek and started down the steps again.
Free at last, she rushed toward the back of the castle where she found the path that would lead across the moor and down to the cliffs that hovered about the pounding surf.
She saw him as soon as she came over the last hill. His chin rested on raised knees as he sat and stared out over the water. The calming effects of the water were another thing they had in common.
Emma stood for a moment and drew strength from the foamy waves below. The wind whipped her hair around her face, and the bitter chill made her glad Deena had called her back for a heavier coat. She shoved her numb hands into the deep pockets and wished she’d remembered her gloves.
It’s time to face your fate. She stepped closer so he could hear her above the wind. “Ian?”
He lifted his head and turned toward her voice. The color drained from his face, and his blue eyes darkened.
Her heart in her throat, Emma hesitated a moment and stepped toward him. “Ian, we need to talk.”
Ian watched as the apparition walked toward him. Deena was right. He had to stop skipping meals, even if it was difficult to swallow the food that became tasteless mush in his mouth. He’d had a touch of light-headedness a few times, but now he was seeing things. He could almost swear Emma stood in front of him.
“Ian, I’m sorry.” She spoke his name again and this time placed her hand on his chest. He loved the way her fingers massaged across the wool of his tartan. Did she feel his pounding heart? This was no apparition. This was Emma, his Emma. The woman he loved with hi
s whole being.
Her thoughts reached out to him and he knew. The gift to read others had returned. “There’s no need for you to say more.”
“Yes. I need to admit what a fool I’ve been. I’m sorry I didn’t ask you about what I thought I saw that night in the library. I’m sorry for jumping to the wrong conclusions when you told me about your family.”
“Nae, love.” Ian leaned his forehead against hers and held her cold hands in his. “If anyone needs to say I’m sorry, it is I. I should have listened to you when you tried to explain what I saw in Edinburgh.”
He pulled her against him, and the shivers of her body matched his. Hers might have been from the cold, but the sensations that ran through him weren’t weather related. His rebellious cock sprang to life for the first time in days and he gave into the need to vent his joy. Ian threw back his head and let loose with a howl any wolf would envy.
“Wow, I’ve never driven a man wild before.” Emma buried her face against his tartan and giggled.
Her mood turned serious and she pulled back. “Ian, we can say ‘I’m sorry’ until the cows come home, but we really need to talk, and under conditions where we aren’t in danger of being blown off a cliff.”
She was right. The wind had escalated in its intensity.
I wonder if my ability to control weather has returned. If I can calm the icy blasts down, it will make the walk back to Sidh Tórr more comfortable.
As much as he hated to break his contact with Emma, Ian stepped away and moved to the edge of the cliff. He inhaled deeply and willed his mind to focus on the sounds around him. In a matter of minutes, the gale that assaulted him changed to a stiff breeze that softened as he relaxed.
Turning he grinned at Emma. “I still have it.”
“Have what?”
“Come.” He reached out his hand for hers. Her frigid fingers were close to frostbitten and he needed to get her inside before a blazing fire. “I’ll tell you when we’re settled comfortably with a wee dram to thaw our bones.”
“It’s time we retire, love.” Ian nuzzled his face against Emma’s hair. He needed to discover what she used to wash it and make sure she always had plenty on hand. The scent reminded him of spring, a season that never lasted long enough in Scotland.
“Mmmm.” She snuggled closer and wrapped an arm around his waist.
The thaw had made her sleepy, but sleep wasn’t what he had in mind. He’d spent too much time not being able to make love to his soul mate, and another night wouldn’t pass without their joining.
She’s lost weight.
The woman he carried up the stairs now was lighter than she had been.
I’ll have to make sure she’s eating. I didn’t fall in love with skin and bones.
Emma raised her head from his shoulder as they entered his room. “What? Where am I?” For a moment confusion registered on her pale face, but a smile quickly replaced it.
“My room, mo gradh.”
“What did you just call me?”
“My love.” Ian nuzzled her cheek as he placed her on the bed. “That’s what you are and will always be.”
The comment seemed to have scored points. Emma wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down beside her. “That goes two ways, my faerie god.”
Laughter bubbled inside Ian and spilled out, the first real laugh he’d had in months. “Faerie god. That’s a new one. Can’t say I’ve ever been called that before.”
“There’s a first time for everything.” A wicked grin spread across Emma’s full mouth. “And though it’s not the first time, I think too much time has passed since you last proved to me what kind of stamina a faerie god has.”
“My faerie half is more than happy to grant your wish, my lady. The god half will prove his stamina.” Ian captured her mouth with his and tasted long and deep. The kisses shared downstairs as they thawed out with tea and a wee dram, in front of the fire blazing in the stone hearth, had only been teasers.
Chapter Thirty One
Emma’s stomach rolled around worse than with her last case of the flu. If this is what “meet the family” feels like, thank heavens I didn’t have to endure it for relationships that didn’t work.
Ian gave her hand a quick squeeze as they waited for the door to open. The time she’d spent with Di, when his grandmother decided she needed to be defrumped, should have made it easier. Instead, because of that, she’d changed her outfit at least five times and still wasn’t sure her selection would work for the fashion conscious goddess.
His parents seemed nice enough when she’d been introduced to them in Scotland, but then she’d been a visitor their son had just met. Would they react differently now that she sported a rock on her left hand almost large enough to be viewed from the space station?
Heels clicked on what must be tiled floors, and a rush of panic shut off her air supply.
“Breathe.” Ian leaned in and planted a kiss on her mouth as the door opened.
“Good evening, Sire. Miss. Come in.” The prim and proper butler made Helmond appear almost warm and talkative. “If you’ll follow me, please.”
All righty, then.
Emma resisted the impulse to ask Ian who had stuck a poker up the penguin’s ass and instead clutched his hand for moral support. Yes, she knew some of the family, but what about the ones she didn’t know? His grandparents, the faerie king and queen? Would they hate her? And what about the Nordic god grandfather? Their titles alone were intimidating. She could only imagine how scary all of them together would be. Shit. The thought of all these immortals gathered for the express purpose of using their microscopic senses, or whatever they called them, was enough to make a sane woman run for the hills.
Guess who’s not sane!
When the butler stopped at the door, Emma got a quick peek of a room grand enough to make the British Monarchy green with envy. Di sure knew how to put on the Ritz.
A brief bow from their guide and a sweep of his hand was all it took for Ian to pull her along with him. A small group clustered around a gilded bar that blended into the room decorated entirely in gold and white, down to the marble floors.
So glad I don’t have to clean this place. Totally impractical.
“Ian.” Di glided across the room to meet them in a swirl of white chiffon and kissed her grandson on the cheek.
“Emma.” Aphrodite paused for a brief moment and then opened her arms for a hug. “This is new. I’m delighted to see you’ve kept up with my fashion suggestions.” The goddess stepped back with a toss of her blonde curls and smoothed her toga. “Come and meet the rest of the family.”
“We’ve met.” Ian’s mother had left the group clustered around the bar and linked her arm through Emma’s. “Ian’s father and I are delighted he had the good sense to not let you get away. I told Annarr the night we met that something was brewing between the two of you.”
The few steps across the room brought them to the rest of the group. “This is my mother, Tanna.”
“Your Majesty.” Emma did a quick curtsy and hoped she hadn’t botched it too badly.
Tanna waved her hand and laughed. “You’re one of the family, and we don’t stand on formality.” The queen stood on her tiptoes and kissed Emma on the cheek.
“And you know Annarr.” Shaylee pulled her toward Ian’s father.
The warmth of the smile he gave her steadied her shaky nerves. Her future father-in-law would prove to be an ally, her instincts shouted. She wanted to stay in the protection of his hug and not have to face the rest of the family. Something tugged at her, telling her she was in for another surprise.
“Emma, this is my father, Oberon. And the old bear next to him is Odin.”
Oberon! Odin! Where have I heard those names? Right, Ian’s books and—no, it’s not possible!
Reluctantly she left the shelter of Annarr’s hug and turned to face the grandfathers. Her mouth dropped at the sight of the two men from her tour a few weeks ago. They were dressed differently today, and
the big guy didn’t have a patch over one eye, but there was no doubt it was them.
“To clarify which of us is the big guy, I’m Odin.” Still a contender for a mountain, he stepped forward and scooped her in a rib-crushing hug that pushed the air from her lungs.
His release allowed her to breathe again, and he stepped back to allow his shorter companion room.
“I know this comes as a surprise, lass.”
The Faerie King’s guilty smile almost won her heart, but not quite. Annoyance jumped to the top of the list. “You two spied on me!”
Both had the good sense to look sheepish and nod, before Oberon gave her a wink and said, “Aye, lass. That we did.”
“What!” Ian’s anger surpassed hers. “You did what? Honestly, grandfathers. I can’t believe you two at times.” His cheeks flushed a deep red, and his blue eyes turned a stormy grey. Emma sensed a sudden change in the atmosphere. If she didn’t calm him, there’d be a storm the likes of which California hadn’t seen. “Ian, it’s all right. They were part of a tour I conducted in Denver.”
“Given your lack of interest in the opposite sex, grandson, we had to see what made this one so special.” Odin crossed his massive arms over his chest and met Ian’s glare with his good eye. “After we met her, we understood.” He turned to Emma, and his glare softened. “As Oberon said, she’s a right fair lass, and smart, too. We were afraid you’d find a way to muck things up with her.”
Emma reached up and kissed the God of Wisdom on the chin and buzzed the top of the Faerie King’s head. She’d liked the strange duo then and would have enjoyed spending more time with them if they hadn’t wanted to discuss her trip to Scotland, a subject too raw for her at the time.
“Ian, let bygones be that, and be grateful you have a family that cares so much for you.”
Beyond Magic (Magical Love Book 1) Page 24