She shook her head and made a tsking noise before she placed both her little palms flat against Sarah’s cheeks.
Sarah’s breath froze in her lungs. Feelings equally as strong as the ones she’d received from Will coursed through her system. Wave after wave of curiosity, recognition and happiness crashed over her. The flood of emotion that swamped her was so intense, her eyes closed, and for a moment she thought she might lose consciousness.
“I knew it,” the little girl whispered as she placed a kiss on Sarah’s cheek. The deluge of emotions stopped as quickly as they had begun, although the child still held Sarah’s face in her chubby little hands.
“Rosalyn Maura MacKiernan! What do you think you’re doing?”
Sarah opened her eyes to search for the clearly American, clearly breathless, voice. It came from a woman standing in front of them, hands on her hips. Or, more accurately, where her hips would be if she weren’t so very pregnant.
“Look, Mommy. I found an auntie.” Rose beamed at the woman. “But she doesn’t gots a Faerie kiss like ours.” The child jumped off Sarah’s lap and ran to the woman, giggling and hugging as much of her as she could throw her arms around. She took her mother’s hand and tugged her forward. “Auntie Sarah? This is my mommy.”
“No, stay where you are.” Rose’s mommy held up a hand when Sarah tried to get up. “Give me a moment and I’ll join you down there.” She laughed as she maneuvered herself onto the ground. “I feel like the proverbial beached whale.” She wiped a hand across her face. “It looks like you’ve found the only shade around the field. Oh, I’m Cate, by the way. Cate MacKiernan.”
“Cate.” Sarah nodded. She wanted to say more, but still felt weak from the bizarre encounter with Rose.
“Are you feeling okay? Dougal,” she called to the little boy standing quietly to the side. “Run get a bottle of water out of our cooler for Sarah. She looks a little pale.”
“I’m fine.” Exhausted was more like it.
“Yeah, well, too much sun maybe.” Cate frowned at her daughter. “I’m sorry if she was bothering you. Sometimes Rosie can be a bit, um, impetuous.”
“No. Not bothering.” Completely drained. Bled dry of every bit of energy in her system.
“Rosie?” Cate spoke quietly, nodding toward Sarah.
“Oh. I forgot.” The child returned to Sarah’s lap, once again placing her palms on Sarah’s cheeks. “Sorry, Auntie. I got excited that I found you.”
Warmth spread across Sarah’s face, moving out to her whole body. Within seconds, she felt as though nothing had happened. Physically, at least. Mentally was a whole different matter.
Rose dropped her hands to her lap and snuggled her head against Sarah’s shoulder, the smell of baby shampoo wafting up from her curls.
“I’m hearing an American accent. Are you here on vacation?” Cate’s question was followed by a dazzling smile, evidence of where Rose had gotten her sparkling green eyes and friendly attitude.
“Working vacation. I’m a writer.” Confusion reigned as she stumbled over her answer. What just happened with that child?
“How lovely. Are you here for long?”
“Only a couple more months.” Here she’d just gone through an extraordinary experience, yet this woman continued to visit and ask questions as if nothing had happened.
“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it? My husband was born here so we try to spend part of our year in each place. Where are you from in the States?”
Dougal returned and quietly handed a cold bottle of water to Sarah. She twisted off the cap and took a drink before answering.
“Denver.”
“No way,” Cate laughed. “We live outside Granby. What a coincidence.”
“What’s a coincidence?”
At the sound of the deep male voice, Sarah looked up. One of the men from the field had joined them and Ramos stood directly behind him. Any questions she had for the woman would have to wait.
“Sarah, this is my husband, Connor. Connor, this is Sarah…I’m sorry, I don’t know your last name.” Cate attempted to rise, but settled for a laugh and allowed her husband to haul her to her feet and tuck her under his arm.
“Sarah Douglas. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Sarah kept her hands on the child in her lap. Considering the way her day had gone so far, she didn’t want to risk shaking hands with another stranger.
“My pleasure, Sarah.” Connor turned to Ramos. “So this is yer woman?
Ramos shrugged and smiled.
Sarah narrowed her eyes, but any reply she might have intended was cut short by Cate’s excited chatter.
“Sarah’s from Denver. Imagine that. Come all this way and meet someone from home.” Cate pointed down at the child who had dozed off in Sarah’s lap. “Rosie’s adopted her. Sarah’s an auntie now.”
Connor smiled down at the sleeping child and motioned behind him with his thumb. “This is Ramos. We met on the field. More of yer coincidence, I guess. I’m meeting him while Rosie’s adopting his Sarah.”
Cate leaned around her husband, extending her hand and a smile to Ramos.
Connor squatted down and lovingly ran a hand over the tousled curls of the sleeping girl. In one fluid movement, he scooped the child into his arms and stood.
“It’s past time to have this wee lassie indoors, and her mother, too. You ken we agreed to stay only long enough for you to help cousin Elspeth get the lassies in their dancing frocks for the competition. I dinna want you tiring yerself out, Caty.” He nodded to Sarah before he turned to go.
Ramos reached down, offering Sarah his assistance to stand. She allowed him to pull her to her feet, even though she was still smarting a bit from the ‘yer woman’ remark. She needed to speak to Cate before they left.
“Do you know what happened back there?” She kept her voice low, speaking directly to Cate, her back turned to the others.
Cate nodded and then rummaged around in her pocket, pulling out a card, which she extended to Sarah.
“Here’s my card. My family has an office in Denver and you can reach me through that number, whether I’m still here or back home. We’ll have time to chat then. It’s been such a pleasure to meet you, I hope you’ll give me a call when you get home.” Cate leaned as close as her bulk would allow, giving Sarah a hug. Just before letting go, she whispered, “We’ll have a long talk and I can answer some of the questions I’m sure you’ll have.”
Sarah watched as the friendly family walked to their car, loaded up and pulled away. Her stay in Scotland, and the people she met, continued to get stranger and stranger. She clutched the card in her hand before tucking it into her pocket. That was one number she didn’t want to lose. She had every intention of making that call.
“Are you okay?” Ramos interrupted her thoughts.
“I’m fine. Why?” She turned to find him peering at her intently.
“I don’t know. You seemed a little out of it for a bit there.”
No kidding.
* * *
They’d stayed until early evening, enjoying the music and competitions.
Ramos glanced over at Sarah in the passenger seat. Her sunglasses were pushed up on her head, leaving white rings around her eyes, surrounded by pink. Too much sun for her fair skin. He should have thought of that.
“Have fun today?”
“Oh, yes. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” She scooted in her seat, turning to favor him with a huge smile. “Thank you so much for pushing me into coming with you.”
“I knew you’d like it.”
“I had a wonderful time. It was a great day.”
“You say that like it’s over.”
“Isn’t it?”
“Well, it is getting late. You hungry?”
“Famished. That chocolate-covered shortbread wore off quite a while ago.”
He grinned. “I don’t know that I’ve ever seen anyone enjoy chocolate as much as you do. You made eating that look almost sinful.”
“Gu
ilty as charged. You found my weakness. So, do we get to have chocolate somewhere on our way back?” She gave him a big fake smile, showing her teeth and batting her eyes.
He laughed. “Even better. I’ve made dinner reservations at a lovely spot in Glen Coe. Of course, there is always the chance they’ll have something chocolate for dessert.”
“Ummmm. I love dessert.” She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes, but then popped back up. “Hey, it’s going to be getting dark by the time we get there and have dinner, isn’t it?
“I should imagine so.”
“Driving these roads in the dark isn’t particularly safe.” She turned her head and looked out the window. “Or so someone once told me,” she added in a murmur.
“Well, whoever that someone was, they were absolutely correct. That’s why I made the other reservation.” He smiled at the suspicious look she turned on him.
“What other reservation?”
“I’ve reserved a room for the night in Glen Coe as well.” He arched an eyebrow and flashed a smile that had worked miracles on more than one woman in his lifetime.
“A room?” He had her full attention as she swiveled in her seat again, facing her body toward him as far as her seatbelt allowed. “As in one single room to be shared by the two of us?”
He turned up the intensity of his smile.
She didn’t appear to be fazed. “Oh, I don’t think so. One room is not going to work. Not unless…” She turned to face straight ahead, a smile playing around her mouth.
“Unless what?”
“Unless you’re planning to sleep out in this cute little car tonight.”
He laughed before responding. She had a hell of a wit once she loosened up. “I reserved two rooms.”
It was her turn to arch an eyebrow.
“Hey, can’t blame a chap for trying. I thought I’d see what you’d say.” He grinned at her again.
After a few moments of silence, she pinned him with an appraising look. “You like playing the role of bad boy, don’t you?”
“Is that what you think I do?”
She nodded and looked out her window into the gathering dusk. “I bet you fool a lot of people with that act. For the record, though, I’m not one of them. You might play the bad boy, but you’re really a good guy. Trust me when I say I know that for a fact.”
An act? Perhaps she was right. Being the bad boy suited his needs. Growing up as he had, trained from birth to fight against the life and death struggle his people faced every day, it was easy to lose sight of who he really was, what he really believed. Sometimes, remembering he was in reality the good guy was the only thing that kept him going.
He just never expected it to feel so good to have someone else acknowledge it.
* * *
“It’s so beautiful here.” Sarah’s voice sounded as wistful as she’d looked holding that little girl this afternoon, her blond curls almost blending with the child’s as they sat together on the ground.
Ramos watched her now, sitting next to him on a picnic table behind their hotel, her elbows on her knees, her hands supporting her chin as she stared out at the lake. After dinner she’d wanted to wander out for a walk and they’d ended up here, watching the moon dance over the water in silver ripples.
“See the little island out there in the loch?” She pointed off to their left. “The desk clerk told me that centuries ago feuding clansmen were rowed out to that island and left there until they settled their differences.”
“Sounds remarkably civilized.” It should be that way today, he thought, saving innocents like Sarah from getting caught in the middle of battle.
He casually placed his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to his side.
She turned to look at him, arched an eyebrow and pointedly removed his arm, scooting back to where she’d been. “I thought we covered this ground in the car today. Didn’t I make myself clear?”
“No clearer than my response.”
“Which was?”
“Can’t blame a chap for trying.” He grinned and moved his arm again, but she caught hold and pushed him back.
“Okay, let me make it crystal clear for you then. I like you. I like you a lot. As a friend. That’s it. Friendship is all I have left in me to give right now. If that’s not enough for you, then so be it.”
“All you have right now?” He watched her closely. He didn’t like the air of sadness that clung to her this evening.
She nodded her response.
“Then that’s all I ask.” He grinned again. “For now.” He allowed the silence to stretch out before he broke it once again. “It’s because of McCullough, isn’t it?”
“What?”
“That you don’t have anything else left to give. It’s because of him, isn’t it?” He wanted to hear it from her. Needed to know how she really felt. How deeply involved she was. How much she knew. About many things.
She turned away, looking out over the lake. “I suppose we should get an early start tomorrow. I hadn’t really planned to be away overnight.”
Again she avoided his questions. But this time he didn’t plan to let it go.
“Have you called him yet to tell him you’re staying the night with me?” He intentionally kept his tone light.
She shook her head. “I’m not staying with you. We’re merely staying at the same place. There’s a huge difference.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
Silence.
“In fact, you haven’t answered any of my questions about McCullough today.”
Silence.
“Why is that?” Her continued evasion puzzled him.
“I’m not discussing Ian with you. That’s an off-limits subject.”
“But isn’t he going to be worried when you don’t come back tonight?”
“No.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.
“Let me be honest here. At Glaston House it was obvious that the two of you were involved in a relationship. You can’t blame me for wanting to know what I’ll be walking into when I deliver you back home.”
“You don’t have anything to worry about, Ramos. There won’t be any angry boyfriends waiting to wreak havoc on you when we get back.”
“So you’re telling me he won’t be waiting with swords drawn when we drive up?”
“No.”
“And you’re not going to call him and tell him where you are?”
“No.”
“And in spite of how possessive he seemed, you’re saying he isn’t going to be the least bit worried when you don’t show up there tonight?” None of what she was saying meshed with what he’d seen for himself.
“No.”
“Well, then, I’m hopelessly confused. If I were in McCullough’s place right now, I’d be sick with worry. At least tell me why you won’t call.” He grinned, hoping to coax a smile from her, until he caught sight of the glistening drop rolling down her cheek. Moonlight glinted off the tear, giving the appearance of a diamond rolling down her face.
“I’m not calling because he’s not there. He’s gone.”
“When’s he due back?” A sick feeling started to grow in his stomach.
“I don’t think he’s coming back. At least not as long as I’m there,” she whispered, ending in a little hiccup of a sob.
He pulled her to him, running his hand across her hair and down her back. He should have done something earlier, should have anticipated this, reacted sooner. But his instincts had failed him. Watching McCullough with her in England, he’d been so sure the Guardian would never willingly leave her side.
Anger rolled over him. As his father had always told him, Guardians were without feeling, mere attack dogs for the evil Fae who controlled them. The same Fae who had abused his people, stealing their homes and thrusting them out into the Mortal world. They had no concern for the innocents they trod upon.
Thinking of those innocents, his conscience stung only a little at his avoiding the red flag he’
d wanted to pursue on this night. Now wasn’t the time to trouble Sarah with questions about the startling reaction she’d had to Reynard. It was obvious the woman was a Sensor. He needed to know what she could possibly have sensed in his father that affected her so violently.
He looked down at Sarah weeping silently in his arms. She was a nice lady with a good heart. He had liked her from the moment he met her. He’d hoped to avoid this. To intervene before McCullough had the opportunity to hurt her. But he’d been too late. Taken too long to press his case, too long in moving forward with the plan.
It was for the best that the Guardian was gone. In all honesty, he was relieved.
Because now that Ramos had come to know Sarah, come to respect and understand her, to care for her, how could he possibly eliminate the man she loved without being as bad as the Guardian himself?
Damn the Guardian to hell.
Twenty-two
Ian was living in hell.
Had been for the past two weeks. Fully expected to spend the rest of his life there. A hell so severe, he couldn’t imagine a way for it to get any worse.
You’d think at the very least everyone could leave him alone and let him suffer in peace.
“Look, I don’t know what happened, and I know you don’t want to talk about it. I promised I wouldn’t ask again. But for God’s sake, Ian, you can’t keep on like this.” Danny paced back and forth across the shiny wooden floor of the London flat, tunneling his hand through his hair. “Come back to Glaston House with me. Spend some time there. Wind down.”
“No.” Ian didn’t think he could ever go there again without holding his breath, expecting at any moment to see Sarah walk around every corner. Without being haunted by the smell of her, the memory of her. “No. I’m staying here. I’m fine.”
“Like hell you are. You’ve barely eaten anything and you look like death warmed over.” Danny stopped his pacing in front of the chair where Ian slumped. “Will you at least consider driving out on Friday, spend the weekend with us?”
“I’ll consider it.” He’d say anything to shut his friend up, to get him out of here. He stood and put a hand at Danny’s back. “Now go home to yer wife and son. Go. I’ll be fine.”
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