Viking King (The MacLomain Series: Viking Ancestors, Book 1)

by Sky Purington

  “Why would I want to hear his name,” she mumbled and took a sip of his beer before returning it. “That’s crazy.”

  “Hey, I understand more than most the whole idea of hearing what a person wants to hear instead of the reality of things,” he said. “And while I love the hell out of you being here, I know damned well you made some pretty big life changes when you moved to Winter Harbor.”

  Megan looked skyward. “Don’t you start on me too.” Then she narrowed her eyes. “So what are you wanting to hear instead of the reality of things?” She regretted it the minute she said it and sighed. “Awe, shoot, Amber?”

  Sean swigged his beer and nodded at the boat. “We gonna put her in the water soon?”

  Megan sat next to him and knocked shoulders. “Way to evade the question.” She softened her voice as she eyed him. “I thought you were good with your arrangement with my sister?”

  “Most days I am,” he said, voice rough. “Doesn’t mean I don’t want more sometimes.”

  The sadness was obvious in his voice and she did well to keep pity out of her response. “Who knows maybe one day down the line…”

  “Naw, not Amber.” He stared at the boat. “She needs more adventure than I can offer her. More of a challenge.”

  If nothing else, he knew her baby sister well. But she wouldn’t drown all hope. “People change.”

  “Not her,” he promised and shrugged a shoulder. “And honestly, I wouldn’t want her to.”

  Megan set aside the box and rested her head on his shoulder. There were all sorts of comforting words she could offer, but he’d see through them. The truth was he’d cast the line dead on when it came to Amber. Best to lead the conversation out of troubled waters and back to calmer seas. “They’re calling for good weather. I thought we’d take our boat out tomorrow morning.”

  “No can do,” he said. “I’ve got to work. How about the day after?”

  “No good. Nor’easter coming in. Saturday then?”

  “Nope, made plans with Amber.”

  She lifted her head and frowned. “You’d go on a date with my sister before taking our new baby out for her first swim?”

  Sean chuckled. “Heck yeah. Besides, the storm won’t be clear of us by then.”

  “Maybe not,” she conceded and started to walk alongside the boat again, running her palm over the hull. “But you know a little bit of rough weather doesn’t faze me.”

  Sean crossed his arms over his chest. “We’ve built a miniature replica of a Viking ship and everyone in Winter Harbor knows about it. You row this thing, which by the way is far different than anything you’re used to, alone into turbulent water you’ll make the local newspaper in a bad way.” His lips pulled down. “Besides, I should be with you for its maiden voyage.”

  “Then tell Amber you have plans and we’ll take it out.” Megan grinned. “Give her a dose of her own medicine. Make her wait for you.”

  He shook his head. “If only I were that strong. Nope, I get her a few times a year and intend to take advantage.”

  “Ugh.” There’d be no gaining ground here. “Fine, we’ll aim for early next week.”

  Sean nodded, swigged the last of his beer and stood. “Enough moping out here. Come inside and get some rest.”

  “Safe to assume you’re sleeping over then?”

  He chuckled. “Where else would I be?”

  “Right. Go on then. I’ll be in soon.”

  “Will you?” Sean nodded at the boat. “Or am I going to find you sleeping in that tomorrow morning?”

  Megan shot it a contemplative look. “Not such a bad idea.” Then she winked at him. “Kidding. I’ll be in soon. Go on.”

  Sean eyed what she suspected were her bloodshot eyes for another long moment before he nodded and turned away, saying over his shoulder, “I’ll be back out in ten if you haven’t turned in.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” she muttered under her breath and tucked the metal box back into the drawer. Leaning against the workbench, she continued to eye the boat. Though Sean had certainly helped, she had put in most of the work building it. Regardless, it would always be theirs. And though he said it’d make the local paper if she went down in a storm, Megan knew it’d make the paper no matter what. It was a work of art. With clean, smooth lines it was built historically accurate.

  Made of oak, they’d fastened the boards with authentic iron nails to a single sturdy keel and then to each other so that one plank overlapped the next. The Viking’s had called it the ‘clinker’ technique rather than the more conventional method of first building an inner skeleton for the hull. Then they’d affixed evenly spaced floor timbers to the keel and not to the hull. This insured resilience and flexibility. After that, they added crossbeams to provide a deck and a few rowing benches, and secured a beam along the keel to support the mast.

  Yes, it was all done on a much smaller scale but she was proud.

  Though she’d dabbled in making model ships, this offered a whole new sense of accomplishment. It provided more fulfillment than those cut-throat real estate deals in her past. Sure, she’d felt a certain amount of pride back then but it always had more to do with her competitive nature rather than anything else.

  But perhaps age and her relationship status had something to do with that. After all, half the reason she pursued real estate like she did was because Nathan had. Right out of college, they’d made a contest out of it. They were young and ambitious…and talented.

  Megan ground her jaw and flicked off the lights. About the last thing she wanted to do was think about her ex-husband. She wanted thoughts of him nowhere near this beautiful boat and all the love she’d put into it.

  While she had no trouble pushing thoughts of Nathan aside, Naðr Véurr continued to haunt her through the night. It was too damn uncanny that his name was in that manuscript. And though she’d gone along with Sean’s theory that his name might’ve been mentioned before, she’d spent a great deal of time researching it. When she had no luck on the internet beyond the actual meaning of the name, she’d hit the local libraries. Nothing. But there had to be something out there. So not for the first time, Megan tossed and turned restlessly through the night until the sun cracked over the horizon.

  A few loud woofs made her sit up in bed. Uh oh. She flung the blanket over herself moments before a Husky/Shepard mix burst into the room and jumped on the bed. With a hearty laugh, she flung her arms around the excited pooch. “Hello my sweet girl.” Burying her face in the thick fur, she smiled. “Welcome home, Guardian.”

  She’d only been in Winter Harbor a few months when a local suggested she keep a dog around for protection. Though relatively crime free, it was rather isolated. Absolutely not had been her initial response. Megan didn’t do dogs. Then she relented…okay, maybe a small one that wouldn’t get in the way too much. Instead, she ended up with a light tan little mutt with a gray racer stripe down her back. As it turned out, the pup grew into a great beauty that currently weighed ninety pounds.

  Amber sauntered in and flung herself down on the bed beside them, laughing as Guardian smothered her in kisses. Around heavy licks, she said, “Sean picked her up from the groomers before he went to work.”

  “I figured.” Megan lay next to Amber as Guardian cuddled down between them. “God, the sun has barely risen. Did you two sleep at all?”

  Amber grinned as she patted the dog. “Oh, here and there.”

  Megan shifted onto her side facing Amber and yawned. “Let’s go back to sleep.”

  Amber lay on her side as well. “Not all that tired.”

  Megan shut her eyes. “Then go cook breakfast.”

  A weighty silence passed and she cracked open an eye. Amber was staring at her.

  “What?” Megan mumbled.

  “I’m worried about this guy Veronica just met.”

  Not ‘I’m worried about Sean because I keep tugging at his heartstrings’. But Megan knew better. Eyes again closed, she said, “Veronica can take care of herself.”
>
  “Veronica’s playing the same game you did.”

  Megan didn’t take the bait but focused on breakfast. “I seem to recall you had a talent with pancakes.”

  “He’s pressuring her to do things she has no interest in. Apparently he’s been in the business for years and truly sees star potential in her,” Amber said, a frown apparent in her voice. “But we both know that’s not the direction she should go in.”

  She got where Amber was going with this. Megan should have never pursued real estate because Nathan did. “I was a lot younger than Veronica is now. She’s got a good head on her shoulders. If she wants this go with it, sis.”

  Yet Megan was concerned as well. Veronica had made no mention of this guy to her and after their brief conversation last night about her being a lawyer…

  “I know you’re worried too,” Amber said softly.

  Megan put a hand to her forehead and opened her eyes. “If there’s one thing that’s been proven time and time again with us three, when it comes to men we’re going to do what we want to do.”

  “True.” Amber continued to pat Guardian. “But that doesn’t mean we stop worrying about each other.”

  “Of course it doesn’t.” Apparently there would be no more sleeping. Megan swung her legs over the side of the bed. “I’ll talk to her while she’s here.”

  “I’m sorry to put this on you but you’re the only one she’ll listen to.”

  Her little sister truly had no idea how much Veronica had changed the past few years but there was no point in concerning her. “It’s okay.” Megan looked over her shoulder. “Now that I’m officially up, pancakes?”

  Amber patted the bed. “Sure. Lie back down. I’ll take care of it.”

  Megan shook her head and padded into the adjoining bathroom. “No. I’m up. Couldn’t really sleep anyways.”

  “You all right, sis?”

  Megan braced her hands on the granite top sink and stared at her red-rimmed eyes and drawn skin in the mirror. “Yeah, I’m good. Be better with pancakes.”

  A brief silence ensued before Amber responded. “You got it.”

  When Guardian sat next to Megan, she knew her sister had left. With a deep breath, she met the light blue eyes staring up at her. “Shower time, sweet girl.” She nodded at the door. “Go follow Amber. You know she’ll spoil you rotten.”

  Guardian shifted as though excited to follow Amber but kept her eyes trained on Megan.

  With a quick ruffle on her head, she nodded at the door. “Go on now or you’ll miss out.”

  That’s all it took. Guardian bounded after Amber. Megan smiled and hopped in the shower. Regrettably it did nothing to clear her stressed and far too tired mind. Veronica didn’t overly worry her. She’d feel her sister out like she always did and see where she was at. No, what continued to eat at her was the manuscript, the Viking Naðr and all the odd things that had been happening lately in regards to it.

  Megan closed her eyes as the hot water met her chilled flesh. While her practical side continued to search out a logical explanation for all this, another side was all too aware of what else had been happening. More and more, especially since she began working on the boat, she’d been experiencing a physical reaction when she ‘heard’ the Viking’s name on the wind. Heck, when she even thought about him.

  A faceless man.

  It was almost as if she had forgotten about someone she’d been in love with and was only just remembering him. The bouts of arousal were intense but the growing sense of heartache more so. She didn’t get emotional often if ever so what Sean saw last night in the garage was a rarity. But in her defense, all that had been happening was getting to be a bit too much.

  And if she was going to be truthful with herself, that her ex had bought a house across the bay didn’t help things any. Getting as far away from Nathan as she could was a good move. But now he was close again. That definitely threw her off kilter. Add the manuscript and Naðr to the whole mix and forget it; she was working hard to keep mentally stable.

  In record time she’d showered, pulled on jeans, a white turtleneck sweater, practical boots and headed downstairs. The smell of bacon already wafted through the house, a cozy addition to the pinks and purples of the sun cresting the bay. Guardian bounded over and danced around her as she accepted a steaming hot mug of black coffee from Amber.

  “Morning, sister,” Veronica said from behind her newspaper.

  Megan shook her head and slid onto a barstool at the kitchen island. “Wow, you’re both up. Amazing.”

  “How could anybody sleep in this house last night?” Veronica lowered the paper and rolled her eyes before sipping coffee.

  “Say no more,” Megan murmured into her coffee mug.

  Amber issued a wide, toothy grin. “Not my fault Megan’s million dollar house doesn’t have sound proof walls.”

  “Like I said, say no more,” Megan reminded then gave Amber a pointed look. “There’s a loft above the garage. If you and Sean are keeping Veronica up all night, consider it yours this visit.”

  Amber scrunched her nose. “It’s drafty and smells like the stuff you use to tarnish your boat.”

  “Varnish.”

  “Whatever.”

  Megan arched one brow while lowering the other, a look that no sister dare challenge. “If you’re set on being inconsiderate then that’s your new home away from home, Little Dove.”

  “When you whip out that nickname you’ve got me by the throat.” Amber hung her head then continued cooking. “Done. I’ll take the loft.”

  Veronica smirked then hid behind the newspaper again. The three of them were settling into being around one another as easily as they always did.

  “I’m not used to seeing you read the newspaper,” Megan commented to Veronica.

  Veronica shrugged one borderline bony shoulder, folded the newspaper and set it aside. “Oh, just catching up on the local news.”

  Megan hadn’t been so successful for no good reason. A bit of the ‘old her’ kicked in as her eyes flickered between the two. Amber was flipping the pancakes before the batter bubbled and Veronica’s OCD, obsessive compulsive disorder, was lacking in her not-quite-perfect folding of the paper.

  They were hiding something and she’d bet it had to do with what Veronica had been reading. Megan stood and wiggled her fingers at her sister. “Give me the newspaper.”

  Veronica breathed heavily through her nose. “Bad idea, sis. Why not do breakfast first?”

  “Newspaper.” Megan nodded at it. “Now.”

  “Hell,” Amber said and shut off the griddle.

  Megan took the paper from Veronica. No need to flip it open. Everything she needed to see was right there on the front page. Nathan shaking hands with who-the-heck-ever. The caption above it read… “Local billionaire buys Winter Harbor oceanfront property.”

  She’d no sooner released a steady stream of curses when a knock came at the front door and Guardian started barking. Tongue in cheek, furious, Megan strode down the hallway fully expecting to see Mema Angie. A dear friend eager to explain what was going on and how they might fight it. Yet when she swung open the door, ready to vent on someone who would sooth her with scones, she got someone else entirely.

  Nathan. Her ex-husband.

  Though every muscle in her body urged her to slam the door in his face, she stood there stunned and motionless.

  Good thing for sisters.

  “Are you kidding me?” Veronica held back Guardian.

  “Get the hell out of here.” Amber tried to shut the door.

  Nathan’s foot met the door jamb as he stared at Megan. “Ready to talk now?”

  Megan hadn’t actually seen him in person for nearly three years and was embarrassed by her immediate response. This guy didn’t deserve a gawking stare. He deserved a punch in the face.

  She shook her head. “You need to go. Now.”

  “I’ve been trying to call you for days, Megan.” Though his words were passionate, his eyes
were deadly calm. “I take it you saw the newspaper.”

  He’d changed little in the looks department but then she knew that by the newspaper article she’d just seen. “It’s safe to say everyone in Winter Harbor has.”

  “There’s more to this.” Nathan’s eyes flickered between her sisters then down to Guardian before meeting her eyes again. “I remember how much you once loved Viking history. Has that changed?”

  Megan might have imagined a thousand different words coming from his mouth but not those. And while she still wanted to slam the door so hard it chopped off his perfectly aligned nose, she was far too interested in what he’d said. “Talk fast or this door shuts.”

  Amber and Veronica made sounds of frustration.

  “Viking treasure.” Nathan’s eyes remained locked with hers. “Off your shore. I’ll let you lead the first team down.”

  “He’s full of shit,” Veronica said.

  “I second that,” Amber said.

  “Not gold.” Nathan’s eyes narrowed. “But genuine artifacts.”

  “How do you know?” Megan said.

  “We talk alone and I’ll tell you more.”

  “Heck no,” Amber said.

  Guardian growled.

  “I think the dog sees through your crap, Nathan,” Veronica said.

  Amber put a hand on Megan’s shoulder. “Don’t fall for it, sis.”

  “I totally agree.” Veronica put a hand on her other shoulder. “Don’t.”

  Megan clenched the doorjamb as she looked at Nathan. “You’ve had divers offshore?”

  “You aren’t the only one who loves sea treasure, Megan,” he said through clenched teeth. But he soon masked his aggravation and smoothed his features. “Yes, I’ve had divers exploring the Maine and New Hampshire shorelines for years now.”

  “And?”

  He tilted back his head slightly and looked down his nose at her, a gesture she recalled far too well. “And we’ve found stuff but nothing like what’s in the waters in front of your house.”

  “Don’t listen to him,” Veronica said. “This one was always good at saying what you wanted to hear.”