by MacKay, Cali
“Sounds perfect.”
***
. “I can’t believe it’s such a gorgeous day.” The morning had arrived with clear blue skies and the temperatures feeling more like early September rather than late October. It left Cat feeling like anything was possible.
“The loch’s not much farther. Ye holding up all right?”
Iain glanced her way, and she thought he looked far too handsome and rugged. He hadn’t bothered to shave, and his loose curls kept catching the wind, his dark locks making his blue eyes stand out in contrast. She had been so mistaken about him in the beginning. The last thing she’d expected was to find someone who was funny and sweet, considerate and caring—even if he could be brash and impulsive at times.
“I’m thoroughly enjoying myself.” Busy as she was, she seldom got the chance to go on hikes. “So, you think the tunnels are close by?”
“Aye. We’re not far from the sea, and there are naturally formed caves and tunnels throughout the area. Since we know there were smugglers in my clan, it’s likely they had once used them to move around undetected and stash their goods. Just a matter of finding them. My father mentioned a few areas we should check.”
“I really like your father.”
“Aye, he’s a good man. And so ye know, he likes you too.” He tilted his head to look at her, amusement in his eyes.
“What? I’m likable.”
Iain barked out a laugh. “I’ll have ye know that though he’s always been polite and charming to the few dates I’ve actually brought home and has wanted me to be happy, I don’t think he’s e’er been terribly impressed.”
“And am I one of your dates then?” Not that she needed to put a label on what they were doing, but she did like a neat and ordered world.
He shrugged. “No. I wouldn’t say that.”
She felt her back go up and her pace quicken. At least he was being honest. “Well, I appreciate your honesty.”
He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop, turning her towards him so she was forced to look at him. Amusement quirked at his lips before he finally burst out a laugh. “Cat…”
“What?” Frustrated with him laughing at her, she glared at him. “I’m glad I can still entertain you.”
“For such a smart girl, ye certainly can be a fool.” When she turned to walk away, he pulled her into his arms. “Cat, I’m not lumping ye in with my dates because I’ve ne’er been remotely interested in them past dinner and the morning after. This is… new to me. And our pretending to be a couple? I don’t want to pretend anymore.”
“Oh.” Bloody hell. Was she blushing again? She squeezed her eyes shut to try and decipher what he’d just said, since it felt like her brain was wading through molasses. Did he mean he didn’t want to bother with the ruse anymore since James was likely onto them? Or was it that he didn’t want to pretend, because he did indeed want to be with her?
Iain didn’t give her the chance to think about it for long. He tilted her chin up and kissed her, kissed her like they were the only two people in the world, kissed her as if they might cease to exist if he stopped. She was breathless and dizzy by the time he finally stopped, though he still held her close.
“Are ye all right then—with not pretending? I want this to be real, Cat.” He searched her face as if looking for an answer.
She tried to think about it logically, but in the end, the fluttering of her stomach and the racing of her heart overruled her brain. “I think I’d like that.”
***
Cat kept telling herself that Iain was twice her size, and had managed to squeeze through the tiny opening in the hill side with little finagling. She would not get stuck. Taking a deep breath, she tried to ignore the feeling of being squeezed to death, and with Iain’s helping hand, got through to the other side.
Cat looked around the cave, grateful Iain had brought along flashlights. “It’s bigger than I expected.”
“What every guy loves to hear.”
She laughed at that one. The little light that made it in from the opening died only feet away. It was damp and smelled of the earth, and Cat wondered just how many spider webs she’d already walked through. It made her shudder.
“I don’t think anyone’s been here in decades—at least. The entrance is fairly well hidden from view, and unless ye knew where to look, it’s unlikely anyone would find it. Not to mention, this is private property. People still hike through from time to time, but we’re rather out of the way for most folks.” He walked towards the darkness, shining his light around. “Looks like it continues.”
Steeling herself to keep any newfound claustrophobia at bay, Cat followed Iain, grateful that the tunnel seemed to be getting both wider and taller. The tunnel continued relatively straight, with only a few bends, but before long, they stumbled onto a fork.
Iain pulled off his pack and dug around for a spool of twine. “I don’t want to be the one responsible for getting us lost in these caves.”
“Well, aren’t you the boy scout. And let me just say, it’s greatly appreciated, especially since,” she pulled out her phone and checked the bars, “there is no reception in here.”
“Do ye think I’d let us get lost?” Humor laced his voice as he looked at her in question.
“I think you’d do your best to keep that from happening.”
“Good answer, Doctor.” He gave her a quick kiss that made her stomach flutter and then looked around for a place to secure the twine, settling on a rock. “It’s not ideal, but it’ll have to do.”
They picked a tunnel and followed it for another fifteen minutes before it ended to form a large room.
“Look.” Iain pointed at rusty metal rings bolted into the rock wall. “They’d likely be used for holding torches.”
“Seems like this area may have been used to store smuggled goods. Weapons too, during the Jacobite uprising.” Excitement bubbled in her chest, and though Cat told herself they were still a long way off from finding the jewels, she couldn’t help but feel they were one step closer.
Iain chewed his bottom lip, clearly deep in thought.
“What is it?”
“The entrance.” Iain gave it some more thought. “It’s rather narrow. I’m just wondering if there’s another way in. One more suited to smuggling goods in and out of here.”
She grabbed his hand, raring to go. “The other tunnel.”
“Aye. That could be it.”
Chapter Ten
There were far more twists and turns to the next tunnel they took. The air quality started to change, losing the stale and moldy scent. They had to be close to the mouth of the cave for the air to be as fresh as it was. The light then changed as they came around another corner, the darkness not quite as oppressive. “There. It should be just up ahead.”
The end of the tunnel appeared, though the entrance was blocked by dense shrubbery. He flashed his light around to see if there were any clues, but there was nothing.
He turned to Cat. “We’re one step closer, and there’s still the last tunnel to explore, though that might have to wait. It’s a pity there wasn’t anything more conclusive in this one, but it’s a start.”
“Definitely. We can head back to the paintings and journals, and see if there’s anything more. We’ll find it, Iain.”
He hoped she was right. He still needed the necklace as something to leverage for funds, if he had any hope of getting his family out from under his brother’s troubles. The current market for high-end real estate was nonexistent, and with the economy on shaky ground, he couldn’t even use the manor as collateral. All his other funds were tied up in business ventures and would be impossible to wrangle free.
Shaking himself free of his thoughts, he gave Cat a quick kiss, happy he could now do so without second-guessing himself. “Come, then. Let’s see where we’ve ended up.”
Iain squeezed past the branches and then held them aside for Cat to exit. He squinted against the light, waiting for his vision to return to normal
. When he could finally keep his eyes open, he looked around.
“This way.” He led her through the dense trees and shrubs before finding the path he was looking for. “Right there.”
No more than a hundred yards away was the Bleeding Heart stone. It was one more connection.
Cat squeezed his hand, her face beaming with excitement. “We’re on the right path, Iain.”
He tucked a stray curl behind her ear, resisting the urge to kiss her again. “Aye, that we are.”
By the time they made it home, the weather had started to turn, the sun streaking down from behind billowy clouds. He was looking forward to getting back to the paintings—and Cat. They worked well together, and he hoped it’d just be the start of it all.
His only worry stemmed from the uncertainty of how she’d react to him leveraging the jewels as collateral until he could liquidate his assets—if and when they found them. It’s not like he was selling them—he could never bring himself to do that. But he still didn’t think she’d be happy about him putting them temporarily on the line, even if it was to save his family’s estate and his brother’s arse.
As they came around to the front of the house, Iain bit back a curse. Speak of the devil. “My brother’s here.”
When she looked over at him, there were lines of worry marring her smooth skin. “There’s nothing wrong with your father, is there?”
“I doubt that’s the reason he’s here. He likely wants something.” Already, he’d said too much. The last thing he wanted was to drag Cat into his problems, especially this early in a relationship. The poor girl would go running for the hills if she knew. “It’ll be fine. Don’t go worrying yerself.”
“If you need someone to talk to… I know we don’t know each other that well, but I’m here if you need me.”
He cupped her cheek, his fingers twined in her hair. “I know it hasn’t been long, Cat, but I feel close to ye. I don’t know if it’s because of the intensity of our situation or if it’s because ye’re so different to anyone I’ve e’er known, but don’t let some calendar tell ye how to feel. I appreciate ye being here for me. Truly.”
Once he was sure she was all right, they went in as he steeled himself and his temper. They found him in the sitting room. “Malcolm, I hadn’t expected ye. Is Da all right?”
“Aye, he’s fine. No worries.” Malcolm turned to Cat, all smiles and charm, making Iain grit his teeth. “Nice to see ye again, Cat.”
Before Cat had a chance to greet his brother, Iain put a stop to all the niceties. “Ye’ll excuse me for being blunt, but why are ye here?”
Iain wasn’t in the mood for his brother’s nonsense. He’d dealt it with it all his life and Malcolm had yet to learn from his mistakes. This latest mess had pushed Iain over the edge though. To put everything at risk—and drag their father into it, no less—was unforgiveable.
“I overheard yer conversation with Da.” Malcolm looked smug, and it did nothing but annoy Iain. “About the Bleeding Heart and the loch.”
“What about it? We’re going for a hike, and Cat was curious about where the Heart got its name.” The last thing he needed was his brother snooping around.
“Well, I found it curious that he refused to tell me what ye were discussing, especially if it was nothing more than going for a hike. But ye know Da. He’s always so helpful, and though he didn’t want to tell me what ye were up to, in the end I managed to convince him to tell me just a wee bit more.”
Iain’s temper flared, but he resisted the urge to pummel his brother. “I don’t know what ye’re implying, but ye’ve caused enough problems. And I’m not going to let ye ruin my time with Cat. Now if ye don’t mind, take yer sorry arse back home and stay out of trouble. I’m tired of cleaning up yer messes.”
Malcolm got to his feet and brushed past Iain, knocking into him with his shoulder. “This is far from over, Iain.”
His brother left, slamming the door behind him. Iain could have strangled him, but didn’t want to get into it with Cat there.
Cat. She must be mortified.
He shook his head, still annoyed. “I’m sorry ye had to see that. My brother forgets that his actions have an effect on the people around him—though I’m not sure he really cares either way.”
“Trust me; I know what families can be like.” She slipped her arms around his waist and looked up at him. “Don’t let him get to you. We had a great day and got a lot done, yeah? We’re one step closer, Iain.”
“You’re right.” There was no point in letting his brother ruin things for him. Yet they might already be in a world of trouble. “Let me call my Da so I can set this aside. I need to know what he’s already told my brother. Malcolm may be an arse and an idiot with most things, but he’s also clever and I don’t want him figuring out that we’re looking for the Highlander’s Hope.”
She nodded. “Take your time. I’ll get us a cup of tea to warm up.”
He called his father’s mobile phone but no one answered. He then tried his brother’s home, but still couldn’t get through to his father. He was likely down at the pub or taking a walk around the city and had forgotten his phone. He tried the cell again, and left a message. Hopefully his father would return his call before his brother got back to Edinburgh. He’d rather not have Malcolm around to eavesdrop again.
Not wanting Cat to fumble around the kitchen as she tried to find things, he headed over to give her a hand. “No luck getting a hold of him. I’ll try him later.”
She stood at the stove, throwing him a glance over her shoulder, her mahogany hair cascading down to a perfectly curved rear. “Still waiting for the kettle to boil.”
He wrapped his arms around her waist, sidling up to her from behind and pulling her close. By the gods, he wanted her and was tempted to let her know just how much. Instead he kissed the slope of her neck and then, letting her go, leaned up against the kitchen table.
She turned and slipped into his arms, nestling between his legs, so it was all he could do to concentrate on what she was asking him. “Do you think your brother knows what we’re up to?”
“At this very moment, I don’t care.” He wanted to kiss her, but she looked distracted. “Aye, love, I think there’s a good chance he does know. My father wouldn’t betray a confidence, but my brother’s good at manipulating him and talking him around in circles. He could very well have told Malcolm without ever intending to. I’m sorry.”
“He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize our search though, would he? If he mentions it…” Her brow creased with worry, making him want to curse his brother to the seven hells.
“I don’t think he would, love, but… he’s an arse.” He let out a weary sigh, wondering how to contain the situation before it got out of control.
“Iain, if he tells anyone about this, we’re screwed. News like this spreads like wildfire. Half the treasure hunters out there and every Scottish nationalist will come looking, and they’re not going to care that this is your property, nor will they be nice about it.”
“I’ll talk to my father, and if it comes to it, I’ll also speak to Malcolm. But I don’t want ye worrying about this until we know it’s a problem.”
She turned away from him and took the kettle off the burner before pouring the steaming water into the pot with several teabags. “We won’t be able to keep this a secret for long. And even if the necklace isn’t anywhere near here, people are going to assume it is, or they’ll assume we have it. We need to find it, Iain.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. We’re on the right track, Cat. It’s only a matter of time before we find the clue that’ll lead us to the Hope.” He twined his fingers with hers, needing to ease the tension between them.
As if finding a new determination and confidence, she pulled herself upright. “You’re right. We’re going to find it—I’ll be damned if I’m going to let James or your brother mess this up.”
Iain had to laugh. “I pity the man who stands in yer way, love.”
; She poked him playfully in the chest. “You think I’m kidding, but I’m not.”
“Only a fool would stand between you and one of yer finds.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, his self-control slipping when she was so feisty. “And I’m no fool.”
When she looked up at him with a sultry smile, his heart tripped over itself with need. “No, you’re not. It’s one of the things I like about you.”
“So ye do like me then? And here I thought ye just couldn’t resist my good looks and charms.”
“You’re pushing it, MacCraigh.” She laughed, slapping his chest.
He rubbed his chest, pretending. “That hurt, lass. Ye don’t know yer own strength.”
She quirked an eyebrow at him with a teasing smile that made his jeans feel two sizes too small. “You best behave yourself then.”
“Aye? And if not?”
“You might just find out.” She headed for the door, looking over her shoulder enticingly.
He had to laugh, hoping beyond hope that he could get himself into some mischief.
***
“Do ye have those letters? I’ve yet to have a look at them.” Iain went over to where Cat had lain down in front of the fire to study, the journals and any other reference materials she could get her hands on sprawled around her. Duncan had managed to stake his claim, curled up next to her, and refused to move under any circumstance.
“Right here.” She handed him a manila envelope and stuck her nose back in the journal she was reading.
Iain shifted some things over and then grabbed a seat on the floor next to her, putting a gentle foot on Duncan and sliding him over. That got him a doggie glare, which he proceeded to ignore. There was still a lot of ground to cover, between the journals, paintings and letters, but at least it was a doable task.
He pulled the letters out and quickly flipped through them while leaning back on the base of the sofa, his long legs stretched out in front him. “These are in Scots Gaelic.” He looked at Cat in question.
“I forgot to mention it. I think it was to help them mask the clues further.”