A Highlander’s Homecoming
Page 28
“It’s verra complicated.”
No mistake, he really did look embarrassed now, and it made him seem much younger, almost vulnerable, as he ducked his head.
“I must marry if I’m to protect my sister. It’s no a real marriage. Well, it is, but because it will be in my time, it’s no real for you. You’ll stay just long enough to marry me and then return to yer own time. Once I hae fulfilled the condition of marriage, I will be free to remain with my family, to protect my sister.” He narrowed his eyes. “I will no allow anything to happen to you, lass, if it’s fear holding you back.”
“I’m not afraid.” Well, that was a lie, but it made her feel better to say it. “Where, or should I say when, is your home?” Yes, the nervous breakdown hallucination theory was firming up as the front-runner now.
“Sithean Fardach. Scotland. The year of our Lord, 1272.” For the first time, Connor appeared to study his surroundings. “It’s a fair distant time for you?”
Cate laughed again. “Actually, ‘fair distant’ would pretty much be an understatement.” Now what? She looked around the room. The glass she had set on the dressing table had fallen over. But instead of spilling, the warm caramel-colored liqueur was suspended in the air, never touching the ground.
“Did you do that? No, wait. Obviously you did. How did you do that?” She pointed at the suspended liquid.
“I canna explain. I dinna understand it all.” He shrugged. “It’s the Fae magic. Time has stopped here, allowing me to come for you. When you return, no matter how long yer in my time, you will be right here, right now—that’s all I ken about it. We must hurry, please.”
The green sphere is definitely growing smaller. And he didn’t look to her like a man who said please often.
What did she have to lose? Chances were, she’d wake up in the morning, probably with a huge headache, and be quite amused by her hallucination.
And if not? If he’s real?
Hadn’t she just been told today—twice, in fact, by both Richard and her brother—that she needed to be more adventurous? What could be more adventurous than a quick visit to thirteenth-century Scotland? Accompanied by what had to be the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. A man who needed her help.
Connor held out his hand. “We must hurry. Time canna wait forever, no even for the magic.”
Cate grabbed her pajama jacket and put it on, jammed her feet into the well-worn woven-grass flip-flops Jesse had brought her from his last trip to Thailand, and started toward Connor. She stopped at the last minute, grabbing her grandmother’s wedding dress.
“Can I wear this to be married in?” She held the dress clutched to her, eyeing him defiantly. If he said no, she wouldn’t go.
“You can wear whatever you want, lass, I dinna care, but if yer coming, it must be now.”
The sphere was pulsing again.
Making up her mind, she picked up the ribbon she’d pulled from her hair and tied it around the dress to form a small bundle. Taking Connor’s hand, she stepped into the glow.
He drew her close, putting both arms around her as the sphere closed in on them. Tingles raced through her body. When he looked down at her, Cate was mesmerized by the intensity in his blue eyes.
“I swear, lass, on my honor, I’ll no allow any harm to come to you. I’ll protect you with my life. And when it’s finished, I’ll see you safely returned home.”
The strength of his determination radiated from him. She was still captivated by the look in his eyes when he lowered his head toward her, slowly, almost as if against his own will. It took her by surprise when his lips met hers, her own eyes fluttering shut. Electricity arced through Cate’s body at the simple touch as a multitude of colored lights lit the world around her.
The feel of his soft lips and strong arms and the look in his eyes as he made his promise were the last things she thought of as the lights winked out.