A Highlander Christmas

by Dawn Halliday, Cindy Miles, Sophie Renwick

  “Beautiful,” Paige said as she breathed a sigh, intrigued by a wild buck nestled in the loveliest of winter settings.

  “Indeed,” Gabriel whispered, very close.

  Paige looked up into Gabriel’s eyes and smiled.

  Chapter Eleven

  After he’d insisted Paige make herself some supper, the wee girl had finally eaten a meal of soup from the pantry and a sandwich made of cheese and bread that she’d fried in butter on the stovetop. Gabriel had shown her Craigmire’s secret hiding place where the old man hid his chocolate-topped digestives from his wife, and Paige had eaten a handful of those, too.

  With the teapot full and plenty o’ sugar and cream, they were finally ready to settle down with a movie. Gabriel watched Paige now as she searched the bottom shelf o’ Craigmire’s massive selection on hands and knees, with her delectable little rump in the air.

  Gabriel felt as though he’d choke.

  “Oh! I’ve never watched this one before,” she said, and sat back on her heels and looked at him. “Have you?”

  Gabriel walked over and knelt down. He peered at the selection and grinned. “Och, aye.” He cocked his head. “You’ve never watched It’s a Wonderful Life before? ’Tis a tradition—so says Craigmire’s wife.”

  Paige rose, clutching the DVD case to her chest. “Yes, I know it is. But I’ve never had anyone to have a tradition with.” She smiled. “Can we watch it?”

  Her pleading blue eyes softened him more than he’d ever admit to another soul. Damn, how his kin would roar, had they been around to see how such a wee lass could turn him to porridge with a simple look.

  “Paige MacDonald, I would endeavor to do anything you asked, as long as you continued to look at me with such longing in those beautiful eyes.” He smiled. “A tradition is just the first of many things I wish to start with you.”

  She stood there smiling at him for several seconds, then turned, removed the DVD from the case, and started the movie. Plopping down in the center of the sofa, she pulled her legs up to her chest and patted the spot beside her. “Come on. It’s about to start.”

  She could have verra well said “Don one of the gowns of Craigmire’s wife and dance on the battlements,” and he would have done so, gladly. Instead, he moved to the sofa, sat close to the woman who’d come to mean more to him in a few short days than anyone he’d ever known in his existence, and watched a modern film in which a lanky man named George Bailey learned a very valuable lesson: Be thankful for what you have.

  Gabriel knew just what the man felt. Indeed, he was thankful. He’d roam another handful of centuries if it meant finding Paige MacDonald. The wait had been well worth it. He’d never been happier in his life. Or “unlife.”

  By the end of the film, tears rolled down Paige’s cheeks. With the back of her hands, she wiped her eyes and looked up at Gabriel. “I loved it,” she said quietly.

  I love you was on the tip of Gabriel’s tongue. Christ almighty, it nearly burned him to keep the words inside that he wished to say so badly. But he feared he’d frighten her off with such an endearment. He had a bloody hard time believing he felt so strongly in such a small amount o’ time. But, damnation, he did. Didna he? Is it truly what he felt? Or was it merely blinding lust that drove him?

  He’d wait until he figured it out himself.

  “Another?” Paige said, grinning. “I haven’t just sat and watched movies all night in, well, I don’t think I ever have. If I did, I don’t remember it being this much fun.”

  Gabriel smiled, and so they did just that. They watched two movies in all, nearly four hours of movie madness. Paige MacDonald was definitely a lass after his own heart. Her verra first choices were some of his favorites. They watched the The Mummy followed by Raiders of the Lost Ark. Fine Yuletide films, he’d thought. He’d no been verra fond o’ how Paige’s eyes had lightened at the heroes, but he’d given a good, manly scowl, just to let her know of his displeasure.

  It had garnered him a tinkling laugh from Paige.

  How, though, had a modern girl no’ watched those films, yet he, a twelfth-century warrior, had?

  ’Twas mind-boggling.

  And he was passin’ glad he’d watched them with her first.

  But truth be told, he’d had enough movies for one eve. He wanted nothin’ more than to have Paige MacDonald all to himself. So they wandered up to the west tower, to sit before the long windows and stare out into the winter’s night. She’d stopped by her room first and had changed into what she’d referred to as jam- mies, which consisted of baggy red trousers and an even baggier black jumper that buttoned up the front. Both pieces appeared powerfully soft. The one thing Gabriel found himself thanking the saints for was that the top button seemed to have fallen off, leaving a good amount of Paige’s throat exposed.

  He’d decided right then to keep his lecherous thoughts to himself. For now, anyway . . .

  Paige sat on the window seat, knees pulled to her chest, and a warm wool wrap around her shoulders. They’d turned out the lights, and she’d lit only a few candles. They threw the room into a lovely amber glow, much like Gabriel’s conjured candles. She’d built a small fire in the hearth, just enough to keep her warm.

  And the sweetest, sexiest man God ever created—i n any century—sat directly across from her. Staring. At her.

  It made her insides jump with excitement.

  Her face growing warm at the thought, she turned her head and glanced out at the midwinter’s night.

  “ ’Tis a wondrously clear sky, aye?” Gabriel said.

  Paige nodded and continued to stare. “It is.” A blanket of white covered the lands of Gorloch. A light dusting of snow drifted down in tiny flakes from the sky. “The moon makes everything look a little blue,” she said absently. “It truly is like a dreamy winter wonderland.”

  “Aye, ’tis a grand Highland Yuletide moon indeed.”

  After a moment of silence, Paige looked up. Gabriel’s gaze penetrated her, and she smiled and wrapped her arms around her knees. “Are you staring at my raccoon eyes?”

  He pulled close and peered even closer. “Aye, and they’re turning all sorts of lovely shades.” His brows furrowed. “Are you sure you’re well?”

  Paige gave a light laugh. “Yes, I’m positive. It only hurts when I touch it.”

  “Well,” he said, standing and moving before her. “Dunna touch it.”

  Paige smiled. “Yes, sir.”

  Without a word, and without breaking his gaze, Gabriel moved from his seat to hers. Bracing his hands on either side of her on the sill, he bent at the waist and lowered his head until his lips brushed her ear. “I’m verra sorry, lass,” he whispered, “but I canna seem to keep my mouth off o’ you.”

  Paige’s eyes drifted shut at the erotic Highland whisper. “Oh,” she said, her voice cracking, as his lips moved to her jaw, “that’s okay.”

  With a soft, deep chuckle, Gabriel continued to make her shiver with kisses along her throat and her chin, and then he settled his mouth over hers. “Open,” he said.

  Paige slowly parted her lips, and Gabriel’s moved erotically over hers, easing his tongue against each corner of her mouth, and then tasting her lips as if he truly could feel them. Her skin tingled and warmed, and she squirmed in the window seat as a pleasurable fire burned in her stomach.

  His mouth moved back to her ear. “I want to see more o’ you,” he whispered, his voice deep, accented. Then his head pulled back, just a fraction, and his eyes met hers.

  Paige’s heart raced as she lifted her fingers first to her clan pin necklace, which she slipped off and over her head. She set it on the cushion beside her. Then, to the buttons on her night shirt, but she kept her gaze riveted on Gabriel’s. Slowly, she released each one until the silky black top fell open. She didn’t care that she’d blushed a furious shade of red. All she wanted was Gabriel’s eyes and ghostly lips against her skin. When she leaned back against the window seat cushion, the slinky material slid ever so slowly over
her breasts, and she simply stared, and breathed.

  Gabriel’s mouth lowered to hers, and he let one strong hand slowly drag over her jaw, down the column of her throat, and over her collarbone. Easing to the floor on his knees, his hand shook as he traced the swell of her breast with one finger, and her skin burned with need. He drew back and stared, his eyes dark with passion, and his mouth followed the path of his finger, slowly and erotically. Paige gasped a slight sigh, her breath coming fast. “Gabriel,” she whispered.

  His sensual lips, barely there but causing enough current to make her skin tingle, moved back up her throat and to her lips. He kissed her slowly there and long.

  “Christ, woman,” he said hoarsely in her ear. “Christ, you’re so beautiful.”

  Together they sat for several moments, neither saying a word, simply breathing. Paige’s hands moved to her shirt and buttoned the front. She looked at Gabriel.

  “You’re amazing,” she whispered, and smiled.

  His eyes remained darkly passion-fi lled.

  After a few more moments, Gabriel inclined his head, a devilish look in his eyes. “You’re lookin’ weary, lass. I’ll sit wi’ you on the sofa, if you wish.”

  Paige stifled a yawn. “I do wish. Thank you.” She grasped her necklace and placed it back on, tucking it down into her night shirt.

  Together, they moved to the sofa. “Here,” he said, “you can lie down and I’ll sit behind you.”

  Paige grinned, fluffed a couple of pillows midway on the sofa, giving Gabriel enough room to sit at her head without falling through her, and laid down. After he settled in behind her, she looked up at him.

  The beauty of his ghostly face, so rugged, so strongly cut, nearly made her gasp.

  “I honestly cannot believe this is all happening to me. Me, of all people,” she said, and slowly shook her head. “A few days ago I was running from you, scared out of my mind. Now? I’m all comfy and curled up beside you.” She peered at him. “Don’t you think it’s all a bit bizarre?”

  Gabriel rubbed his jaw with his hand and gave the slightest of smiles that made his dimples deepen.

  She didn’t think she’d ever grow tired of looking at those sexy marks in his cheeks.

  Then, he lowered his hand and traced the outline of her nose, her forehead, and then her lips.

  “I suppose I’m at that point where I’m fearful to ask too many questions of it, Paige MacDonald.” His finger ran over her knuckles. “I’m too afraid I may blink and find you’ve suddenly gone.”

  In the back of her mind, she’d thought of little else that day. Leaving. She didn’t want to. But she didn’t live in Scotland, after all. She wasn’t a citizen. Her job was in America.

  Along with her lonely, boring, one-bedroom apartment life.

  Besides. Gabriel didn’t own Gorloch, and while she had plenty of money saved to buy herself a place, she could only stay six months with a working visa.

  Not that Gabriel Munro had asked her to stay. Sure, he’d said he didn’t want her to ever leave, but it wasn’t the same thing.

  “Me thinks you are havin’ wicked thoughts runnin’ through that lovely head o’ yours, what with such a grumpy expression on your face.” He stroked the line of her jaw. “What are you thinkin’?”

  Paige stared straight into Gabriel Munro’s mesmerizing green eyes. And lied.

  “Nothing. I’m just taking everything in, I suppose.” She stifled a yawn. “I’m so comfortable here, I think I could fall asleep just listening to your accent.”

  A deep chuckle sounded behind her. “Shall I say aye over and over then?”

  Paige giggled. “Please. The more the merrier. And say something that has lots of r’s in it, too.”

  Gabriel laughed, and then settled down to tell Paige tales of days gone by. Vivid stories of his youth, his wild warring days, of cattle raids and skirmishes with other clans, of his mother and father, and brothers.

  Before long, Paige’s eyes began to drift closed.

  Somehow, though, she still felt the pleasant tingling against her skin wherever Gabriel touched her. It calmed her, aroused her, and as she slipped into slumber, the thought of actually being physically touched by Gabriel Munro made her shiver.

  Just before his deep, strangely medieval accent lulled her fast asleep.

  Some time later, Paige’s eyes fluttered open. The light in the room told her that she’d slept through the night, and it was now morning. Christmas Eve day.

  It had been forever since she’d felt such excitement.

  Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and immediately searched for Gabriel. She found him perched on the windowsill, looking out. She ran a hand through her hair. “Good morning.”

  For several seconds, Gabriel said nothing. He simply sat staring out into the morning mist. His back was rigid, his shoulders pulled back sharply. His fists were tightly clenched. In his profile, she saw his jaw was set.

  And immediately, Paige felt something had changed. Something, and she’d not a clue what, had happened.

  Fear made her stomach uneasy.

  “Gabriel, is something wrong?” she asked hesitantly.

  After several long, painful moments, he turned and looked her directly in the eye. His gaze was fixed and hard, and it made Paige’s throat tighten.

  “You deceived me.”

  Paige blinked, shocked. “Excuse me?”

  “Your clan pin, Paige.” He inclined his head to her chest, where at some point during the night, her family heirloom had escaped her nightshirt and fallen out. “You’re from the Gorloch Clan MacDonalds, Paige. Silver sword, winged creature in the center, with an amber stone. The verra same. The verra ones who murdered me!” he yelled. He drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes.

  “I, I didn’t—” she began.

  “It doesna matter,” he said quietly. He looked up. “You must leave. Now.” He pushed up from the sill and walked past her, his stare hard and full of disgust. “Pack your belongings, call a taxi, and go.”

  With that, he disappeared through the wall.

  Paige’s breath caught in her throat, and she moved to the window and stared out into the early morning. Tears burned her eyes, and she tried to breathe normally, but it just wouldn’t happen.

  Resting her forehead gently against the cold glass, her thoughts consumed her. She’d not been responsible for his death. Never, ever would she have allowed it, had she been alive back then. She’d have done anything to save him.

  She loved him.

  Tears spilled over her lids and onto her hand. Slowly, she wiped them with her fingers, and wiped her eyes.

  She hadn’t known Gabriel Munro for long, but in two things, she was positive: one, she loved him. And two, once he made his mind up, there was no changing it. She’d known how strongly he’d felt from the very beginning, about those MacDonalds. She’d known she was from that same clan. Her granny had told her tales. She’d known.

  And yet she’d kept it from him, had been too scared to tell him what she knew. The truth.

  Paige wiped her eyes again, for the tears now seemed to be a constant leak.

  Gabriel was right. She had deceived him. And she’d now pay a severe price.

  With a deep breath, she eased herself down from the west tower, changed, packed her few belongings, and called a taxi.

  As the car pulled away, she turned in her seat to see Gorloch castle for the last time.

  Just before the castle disappeared from view, she saw the figure of a mighty Highlander standing on the battlements.

  It looked as though she was destined to spend yet another Christmas alone after all.

  Paige silently cried until she reached Inverness.

  Chapter Twelve

  Paige tugged the collar of her coat up, shoved her hands deep into the pockets, and trudged up the busy Inverness sidewalk. Last-m inute Christmas Eve shoppers had already started the day, scrambling around from shop to shop, looking for that just-right present for their loved ones.

&nb
sp; Quickly, she blinked and took a deep breath. She’d told herself not to cry anymore. She promised this to herself.

  She was also fast believing that she had lied to herself.

  After the taxi had dropped her off at Allister’s bed-a nd-breakfast, where the young couple, Ally—short for Allister, a high-energy, handsome, ginger-h aired Highlander—and his sweet wife, had welcomed her and settled her in, she’d decided to take a long walk along the main shopping street in Inverness. She had nothing to purchase, but she couldn’t stand the idea of sitting alone with nothing but her thoughts.

  Thoughts that continuously returned to a twelfth-century Highland warrior.

  She’d been walking now for nearly three hours. First, along the banks of the River Ness. Inver, as she’d learned from Ally, meant mouth of river in Gaelic. Hence, Inver-N ess. The snow had stopped falling, and the scenery was breathtaking. The cold felt brisk against her cheeks, and as always, a heady, sweet scent clung to the air.

  It almost seemed perfect.

  But without Gabriel, nothing seemed right.

  An inviting used-book store boasting coffee and tea came into view, and Paige decided to grab a cup and sit for a while, perhaps buy a book to read. She pushed the door and a small bell tinkled, reminding her of Zuzu Bailey in the movie she’d just watched with her ghost of a warrior.

  Every time a bell rings, an angel gets her wings . . .

  Paige wondered if it were true.

  Inside the small stone-walled store, with dark wooden rafters overhead, a fire burned in a whitewashed hearth, making the intimate store warm and toasty. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and pastries filled the air, and Paige walked to the counter where three others stood in line. As she waited, she glanced around, noticing the other patrons standing at various bookshelves, browsing the selections.

  Then, she saw him. Almost as if she were watching an old projector film, she moved toward a man standing at a bookshelf, book in hand. Paige couldn’t take her eyes off him, and unable to stop herself, she moved closer. Wearing a gray woolen coat that hung to just below his knees, he had long, dark hair pulled back at the nape, with a small braid on either temple. Big, muscular, with a strong jaw and dark brows, he was an impossibly gorgeous man. His head was down, reading the pages of a book he’d just picked up.