by Meg Anne
“Okay,” she responded softly, and Lucas lowered their joined hands.
The village came into view before them, its cheerful combination of stone buildings and brightly colored trims looking like something from a history book. If it wasn’t for the cars parked beside them, Lucas would have thought they’d stepped back in time. Colorful spring flowers hung in baskets from the windows and street lights. And all of it was set off by rolling green hills in the distance.
From this vantage, Lucas could just begin to make out the signs. Ye Auld Scotsman had kilts and various woolen garments displayed in its windows. Just to the left of it was a coffee shop called The Steaming Kettle, which had three white, wrought-iron tables beneath a navy-blue awning. There was also The Gilded Page, a bookstore; A Stitch in Time, the thrift shop; Mother Lou’s, a bed and breakfast; and a couple of antique shops.
As they walked further into the village, Lucas could practically taste the pub food. How long had it been since he’d had proper fish and chips? Or a ham hock pie? Probably not since his mother had passed away. His stomach growled loudly, and Skye tossed him a saucy grin, her eyes crinkling.
“Where’s the pub?” Matthews looked back after they’d walked about half a block down the main street.
Lucas shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine. I haven’t been here since I was like three or four.”
Skye stopped walking, her grip on his hand jerking him back. “I thought you used to come here to visit your grandfather all the time?”
“Nope. Not since I was really little. I was actually born here, but my parents decided to move to the States and that was that.”
Skye’s eyes widened. “Do you know why?”
Lucas shook his head. “I think it had something to do with my dad’s job, but I never really thought to ask. It was just the way it was. Once Lizzie and I were in school, we were always so busy with other stuff that taking extended trips, other than the occasional family vacation, to visit just wasn’t possible. Not to mention, too expensive.”
Skye’s lips pulled down in a thoughtful frown. “Hmm,” she murmured, her eyes distant.
They followed Matthews and Lizzie down the street, stopping at a pub cheekily titled The Drunken Duck. After pushing open the heavy wooden door, they slid into a booth near the front window. The pub wasn’t busy—likely because most people were still out working—but it was warm, and the scents traveling to them from the kitchen had Lucas’ mouth watering in anticipation.
A dark-haired woman wearing a forest-green shirt and jeans stopped by their table with a notepad in hand. “What can I get ye?”
“Everyone up for a beer?” Matthews asked. When everyone nodded, he answered, “Four pints of Guinness, please.”
Their server didn’t bother scribbling down their drink order. “Be right back with those.”
Lizzie grimaced. “Guinness, huh?”
Lucas didn’t mind stouts, but his sister could hardly stand anything darker than water. It was going to be funny watching her try to chug it back.
Matthews shrugged. “I’ve never been here before. It was the only thing I was pretty sure they’d have.”
“You know that’s an Irish beer, right? And that Scotland and Ireland are not the same?” she teased.
Matthews’ cheeks reddened, and he didn’t meet her eyes. “Doesn’t make my statement less true.”
“Nor does it change the fact that you’re a dumbass,” Lucas grinned, laughing harder when Matthews kicked him under the table.
Lucas didn’t bother apologizing. “What’s everyone eating?” He opened a menu even though he already knew what he was having.
“Fish and chips for me.” Skye leaned back against the seat and stared out the window.
“Same,” Lucas said absently, drinking in the sight of her. There wasn’t much sunlight given the cloudy sky, but what little there was filtered in and touched her upturned face. The wind had turned her cheeks a rosy pink and her full lips were tilted up in a soft smile. She’d braided back her long, dark hair, but soft tendrils had escaped during their walk and now framed her face. Lucas’ heart stuttered in his chest. He’d never seen anything so beautiful in his life.
Lizzie studied the menu with the intensity of someone choosing their last meal. “I think I’m going to have the soup of the day.” She set the menu back down on the table.
“Burger here.”
“Are you seriously ordering a burger in Scotland?” Lizzie stared at Matthews. “A burger. Something you can get literally anywhere back in the States.”
His partner shrugged. “But you can’t get a Scottish burger in Chicago.”
“You’re hopeless,” Skye added with a grin, turning away from the window and back toward the group.
Lucas sat back and stretched an arm out over the top of the booth. Skye leaned into him, and he let his arm drape down over her shoulders. The intimacy of having her body pressed against his was getting more familiar, but he ached for another type of closeness. Preferably one that required them both to be naked.
“Here ye go.” The waitress set four glasses in front of them and took her notepad back out. “Need another minute or are ye ready to order?”
“We’re ready,” Lucas replied.
After they ordered, the waitress disappeared again. Lucas lifted his beer and took a drink. It was frothy and satisfying, the familiar taste of coffee and chocolate danced on his tongue and he savored it as he drank deep. Now this is a beer.
“Why doesn’t this taste as good at home?” Lucas asked, setting his half-empty pint glass back on the table.
Lizzie took a sip and scrunched her nose, setting her beer back down quickly.
Matthews laughed. “We can order you something else when she comes back.”
Lizzie shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”
“You sure?” Matthews asked.
While they continued to talk softly, Lucas looked over at Skye to see how she was fairing. Other than whiskey, he’d never seen her drink alcohol. She set the glass down and turned to meet his gaze. She ran her tongue along her upper lip, trying to wipe away the iconic white foam.
Lucas’ mouth went dry.
Skye blinked at him. “What?”
He cleared his throat. “You, uh, missed a spot.”
“I did?” She lifted her hand. “Where?”
“Here, let me,” he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.
Skye’s eyes widened as Lucas dipped his head down, brushing his lips against hers in a soft kiss. She gasped softly, almost inaudibly had he not been so close. Then he pulled back to lick a small dab of foam from the corner of her mouth. “Mmm,” he murmured against her lips.
“Gross,” Lizzie said from across the table.
Lucas gave her the finger as he sat back.
She sat frozen for a moment before blinking rapidly. “Uh, thanks for that.”
His lips quirked up in a smug grin. Skye might play hard to get more often than not, but she was far from immune to him. He didn’t mind. She was definitely worth the long game.
“So, what’s our plan for the rest of the afternoon?” Lizzie asked, pulling Lucas and Skye out of their moment.
“Honestly? I think this should be it,” Lucas answered. “Just four people taking in the sights. No crazed Druid research or anything like that.”
“We need to do something, even if it’s just going to the library,” Lizzie told him. “We can only bury our heads so long.”
“I agree,” Skye said, offering Lucas an apologetic smile.
“Et tu, Twyla?” Lucas frowned. “Seriously, guys. What’s so wrong with wanting to take a day? Hell, not even a full day since we researched all morning. I think we’ve earned a little fun, don’t you?”
The others stared back at him, their silence the only answer he was going to get. Lucas took another drink, draining his glass, before slamming the empty pint glass down with more force than necessary. He clenched his jaw and focused his attention on the other patro
ns in the restaurant. It pissed him off that they were right, they didn't have much time and couldn't afford to waste it. But that sure as hell didn't mean he had to be happy about it.
Skye’s hand brushed against his leg, and Lucas reached down to take it in his.
“We should check out the library after lunch. See if they have a section on Druids,” she said softly.
Lucas nodded. “Sure.”
Just like that the fun of his stolen kiss and their easy afternoon vanished. As much as he wished that he could be on vacation with his sister and friends, it wasn’t nearly that simple.
Her grip on his hand tightened. “Hey.”
He gave her a smile he knew didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s all good, Giovanni.”
The chatter rose around them as more people came into the pub to grab a quick bite to eat. Lizzie, Matthews, and Skye took up the conversation, chatting about possible leads. Lucas only listened with half an ear, paying more attention to the couple with the heavy brogues talking behind him.
“Have ye heard? Lights were on last night at the auld Ivy Cottage,” the man said.
“Ye dinnae say!” the woman with him gasped. “My, how long has it been do ye ken?”
“Cannae rightly say. Years at least.”
Lucas’ brow raised in interest. Wonder who else just got to town. Seemed like an odd coincidence, unless…
Lucas tilted his head to the side, no longer pretending not to eavesdrop.
“Wonder where the auld man has been.”
“After his wife disappeared, it’s no wonder he left.”
“Aye, I suppose yer right, love.”
“Lucas,” Skye called, tugging on his hand.
“Hmm?” he asked, twisting back to the others.
“Food’s here.”
Lucas looked at the steaming plate in front of him. “Oh. Right.” For all that he had been looking forward to the food, he barely tasted it as the couple’s words echoed in his head.
Chapter 8
Skye
The entire town was only about three blocks in any direction, so the walk from the pub to the library was a quick one. The building was large compared to the others, looking more like a miniature castle than the two-story manor that it actually was. It had the same gray stone facade as the rest of the buildings down the main street, but instead of a steeped roof with colorful trim, there were turrets and walkways.
“Someone had a wicked sense of humor,” James murmured as he took in the library.
“You never know, it could be a repurposed defense hold,” Lizzie said from her place beside him.
Skye wasn’t sure what to think. The library wasn’t exactly welcoming, but it didn’t have an aura of menace either. It was simply an old building with a lot of history.
“You going to try to do some weird Gypsy telepathy and take in the knowledge from here, or are we going inside?” Lucas asked, his one-sided smile and rogue dimple taking the edge out of his words.
“I wish that was a Gypsy skill. Seems a lot more useful…” Skye trailed off, her lips twisting in a thoughtful frown.
Lucas bumped her with his shoulder. “I don’t know about that, Skye,” he said, his deep voice a low rumble. “Without you, my sister would be dead a few times over.” He brushed a loose strand of her hair back behind her ear and answering tingles erupted all along her body.
Get it together, Giovanni. Not the time or place. She blinked a few times to help regain her focus. “I’m not sure about that, Detective. I have a feeling you would have found a way with or without me.”
His eyes burned like blue fire.
“Yo, love birds. You coming?”
“Says the guy that actually woke up next to his girl this morning,” Lucas muttered darkly.
Skye pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at Lucas’ scowl. His spark of jealousy wrapped itself around her heart, filling her with warmth. She may be fighting a losing battle trying to keep her distance from him, but knowing that he was feeling the ache as much as she was made her insanely happy. Skye decided to throw him a bone.
In her boots, she was much shorter and even on her tip-toes she couldn’t quite reach his lips. “Psst, don’t leave me hanging, Detective.” Skye hardly recognized the husky whisper that came out of her mouth.
Lucas’ eyes widened infinitesimally before he grinned and dipped his face down toward her. “Why, Ms. Giovanni, a kiss? In public?”
She smirked and brushed her lips against his, sighing when he wove his fingers in her hair and deepened the kiss. Her body melted into his, and she wrapped her arms around his waist.
He made a sound low in his throat and pulled back, running his nose along the length of hers before pressing a kiss to her forehead. “What was that for?”
“If he was going to tease us, I felt that we should at least do something to earn it,” she murmured, her lips still tingling from the kiss.
“Well, feel free to indulge that urge more often.”
Her eyes fluttered open and met his half-lidded gaze. “Even if it gives James more ammo?”
He chuckled. “It’d be worth it, if it means I get more of your kisses, Skye.”
Her mouth went dry at the heat in his eyes. “Noted,” she whispered.
Lucas trailed the backs of his fingers along her cheek, continuing the caress down her neck and arm until he wove his fingers through hers. “Come on, Giovanni. Let’s get this over with so we can head back and I can see about working on those inhibitions of yours some more.” With a gentle tug, he pulled her toward the double doors.
The sexual promise in his words wasn’t lost on her, and Skye wasn’t sure if she was more excited or nervous about the idea of Lucas actively seducing her. Something had changed once they stepped foot in Scotland. It was like Lucas had decided not to hold anything back in his pursuit of her. Not that he was pressuring her—he always respected whatever boundaries she set—but now he stood right up against the edge, and every time she checked, the line she’d drawn between them seemed to inch just a bit closer.
Soon there wouldn’t be a line between them at all.
Or clothes, if Lucas had his way.
Skye’s cheeks heated, and she turned away so Lucas wouldn’t pick up on the direction her thoughts had taken.
Despite their size, the arched doors opened soundlessly, revealing the cozy interior of the library. It was brightly lit, the back wall comprised almost entirely of windows that provided a stunning view of the Highlands. The bookcases and furniture were a dark cherry wood, complemented by antique carpets strewn across the floor almost haphazardly. There were some tables for reading in the center of the main room, as well as a few more isolated desks dispersed among the stacks. But what really called to Skye were the three window seats that were covered in pillows and thick fluffy blankets. Belle’s library ain’t got shit on this place.
Their group walked past the circulation desk, which was manned by a young woman with a thick red braid and gold rimmed glasses. She gave them a small smile and nod as they made their way toward the computers.
“Guess I’ll try to find some books for us to dig through. You guys want to claim a space for us?” Lucas directed the question at his sister and partner.
James gave him a little salute and pulled Lizzie over to one of the secluded tables along the right side of the library.
Skye settled into the computer station beside Lucas, pulling up the digital card catalog with a little laugh. “Do you remember having to search through each little card individually?”
Lucas glanced at her, his eyes inscrutable. “No. Do you?”
Skye smiled. “Well, obviously, or I wouldn’t have brought it up.”
“Hmm,” he murmured.
“Lucas…” Skye trailed off, her grin growing along with her suspicions, “you’ve never researched a paper before have you?”
“Can’t say that I did.”
Skye clapped a hand over her mouth as she giggled, trying to keep the noise to a min
imum. “How did you get through school?” she asked, leaning close so she could keep her voice down.
Lucas had the grace to look embarrassed. “I might have paid a kid to write them for me.”
“Lucas!” she whisper-yelled, her shoulders shaking with mirth.
He shrugged and gave her a one-sided grin. “What can I say, I had better things to do. By the time I gave a damn, the internet was a thing.”
Skye shook her head. “Lucas MacConnell: cheater cheater pumpkin eater. Who knew Chicago’s star detective had such a sordid past?”
He grimaced, but his eyes shone bright. “Pumpkins are gross, can you at least come up with a better taunt?”
Curious, she raised an eyebrow. “What’s wrong with pumpkins?”
Lucas paled slightly and changed the subject. “Aren’t you supposed to be helping me search for books?”
“Spill it, MacConnell,” she demanded, her cheeks starting to hurt from smiling.
He shook his head. “Let’s just say I had a pumpkin-related situation when I was little and leave it at that.”
Skye pressed her lips together to keep from laughing at the distressed look on his face. “Fair enough,” she whispered, turning back to her computer.
She poised her hands over the keyboard, not entirely sure how to begin her search. Fuck it. She began to type ‘Ancient Druid Magic’ into the search bar, not anticipating a hit. After a moment, the screen populated with a list of books related to the Druids, their political history, and speculation on the meaning behind their various rituals.
“Bingo.” Skye clicked the print button and two pages worth of search results spit out of the machine beside her.
Lucas lifted a tanned hand to scratch his chin, still studying the screen intently.
Skye snickered, and he looked over at her. “What now, Giovanni?”
She waved her papers in his face triumphantly.
He sat back in the olive-green armchair. “Color me impressed. You really are better at this research thing than I am.”