Playboy's Challenge (Highlander's Series)

by Jo Barrett

  Shaking her head, she rose from the stone bench. That had to be the most outrageous, preposterous, insane notion her unconventional mother had ever had.

  She went into the castle to help prepare for their visitor. Although he was an old nemesis, she would not dishonor her clan with bad manners. But he’d best behave himself, for as her mother said, she was no longer the child he once knew.

  ****

  “Well my lad, how come you ta be in our part of the world?” Colin asked, slapping Adam on the back. He guided him into the castle, his hand on his shoulder with Erin on his other side.

  He still couldn’t get over seeing them, or Deidra. Man, what a change a few years had made to the skinny little girl he remembered.

  “Did your parents no’ come with you?” Colin asked, pulling him from dangerous thoughts about his daughter.

  “No, it’s just me. Dad and I haven’t exactly been seeing eye to eye lately, and Mom, well, she’s pretty ticked at me too, I guess. Probably why she pushed me into a fountain last night,” he shamefully added.

  His uncle paused on the top step to the second floor. “Pushed you, ye say?”

  He chuckled, thinking of his petite and dainty mother. “Yeah, can you believe it? Thing is, though, I’ve no clue how I got here. After she pushed me, next thing I know, I’m sitting in the field beyond the spring—wet.” He motioned to his sad tux.

  Colin rubbed his chin with an odd sort of gleam in his eye and a quick glance to Erin. “Interesting bit, that. Interesting.” His smile lifted and he returned his hand to Adam’s shoulder. “Well, we’ll talk more of it later. First let’s get you inta some dry clothes, then have a drink ta welcome you properly.”

  They continued on toward the bedchambers, but Adam couldn’t help feeling like he was missing something. Maybe Colin and his mother had somehow cooked up a scheme to get him here after she pushed him into the fountain. She was pretty upset, and he wouldn’t be surprised if he’d been sent to stay with his godparents as some sort of punishment. Like a kid being sent to his room. If he remembered correctly, the island was sparsely populated and everyone was into doing things the old way. And getting off the chunk of rock wasn’t easy—was it?

  Hell, he couldn’t even remember how they travelled to the castle when he was a kid, or even which isle it was. All he could recall was Scotland, a boat, and that they travelled at night. Sometimes, he would wake up, lifting his head from his father’s shoulder, but he always fell back to sleep by the time they’d arrived.

  His only clear memory was of waking up in the room his godparents kept ready for him. So how had they managed to do it this time? He hadn’t hit his head and lost consciousness, nor had he been drunk enough to pass out. It just didn’t make sense.

  “Here be your auld chamber,” Colin said. “We’ll wait for you in the solar, lad.”

  “But Da—” Erin started to say.

  “In the solar,” Colin repeated, cutting off his son and shoving him from the room.

  Yep, something was definitely up, and the sooner Adam got changed, the sooner he’d get some answers.

  Finding a homespun shirt and some breeches, likely some of his father’s old clothes, he changed out of his tux, then went to join Colin and the rest of the family in the solar for some answers. And he wouldn’t mind another look at Deidra. She may be strictly hands-off, but his eyes would certainly enjoy the view.

  He made his way down the familiar corridors, brushing the stone walls with the tips of his fingers. He’d always loved this old castle. It was what prompted him to be an architect and a historian of ancient structures. But his studies would have led him nowhere, his grandfather had said more than once.

  The old man had wanted him to go into science, to work for him in medical research like his mother had done before he was born. So he took enough classes to get a minor degree, hoping to pacify the old guy and went to work for him once he got out of college.

  It didn’t take long, however, to realize it wasn’t for him. After a year of working in labs, he’d had all he could take and quit. His grandfather was pretty pissed about that, said he was disappointed in him, which wasn’t anything new. Disappointing people was what he did best, after all.

  But this…he paused in front of the large wooden door of the solar, admiring the craftsmanship. He never thought he would end up where his first passion began. Not that he’d made any plans after getting sacked, but it felt right somehow, being here, with these old friends, in this ancient place.

  With a smile on his face, he entered the solar. His gaze found Deidra instantly. Shame he couldn’t pursue that particular passion, but even after gaining supreme playboy status, he still had a few rules.

  No fraternizing with family friends, and no intimate relationships with women of the must-marry variety. He would look but not touch, because Deidra fell into both of his no-way-no-how categories.

  “There you are,” Aunt Tuck said. “I was beginning to wonder if you got lost.” She came over and hugged him again. “It’s so good to see you.” She gave him a good once-over while clasping his shoulders. “You got your father’s build, but your mother’s eyes. And I wouldn’t be surprised if you got double doses of their stubbornness,” she said with a laugh.

  Snagging him by the arm, she tugged him to a chair and put him in it. His aunt was never one for subtleties. Although she had streaks of gray in her hair, she was a woman not to be taken lightly. Her time in the army and her rough-around-the-edges nature made her incredibly strong, physically and mentally, and those traits hadn’t waned over the years. Bran’s bloodied face was testament to that.

  “So, before we get into the how and why you’re here, tell me about your parents. How are they, what have they been doing and so on? We haven’t seen them in a few years.” She took a seat beside her husband and slid her hand into his.

  They were a unique pair, both big, gruff, determined people, but the way they looked at each other was not unlike the way his own parents did. It was sort of annoying, come to think of it, but he shook it off and focused on filling them in on what his folks were up to.

  While Adam spoke, Deidra moved about the room, handing him and her family each a cup of ale. She had trouble concentrating on his words. His melodic voice rang against the stone walls.

  She pursed her lips in annoyance. Melodic indeed. Had she forgotten his teasing, the pranks she’d suffered at his hands?

  As he took the offered cup from her hand, their fingers brushed and a tingle raced up her arm. His gaze shot to hers, and her breath caught in her throat. Had he felt something similar?

  A grin tipped up the edge of his lips, and she scowled at him. ’Twas but another of his silly tricks, no doubt. She would not allow the scoundrel to win, and gave him her most fearsome glare.

  Sadly, it didn’t have the impact she’d hoped. Most men of her acquaintance, well…all of them save her father and brother, withered beneath her cool gaze. But not Adam. His grin only widened, and as she turned away, he winked!

  Furious, she placed the pitcher of ale on the table with an audible thunk and marched from the room, her head and temper high. He may have teased her as a child, but she refused to be the target of his amusements as an adult. All of that nonsense with Bran had given him a wee bit of ammunition, but he had another think coming if he thought he would win at his silly games this time.

  Colin’s grunt at Deidra’s leaving punctuated Adam’s thoughts. She hadn’t changed much in attitude over the years, she’d always been quick to temper, but to stomp from the room just because of a wink?

  Okay, so maybe she wasn’t kidding when she said she hadn’t forgiven him for all those pranks he’d pulled on her when they were kids, and yet how could he not when she was so damn tempting? Now more than ever. But he supposed she was still feeling a little upset about that Bran character.

  “I’m glad to hear your folks are okay, but Colin tells me Jenny pushed you into the fountain,” Aunt Tuck said, pulling him from his thoughts.
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  “Yep, and I probably deserved it.”

  “Explain.” Her tone hardened as did her gaze.

  Feeling like he’d been thrust into the hot-seat, he did his best to describe the incident without making himself out to be a complete ass, although he would classify himself as a distinct runner-up.

  “It takes a lot to piss Jen off,” she said. “So spill the damaging evidence, kiddo. I’ll find out one way or another.”

  “Aye, or we can visit the lists,” Colin added, his mouth grim.

  Adam threw back his ale, savoring the faint burn in his throat. He knew a visit to the lists was inevitable by the subtle chuckle from Erin. Even when they were kids learning to wield a claymore, their fathers had not taken it easy on them. It had often been their punishment for whatever shenanigans they’d gotten into. So seeing as how it was inescapable, he may as well tell the truth, take it on the chin, and maybe—just maybe get to the bottom of his unexplained visit.

  Taking a deep breath, he returned their steady gaze. “I said something about Dad that upset her. I tried to blame it on the drinks and maybe losing my job, but I apologized. Only I guess that wasn’t good enough.”

  He placed his empty cup on the table in front of him and leaned his forearms on his thighs. “So, here I am. And I hope you’ve got some answers on how I got here. Did you guys cook this trip up with Mom and Dad?”

  Tuck and Colin exchanged a knowing glance.

  “We didna cook anything up, lad,” Colin said.

  Tuck studied him, her gaze narrowing. “What exactly did you say about Ian?”

  He let out a steady stream of air as he sat back in his chair. “I called him a prissy, perfect Englishman or something to that effect.”

  A choked snort escaped Colin’s throat while Tuck’s mouth dropped followed by a howl of laughter from them both.

  Adam’s jaw clenched as he watched them. “Mom seemed to think it hilarious too,” he said, his voice cool.

  Aunt Tuck wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “I just bet she did!”

  He looked to Erin sitting silently to the side. “Why do they think this is so damn funny?”

  His face split into a wide grin. “Sorry, auld friend, but the idea of Ian Southerland as prissy doesna fit the mon I know.”

  Adam shook his head and let out a heavy breath. He tried to ignore the pinch in his chest, the strange pain that came with the knowledge that others saw his father as something vastly different than what he did. It was as if he’d been overlooked somehow, not important enough to be part of a select group that knew his father better, on a more intimate basis.

  Bullshit. His father was a prudish, prissy, arrogant Englishman who felt nothing but disappointment where his son was concerned. Adam ignored the fact that their strained relationship was just as much his fault as his father’s, but he would not, could not see the man as anything but the rigid nobleman he was.

  Their laughter began to fade. “Finished now?” he asked.

  His snide tone hardened Colin’s gaze. “I see you have much ta remember and much ta learn, lad.”

  “Yeah, yeah. In the lists. I got that. But how about a few answers first? How the hell did I get here?”

  “You said it yourself. Jenny pushed you inta the fountain,” Colin said, his tone flat as if there was nothing odd about his comment.

  “That’s it? That’s your answer?”

  Tuck looked to her son. “Erin, go check on your sister.”

  He chuckled as he rose. “Aye, Mum, but it isna if I doona already know.”

  She shot a glare at Colin that could turn July to January. “I thought we agreed not to tell them.”

  Colin grinned and took her hand. Pressing a kiss to the back with a wink, he said, “We’ve a pair of intelligent bairns, mavourneen. They figured most of it out long ago. I only answered their questions ta make sure they understood the danger.”

  Her shoulders sagged as her spurt of anger dissipated. “I suppose it was just a matter of time.”

  “Aye, but no’ in Adam’s case, I warrant. I was of a mind that they would tell him.”

  “So was I, but with Jenny, you just never know.” Tuck looked at him, pursing her lips in thought a moment. “You’re not going to believe a word I say, so keep your mouth shut until I’m done. Got it?”

  He nodded as an odd tingle raised the hairs on the back of his neck.

  “The fountain at Raghnall Castle is fed by the spring where you met up with Erin and Deidra.” She paused a moment and the air in the room shifted. “In your time.”

  He blinked then shook his head. “Excuse me?”

  “Shut it. I’m not done. Your time, our time, whatever you want to call it, the fountain you were pushed into is in the twenty-first century. You are now in the seventeenth century. Sixteen fourteen, to be exact.”

  He opened his mouth, a laugh ready to burst from his throat, when she held up her hand and gave him a look hard enough to trap the air in his lungs.

  “By an odd set of circumstances, when I was your mother’s bodyguard, I fell into that fountain. Afterward, I found myself in the field beyond the spring, just as you did. I then met Colin and your father. By the end of the first day, I realized I wasn’t in my own time.

  “After spending a few months here, I sort of figured out how to get back, and so I went. I thought my time—our time was where I was supposed to be. It was your mother who convinced me differently, and who got a handle on how the whole time travel thing works.”

  Adam sat there blinking, not knowing what to say. He glanced at Colin, expecting him to say something or give him a look, but it seemed as if both his godparents had gone off the deep end. He really needed to talk to Erin and Deidra, make sure they were aware of the situation.

  “He doesna believe you, mavourneen,” Colin said, a smirk on his rough face.

  Tuck dismissed the comment with a wave of her hand. “Yeah, yeah, like I said in the first place. Anyway, Adam, believe it or not, you’re stuck here until the solstice. That’s the only time you can travel.”

  Colin cleared his throat, but she gave him a look that said to keep his mouth closed.

  “What aren’t you telling me? Not that I’m buying into this whole thing,” Adam said.

  With a huff, she scowled at Colin, which made him chuckle.

  “Okay, so you can go back today if you want,” she said. “You have until the sun sets, but after that you’re stuck.”

  “So if I want to go home, I’m supposed to do what? Go back to the field?”

  “No, you step into the spring. The water is the transporter, not the place. But Adam, I think you should stay. Jenny knew exactly what she was doing when she pushed you into the fountain. She means for you to stay. Otherwise they’d both be hot on your heels by now.”

  “Aye, they’d have shown up right after you. So ’tis certain they mean for you ta stay,” Colin added.

  “Fine,” he said with a sigh. He had no choice, really. He had to make sure his godparents were well taken care of. They’d really stepped off the edge of sanity with this time travel thing, and anyway, he wasn’t going to go jumping into some spring like a wacko wishing to go home. Wasn’t much reason to go home anyway, when he thought about it.

  Tuck rose and grabbed his arm, jerking him to his feet. “Come over here, disbeliever,” she said, dragging him to the window. “What do you see?”

  “I see the bailey, the woods beyond, the loch. So what?”

  “Take a closer look at the trees. Notice anything different?”

  His brow furrowed. “Um, yeah. They haven’t leafed out. Drought, maybe?”

  “No drought. It’s spring. Not summer.”

  He chuckled roughly. “Hate to argue with you on this one, Aunt Tuck, but it is June—” He glanced at his digital watch for the actual date, but it had gone wacky.

  Glancing up, he caught her smirking.

  “It says something goofy, right? Like all zeros or something.”

  He gave a faint
nod.

  “Now, look at the sky,” she said. “Not a vapor trail to be had, and you could stand here all day and night and never see sign of a single jet or satellite.”

  Shaking his head, he said, “That’s not proof.”

  “Okay, you were on the Isle of Mull at Raghnall Castle last night. Well, you’re still on the Isle of Mull. Ragnhall Castle will be built over in that direction in the early nineteenth century,” she said, pointing beyond the bailey.

  “This is nuts,” he muttered, turning away from the window.

  Colin appeared beside him and clasped his shoulder. “’Tis hard ta take in. I know, for I had ta do the same when I met Amelia, but the truth it is, lad. Now enough of all this. Let’s go down ta the hall and eat. Time will take care of itself.”

  Somewhat numb, Adam went with them to the great hall. He couldn’t bring himself to say anything, they were so into this time travel thing, but as he took a seat at the table, looked to the men and women of the clan MacLean around him, he began to doubt everything he ever knew.

  Chapter Four

  Adam’s thoughts spiraled out of control as he picked at his dinner. Time travel just wasn’t possible. It was fantasy, pure and simple, but the things Tuck said, the things she’d pointed out were unnerving to say the least. To make him feel even more uncomfortable, the men from Colin’s garrison couldn’t stop taking about his father. About what a great swordsman and horseman he was. He couldn’t deny that his father knew that stuff, but a great man? That was stretching things a bit, wasn’t it?

  “Aye, he be a great mon ta have at yer back in battle, even though he be a Sassenach,” one man said with a chortle.

  “I fer one, doona miss his way with the lassies,” another man said, with moans of agreement rounding the table.

  The ale nearly spurted out of Adam’s nose. “My dad? You’re saying my father was a ladies’ man?” He laughed until he realized no one else joined him in the joke. “You can’t be serious.”