Ghosts of Culloden Moor 25 - Kenrick (Diane Darcy)

by LL Muir

  Though he kept his tone matter of fact, the pain in his eyes betrayed his hurt. Allison’s heart went out to him. “I’m so sorry. Did you ever go back home again?”

  “Nae, it wasnae possible.” He looked off into the distance. “I used to hope she might come visit me, but she never did.”

  “Why didn’t you just go home?”

  “Couldn’t.”

  “So you never saw her again before she died?”

  He shook his head.

  They walked in silence for a moment.

  “My apologies. It must turn yer stomach to hear me whining about my unfortunate circumstances.”

  “Oh, Kenrick. Not at all. My heart aches for what you’ve been through. You lost a child. That’s horrible. And I know what it’s like to lose someone you’ve made plans with, and then suddenly you feel as if it’s just over. But it’s not—you’re young, you can still have a wife and a family and a home to call your own. One bad relationship doesn’t mean you can’t have a better one. Isaac stabbed me in the heart, but I’m still hoping I’ll find my own happily ever after someday.”

  She didn’t dare look at him when she said that, fearing he’d think she was talking about him. And, okay, maybe she was talking about him. She’d known Kenrick for such a short time, but there was definitely something between them. Something growing. But it was way too soon to say anything, or even think it. They still had plenty of time to get to know each other.

  Kenrick seemed to think he had nothing to offer a girl. She knew how that felt. Rejection was painful, and it had certainly left her feeling raw and worthless. But Kenrick was the type of man any girl would be proud to call her own. What had been wrong with his wife? The guy was sweet, eager to please, and drop-dead gorgeous. His wife had been an idiot. Her loss was Allison’s gain. Kenrick seemed to need to get his self-confidence back, and she was just the girl to help him do it.

  Was she walking too close to him? Every time her hand brushed against his it was like electricity jolted through her, only in the most pleasant kind of way.

  She stepped away from him so it wouldn’t happen again, so he wouldn’t think she did it on purpose.

  Before she moved very far away he closed the distance and took her hand in his, weaving their fingers together. He lifted their hands. “Is this all right?”

  Her throat clenched, and she didn’t dare say a word. She simply nodded.

  He smiled, his lips quirking in that masculine way, as if to say he’d known all along she’d be okay with it.

  He wasn’t wrong.

  The guy had too much charm for his own good, and with their hands clasped together, he was implying she wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

  What if, after the reunion, they came to a new understanding? Started to date for real?

  She focused on the dogs running in front of them, on the way Bonnie played easily at times, and other times kept herself distant from the other two dogs, always making sure that Kenrick was within view.

  The dog would heal, especially if Kenrick stayed in her life.

  Allison had every intention of trying to make that happen.

  Chapter 8

  It was dark when they went inside a little while later, the dogs scrambling to get in the door first. Allison smiled shyly at Kenrick. She really needed to get his kisses out of her head or she was going to be a basket case. “I’m not quite ready to go to bed. Do you want to watch a movie?”

  “A movie? Like on the telly?”

  She laughed. “Is that what they call TV in Scotland?”

  “That’s what the guards call it.”

  “The guards?”

  “Aye, the guards at the Culloden Moor Visitor Center have the telly on sometimes. I’ve watched a few movies with them.”

  “Did you work there?”

  “I spent a bit o’ time there.”

  “But you’re not a big movie watcher, huh? Well, what kind of movies do you like?”

  “Movies with guns.”

  “Hmm. I like romances. What say we compromise. Have you ever seen True Lies?”

  “Nae.”

  “Then you’re in for a treat. It has guns and romance. I think we’ll both like it.”

  Allison made popcorn and slushy drinks. When she returned to the living room, Kenrick was sitting on the couch, and she had to make a decision. To sit next to him? Or not to sit next to him?

  She wished she’d sat down first.

  She thought about the way he kissed her earlier, how sweetly he’d taken her hand and made her weak in the knees, and her heart started to flutter again.

  She set the drinks on the coffee table and went back for the popcorn. She took the two bowls and poured them into one. If they only had one bowl of popcorn, and they needed to share it, they’d have to sit by each other, right?

  Feeling super sly, but also pretty smart, she went back into the living room, set the popcorn on the table, and started the movie. She sank beside Kenrick and grabbed up the popcorn bowl.

  He took the popcorn from her and set it on his lap. With his other arm, he drew her close.

  She grinned. Well, that was certainly telling, wasn’t it?

  They both put their feet on the ottoman, yet another reason for them to share a seat.

  She’d seen the movie several times before, and owned it because she loved the romance in it so much.

  But she had to admit she was distracted.

  The feel of her his muscular leg pressed against hers. His heavy arm around her. The memory of his kisses.

  What, exactly, had she ever seen in Isaac?

  The looks on their faces when she’d claimed him as her fiancé had been absolutely delicious.

  Sitting here, tucked under his arm, was as well.

  How could a relationship—could she call it a relationship?—progress so quickly?

  How could she feel so comfortable next to him like this?

  He was leaving, and had made no bones about that fact, but he could come back again, couldn’t he? This didn’t have to end. They could call, text, email, Skype, get together again. He seemed to like her well enough.

  Her dogs liked him.

  She’d wished on a star.

  She’d downed blue raspberry love potion!

  He’d worked hard on her property today, had been gentle with her nephew in teaching him to swim, and in no way, shape. or form had he given vibes that said he was a player.

  Quite the opposite in fact. The guy had a sensitive heart in need of tending.

  And she was just the girl to do it.

  Whatever this was, she wanted more of it.

  She wasn’t ready to talk to him about any of this. Some things just had to come naturally, and why was she thinking about this right now anyway?

  She just needed to relax and enjoy. Everything didn’t need to be figured out this minute.

  And she had to get through the reunion tomorrow. Maybe it was better she’d met her sister and Isaac tonight.

  They were already forewarned about her fiancé, and it wouldn’t be a shock to them. They wouldn’t make a scene.

  As Tara had pointed out, Allison would have to let her sister off the hook now, and she didn’t really deserve that. She deserved to have some angst over the fact she’d stolen her own sister’s fiancé. It was a crappy thing to do.

  But, sitting here, cuddled next to a big, brawny male, she couldn’t find it within her to care anymore. And that right there was a great place to be.

  She contentedly settled in, sipped her drink, had an occasional kernel of popcorn, and watched the movie.

  Kenrick’s warm body next to hers, the dogs on the floor, the romance of the movie; she couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed herself so much.

  Allison woke early the next morning and let the dogs out, only to find Kenrick already hard at work in the yard, so she joined him.

  “Good morning.”

  He looked up from his work to smile at her, and boy, was that a punch in the hea
rt. The guy had a great smile. She really wanted to keep him.

  She felt herself responding in kind, and suspected the giddiness she felt inside probably spilled out in her smile.

  “A good morrow to ye.”

  “You’re up early. Have you had breakfast?”

  He shook his head. “I was hoping mayhap ye’d feed me?”

  “I’ll get right on that. I have to work for a few hours this morning. Then we have to be to the park at one, and it takes about twenty-five minutes to get there.”

  “Sounds good.”

  He was shoring up her shed, which sagged on one side. She looked at the fence he’d fixed the day before and, again, couldn’t help but wish he’d stick around. For more reasons than one.

  She flew inside to take a quick shower and dress for the day. Within twenty minutes, she was back in the kitchen cracking eggs into a bowl and adding ham and vegetables for omelets. She started frying frozen hash browns.

  The guy deserved a hearty breakfast. He was an incredibly hard worker, and she’d like to show her appreciation.

  She made toast, cut up fruit, and poured orange juice. When everything was ready she called him in.

  His presence filled the kitchen. “This looks delicious.” He took a seat, reached for her hand, and bowed his head. “Will ye say Grace?”

  Oh, he wanted to pray?

  That hit her in the heart as well. With a smile, she bowed her head and offered Grace.

  Kenrick dug in and made appreciative noises as he tasted the omelet. “’Tis very good.”

  “Thank you.” She smiled at him and tucked into her own. If the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach, she’d keep digging through her cookbooks.

  “Is there ought I should know about the reunion?”

  “Hmm. Maybe I should tell you a little more about myself so you can answer any questions put to you. And you can tell me a few things as well.” Warmth surged into her cheeks. Okay, she wanted to get to know the guy better and was using this as an excuse. She kept her eyes firmly on her food so he wouldn’t see her expression and guess.

  “What do ye wish to know?”

  She considered what she already knew of him. Born in Scotland. Married with a child and they’d both passed away. Her heart clenched at thought. His parents and brother were gone as well. He was in the military. “You don’t have a girlfriend, do you?”

  “Just ye.”

  Her breath hitched on a flash of pleasure.

  “Anybody waiting for you at home?”

  “Nae. Yer family would ask me this? When they believe us promised?”

  Busted!

  Her gaze dropped. “Oh. You’re right. What was I thinking? They certainly wouldn’t be asking those types of questions, would they?”

  But she certainly wanted to know.

  “All right, so you are in the military. Were you in Afghanistan?”

  “Scotland.”

  Her brows drew together. “Scotland? Oh, of course. Someone has to guard the homefront. Okay, do you have any specialties, like weapons-wise? I’m sure the guys will want to know.”

  “I’m deadly with a claymore.”

  “A claymore. You mean one of those big swords warriors used to carry?”

  “Just so.”

  “You know I’ve never visited Scotland, but I really am starting to think I need to get it on my bucket list.”

  “Bucket list?”

  “My list of things I want to do before I die.”

  At his arrested expression, she smiled. “Don’t you have one?”

  He shook his head. “Just to spend time with ye and help ye as much as I’m able.”

  Again her breath hitched. Was he declaring himself? Her eyelashes fluttered and she glanced down at her breakfast. She hoped so. She cleared her throat. “So guys are running around the countryside with claymores fighting each other? Am I getting this right?”

  He quickly took a bite of his omelet, glanced away, and shrugged.

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I hope that didn’t come off as sarcastic. I really want to know about you.”

  He lifted a shoulder.

  “You know what, forget the whole fighting thing, I’ll just tell them you were stationed in Scotland and leave it at that. What about me? Do you have any questions about me? Anything you want to know?”

  “Why did ye pledge yer troth to The Toad?”

  Now it was her turn to glance away. “Well, obviously I wasn’t intending to engage myself to a toad. Apparently he had me fooled.”

  “Did he, then?”

  She took a breath to answer that of course she didn’t know who he was, but then slowly let it out and thought about it. “The guy never opened a door for me in his life. He talked over the top of me. He scoffed at my goals.” She pushed food around on her plate with her fork. “I’d been looking at this house when we were engaged but he hated it. He rarely listened to my opinions. He insisted I curl my hair and wear makeup at all times. So, yes, I guess I did know who he was. A vain, selfish man who never knew me at all.”

  “Mayhap ye owe yer sister a debt of gratitude.”

  She laughed. “Yeah, maybe so.” She glanced at Kenrick and thought about what she’d learned of him in just a short period. The man was an incredibly hard worker, he was good with animals, and in the short time he’d been in her brother’s presence, Nathan had warmed up to him, fighting and all. In six months of dating Isaac, Nathan had never warmed up. He probably never would now. Nathan had said as much; he thought Linnie an idiot.

  Kenrick also liked her house. He opened doors for her. He’d tried to pay for their ice cream though he didn’t have American currency.

  All in all, she’d been blind where Isaac had been concerned, hadn’t she?

  She hadn’t dated a lot; she had to give herself that. Was that the reason she hadn’t seen Isaac for who he was?

  “Lass? I’m sorry to distress ye.”

  She gazed away in embarrassment. “It’s all right. I’m just feeling foolish because I kept making up excuses for him.”

  “Doonae give yerself a hard time. Ye’re young. Was he yer first romance?”

  Heat crept into her face. Did she really look like that much of a loser? “I’ve had boyfriends before.” She said defensively.

  “Anyone serious? Anyone ye thought to marry?”

  Just you. The thought popped into her head, but thankfully, didn’t pop out of her mouth. She shook her head. “No, you’re right. You’re absolutely right. I don’t have a lot of experience with men.”

  “’Tis regretful ye had such a bad one, but take the lesson learned from it and move on.”

  Move on to him? She tucked back into her breakfast. “What’s your favorite place in the world?”

  “An Steall bἁn.”

  “What?”

  “It means the white spout. ’Tis a place in Scotland, with a beautiful waterfall. I’ve thought of it often. Ye climb a deep valley next to a flowing river to see it. I spent the night there once and it left an impression. ’Tis surrounded by forest, and the falls drop into the river.”

  “It sounds magical.”

  “’Tis lovely there, lass. In the morning, the light hits upon the glen, highlighting the water. In spots ’tis smooth and ye can see yer reflection. Fish swim in the water, and there’s a stone to lean against and watch the world as it wakes.”

  She was staring at him, “It sounds wonderful.”

  “I woke early this morn and walked back to yer river. This place has much the same feeling, does it not? ’Tis beautiful, and ye have a spot to call yer own in the world. I’ve not had such in a while so I know when ’tis missing.”

  She had to look away from him before she offered to share it with him. Every word that came out of his mouth made her fall just a bit deeper in … love?

  No! It was too soon to say something like that. But she knew she didn’t want him gone.

  “I’d better get back to the shed.”

  She stood. “I have a fe
w things to do and then I’ll come help until I need to leave.”

  “’Tis not necessary.”

  “I’ll walk you out.”

  She followed and he stopped on the back porch before turning to her. “This morn, part of the charm of this place was from knowing ye were inside, asleep and dreaming.” He lifted a hand and cupped her cheek. Her heart stuttered in her chest.

  He ran his thumb over her lips and she shivered, unable to look away from the rapt expression on his handsome, beloved face. “Ye make it easy to yearn, even when I know such things are beyond me.” His eyes grew hooded. “But yer mine, today, are ye not?”

  Before she could gather her wits, he bent to kiss her. When their lips touched, his softer than velvet, but hotter than she would have imagined, she melted against him, her hands grasping his shoulders, then sliding to his chest as he gathered her close.

  He couldn’t kiss her like this, couldn’t hold her like this, if it didn’t mean something, could he?

  She didn’t want to be hurt again.

  Part of her thought this was crazy, these intense emotions springing so quickly between them. But another part of her thought she’d be crazy if she didn’t grab hold of what she wanted with both hands.

  She just needed to believe in magic.

  An hour later she hadn’t really helped Kenrick with the shed all that much, but it was fun being with him, fetching him tools, and flirting.

  She glanced at her phone. “I have to work a three-hour shift at the clinic. Do you want to stay here? Or you could come with me, but it would probably be boring. There’s a TV you could watch in the lobby but—”

  “I will go with ye.”

  Pleasure rippled through her. “Are you sure? We have magazines too. Too bad you can’t drive or you could take the truck and pick me up later.”

  “I will stay with ye.”

  He seemed pretty adamant, and since she wanted him with her, well, okay. If he got bored, he was a big boy and could figure it out. He could always take a walk around the pond in the back.

  “All right. Let’s go then.”

  They drove to the clinic and Kenrick seemed very interested in the sights along the way. He really seemed to like the truck, but was also fascinated with the occasional semi-truck passing by on the freeway. “So you’re a truck man, huh?”