by LL Muir
“Hey!” Allison smacked her on the shoulder. “Tara, if you know what’s going on here, start talking.”
Kenrick surged forward again, this time to grab hold of Allison’s shoulders through the bars. “I didnae wish to tell ye, I wanted our time together to be unfettered by things to come. I didnae wish ye to know of my true past. Or my cursed future. I’d wanted ye to live and laugh and think well of me when I’m gone.”
Allison swallowed hard and stiffened her suddenly weak knees. “Your past? Your cursed …what?” She was confused. She’d sensed only truth from him this weekend. Given her trust. “You mean, leave and come back?” She’d never felt so vulnerable in her life.
He squeezed her shoulders gently, kneading them with his big hands, his expression tormented. “I mean, leave and never come back.”
“But …” she swallowed again. “But why? Where are you going? Could … couldn’t I come with you?” It about killed her to ask, because she felt like he’d say no, anyway. He would have issued an invitation if he’d wanted her along. But she still had to ask. She couldn’t help it. She wanted to be with him. She’d grovel, just like her parents suggested. She needed to be with him, which of course, was ridiculous. They’d only known each other for a couple of days. But it didn’t feel ridiculous. This man had quickly become important to her.
More important than her dogs. More important than her fixer-upper house. More important than every aunt, cousin, and sibling at that family reunion.
He was her family. He filled the emptiness in her heart.
His face looked agonized, which gave her the answer before he said the words. “Nae, lassie, love. Ye cannae come where I must go. Not for a long while yet.”
“I … I know I have my house and everything, and you know it means a lot to me, but you’re coming to mean a lot to me, too.” She said the words in a rush. She didn’t want to regret later that she left them unsaid. If she was going to be vulnerable anyway, she might as well lay her whole heart out there.
“I should have told ye before, I know I should have, but I was being selfish. I didnae want to leave, and thought if I didnae say the words, they wouldnae be real. But I have to leave, lass. I doonae have a choice.”
She looked at the girl on the cot. The purported witch. She had something to do with this… but surely, she wasn’t his wife? “You told me you weren’t married.”
“I’m not.”
“So stay.” She was begging now. Blinking back the sting of tears. Making a complete and utter fool of herself in a way she’d sworn she never would again. “I know you have feelings for me, you can’t deny it.”
Chapter 15
Deny it? He did not wish to deny anything! The tears welling in her eyes killed him anew.
“Allison, ye are not the only one with these feelings. The night we met, ’twas fate. Ye needed a pretend fiancé, and it was a dream. My dream. How I’d love nothing more than for it, all of it, to be real.”
He breathed hard, shuddered out a breath, desperate to convince her and lessen her hurt. “I was dead, and ye found me. I was naught but a wraith, lost and alone, for so long without ye.”
The slender wings of her brows drew together in confusion.
Nathan groaned. “Stop already!”
Tara placed her hand to her heart and sighed.
If he’d the time, he would have bellowed for the others to leave them be, allow him to bear his heart and soul to this woman alone. But time was the one thing he did not have.
“I told ye that I’m from Scotland. I’ve lived at Culloden Moor these past centuries. Released, I’ve been selfish, wanting to collect these memories with ye. Memories of ye.”
“Enough of this romantic claptrap,” Nathan broke in. “What are you talking about? Pretend fiancé? Allison, really? What is going on here?”
Kenrick was well aware of the witch at his back, waiting, and he could not worry about what Nathan thought. Allison was all that mattered. If he could explain, take away her pain at his leaving, there was naught he would not do. “I doonae wish to deny my feelings for ye. They beat in my chest, real, and strong. Would that I could have ye with me forever.”
“You have feelings for me?” The hope in her voice gutted him.
“I do. Ye saved me from an eternity of misery, and brought me into the light.”
“I … I have feelings for you too. I feel the same way. You saved me too.”
Soni was beside him in an instant and he flinched away from her. “Did I hear ye correctly? Ye both saved one another, did ye now?”
“He did save me,” Allison insisted. “And he saved Bonnie too. Without him, she’d be dead.”
Kenrick gripped her through the bars and leaned in close to kiss her. She pressed against the bars, clinging to his shoulders as she pressed her lips to his.
Nathan groaned in embarrassment. “I really don’t want to see this.” He quickly moved forward, put a key in the door, and opened it. He gestured Kenrick out. “I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I’m pretty sure I don’t want to know. Not another word until I’m gone!”
With that, he left the room.
The open door represented his chance to leave, but where could he go? Soni was here to collect him. He’d had his time, his extra moments, his second chance. Allison clung to him and he daren’t release her. If he stepped through the opening, he might be swept away. “I’m so sorry, lassie. I truly wish I could stay, but I cannae.”
She jerked away from him, her expression going blank.
He reached for her. “But ye must know, ye will forever have my heart.”
Allison took a deep breath, her expression crumpling. “Fat lot of good that will do me, won’t it?”
“I’m sorry if I’ve hurt ye. If I could change the way I’ve done things …” He choked on the confession. He wouldn’t change a thing. He was a selfish man, the most selfish. He should’ve thought of her first, her feelings. He’d thought that in the short time they had together her feelings wouldn’t change the way his own had. He’d been willing to risk himself, desperate to experience all that Allison would give him. But he’d known, hadn’t he? He’d known she was falling in love too.
“Allison … I …” He reached for her, held out his hand, palm up.
She held out her own hand, grasped his, and shook it as if they were strangers. “Yes, well, nice to know you.”
She tried to hide her hurt, but it radiated from her. His own heart was beating hard, painful in his chest.
And she simply wanted to shake his hand? He knew he wasn’t rational, or reasonable, but he could not end things in such a way.
He did not know how much time he had, he knew he yet lived at Soni’s whim, and could disappear at any moment. Taking a breath he darted out the jail, bent over, and scooped Allison up and over his shoulder.
He ran for the door, made his way through it, and hurried toward the exit. All the while expecting to lose it all.
“What are you doing?”
As Allison struggled over his shoulder, he ran past officers, criminals, and out the front doors.
“Kenrick! Stop it! What are you doing?”
He didn’t answer, but when he saw her truck, he ran for it and tried the door. Locked. “Keys.”
“Tara has my keys. You don’t know how to drive anyway.”
He glanced around, searching for followers, before darting into the space between buildings.
“Kenrick! What is going on? You’re acting like a crazy man!”
He gently set her upon her feet. “I’m sorry. Are ye all right? I just … I need to hie ye away from there. At least long enough to explain.”
“Why?” Her voice cracked and tears simmered in her eyes. “You’re leaving me.”
“I love ye.” He grasped her head in his palms, petted the light locks. “I love ye and I doonae wish to be without ye, but I must.”
She raised her gaze to his. “I love you, too. I don’t want to be without you.”
Kenrick took her han
ds in his. “I cannae give ye up. Understand me, I’ll wait for ye. Even if ye marry ten times and have twenty children, I’ll be there at the end of it all, waiting on ye.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I … I cannae stay. Soni … She’s—”
“She’s what?” Soni asked, directly behind him.
Allison screamed, and looked past him to see the witch. “What is going on here?”
“Soni is a witch.” He started to speak faster, worried he wouldn’t be able to get the words out. But he needed her to know, to understand he would not leave unless he had to.
“I’m a ghost. Or I was one. I was born in the year 1720, and I died in the battle of Culloden Moor. Soni has given me this chance to do a good turn. I … I was helping ye. At least I was trying to.”
Allison’s face tightened, her brows drew together. “You’re a ghost. A three-hundred-year-old ghost?”
“Close enough.”
“And she’s a witch?”
“Aye. And I love ye. I know ’tis hard to believe such a thing, as I’ve only known ye for a short time, but I promise ye ’tis true.”
Soni took a step forward.
He turned a pleading gaze upon her. “Please, please just give me a little more time.”
Soni tilted her head. “How much time would ye like?”
Kenrick opened his mouth, closed it again, determined to proceed with caution . “All of it?”
Soni blew out a breath. “Did ye truly save this girl? And did she save ye in turn?”
“Yes!” They both declared at the same time.
Soni sighed. “But Kenrick, what about Bonnie Prince Charlie?”
“Ach! I care not one wit for the man.”
“You’ll lose yer shot at vengeance against him.”
“And … and if I do … do I get to keep Allison?”
She tilted her head and seemed to consider. “Aye. I think that’s fair.”
“Done! I forfeit my vengeance.”
Soni smiled. “All right. I wash my hands of ye and will leave ye here. Will ye be all right?”
He was gripping Allison’s hands tightly and he had to swallow in order to speak past the tightness in his throat. “Aye. Thank ye, little Soni. Thank ye!”
“Do I get a say in any of this?” Allison was looking between the two of them.
“Aye. Say ye love me.”
“She loves you!” Tara was now standing in the alley, and she turned toward Allison. “You asked the universe for this, to give you Kenrick. Don’t blow it, Allison!”
Kenrick cupped her cheek in his hand, the soft feel of it practically breaking his heart. “Trust me, lass. I’ll not let ye down. I’ll never let ye down, nor give ye cause for disappointment again.”
Allison stood frozen, looking at them all until her gaze finally locked upon his. He held his breath. He had such hope, his entire body tense, as he willed her to accept him.
She let out a breath. “Do ya’ll think I’m stupid or something? Of course the answer is yes.”
Kenrick let out a yell of triumph, and scooped her into his arms.
“Ye’ll not regret it, lass. I’ll make sure of that.”
He kissed her soundly, and when he lifted his head she smiled up at him, then self-consciously at her friend.
Soni was gone.
He let out a slow breath, then relaxed and smiled at Allison. “I wish to marry ye. I know ye might need more time to accept me—”
“No. I don’t need more time. I love you. If and when you propose, I’m ready to marry you.”
He slowly cupped her cheek with his hand. He swallowed, hard. “Will ye marry me, Allison?”
Her eyes were shining now. “Yes. Whenever you want.”
“So ye’ll have me?”
They barely knew each other—they’d only known each other for such a short time, but that didn’t matter. “I’ll have you, all right. And I’ll keep you, too.”
“I’m going to want it all. Marriage, children, every part and piece of yer heart.”
She touched his face, smiling into his eyes. “My heart is already yours. You have it now and forever, my sweet, wonderful highlander.”
A smile of satisfaction curved his lips, and hers responded in kind.
They were a couple of saps and she loved it.
He kissed her, shuddered against her, and she’d never been kissed like that, as if he’d die if she didn’t return the pressure, kiss him back and mean it.
He pulled away slowly, lowered her until her feet touched the ground, took her hand in his, and pulled her out of the alley. She’d been proposed to in an alley and it was perfect.
Allison shook her head and shrugged at Tara as they walked past. “I know, right?”
Tara watched her, a self-satisfied grin on her face, and gave her a thumbs up. “When is the next star shower? I must go home and look it up. And perhaps a freshly brewed love potion is a good idea too.”
Allison laughed. She couldn’t believe this was happening. This sort of thing didn’t happen to her.
Kenrick looked left, then right, as if unsure where to go. “I’m in my parents’ car.” She pulled him to the right. “Tara, are you taking the truck back to my place?”
“Will do.”
When they reached the car, Kenrick looked interested. “This is a much smaller vehicle. Do ye wish me to drive?”
“Not on your life. I want to get home in one piece.”
He grinned at her. “Need I remind ye, ye’re the one who hit me with yer truck?”
She gave him a bland smile and the slightest arch of one brow. “And yet, I’m still the better driver.”
His chin lifted and he wore a slightly cocky expression of male satisfaction. It looked great on him. “I’ll be learning how to drive soon, just so ye know.”
She had no doubt he would. They slid into the car, backed out of the lot, and headed toward home.
She glanced at him to find him watching her.
He reached for her hand. “I feel I’ve won a great prize, and am afraid ‘twill be snatched away.”
In a way, she felt the same, but figured one of them needed to have confidence about their future. “Did I ever tell you about the wish I made on the night I met you?”
“I thought ye couldnae tell anyone what ye wished for or it wouldnae come true.”
“If it comes true, then you can tell.”
His green-eyed gaze sharpened, filled with hope. “What was it then?”
“I wished on a star, and I let the universe know I was looking for the love of my life.”
“That was yer wish? And then ye hit me with yer truck?”
She giggled. “I’ve heard love can hit some people like a ton of rocks.”
“I’ve not heard that saying. More like a poorly-driven vehicle.”
She laughed. “I’m pretty sure I’ve never heard that one, but it’s sure to become popular now.”
He squeezed her hand. “’Tis sure to be so.” He paused as if debating something. “Allison. I wished upon my own star, last night on your deck.” He drew in a breath. “I hardly dare say, for fear all will be snatched away, but I wished for ye. That I could have ye for my own.”
She glanced over to see his green eyes glittering and she exhaled softly as happiness flooded her heart. “Oh, Kenrick. You’re going to make the most wonderful husband.”
He nodded, swallowed, and smiled at her. He glanced out the window and she could see hope and excitement in his expression.
Whew. It was a good look on him.
They arrived home and Kenrick had barely lowered his head to kiss her when the doorbell rang.
She exhaled, not bothering to hide her disappointment. “Sorry. It must be Tara.”
It was her family. Mama, Daddy, her sister, and her ex-fiancé all walked in the moment she opened the door.
Linnie placed hands on her hips. “Fake fiancé?”
Tara’s mouth dropped. “What?”
“Nathan
told us.”
Allison glanced around at her family, unsure about what to say.
Kenrick wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. “There is naught fake about my feelings for Allison. She’s agreed to be my wife.”
“Huh.” Linnie looked let down. “So this is for real?”
Allison nodded. “As real as it gets.”
“But you’re not gonna be mad at me anymore?” For the first time, Allison saw a hint of vulnerability in her sister. She didn’t glance between Isaac and Kenrick, fearing someone might think she was comparing the two. There was no comparison, but she didn’t want that showing in her expression. Not when she was on the verge of patching things up with her sister. “I’m not going to be mad anymore.”
Linnie burst into tears.
Allison hugged her baby sister, and looked at Kenrick over Linnie’s shoulder. No doubt her sister would eventually realize Allison was more than happy with the way things had turned out.
No need to rub her nose in it.
Epilogue
“There’s another one!” Kenrick pointed out.
Lying in Kenrick’s arms, Allison watched the shooting star flare across the sky and then disappear. Seated with him in the oversized chair on the deck Kenrick had built by the river, the dogs at their feet, she’d never felt more contented in her life.
This time last year she’d been wishing on stars with Tara.
A month later she’d married this wonderful man.
Now, after giving Nathan the runaround for months, Tara was engaged to her brother. And if there was a more lovey-dovey couple out there, she had yet to meet them.
Served her brother right.
Linnie and Isaac were married and doing surprising well together. Allison could truly say she wished them well. It had eventually occurred to her that she owed the two of them a debt of gratitude for bringing Kenrick into her life.
So much could happen in a year.
Kenrick had, bit by bit, told her of the years he’d spent lifeless on Culloden Moor. And, bit by bit she’d come to believe him. They’d gone to Scotland on their honeymoon, and it had been as beautiful as she’d suspected. The trip they’d taken, the places he’d shown her, had erased all doubts.