by Jennae Vale
“I’m guessing you’re right. Everyone was focused on the wedding last night, so there was no talk of it after you left, but it’s not going to remain a secret. Not around here.”
“I should get going. I’ve got lots of decorating to do today. I’ve got extra hands to help and I plan on taking advantage of it while I can.”
“Be careful out there. The ground is pretty slippery.”
“I’d hate to lose these delicious treats before I got back to the inn.”
Rose walked with her to the door and gave her a pat on the shoulder as she braced herself for the cold she was about to walk out into.
Amy arrived at the inn a lot earlier than she’d ever been there in the past and searched around for Avery, but she seemed to be out somewhere.
“I might as well make myself useful.” She headed into the kitchen and got some coffee brewing. As she pulled out mugs, she thought about the kisses she’d shared with Gavin the night before. She hadn’t been kissed in a while, but she certainly remembered what a good kiss felt like. Gavin’s kisses were on a whole new level. Sweet, tender, demanding, probing and toe curlingly amazing. She stood with her head cocked to the side staring off into space for the longest time when an arm snaked its way around her waist, causing her to shriek.
“Shhh…” Gavin spun her in his arms to face him.
“Oh, you scared me.” Her heart was racing. Partly from the scare and partly from being so close to Gavin.
“Did I?” he asked in all innocence.
“You know you did.” She smiled a coquettish smile, batting her eyelashes and placing a hand on his well-muscled chest. “You look pretty this morning.”
“Thank ye,” he said without missing a beat.
Amy liked a man who rolled with the punches and wasn’t offended by her teasing remarks. The icing on the cake was that he wasn’t young enough to be her little brother or old enough to be her dad. He was exactly the right age to be her boyfriend. If he fell for her, and she was pretty sure he would, she shouldn’t have a problem getting him to stay in Delight. Conall could go back alone if he insisted on leaving.
“Ye smell good.” Gavin sniffed her neck from behind her ears to her throat before peppering the same area with little kisses.
Amy heard the front door of the inn open and close. She pushed Gavin away. “Avery’s back.” She moved away before he could reel her in again.
“Hey, what are you doing here so early?” Avery set a box from the bakery down on the kitchen table.
“I thought you might need some help.” That wasn’t really true, but it sounded good.
“I run an inn, Amy. I think I can handle two guests on my own.” The coffee maker gurgled and spit as the last bit of coffee dripped into the glass pot. “Oh, good. You made coffee.”
“See, I just made your morning a little easier.” Amy’s told-you-so attitude was evident as she placed her hands on her hips.
“I know. I was just teasing. I’m glad you’re here.” Avery glanced around the kitchen. “Where’s Conall?”
“He’ll be down soon. He is enjoying the shower. ’Tis no’ something we have back home.”
“I know. It’s pretty wonderful isn’t it?” Amy curled a piece of Gavin’s sandy blonde hair around her finger as she spoke.
“Aye. We may never get him out of there.” Gavin chuckled.
“I got an assortment of baked goods from Rose. Help yourself to some coffee, too. I’m sure Amy will take care of you. I’ll go see if Conall needs anything.”
“I’ve got this.” Amy sent her off with a wave of her hand before turning back to Gavin. “Now, where were we?”
The door to Conall’s room was ajar. Avery knocked and when there was no answer decided it was okay to go in. She wasn’t snooping exactly, but if something popped out at her that gave her a clue about what happened yesterday, she’d have to look at it. Wouldn’t she? The beds were neatly made, almost as though they hadn’t been slept in the night before. She didn’t see anything helpful and was about to turn and leave when the bathroom door opened and a completely naked Conall emerged. He didn’t seem surprised to see her or to even be embarrassed that she was now staring at him with wide eyes and an open mouth.
He walked past her to the pile of clothes on the floor that should have been an indication of what she would find if she’d only seen it.
“Good morn to ye.” He began dressing, all the while watching her.
She shook herself from her state of shock and covered her eyes.
“’Tis a wee bit late for that, would ye no’ say?” He chuckled as he pulled on his pants.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”
“No apology necessary. What did ye want?”
“Oh, um, oh.” Avery thought she might pass out from the embarrassment she was feeling coupled with the rush of desire that settled in her core.
Conall was completely dressed now and standing so close she could smell the flowery soap he’d used in the shower. Curly wet tendrils of hair rested on his shoulders, wetting his shirt.
“There’s a hair dryer in the bathroom.” She pointed awkwardly toward it.
“I doona ken what that is.”
“Oh, of course not. I’ll show you.” Avery forced herself to move toward the bathroom, waving the steamy air out of her way as she went. Conall was right behind her as she pulled the dryer out from under the vanity. “Here.”
He took it from her hand and examined it. “What does it do?”
“It dries your hair. Like this.” She plugged it in, turned it on and pointed it at his head.
Conall didn’t move, but was watching her with some skepticism. He didn’t appear interested in taking the dryer from her.
“Okay. I’ll help.” She ran her fingers through his hair as she blew warm air over it. “I got breakfast for you. Hopefully your brother doesn’t eat it all before we get down there.”
“’Tis kind of ye.” He grasped her wrist, taking the dryer from her hand. “I doona need this.”
“It’s almost dry anyway. We should go downstairs.” Avery’s voice shook and her hands were unsteady as she turned off the dryer and put it away.
Conall was already on his way downstairs. It was nice having a man in the house – one who was more than just a guest. The surprising intimacy of drying his hair had shaken her and it seemed he felt it, too. She took a minute to settle down and then smiled to herself. It may have been embarrassing to see Conall naked, but if she was being honest it was most likely going to be the thrill of her day. Maybe even her week or even her year. She hurried out the door to catch up with him before he got to the kitchen.
Conall couldn’t help himself. He’d enjoyed the shocked expression on Avery’s face. As a matter of fact, he smiled all the way downstairs. When she caught up with him, he changed to his normal scowl with lightning speed. “After ye.”
She rushed past him into the kitchen, and hurried back out right into his chest. He steadied her with his hands on her arms. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I think I just interrupted something.”
“I’m sorry, Avery. Come back,” Amy called.
“Were they kissin’?” Conall asked, knowing the answer.
“They were.”
“Then they should find a private place to go if they doona wish to be disturbed.” He took her by the hand. “Come.”
Gavin appeared pretty pleased with himself. As for Amy, her lips looked as though they’d been thoroughly kissed. She tried to hide behind his brother’s shoulder. Conall wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t anything he hadn’t seen before.
His nose drew him to the box on the table. He opened the top and spied many delicious looking items, but he picked up the croissant with the eggs.
“Here’s a plate.” Avery handed him a napkin and fork to go with it.
“Coffee?” Amy placed mugs down on the table and began pouring the rich, dark liquid into each. Steam wafted from the cups bringing with it an aroma he was coming
to enjoy. “I’ll get the cream and sugar.”
Avery sat down next to Conall and seemed content to watch him eat.
“Are ye no’ eating?” He took another bite of the tender bread filled with eggs and meat. The food here in this time seemed plentiful and was quite good.
“I don’t usually eat in the morning.” She held her cup up. “Just coffee for me.”
“What is that?” Gavin asked, pointing to Amy’s plate.
“Gingerbread muffin. Want some?” She broke off a piece and fed it to him. “So, what are you doing today, Avery?”
“I’m hoping to decorate the inn. I have to pick up a tree first, though. Maybe you could help me?” She directed her question to Conall.
“I’d be happy to help ye.” He would be. She’d been more than generous to them. It was the least he could do.
“Perfect. We’ll go after you finish eating.”
“Maybe Gavin could work at the ski shop today,” Amy said.
“Aye. I will.” Gavin took another croissant and the other gingerbread muffin.
“More coffee?” Amy asked.
“No. Thank ye.” Conall stood. “I’ll get me jacket.” He had absolutely no idea what they’d be doing or why they needed to pick up a tree. But if that was what Avery wanted, he was happy to give it to her.
Chapter 8
Avery started the old rattletrap truck she saved for occasions like this one. She didn’t need a car. Most of her travels took her right here in the center of town. When she needed to be somewhere farther away, there was always someone who was happy to take her. The truck sputtered and spewed smoke from the tailpipe before it jerked into motion and they were on their way.
“It’s not very far.” She kept her eyes on the road and her hands at ten and two on the steering wheel. She was a very cautious driver.
The parking lot of the tree farm was full of cars and trucks. She snuck a peek at Conall who seemed fascinated with the people tying trees onto the tops of their cars. She pulled into a spot right by the entrance. “Are you ready?”
He had a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me expression on his face, but he got out and waited for her at the tailgate of the truck.
“We’ll need this.” Avery reached into the truck bed and retrieved an old saw. She handed it to Conall. “I’ll let you do the honors.”
He examined the saw and seemed to approve as he walked along beside her.
“What tree do ye wish me to cut for ye?” He stopped in the middle of a row of smaller sized pine trees.
“These are too small. I need something bigger for the sitting room. It has high ceilings.” She looked around. “Over there.” Avery marched toward the taller trees she could see in the distance.
“I think this one.” She walked around an eight-foot tree. Its branches were still laden with snow from the night’s storm. “It looks straight and full. Yes. This one.”
Conall also examined the tree from every direction. “Yer sure this is the one ye want.” He seemed skeptical.
“Yes. Why?”
“Ye’ll no’ get much wood for yer fire.”
“It’s not for my fire.” Avery couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s to put up in the sitting room. We’re going to decorate it.”
Again, the skeptical look. He rubbed the back of his neck, still eyeing the tree. Finally, after what seemed forever, he said, “I doona know what ye mean.”
“You’ll see when we get back to the inn. Let me check the height before you start cutting.” Avery got out the measuring tape she’d placed in her pocket for this very purpose. “Perfect.”
Conall got down low to the ground and began sawing away. Avery steadied the tree so it wouldn’t fall before he was done.
Once the tree was cut, Conall held it upright while Avery gave it one final look. “We should shake it to make sure there aren’t any critters living in there.”
Conall took the bottom end and Avery grabbed the top. They gave it a good shake and then carried it to the exit where Avery paid for the tree. As Conall hoisted the tree on his shoulder, Avery couldn’t help but be impressed by his strength. She led the way to the truck where they placed the tree in the bed. Conall laid the saw down beside the tree and then turned to Avery.
“That’s it. Once we get it back to the inn, we’ll cut a little more off the bottom and get it set up.” She hopped into the front seat of the truck. Conall did the same. “I take it you’ve never decorated a tree before?”
“I have no’.”
“What do you do for Christmas?” Avery turned the key in the ignition and waited while the truck groaned to life.
“We doona celebrate Christmas.”
“Oh. I didn’t know that.”
“How would ye? Yer no’ from me time.”
“True. Well, it’s a pretty big deal around here. You probably noticed all the decorations around town.”
“I’ve noticed many things I’ve never seen before.”
“We don’t have Christmas decorations up all year round. Just the month of December. We take them down in January.”
“Why have me cousins never returned to their own time?” This question came out of the blue and judging by his tone of voice, it was something that puzzled him and wasn’t asked out of mere curiosity.
“Umm…I don’t think they knew they could go back. They didn’t know until just a short time ago that the cave you came through even existed or that they could travel back to their own time that way. By then, Bear and Kade were married and Payton had found a woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.”
“Could they no’ take their wives back with them?”
“I can’t imagine they’d want to go. Kirsten’s a successful business woman, as is Billie. Crystal has her mother and daughter to think of and is going to be opening a shop in town.”
“The women here are different.”
“The times are different. Many things have changed since your time. They’re still changing.”
“Do ye mind being alone? Without a husband?”
She didn’t want to seem pitiful in his eyes. She’d managed for several years on her own and she could continue to do so. She missed having a man in her life, especially when she saw how happy her friends were with their new partners. “I wouldn’t say I mind it. It would be nice to have someone to share my life with, but if that doesn’t happen, I’d be fine.”
“What of Amy?”
“Amy’s younger than me. She’s never been married and there aren’t a lot of single men in town that she’s attracted to.”
“She’s attracted to Gavin.”
“She sure is. I haven’t ever seen her like this.” She took her eyes off the road for a second to look at him. “They’re cute together, don’t you think?”
“Cute?”
“They fit. They seem perfect for each other.”
“We’re no’ staying.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t you? Everything here is so much better. Judging by how much time you spent in the shower this morning, I know you think so.”
“It does no’ matter what I think. We must return.”
“Do you care to tell me why?”
“Our clan has been suffering. Many of them are gone. Me cousins deserted us when they were needed the most.”
“So you’re angry with your cousins? Is that what the fight was about?”
“Aye. I’m angry.” He turned his head to look out the window. “Me cousins believe me to be a traitor. ’Tis why we argued.”
“You’re not a traitor, right?”
“Some may think I am, but what I’ve done, and what Gavin has done, is only to help our people.”
Avery could hear the hurt in his voice. It was obvious his people were very important to him and the fact that they may not view him in the same light bothered him. “What exactly have you done? What could be so bad that they’d think that of you?”
“We live and work with the English.” The faint hu
rt that had been there before was gone now, replaced with a stoic resignation.
“I could see where that might be a problem.”
“Does it make ye hate me?” he asked, sounding like it mattered to him.
“Of course not. I don’t know all the details, but I’m sure you have a good reason.” She eyed him again. She wanted to believe him, but he wasn’t giving her a lot to go on. All she had was her gut feeling and that was telling her she could trust him. “You do, don’t you?”
“Love of home and clan are the only reasons I need.”
“Well, that’s good enough for me.” She gave him a reassuring smile. “Do you want things to be better with your cousins?”
“‘Twould make things easier.”
“Maybe I can help with that.” His reasons came from the heart. She could hear it in his voice. How could loving your home and people ever be a bad thing?
“I doona think so.”
“You’d be surprised. You might not know it, but this town has taught me that anything is possible. We’ve risen from the ashes like the proverbial Phoenix and we did it all with a little grit and determination. Anything is possible.”
He turned from the window and faced her as she drove. She could feel him watching her and it made her a little uncomfortable, but in a good way. She liked him and she wished she could convince him to stay in Delight, that everything would be better for him here. She’d have to talk to Amy about this. Together they might be able to find a solution to the problem with Conall and Gavin’s cousins and a plan to get them to forget about going back.
There was something about this woman that Conall found hard to ignore. She was about his own age and wore her age well. Blonde hair that barely touched her shoulders was cut shorter than he’d ever seen on a woman, but on Avery it was very pretty. He liked her soft demeanor and found her easy to speak with. She hadn’t judged him when he’d told her about the English, but if she knew the whole story, she may not be as accepting. He’d keep that information to himself. There was no need to upset her with it. As he’d told her, he’d be leaving. Until then, he’d enjoy her company without getting too attached.