Rubbing my neck I rasp, “All I mean....is that yur going to have a difficult time selling your da’s cottage. All houses around here are verra old. Nobody wants them.”
“I’m sure that’s not true,” she mutters, then glances at me. “Hey, did you know my dad by any chance?”
I curtly shake my head and I can taste her disappointment. Makes me want to reach my hand out and stroke her over the hair, brush her pale strands between my fingers, clasp her chin and move her face up for a kiss to let her know that everything is going to be all right.
“It’s just down there,” I say in a thick voice, pointing down a hill and she almost skips ahead of me as if she’s eager.
Throwing a look over her shoulder she says, “Think I can make it on my own from here now. I don’t want to keep you away from your wife or your girlfriend.”
“Don’t worry, I have neither,” I rasp and she turns her face, trying to hide her smile and it feels like being gut punched.
Teasing she looks back at me. “Aren’t you going to ask me the same?”
“Aye I shall,” I nod. “Do you have a wife or a girlfriend?”
A skittish laughter comes out of her, making me grin and she scowls.
“No. And I don’t have a boyfriend or husband either!”
“Good to know,” I say and she gives me a flirtatious smile, all relaxed now that she knows that I’m not a crazy Scotsman who’s going to hunt her with a dagger.
“Is it?” she says, her now wet ponytail swishing as she walks.
“It is, now I know nobody will come after me in case you decide to go treasure hunting.”
She frowns. “Treasure hunting?” A curious flicker sparks in her eyes. “Are there really treasures around here?”
“Aye and they’re all under my kilt,” I chuckle and she gasps, a bright flush covering her face and her eyes dart as she shakes her head.
“Ugh...talk to me like that again and you’re going to make me wish I had a husband who could beat you up...”
Gasping when I grab her arms I yank her to me. Gently, but firmly.
“Ya have no husband, no man. If ya had one that would make me verra angry and ya do not want me to unleash the Keltar wrath on any poor sod.”
Snorting, she’s about to say something snappy when her brows knot. “Have we met before? Hm, Logan? Before the train ride, I mean.”
My mouth thins but I shake my head. “We have not.” Jerking my head I say, “There’s your cottage by the way.”
At the sight of it, she lets out a squeal and starts running down the hill. Reaching out my hand my fingertips brush the ends of her hair, causing my eyes to flutter. Fuck, there are no words that can describe how much I want to touch her, keep her and never letmyMacbeth go.
3
Beth
Racing down the hill, my heart seems to be pounding in my throat and tears almost burn in my eyes. The place is enormous and stony, with a tower and a murky lake surrounding it.
“This is amazing,” I cry, “its magical, like something out of fairy tale...” I keep yelling when I realize that Logan is right behind me and I give him a sheepish glance. How did he get down here so fast? Then again five running steps for me is like one walking step for him.
“Still as keen on selling it?” he asks and I shake my head.
“Why do they call this a cottage when it’s a freaking castle?”
Logan shrugs. “By Scottish standards this is a cottage.”
Sniggering, I smack him on his chest with the back of my hand but I regret it instantly. “Oww...what...are you made of lead?”
Looking down at me, he raises a black brow. “It’s that Celtic blood.” His eyes bore into mine. “Ya have it too.”