Whitefoot had all but recovered from Domnall Maguire’s attack although he walked with a slight limp now. Thomas and Clyde were fine too even though both had sported bruises that they’d worn like badges of honor for the first week. Of Domnall Maguire there had been no sign.
Abi pushed thoughts of that bastard from her mind and concentrated on Reid. Three weeks had passed since their first night together and those three weeks had been the happiest of her life.
During that time, Reid had taken every opportunity to seek her out. She’d be walking down the stairs and he would grab her from behind, spin her around, and kiss her until she was breathless. Or she would be helping cook in the kitchen and he would appear from nowhere and lead her into the storeroom where he did more than just kiss her. And the nights! Oh God, the nights! She didn’t think she’d gotten a full night’s sleep in the last three weeks with everything she and Reid had done together. And yet it wasn’t enough. It could never be enough.
She’d barely thought of home recently. And what’s more, she’d barely thought of Layla, her missing friend, which is why she’d come to Scotland in the first place. A twinge of guilt went through her each time she did, but she could barely think straight for this new, strange thing that was happening to her.
She was falling in love with him. She realized that now. It was dangerous and stupid and ridiculous beyond measure, but the rational part of her had lost all control. Now her heart held sway and that was falling deeper under Reid Campbell’s spell the longer she spent with him.
The only thing that marred her contentment was the nagging guilt that it was all based on a lie. Reid thought he knew her, but he didn’t, not really. She had still not told him who she really was, that she was from the future, that she’d come here through an arch and that her real home was in the twenty-first century. She hadwantedto tell him. She wanted him to know everything about her and she had tried several times, but each time something had stopped her.
Where would she begin? How would she even start a conversation like that?
“What are ye thinking, lass?” he said softly.
Abi steeled herself. He deserved to know the truth. “Listen, Reid,” she said. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
But he wasn’t listening to her. He’d sat up and his attention was fixed on the river below where a barge was coming downriver towards the castle. Abi thought she recognized the three figures aboard.
“Is that Drummond?”
“It is,” Reid said triumphantly. “And right on time!”
The captain had left a couple of days ago, taking Clyde and Thomas with him. Reid claimed he’d gone on a supply mission and that he’d taken the youths with him to continue their training in boatmanship, but from the way he’d looked so pleased with himself ever since, Abi suspected there was more to it than that.
“What are you up to?” she asked.
He gave her a wide-eyed innocent look. “Why do you think I’m up to anything?”
“Because I know that expression, Reid Campbell.”
“I have no idea what ye are talking about,” Reid said with a grin. “But I think we should be going now.”
“But,” she began. “I need to tell you something.”
He tore his gaze away from the barge and glanced at her. “Aye?”
Her nerve left her. “Oh, nothing,” she said, waving a dismissive hand and hating herself for a coward. “It can wait.”
“Right. Let’s get going then.” He took her hand and began leading her down the path towards the castle.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Abi asked.
Reid winked at her. “All in good time.”
***
REID WAS NERVOUS. HE’Dtaken a bath, washed and combed his hair, had his boots and clothes cleaned, and now he was standing in front of the beaten piece of metal he used as a mirror, donning his best plaid. But no matter how prepared he was, he couldn’t stop the fluttering of butterflies in his stomach.
What was wrong with him? He’d faced men in battle and not felt like this. He’d met with some of the most powerful men in the land and he’d hardly batted an eyelid. So why did he feel like some green youth taking a lass to his first summer dance?
Ye know why, ye damned fool,he answered himself.Because tonight is possibly the most important night of yer life.
He examined himself in the mirror again. His hair refused to do what he wanted and kept falling over his eyes. Ah, dammit. He smoothed it back for the hundredth time.
From their spot by the fire, Bo and Whitefoot watched him with what looked like canine amusement.
“What are ye looking at?” he demanded but they merely thumped their tails in response.
