Mairi noted his increasing pallor. Poor man. Definitely a bit green around the gills. “Oh, motion sickness. I understand completely. My sister Kenna heaves at the drop of a hat no matter what kind of vehicle she rides in.”
“Aye.” He bobbed his head up and down. “Aye. Sickness. Terrible heaving whenever I ride.”
Mairi pulled the keys from her pocket and held them out to him. “Here. You drive, then. That always helped Kenna.”
He jumped back and held up his hands as though she was trying to hand him a snake. “Nay. I canna drive that beast. I canna do it.”
Damn. What a reaction.She glanced at the auto and noticed the gear shift situated between the two front seats. “It’s not a five speed. It’s an automatic.” Maybe that’s what scared him, and if it was, she didn’t really blame him. She didn’t like that whole foot on the clutch then shift the gear stuff either. “I know it kind of looks like a five speed, but it’s not. I promise.” She jangled the keys again.
Ronan backed up another step. “Nay. I cannot.”
It was times like this that Kenna’s little trick of walking into minds would come in really handy. Mairi studied Ronan, assessing him as best she could. Rapid breathing. Pale skin. Vein throbbing in his neck. The man was about to panic himself into a stroke.
She shrugged and silenced the rattling keys as she drew them away. She owed him. He’d been more than patient with her when she’d heaved her donation to the porcelain altar. “It’s okay. Just calm down. I’ll drive. If you feel sick, just let me know in time to stop so you can toss your cookies on the side of the road.”
“Toss my cookies,” he slowly repeated.
“Barf.” Mairi rounded the car and slid back behind the wheel.
Ronan bent and looked at her through the open passenger door. “Barf?”
This was getting ridiculous and she was running out of terms for vomiting. “Just get in.” She patted the seat beside her. “I’ll take it slow and easy. I promise.”
His gaze darted around the car’s interior as he slid into the seat so slowly it seemed almost painful. Knuckles white, each of his hands tensed into fists uneasily balanced on his thighs. He lifted his chin and stared straight ahead. “Get on with it, then. I am ready.”
“Uhm . . .” Mairi bit her lip. The man was terrified beyond reason. She glanced across him at the still wide-open car door then shook her head. Nah. She should just shut it for him.She slid out of the car and jogged around to his side. Before shutting the door, she yanked the shoulder harness across his chest and clicked it into place. “Gotta keep you safe.” She patted him then closed the door. Poor man. How in the world did he ever get anywhere he needed to go?
Back in her seat, she started the engine. His eyes widened and his hands clutched his knees. “I promise I’ll go slow. You’ll be fine.” She studied him closer; cold sharp fingers of suspicion pricked her awareness like so many needles. An uneasy certainty settled across her mind. “You’ve never been in a car before. Have you?”
He eased in a deep breath, then jerked himself back against the seat. “I’ve never been in a car . . . this small.”
His excuse seemed plausible enough. Maybe she was just being oversensitive to any particular weirdness because of her lingering hangover. “I’m a very safe driver. I promise.” She punched the button to the garage door and watched it slowly open in the rearview mirror.
As she backed down the driveway and into the street, she could’ve sworn he hissed something in a language she didn’t quite understand. A glance over at his wide-eyed expression confirmed it. The man was muttering a constant stream of words under his breath as he stared straight ahead.
“Are you Catholic?” Mairi paused at the intersection.
“Catholic?” Ronan’s knuckles popped in rapid succession as she took off and the car merged into Edinburgh’s busy morning traffic.
“Yeah.” Mairi nodded as she yanked the wheel to the right and switched lanes. “It sounded like you were reciting a rosary or something when I backed out of the driveway.” Traffic was heavier than usual. So much for the nice quiet ride she’d promised him. The best she could do was get him there as quickly as possible.
He sank deeper into the seat as she pressed harder on the gas pedal and zipped down a side street. Elbows locked, he flattened his hands against the dash, bared his teeth, and closed his eyes. “Must the bastard move so rapidly?”
“Sorry.” She slowed the vehicle as much as she dared in the heavy traffic. Better forget about a stop for coffee. He’d have a heart attack if she took him through the traffic at Ollie’s. “We’re almost there. You’re not getting sick are you?”
He didn’t speak, just jerked his head from side to side.
“See? We’re here.” Mairi punched a button on the remote clipped to the visor. A gate of glossy black ironwork obediently swung aside long enough for her to pull the car into the alley. As soon as she shut off the engine, the gate of bars slowly slid shut behind the car.
He yanked at the strap across his chest, jerking frantically at the mechanism holding the strap in place. “I would be free of this beast. Release me at once.” The small car rocked as he thrashed back and forth.
“Ronan—stop!” She shook his arm and leaned toward him to cup her other hand along his jaw. “It’s okay. I’ll get you loose. You have to calm down.”
Eyes wild and strangely dark, he forced his hands away from the seat belt. A low deep growl rumbled from him as he turned his face aside, jerking away from her touch.
She released the mechanism and tossed the shoulder strap aside. He needed air. Badly. His behavior worried her. She feared he was about to have some sort of seizure. She hopped out of the car and ran around to his side, yanking the door wide open. “Ronan. Breathe deep. Fresh air. Come on. We’ll walk around on the back patio for a bit and get you some fresh air.”
“What’s going on?” Lilia called from the doorway. “Is he all right?”
