After hanging up, I turn around to find Magnus and Piper exchanging meaningful glances.The kind married couples develop when they're having entire conversations without words.It makes me wonder if Kirk and I will ever have that kind of relationship.We come from vastly different backgrounds with vastly different ways of living.
Are we really that different, though?
I face my gracious hosts."Would you guys mind if I wait outside for Kirk to get here?"
Piper grins."Go on, sweetie.I'm hoping for a rom-com style reunion, complete with swelling music."
I laugh and shake my head."I don't think we'll get the swelling music, but I'd settle for a good hug."
"Oh, I suspect you'll get more than that."Piper gives me a knowing wink."The way that man looks at you..."
I duck my head, clearing my throat."We're still figuring things out."
"Aye, that's what they all say," Magnus chimes in."Piper and I were just 'figuring things out' too, until we weren't."
I snatch my jacket up, suddenly needing fresh air."I'll wait on the porch, if that's okay."
"Go on, lass.I'm looking forward to seeing how the Great Kirk Balfour will react to reuniting with his girl."
Once I'm outside, I wind up pacing back and forth, up and down the stone walkway, gnawing on my lip like a schoolgirl waiting for her boyfriend to drive up.Just when I'm about to give up and go inside, I hear the signature growl of a Porsche engine as Kirk's sports car rounds the corner.My pulse revs up along with his car's engine.
The sleek black vehicle pulls into the driveway amid a spray of gravel, and Kirk practically leaps out before the car has fully stopped.His eyes find mine immediately, and the intensity in them makes my breath catch.He's disheveled, with stubble darkening his jaw and his sandy hair mussed as if he's been running his hands through it repeatedly, but he's never looked better to me.
"Gretchen."He speaks my name like it's a prayer as he strides toward me, "Told ye I'd come back for ye, and this time, ahmno letting you out of my sight ever again."
The growl of his voice, the heat in his gaze...I don't think about it.I just run.He opens his arms just in time to catch me as I throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck.He hoists me clean off my feet, burying his face in my hair.
I finally got my rom-com happy ending.Whoo-hoo!
Chapter Forty-Five
Kirk
Five weeks and two days have passed since Operation Tartan Glory concluded.At least now I know Dougal is currently residing at HM Prison Inverness awaiting trial, though according to Thane, the bastard has assembled a team of high-priced advocates, the equivalent of trial lawyers in America, who are already working on a strategy to get the charges reduced.The thought of him possibly getting a lighter sentence makes my blood boil, especially after what he did to Kenny.
Speaking of Kenny, the laddie has bounced back remarkably well.He's already back at work at the Thane Buchanan Distillery, joking about his "wee holiday" as if being kidnapped and skelped was only a minor inconvenience.I dinnae think I can be so cavalier about the whole thing, but Kenny's resilience impresses me.
"Somebody scalped poor Kenny?"Gretchen says with horror in her eyes and her jaw slack."My goodness, who did that?"
I cannae stop myself from chuckling."Relax,gràidh.To a Scot, 'skelping' someone means to smack them about."
"He still has his scalp, then."
"Aye, it's fully intact."
The next morning, I wake to find Gretchen sitting at the kitchen island, scowling at her coffee.
"Ye look like ye're planning a murder," I quip as I grab a mug and pour myself a steaming cuppa."Should I be worried,mo leannan?"
Gretchen blinks rapidly as if she just realized she's been scowling at nothing for the past few minutes."I worry about Dougal potentially getting off easy."
"Dinnae fash."I lay a hand on her cheek, urging her to turn toward me."Forget about everything else today and come away with me."
Her head pops up, her demeanor instantly brighter."Where are we going?"
"It'll be an adventure you will never forget, that's all the hint ye get."I take a sip of my coffee."There's a place I've been wanting to show ye since the day we met.Just a wee trip."I lean against the counter, giving her my patented enigmatic smile."Thought I might show ye something special."
Her golden hazel eyes light up."Is this one of those 'I could tell ye, but then I'd have to kill ye' situations?"
