“Put me down before I hurt you.”
“That is no way to talk to our guests,” Quinn’s mother called out from behind the big brute.
“Sorry, Mom, but he’s not a guest. He’s a pain in my—”
“Quinn Elizabeth,” her mother said, scolding her.
Quinn rolled her eyes as Ian lowered her to her feet and stepped out of the way for Collin and her to enter. The house was silent. She felt like a child about to give her first oral report. All eyes would be on her if Collin actually did what he said. She stepped into the large living room and froze. Every Scot she’d ever met was inside—Angus and Mavis, as well as other staff from the castle. Well, except the ones in jail or dead. Quinn’s parents and sisters stood with hopeful looks on their faces, as though they were in on some big secret she’d been excluded from. Quinn turned to flee, and Collin’s arm snaked around her waist.
“I told you she’d try and run,” Cara said taking a twenty-dollar bill from Becca.
Collin led Quinn to the middle of the room. Heat flooded her face.
“You may think this is romantic, but it’s not,” she whispered.
“Aye. It will be.” Collin dropped to his knee and held out the largest emerald ring she’d ever seen. “Quinn Thatcher.”
“That better not be part of the cursed emerald.”
“Aye, just a small part. I returned the rest to Ian. Now shut up and let me finish.”
Quinn smiled down at him. Not many people would dare tell her to shut up, and she loved him for it.
“We thought you were returning something to us, but you stole something much more valuable.”
“I did not,” she quipped and glanced around the room at all the familiar faces.
“Aye. You did. You stole my heart.” He rose to his feet. “You once told me that I save you, and you save me. That’s why we work.”
She stared up into the depths of Collin’s eyes and could easily drown in the love that shined back. “Thatiswhy we work. I love you, Quinn Thatcher, and it’s time you save me for good.”
“Aww.” Every female in the room gushed.
“Marry me, complete me, be my lady and my wife.”
Her heart raced frantically against her chest. She always knew a moment like this would come. Maybe not with so many watching participants, but deep in her heart, she knew that this Highlander was her one.
“Aye,” she answered.
Collin smiled in response and slipped the emerald onto her finger before kissing her in front of the roomful of people. They broke the kiss, and she held his gaze.
“What could be worse than this?” she whispered.
“You’ll see.” He winked before her sisters grabbed her arm to pull her from the room. “I’ll see you in a little bit.”
“Come on. It’s time to get ready,” Cara gushed.
Quinn was ushered up the staircase and gripped the rail when the vision of Collin hit her with the force of a punch to the throat. Collin was in a limo with Ian, both dressed in their kilts when an eighteen-wheeler blindsided the limo. “Oh God.”
Panic and fear took her breath as she watched Ian and Collin close the front door.
She shoved off her sister's hold and ran down the stairs to throw the door open. They were already in the limo, and she raced to get in front of it. She slammed her hands on the hood andshook her head.
“Quinn, what are you doing?” her mother asked from the doorway.
“You can’t go,” she yelled as Collin stepped out of the car.
“I’ll see you in a little bit, Quinn. Trust me.”
