He places my hand in the crook of his arm and flexes his muscle. I look up at him and smile. He knows exactly what he’s doing.
“Speaking of ya being around. When do ya plan to head back to America?”
“When you’re ready.”
“Cole, my gran is ill. I can’t up and leave now.”
He looks down at me as the wheels turn. I’ve thought about this all night. I want to leave with him.
I miss Kate and the others. I could start a new life in New York City. Having Cole in my life would be a bonus.
If things don’t work out, I’m resourceful. I’m not the same girl who was whisked away to Scotland. I can protect myself now.
I don’t have to be as fearful as I was back then. I actually don’t have to be fearful at all.
“I don’t mean to pry, but I heard she’s not doing well. I wouldn’t be able to wait with ya, but I can come back for ya. Ya know, when ya don’t have to be here to care for her, I can come to get ya.
“I’ll come to visit as often as I can. Logan has some dealings I’ll be needed around for, but that shouldn’t stop me from coming to see ya as much as I want. I’m not going to rush ya, love,” he says.
I sigh in relief. More time to figure things out without him around will be grand. I’m not going to flush everything my mother said to me down the drain.
“So there’s no girlfriend back in New York who’s waiting for ya?”
He stops in his tracks and turns to glare at me. I start to snicker when he pulls me to him and puts me into a one-arm headlock, the way he used to do when we were younger. He kisses the top of my head as he sways me in his arms.
“Shut the fuck up.” He snorts. I’m not offended. I know it’s a New York thing.
I actually smile. This is the Cole I remember. He kisses the top of my head once again before he continues.
“I traveled over three thousand miles to come see ya. Do ya really think there’s anyone else?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I’m asking.”
“I haven’t been in a steady relationship in years. I can’t stand airheads, but they seem to love to chase me. I’m too busy for that shit. I stopped fucking around the moment I asked Felix to look for ya.”
“Felix Black?”
“Aye. Wait until everyone sees ya.”
“The Blacks live in New York?”
“No, they’re still in California, but I travel there for business enough. Yer bound to see them all sooner or later.”
“How are they? Yer cousins and Uncle Joe and Aunt Cass?”
“Ach, they’re all doing grand. Keeping busy with the PI and bounty business, as far as I know. We see more of Felix because we’re doing him a favor with a friend.”
“Oh, now that sounds interesting. Is this friend a lass?”
“Aye, they are. Enough about them. Come, I want ya to see what I’ve set up for our date.”
He releases his hold around my head and laces his fingers with mine. I’m a wee bit bereft of his arm around me. It’s such an intimate embrace that says so much about us.
I’m having trouble preventing myself from falling into old comforts around him. With my hand in his, he leads me throughthe castle. I’ve been here quite a few times when I was younger, before my mum disappeared.
I would come to play with Kate when she was here, and I was with my family for a visit. Mum would bring me and stick around for a bit with Ian and Finlay Black. I can remember a few times when Wyatt, Noah, and John were here visiting too.
The place is still as magical as I remember. There’s something special about the Black Castle. It has an aura of its own.
