She nodded. It looked like she was aboot tosay something then decided against it. “In that case, don’t let mekeep you. I should concentrate on learning my Gaelic and practicingKalari anyway.”
Lachlan inclined his head. Aye, he was justbeing whimsical in his thinking. “Until we speak again,milady.”
Her smile was the sort a mon could losehimself in and never wish to find a way back from it. “Until wespeak again, milord.”
Veronica closed the laptop, ending theircommunication. She lingered at the thing for a long pause, herexpression unreadable. Eventually she picked up her weapons andresumed her Kalari training. By the saints, she was perfection.
Lachlan watched her for a time then strodeback to Victor’s bedchamber to return the future device to him. Hestilled, blowing out a breath. He best let his cock go down aforehe opened the bedamned doors.
Chapter Ten
The ocean was beautiful, especially afteryears of traveling by land from Los Angeles to Apple Creek, yet shewas increasingly growing bored of seeing nothing but water for asfar as the eye could perceive.Restlesswas a good word todescribe the following week. She was bored and restless. She alsowondered how many eaters she’d have to contend with when at lastshe reached her destination. She made a mental note to ask Victorabout it the next time she was near the laptop. Speaking of thelaptop…
It had been seven days since she’d lastspoken to Laird Gunn. Odd, but he’d been at the forefront of hermind since their previous conversation, however unwittingly. Hercuriosity regarding his absence from the laptop had finally bubbledover yesterday into a begrudging question to Victor concerningLachlan’s whereabouts. Her brother had seemed weirdly riveted byher interest.“Patrolling with his warriors,”Victor hadexplained.“One needn’t worry about the dead cannibalizing youin 1155 A.D., but the living are still a very real consideration.He keeps his men and himself in iron condition.”
“Whatchya doing?” a deep, familiar voiceasked in heavily accented English. Veronica instantly perked up.“If you can hear me, go to the scanner.”
Scanner? Oh—laptop.
Veronica’s heart skipped a beat. She decidednot to question why as she walked to where the laptop had been set.There he was. All muscles, black cornrows, and dark, brooding gaze.He’d changed his shirt and looked recently bathed. The black andblue kilt he wore fell to mid-thigh. His face was perfectlychiseled. The man was primitively, masculinely beautiful. Allmuscles and strength. There went her heartbeat, picking upagain.
“Where did you learn ‘whatchya doing?’”Veronica asked on a grin. She knew the answer, but asked anyway.“My brother, I take it?”
“Aye.” He didn’t smile—no surprise there—yetshe could sense his amusement. “In truth, I prefer Gaelic,” heanswered in said tongue. “I have trouble with your future English.I can ken it better than I can speak it.”
“You’re getting better at it, though,” sheassured him in his own language. “I think I’m getting better atGaelic too.”
“’Tis the truth, you are.”
“You can thank Victor for that.”
“I’d rather talk to you.”
Veronica felt a lump form in her throat.She’d analyze that particular reaction to Lachlan later. “Well,here I am,” she said, faintly blushing. She absently threw a thickstrand of amber curls over one shoulder. “What would you like totalk about?”
He was silent for a long moment, as ifworking out in his mind what he should and shouldn’t ask. “It hasbeen a sennight since last we spoke. Your travels are still goingwell?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “There were a couple ofbrief storms while you were gone, but nothing that took the boattoo far out of its way. I’m starting to get bored, but I shouldonly have another week left until I reach the shore.”
“You will be careful when you leave theboat.” It was a command, not a question.
“I will.” It was a promise, and again shedidn’t know why she’d made it. “My brother says there aren’t a lotof people where I’m going. That should make it easier to get to theexact spot Victor gave me.”
“The field where I found him?”
“Yes. I know he wants to make sure I end upsomewhere near to nothing. Something about not coming back in timeand ending up dying because I’m fused into the castle walls.”
“’Twould hurt, that.”
She found another smile. “It would be awall-ful way to go.” She cringed at her bad pun. He managed hisfirst chuckle. The sound caused another pronounced heartbeat toskip.
“Aye, ‘twould be…wall-ful.”
Veronica chuckled back. Not knowing whatelse to say on the subject, she changed it. “Victor says you’vebeen patrolling with your men. Did the Campbells give you trouble?Are you preparing for a battle or something?”
“Nay, no trouble, but my warriors are alwaysprepared. ‘Tis best to stay ready and aware at all times.”
“I understand that. So you’re saying youdon’t have an enemy planning to attack that you know of, but youkeep your men in fighting shape just in case.”
