Page 124 of The Defiant Curse

Hag her ass.

She simply snorted, smiled, and kicked Michael under the table. He was just lucky she wasn’t in her boots, or that would have hurt far more.

“I certainly am old and tired of my son’s antics,” she joked. Then, she changed the subject. “Scotland is absolutely gorgeous. I love it here. There hasn’t been one thing I didn’t fall in love with,” she admitted.

The woman beamed.

“Oh, well, I hope you have a good time and come back to see your son again. How long will you be staying?” she asked.

She shrugged.

“Maybe until Christmas. Maybe until Halloween. I haven’t decided. My schedule is pretty open. I do know leaving will be difficult.”

Hearing that, the woman grabbed her a big scone from under a glass dome, put it on a plate, and put it in front of her.

“On me as you visit. Enjoy.”

Yeah, Elizabeth loved it here.

“Man, had I known they were going to throw pastry at me, I would have come here sooner,” she said, offering to share it.

Michael stopped her.

“We got big breakfasts, trust me. I don’t need more food. Eat it.”

He wanted her to because she was thin.

TOO THIN.

Elizabeth was one step from skeletal herself. The last few weeks had not been kind on her.

From where she sat, Gabby agreed.

“So, while you get fat,” she said, grinning evilly, and making Elizabeth laugh, “Tell me how was the first night at the castle?” she asked, keeping her voice down.

Oh, Gabby was just as funny as Michael. She hoped they’d still be laughing later when she got them both back.

“Oh, well, the castle is something,” she stated. “That’s for damn sure.”

Gabby went to go there, but just at that moment, they had company again.

When the waitress brought coffee out for them, and tea for Graham, they waited until she was gone.

When she was, Michael said one thing—before Gabby could say anything else.

“Apparently, the mystery is back on. It’s not done yet.”

That was all she had to hear.

Gabby slammed her hand on the table. As soon as she did, she caught them all off guard.

Including Elizabeth.

“Hot damn!” she said, making Elizabeth nearly choke on the scone.

Michael had to pat her on the back.

“You good?”