Highland Protector (MacCoinnich Time Travels #5)(45)
Author: Catherine Bybee

Selma glanced at Helen. “Still didn’t answer the question.”

“I’ve seen nothing in his character to suggest he’ll be cruel to me. He’s fiercely protective.”

When Amber set her glass down, Selma filled it.

“Have you slept with him?” Selma asked.

“Of course. We’ve had to hold hands for several nights.”

Both women sent Amber looks of confusion.

“What?”

“Selma’s not asking if you slept beside him. She’s asking if you’re no longer a virgin.”

Heat shot to Amber’s face. “Oh, aye.”

Helen’s eyes grew wide. “So yes, you’re no longer a virgin, or yes you are still a virgin.”

Amber drew several strands of her long hair in her hands and twirled the ends. “Nay, I’m…w-we didn’t. Not completely.” Oh, what am I trying to say? From the expressions on Helen and Selma’s faces, they wanted to know more. The wine was already swimming in her head.

“So you two didn’t go all the way?” Selma asked.

“Just a little hanky-panky?” Helen added.

“Hanky-panky?”

Helen started to laugh. “Sorry. I forget sometimes you’re not up on the slang. Let’s see… you and Kincaid fooled around, kissing, touching…stuff like that?”

The fog cleared in Amber’s head. “Aye. A little.” The memory left a smile on her face. She reached for Gavin and felt him sleeping.

“That’s a devilish smile on your face, Mrs. Kincaid.” Helen handed the glass of wine back to Amber.

“Mrs. Kincaid?”

“Sure. You exchanged Druid wedding vows. That makes you Mrs. Kincaid. I guess you don’t have to take his name, if you don’t want to.”

Amber stared into her glass, drank from it. “Of course I’ll take his name. ’Tis not right if I don’t.” Her father wouldn’t approve of her not taking Kincaid as her own.

“Don’t feel you have to do anything you don’t want to, Amber. I know you’re married, but you hardly know the man. I don’t care what you say, that has to be freaking you out. He isn’t from this time, or your time. What if he wants to return to the future?”

Amber gulped more wine. “I haven’t thought of that.”

Helen waved Selma’s question away. “They can’t go forward in time.”

“Why not?”

Helen blinked several times. “Because Amber belongs here, with us.”

Amber realized her glass was nearly empty and set it aside. “I think food is in order if I’m to drink more wine, and I think I might like to drink more wine.”

Selma pushed herself off the sofa and left the room laughing.

Helen scooted closer. “I don’t want you to move away.”

Amber took her friend’s hand. “I don’t wish to either. My mother told me my cure was in this time, but I don’t know if I’m meant to stay.”

“We don’t know if you’re supposed to leave, either.”

“I think it’s best to do nothing now. Gavin’s not awake anyway and even then, we have many things to consider before any decisions are made.”

Helen smiled. “You sound so much like your mother sometimes.”

“I miss her.”

Helen shrugged. “I miss them all, too. Maybe when the baby is born we can visit. It isn’t like there are rules for traveling in time.”

Amber grasped the pendent on her neck and thought of home. When she did, Helen slid an identical necklace from her shirt and smiled.

“Has Kincaid told you how he travels in time?”

“We’ve not discussed it.”

Helen sighed as Selma walked back in the room with a tray of fruit and cheese. Amber’s mouth watered at the sight.

A slight wave of concern struck her from Selma’s direction. Amber eyed the other woman and probed. A sickening image of injured children penetrated her brain. As soon as the picture swam into her head, she pushed it away and felt Gavin’s shield surround her.

“What is it?” Selma asked.

“You’re worried about something.”

Selma blinked, twice. “I-I thought your gift was gone.”

“It is… Well, I suppose it’s there, but controlled. I felt your worry and looked for more.”

“I don’t think that’s the smartest thing to do? I mean, weren’t all the emotions of others in your head been nothing but a problem for years?”

“Aye, but before Grainna I could control my gift. Use it to help others. What worries you, Selma?”

Helen swung her gaze toward the feisty redhead. “Nothing. You.”

“I am not a child. You’re worried about children. Whose?”

When Selma didn’t deny her, she knew her gift had led her in the right direction.

“Keeping secrets is impossible in this house. You both know that, right?”

Helen shrugged.

Selma tossed a grape in her mouth. “I met Jake’s daughters.”

“Twins,” Amber said.

“Yeah, how did you know?”

The horrifying image flashed in her head again…two identical girls lying still, unmoving. “I think Jake mentioned it,” she lied.

“Well, I didn’t hear it if he did. Shocked me when I saw them. Cute kids.”

Helen nibbled on a slice of cheese as she moved her back to the sofa. “So what has you worried?”

“It’s probably nothing.”

Helen pointed her cheese at their friend. “You do know that it’s probably nothing always turns out to be something with us.”

“Don’t say that,” Selma scolded.

“You’re worried they’re in danger.” Amber knew this as fact. A part of her wanted to celebrate the fact she knew this…that her gift seemed to be working the way it should. However, knowing it also meant Jake’s children might be in harm’s way.

“I’m just being paranoid. I had this client. He kept asking for a love potion so the woman he loved would come around. After several attempts, this guy realized that the love of his life wanted someone else. My potions only bring clarity. They don’t force someone to love you when they don’t.”

“He knew this?” Helen asked.

“On the second shipment I always include a note highlighting what I promise. This guy didn’t listen. He sent me a nasty-gram when his girl hooked up with someone else.”