Redeeming Vows (MacCoinnich Time Travel Trilogy #3)(39)
Author: Catherine Bybee

“Aye, spell.”

He stepped closer. On instinct, Tatiana retreated.

“I’ll not hurt ye.”

She forced herself to smile, relax. “Do ye mind if I sit here a while?”

“I don’t own the rock,” he said, laughing.

Shifting her skirts, Tatiana seated herself again.

The clouds hid the sunset but the sky turned to a deep amber haze.

“Might I sit with ye?”

“I don’t own the rock, either.”

Cian chuckled before sitting beside her. The warmth of his body caught her by surprise. In years past, the closeness of a man only sent a chill down her spine. Not with him. The coolness of the night drifted away like the sea birds above.

“Is that yer friend from earlier?” Tatiana motioned toward Simon, knowing exactly who he was, but hoping to learn more about the woman with him, and to avoid any uneasy feeling between the two of them.

“Aye. ’Tis his aunt by his side.”

“Oh.”

“Seems his mother…” Cian abruptly stopped his words. “With all the chaos, he’s finding it difficult to locate his mother.”

“Oh, how horrible.”

“We’ll find her.”

Tatiana glanced his way. His dark hair brushed the edges of his shoulders, his skin the color of honey. His chocolate brown eyes found hers. Heat rose in her cheeks.

“I hope ye do.”

“Do what?”

“Find his mother.”

“Oh,” he managed, distracted by something.

“We’ll find her.”

Tatiana’s mouth grew dry. “’Tis nice to have such confidence.”

“Confidence?” Cian shook his head, his gaze left hers briefly. “I’m sorry. I seem to be distracted.”

“I understand. With all the strange happenings

’tis hard to focus.”

Cian reached his hand out and smoothed a fallen lock of her hair from her face. His hand lingered on her cheek. “’Tis yer face that drives me to distraction. Yer beauty.”

Something inside her started to melt. She knew she wasn’t beautiful, but to hear the words so clearly and with such conviction nearly drove her to believe them.

“I’m not a bonny lass.”

“Yer wrong, Tatiana.”

The way he voiced her name made her heart beat faster.

“I-I…” She what? Needed air? The world was filled with air, and yet none seemed to be reaching her lungs.

Cian inched closer. His hand had never left her cheek, and suddenly it seemed to find its way behind her head. He slid closer to her, his eyes searching hers.

She licked her dry lips.

She should run. Hide. But when his lips met hers, it was too late. His warm touch was both tender and frightening, but oh so wonderful.

He pulled her close, and she noticed the sizzle his hand left in its wake as it slide down her neck.

Tatiana was lost in his arms. Damned in her own mind.

****

“There has to be more!” “There isn’t.” Selma stretched her hands over her head before checking the time on her watch. Two empty pizza boxes held discarded bits of crust.

Empty soda and beer bottles made the apartment look like they’d had a college party instead of plotting a trip through time.

“It’s after midnight,” Selma informed them.

Liz couldn’t stop her thoughts from shifting to her son. Was he worried that she’d gone and left him? Did he think she was gone from his life forever?

And Grainna, what was she doing to the family?

Liz dropped her head in her hands, suddenly all the weariness of the day catching up with her. Fin’s hand kneaded the taut muscles of her back. Her eyes drifted close as she relaxed into his touch.

“’Tis time to find our rest. Perhaps tomorrow things will become clearer.”

Her head shot up and her gaze met his. “No, we need to get back.”

“We’ve no idea how, Elizabeth. Sleep will regenerate our minds,” Fin argued, fatigued laced his words.

Shaking her head resulted in Fin pulling her closer to his side. “Stop. I’m anxious to return as well—”

She moaned, “Simon—” The mention of her son’s name from her lips ripped a hole in her heart.

“Simon is safe with our family. No one would allow Grainna to disturb a hair on his head, lass.”

Fin was right.

Jake kicked off his shoes and folded his arms over his chest.

“I take it you’re not leaving?” Selma glared at the cop. The two of them hadn’t stopped arguing.

They’d continually disagreed throughout the night, setting the tension higher.

“You’ve got that right.”

At least he hadn’t forced them to the police station. Liz had to give him credit for that. Yet, no matter how many times Fin proved his gifts to the man, Jake refused to believe in time travel.

Selma rolled her eyes and mumbled something under her breath. “I’ll crash in Simon’s room.”

Liz nodded and reached for Fin’s hand as they stood and headed for her room. Once alone, Fin removed his sword and allowed it to lie beside her bed. He cocked his head to the side and studied the lamp. His kilt brushed below his knees, his muscular arm reached out to touch the hot glass. Before she could shoot out a warning about the light being hot, Fin drew his fingers back.

Liz wondered what his thoughts were. Did he wonder about everything in the room? The digital clock on the nightstand blinked, the time completely wrong. There must have been a power outage. Or maybe the landlord cut it off at some point.

At one time she’d thought this room was big, but with Fin standing in it, she realized how small it really was. She was used to seeing the man surrounded by twenty-foot tall ceilings, rooms a horse could ride into, and fireplaces a small person could stand upright inside. Liz realized just how out of place he was in this time. He was all things Scottish, all things Highlander. He didn’t belong in L.A. Fin must have felt her eyes boring into him because when he turned, a small smile sat firmly on his lips.

Pivoting, Liz scrambled to find a nightgown.

Heat flushed in her face. What will he wear to bed?

Where the hell did the shyness come from? It wasn’t at all like her.

“I’ll go change,” she managed, before slipping through the door and making her way to the bathroom down the hall.

Liz turned the water on cold and splashed her warm face. She hadn’t had time to process her and Fin’s intimacy before everything blew up in their faces. How was she supposed to act? What did he expect? Never for a moment did she think they wouldn’t share her bed. The thought of him sleeping on the couch made her chuckle. He simply wouldn’t fit. Not to mention how empty she’d feel without him by her side right now.