by Marie Kelly
Giving a small snort she had peeked across at him her eyes harder.
“Well one thing I find about Craig, is that I always know where I stand, I don’t have to worry about him sneaking off with other women behind my back”.
Donald’s voice firmer
“Are you so sure about that? Once a player always a player”
Fiona pausing to look up at the man walking by her side
“Well while I agree with you Donald, I trust him because he is not the type to sneak around, why would he bother? If he wanted to see somebody else he would do it, and he wouldn’t hide the fact”
Donald wincing at the words meant for him. As he had looked back at her, his expression one full of sorrow, she had clenched her fists tighter moving purposefully once more to the stables, quickly crossing the small distance to the cobbled yard.
With a laugh she had moved over to one stable in particular, her genuine smile lighting up her lovely features as she had let the horse inside nuzzle against her.
“Hello Blackie” she had smiled, running her hand down his muzzle and tickling his upper lip as she knew he liked
“Did you miss me?” her voice soothing as the horse had whinnied gently. Beside her Donald had put his arm out to hold her arm, Fiona looking up at him with a small frown
“He isn’t the only one that missed you” his eyes delving so deeply into hers.
Turning to move away, he had taken her elbow, spinning her around and pulling her in closer
“Please Fiona, let’s just talk about it … I miss you so much”
Looking to the side she had bitten her lip as she had shaken her head more firmly
“There is nothing to talk about Donald. It ended over a year ago. You should go back to your wife and child, they need you….I don’t”
He had lifted a hand to run it along her cheek, Fiona finally looking into his eyes seeing real hurt in his
“I made a mistake Fiona, one that I have been living with for so long. I loved you…I still love you, and I want us to put it behind us and move on together. Pulling her into his arms his lips gently kissing along her brow
“Please, we can make this work. I know that I can make you happy…please give me the chance to make things right”
Fiona had shivered as so many memories had flooded through her, a tear rising to her eyes as she had pushed him away, needing to put distance between them her voice haunted now as she had stared back at him.
“A mistake….you are calling it a mistake Donald. Your son was the result of that mistake, an innocent child”.
Once more Donald had moved closer his face pleading with her
“It is over with Sarah and I Fiona. I was a fool to get involved with her. She is crazy and I’m fighting for custody of Ewan” Pulling a picture from his pocket he had held it up for her to see the gorgeous little boy, so like his father
“He is a wonderful boy Fiona, you would love him…and he would love you. I want the three of us to be a family”
Fiona staring back at him with incredulity, as she had violently shaken her head from side to side.
“NO… absolutely not. We had our time Donald, and I refuse to get dragged into your and Sarah’s problems”
Turning she had started to move back to the safety of the house, chastising herself for allowing him to lead her to the seclusion of the stables. He however, had moved quicker, pulling her around and into his arms once more
“No Fiona. This time you will not get away from me. This time I am going to fight for you…for us” his mouth descending as he had kissed her, his kiss so familiar so full of passion. For a fraction of a second she had remained still in his arms, her body frozen with indecision, before Craig’s face had filled her mind, Fiona pushing him from her as she had held up her hand.
“No…it is over Donald. Don’t touch me again” her voice breaking as in a tortured whisper she had finished “please” the pain so evident in her eyes before she had turned and ran back towards the main house. Donald had groaned, watching as she had fled, his hands on his hips as he had looked heavenward swearing softly under his breath.
Chapter Nine
In the trees Craig Thompson had watched the drama unfold, his mouth tightening angrily. Having finished the meeting early he had seen the two moving from the house, frowning as he had made to catch up with them clearing the corner in time to see as Donald had kissed Fiona…his Fiona, the jealousy ripping through him.
Turning he had followed her back to the house, his mind full of the sight of her in the other man’s arms, trying hard to calm the anger that invaded every part of him. Pausing to collect himself, he had moved into the room, Fiona jumping as she had stood by the window, her back to him.
“Y…your meeting finished early” she had said softly, still not looking at him as he had moved closer to her, his voice tinged with barely controlled rage.
“Actually It finished earlier”
Fiona not commenting
“I saw you with Donald and decided to try and catch up with you”
Hearing this she had spun around, Craig gasping seeing her tear-streaked face as she had dashed the back of her hand over her cheeks, her face distraught.
“Did you see us?” she had gasped, groaning with pain, looking up as another sob had left her.
Moving forward he had pulled her into his arms, the anger leaving him his only need to hold her, console her.
“It ‘s OK Fiona” he had soothed softly against her hair as she had flung her arms around him, not sure why he had felt panic, the thought that she was still in love with Donald MacKenzie affecting him. Letting her sob against his shoulder until the sounds had become small snuffles. Pulling back he had led her to the small settee in the room, sitting down and looking deeply into her reddened eyes.
“OK Fiona…maybe it’s time that you told me what happened”
She regarding him so unsure before giving a small sad sigh and starting to talk slowly, her voice lacklustre and emotionless.
“Donald and I started to date when I was 20. He completely swept me off my feet”
Giving a wry smile
“You’ve seen him…tall, handsome with a smile that could melt any woman’s heart. I was completely under his spell and amazed that of all the woman he could have had he had chosen me. When I was 22 he proposed and I accepted, we were planning a huge society wedding……..it was going to be amazing”
Giving a small sigh she had paused as a flash of pain had moved over her lovely features.
“Then my friend Sarah…one of the women who was going to be a bridesmaid came to me. She was crying…distraught, begging me to forgive her. I had no idea what was going on until she told me that she was pregnant and that Donald was the father”.
Another tear had slid down her face, Craig wordlessly moving it with his finger as she had looked back at him, a shaky half smile momentarily lighting her sad features.
“Well it all came out at that point. For the past six months, even before he had asked me to marry him he had been having an affair with Sarah. I had no idea, I was so stupid”
Taking her hand in his he had squeezed it gently.
“I called everything off…but Bob was being considered for knighthood, and I knew that the scandal would kill his chances…so I stepped back quietly while he married Sarah. Donald begged me to forgive him…to not call off the wedding. Told me he loved me and that he had made a mistake”.
With more anger now in her voice she had shaken her head.
“A mistake! A six month affair and a child on the way. I told him that if he was any man at all he would look after his child and Sarah…and then I made sure that I never saw him again.
Pausing she had looked forlornly at the man sat so silently listening to her.
“The worst thing was that I felt so stupid … Like I had not been enough for him…it tore me apart Craig. How could anybody treat another person that way? I just felt worthless, and I swore never to let him or anybody else
ever do that to me again”.
Taking a deep breath she had finally grown silent, as he had gently spoken.
“Do you still love him?”
His voice gentle and questioning, waiting as she had looked down at her hands which had shaken in his before finally giving a tremulous smile.
“No…no I don’t, but it still hurts…what he did”
Nodding softly he had hooked his finger under her chin, raising her head to look deeply into her eyes.
“You deserve so much more Fiona, and for what it is worth…he is unworthy of you”
Giving a shaky laugh she had nodded
“Yes I believe you are right. I even felt sorry for Sarah. I was acceptable as a wife…but she had only been good enough as a mistress…and I know that he would have carried on the affair after we were married”
Giving a small sad sigh she had closed her eyes with pain before raising them to his
“The only reason he married her was because of their child…he never thought her good enough to be his wife…no wonder their marriage was doomed. Poor Sarah and Ewan…he never wanted them”
Her eyes had locked with his as he had taken her face gently into his hands, kissing her so softly his lips hardly touching hers as she had groaned. Passion had instantly ignited between the two as she had deepened the kiss, this time more demanding Fiona clutching at him as his tongue had caressed hers the need for the other overwhelming as they had pulled and pushed off clothes till they lay naked together on the bed. Only then had the two paused both shuddering feeling the naked flesh of the other.
“I want you Fiona” he had whispered into her ear, as she had shivered, nodding softly as her hands had moved along his body.
“I want you too Craig” her voice full of that need, no more words needing to be spoken as he had made love to her, their love making so gentle, so personal, neither needing to speak. Later Laying together in the half light of the room, both clinging to the other she had looked at him, understanding finally falling on her. She didn’t love Donald, a niggling feeling filling her that perhaps she never had, as her feelings for Craig had swamped her.
She was in love with Craig Thompson, this arrogant, imposing, flawed, dominating yet so gentle man, tears once more sliding down her face at the futility of loving a man who could never and would never love her back. Hearing his soft groan beside her, she had looked up as he had turned with her half lying over her.
“Please don’t cry Fiona” he had whispered, kissing her forehead. “I don’t ever want to see you crying”
Looking at him she had shaken her head, giving a smile, one that had make him moan softly at how beautiful she looked, her face still glowing from their lovemaking.
“I’m not crying over him…I just know that I don’t ever have to worry about him ever again Craig. It’s over. You’re right…thank you”
Craig only able to stare at the happiness which had filled her eyes, those wonderful eyes shining and so large, sensing that something so important had changed about her, feeling the small lump in his throat, not understanding the way his insides had flipped so disconcertingly”
Needing to move, his eyes had swept to the nightstand, giving a small frown seeing the time on the old clock sat there.
“Well you will soon have the chance to find out” he had chuckled as she too had looked at the clock, groaning softly before flicking a wicked look at him as she had slid across the bed. Jumping up, her wonderful figure once more making Craig jump with awareness, she had turned, her smile seductive but full of mischief as she had moved across the room.
“Bagsie shower first”
Craig laughing as she had slipped into the small bathroom, throwing a pillow after her as she had laughed loudly.
“Brat” he had cried after her, his voice full of humour as he had reached over to make some important phone calls, his mind full of Fiona Campbell.
Getting ready for the meal that night had taken a lot longer than he was used to, Fiona having to help him put on the kilt and its associated accessories Craig giving a smile as he had told her that he was glad that she was there.
Finally ready wearing the Ghillie shirt instead of the more regal looking jacket he had been surprised at her choice, Fiona giving a small laugh as she had looked patiently at him.
“Trust me Craig….you do not want to be wearing all that during a Ceilidh” he looking at her with interest
“It is just a dance right?”
Fiona laughing as she had giving him a pitying look
“Oh Craig, Craig, Craig…you can never call a Ceilidh ‘just a dance’ and I really hope that you are fit”
He giving a small snort taking pride in staying in shape.
“OK” she had chuckled “We will soon see won’t we”
Craig wondering what she was talking about as he had playfully smacked her bottom
Looking in the mirror, he had to admit that he looked good, the gillie shirt loose around him the black setting off his own dark looks. With a small spin he had turned to her.
“OK tell the truth…how do I look in a skirt?” his voice playful as she had fixed him with a stern expression
“Kilt!” before laughing and nodding her head
“Well I would go for you” Craig inclining his head
“Well thank you ma’am…real kind of you to say” his voice a drawl as she had raised her eyes heavenward pulling her dress out to put on.
Craig had been surprised to not see her wearing a cocktail dress, but a capped sleeve dress, almost 50’s in design. The subtle tartan pattern on the skirt had fitted in well with his outfit and giving a whistle he had admired the way she had allowed her long hair to fall around her. Fitted on the top, the dress had flared out to her knees, showing her wonderful figure to its best, his look slowly flicking down appreciatively.
As he had raised an eyebrow in question she had given him a grin, slipping on heels before putting flat black ballet shoes into her bag.
“You will understand when you have your first dance” lovely green eyes full of laughter “You do not want to be wearing heels doing an eightsome reel”
He had looked at her in confusion, as she had taken his arm, smiling gently “A what?”
Fiona chuckling with a knowing look “Like I said you’ll see…let’s go eat”
As they had made their way down the grand stairway Craig had looked at Fiona with surprise seeing that there was about forty people now gathered in the large living area, pulling her close as he had whispered softly into her ear.
“Now how did we not hear all these people arrive?” Fiona looking down to stop the laugh from leaving her lips.
From the other side of the room Donald MacKenzie had closed his eyes holding back the groan seeing how Fiona had glowed in the tall American’s arms, his eyes narrowing as the man had pulled her in so close, remembering how he used to hold her in the same way.
The meal had been delicious, Craig surprising Fiona with his love of haggis, she scrunching up her nose at it in favour of the fresh salmon. They had been seated beside Bob MacKenzie, and she had smiled at the way the two men had seemed to get along so well. Normally intimidating with a reputation as a bit of a bully, Craig had given as good as he got, Bob finally turning to Fiona in his booming voice
“I like this man Fiona…you keep this one”
She giving a small smile while flitting a nervous look at Craig who had watched her back with an inscrutable expression on his handsome face.
Bob MacKenzie continuing loudly “And thanks for the present….I’m assuming that you picked it Fiona?”
Fiona shaking her head as she had smiled back at the man before her.
“Nope…Craig picked it all by himself” smiling warmly at him as Bob had looked at Craig with renewed admiration
As the meal had finished they had all moved into the castle’s large ballroom, Bob MacKenzie insisting that they be seated at his table, plying Craig with an expensive whiskey, Fiona noticing as he had ta
ken his time finishing, grinning as the peer had tried to pour him another.
“A whiskey as fine as this should be savoured Bob”
Making the older man laugh once more “A rare thing to find an American with taste Craig”
Lifting his glass in a toast “To Scottish, American relations”
Both men drinking, Fiona knowing that whatever had been so important to him had become a sealed deal.
For the next hour more guests had slowly trickled into the area until finally the music had began. The band striking up Scottish tunes that the guests had all seemed familiar with. Almost as one the guests had moved to the dance floor, Fiona pulling him with her as she had like all the others seemed to know exactly where she needed to stand. Leaning in she had chuckled.
“Now I will try and keep you right …just follow my lead”
He raising an eyebrow as his lips had quirked “I thought you liked me to lead” she giving him a mock look of shock.
From the stage one of the band members seemed to be directing the people congregated around him as he had called for a dashing white sergeant to start the night, the room clapping with approval.
As the music had began, the guests had started to move, everybody but him seeming to know exactly what they should do as she had flashed him a happy smile, grabbing the hand of another man quickly introducing him to Craig. Another group of three had joined them and they were soon holding hands in circles of six, the same repeated throughout the room. As the music had started, as one, the circle had moved eight steps to the left before stopping suddenly and doing eight to the right. He had followed as best he could, feeling the kilt swishing alarmingly around his legs as he moved. As they had moved into sets of three with Fiona in the middle he had admired how gracefully she had moved between himself and the other man, her long hair flowing around her body as she had smiled and winked encouragingly at him. Soon they had moved forward creating another circle with a new group and the process had repeated itself.
The song had gone on for what seemed an age, with Craig quickly finding himself out of breath, admiring the way Fiona had seemed to be so light on her feet, hardly panting as she had been sometimes none too gently pulled around by some of the men, Craig giving her sympathetic looks as she had laughed her features so happy.
