“I still have a box of things from Tyler. I’ve never told anyone that. It’s hidden in the back of my closet in an unmarked taped-up box.”
Rory smiled. “I still have a box of memories from Alana. It’s in my bedroom closet, top shelf. The box is the same color of blue as the walls.”
She loosened her grip on him. “You have a good reason to keep it. I don’t. I don’t even know why I still have it.”
“There’s a similarity there. We both want to hold on to a future we thought we’d have.”
“I’m tossing it the next time I see it.” Her voice held conviction in it.
Rory stopped and faced her. “Why?”
“Because the future I’d planned with him was a fantasy. He wasn’t who he said he was, and all those dreams are built on something that never was.”
“I see yer point.” He started walking with her again. “I dinnae know if I could toss out mine. I feel like I’ll forget her if I do.”
“I wouldn’t want you to.”
Rory stopped and faced her again. “Wouldna ye want traces of her gone?”
“You can toss the box, but the traces of her will never be gone. You grew up with her. She helped shape who you are. Her essence is all over you and your life. No woman can compete with that. Instead of being jealous, embracing her and that part of your life and appreciating who she helped you become seems a better way to handle your love of her.”
He rubbed his mouth with his hand and blinked. He’d never thought of it that way. “Less than nine weeks. I have less than weeks with ye.”
Paige tiptoed and pulled him into a kiss. He picked her up around the waist and buried his hand in her hair. Her mouth moved soft and slow against his, inviting him in. Desire punctuated every light, feathery touch and built until she broke the kiss. “We aren’t supposed to think about tomorrow.”
“That’s why I said it,” he panted.
“It’s a long time. You’re creating a box you might not need.”
Rory locked gazes with her. “Are ye sayin’…?” Was she saying she would move to Scotland? His stomach did a flip, and his heart pounded against his ribs. The thought thrilled him.
She chewed her lip a second. “Nothing. We aren’t worrying about it, remember? That’s all I’m saying.”
He nuzzled her neck with his lips and held her to him. Her body was pliable in his arms, and he didn’t want to let her go. But despite his insistence on forgetting about tomorrow, his thoughts couldn’t shut down the hope that she could be his.
In five and a half weeks, he’d be morning another loss if she left. A loss he wasn’t sure he’d ever recover from, because unlike Alana, Paige would be a grave and a headstone of permanence based on choices. She’d be someone he’d have to make a choice about regarding whether or not he could let her go. He loved his family, but that love was already reaching out to include Paige.
The knife tip that belonged to Alana’s memory changed hands, and now it plunged into his heart with a depth he didn’t think possible. Deep down, he knew he’d have to make a choice, and he was sure someone would hate him for it.
CHAPTER 29
P aige touched her still-tender lips with her fingers. They’d held each other until the early hours of the morning, kissing and talking. The feel of him lingered. Her shirt still smelled of him, and she pulled it up just under her nose.
It was like breathing him in, and it was everything comfortable and right. Five and a half weeks. The thought was a concrete block on her chest. Less than nine weeks. How was she going to fly away from him? Say goodbye and never look back?
Sleep pulled at her eyes, and the graveyard from the tour lay out before her. Tombstones and moss-covered trees with limbs that looked more like claws lined the path she was on. The reporter she’d spoken to joined her and quietly walked on her right. On the left, Barbara, the reality show producer, walked next to her. They stopped and locked fingers, holding Paige in a prison of arms. Paige turned around, and more people gathered around, their arms locking with Barbara and the reporter.
Barbara sunk her nails into Paige’s face and made her look at her. Black tar-like hands stretched from Barbara’s eyes like cobras, little tongues flickering in and out as they swayed back and forth whispering words she couldn’t make out. Their steady dance coaxed her to move with them.
Her body and mind fought to keep herself from giving in, but the slow rhythmic way the snakes danced made her feel light and airy. The trance was soothing, and she relaxed against the hands. They lowered her to the ground, and she sank into like it was a fluffy cloud.
Paige smiled as the snakes fluttered in front of her face. Peace washed over her. It was bliss and happiness and everything she’d been searching for. It didn’t matter that the snakes now resembled hands, because they continued to float from side to side. Without warning, the hands shot out and pierced her skin.
Heat scorched through her, and looking around, the soft spot she’d been lying in had turned into a glass coffin. The faces of the people from the cemetery looked at her with snarls on their lips. And she recognized all of them. People she’d used to hurt Penelope. She struggled to break free. Black hands coiled around her, and when she tried to breathe, it was like having a plastic bag held over her head.
Desperate for air, and freedom, she sucked in a deep breath and screamed.
“Paige!”
Breathing hard, she jolted straight up. Tears poured down her cheeks. She’d expected a nightmare but not a terror. She grabbed Rory around the neck and held on to him.
“It’s okay. It was just a dream.”
Paige sobbed. Horrible body-wracking cries that pulled at her soul. She’d done too many things wrong. Penelope had been hurt by her so many times. That dream had been her own personal Christmas Story.
Rory rubbed his hand up and down her back, trying to soothe her. “I’ve got ye, Paige. I’m really sorry for takin’ ye on that tour.”
The tears gushed. Between sobs, she tried to explain. “I did something. I did something horrible. I don’t know if I can make it right. I don’t know if I can ever make it right. I’m a horrible person.”
He closed his large arms around her and held her tightly against him. “I’m sure it’s nae that bad.”
She knew if she told him what she’d done, he’d never speak to her again. No one would, and she’d deserve everything bad thrown her way.
Rory scooped her up and carried her down the steps. “Let me get ye a blanket.”
Her arms tightened around him. “No. Please don’t go.”
“I’m just gettin’ a blanket. I’ll be right back.”
“I’m not cold.”
He rubbed her back. “Yer freezin’.”
She squeezed him tighter. “I’d rather freeze than let go.”
“Okay.” He sat on the couch with her in his lap and her face buried in his shoulder. “Can ye tell me what’s goin’ on?”
“I can’t.”
“Well, whatever it is, I’m sure it’s nae as bad as yer makin’ it out to be. I’m sure everythin’ will be fine.”
“It won’t.”
“Can ye tell me yer dream?” He grabbed a handful of tissues next to the couch and handed them to her.
Paige debated. The dream would give him no idea as to what she’d done. Slowly, she loosened her arms from around his neck and wiped her face before meeting his eyes. Telling him the dream only made her hurt worse. It was a laundry list of people with accusatory stares, and there were no witnesses to the contrary. She had no alibi. She was guilty of everything they’d charged her with.
“Yer right. It was a terrible dream, but ye arenae that person anymore. Ye have made amends with yer sister, supported her decision to marry and move, and ye cannae change what ye’ve done in the past. Ye have to let it go.”
“I haven’t changed at all. I want to think I have, but I’m still the person I was.”
“What did ye do?”
This was it. She could tel
l him, and he’d either forgive her or never speak to her again.
As she started to tell him, the phone rang. “Hold that thought. We’re nae done.”
She nodded, and he answered the call.
The color drained from his face. “What? Hurt? How?” The questions came at a rocket-fire pace.
He was breathless when he ended the call. “Angus has been hurt. The ram got out and stomped him. He was taken to the hospital, and he’s back with the doctors. We have to go.”
Paige’s stomach bottomed out. “I’ll call Penelope.”
Closing her eyes, she gathered her wits. Angus had to be okay. He had to be. If nothing else, when Penelope wanted nothing to do with her anymore, she’d need Angus and his family.
CHAPTER 30
Rory stepped out of the hospital elevator with Sarah, Penelope, and Paige in tow. Sarah and Penelope had raced back to the house and packed, and the group had taken the jet back to Rosegail Bridge.
The entire family filled the waiting room. Teary eyes greeted him, and his mum sprang out of her chair. He hugged her as she wept bitter tears.
His gaze roamed over the room and settled on Taran. “Ye want to tell me what happened, brother?” Rory stepped away from his mother and walked to him.
Taran looked eaten alive with worry, but Rory didn’t care. “I dinnae know. The enclosure was fine. I checked it this mornin’. We were workin’ on the fence, and next thing I know, Angus was yellin’ at me. He was yellin’ so loud…I couldna make out what he was sayin’. Then he shoved me out of the way, and Old Man rammed him in the stomach. Angus hit a fence post, and he was pinned. I hurried off the ground and grabbed the gun, but Old Man had already stomped him several times. I got him here as fast as I could.”
“What’s the last thing ye said to him before I left town?”
Taran cast his gaze down to the floor. His shoulders sagged, and his body trembled. “I know.” His voice cracked, and he strode out of the waiting room.
“Has there been an update?” asked Penelope.
Rory’s mum hugged her. “They came out just before ye arrived. We should be able to see him pretty soon.”
Rory raked a hand through his hair and sank into a nearby chair. Paige sat next to him and put her arm across his shoulders. “I’m sure he’s going to be fine.”
“Ye dinnae know that. That ram was big, and mean. Those hoofs are hard as nails against soft flesh. Angus was pinned, and he’d already been hit in the stomach. He’ll at least have broken ribs, if nae worse.”
Paige looked at him with sympathy. Lines creased her forehead, and she sucked on her bottom lip. “Do you need anything? Coffee or something?”
“Nae right now.”
“Okay.” She said nothing else as she took his hand and pulled it into her lap. It was more comforting than she knew. “I’m going to go check on Penelope. I’m not going anywhere, so if you need me…”
“Go. Take care of her.” He smiled.
Paige joined Sarah, and they huddled with Penelope. The poor woman had cried the entire way.
The night before had solidified for him how he felt about Paige. The growing affection he held for her had bloomed into something he hadn’t seen coming. He loved her. But in less than six weeks, he’d be saying goodbye to her. On top of his worry for Angus, his heart felt heavy in his chest.
As he watched her, Paige embraced her sister and held her as she cried. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but the tone of her voice was soothing and sweet.
He crossed his ankle over his knee and rested his head in his hand. At some point, Taran had come back, and Sarah had joined him in the far corner of the room. Rory eyed the two of them a moment. They sure were cozy. Had he missed something between the two of them? His thoughts drifted from them to him and Paige and to his brother, round and round like a dog chasing its tail.
After what felt like hours, the doctor finally came in with news, and everyone gathered around him.
“The good news is, there is no permanent damage. The bad news is, he looks rough. He’s got a broken nose, a cracked rib on his left side, and two broken ribs on his right. His right arm is broken. He has a fairly good-sized knot on his head, but nothin’ serious. We’re goin’ to keep him a few days just to be on the safe side. He’s goin’ to be sore, and there’ll be no farmin’ for a while. It’ll take several weeks for the bones to heal, but he will heal and be good as new.”
Rory exhaled in relief. Thank you, God. It was a tiny prayer, but he figured tiny or not, it was a thank you.
Penelope crossed the room through the crowd and hugged him. “Seems you were as worried as I was.”
“Aye. Guess we worried for nothin’.”
Wringing her hands in her sweater, Penelope nodded. “I’ll wait until you guys have seen him when they start letting visitors in.”
Rory shook his head. “Nae, he’ll want to see ye now.”
He glanced around the room and took Penelope by the hand to lead her into the hall. He stopped at the nurses’ station and found out which room Angus was in. They hurried inside, and Rory stopped abruptly as Taran looked over his shoulder. He was filled with grief.
Angus’s face was covered in cuts. A cast had already been put on his arm, and his torso was wrapped in bandages. The bruises on his face and chest were a deep purple.
“Look who’s talking to me.” Angus grinned.
Penelope let go of Rory’s hand and rounded the end of the bed, stopping on the opposite side of Taran. “You look terrible.”
Angus shifted and sucked in a sharp breath. “I bet I do.”
“Are you in a lot of pain?”
“Only when I move or laugh.” Angus gave a tired smile.
Rory joined Taran. “How did ye get back here? I just saw ye in the waitin’ room?” he asked Taran.
“I slipped away. I figured I needed a moment to beg for forgiveness.”
“We’re good, Taran,” Angus said.
Rory didn’t like Angus getting hurt, but if that’s what it took to get them speaking, then that was fine by him.
“I shot that ram,” Taran said. “We’re gonna have to find a new one.”
Rory smiled. “It’s about time. Ye do look like a fair mess, eh?” He directed the comment to Angus.
“Aye. It’s my fault.” Taran ran a knuckle across his jaw.
“Naw, it’s not.” Angus grabbed Taran’s arm. “It’s not your fault. You checked on him. Someone is doing this. If anything, it’s the fault of whoever let him out.”
“I agree. We need to find who’s doin’ it,” Rory said.
“I’m just glad you two are talking again,” Penelope said and sat next to Angus.
Taran nodded. “I owe ye an apology as well. I’ve thought ill of ye. I’ve said nasty things to Angus about ye. Ye have deserved none of my malice. I hope ye can forgive me.”
Penelope sighed and smiled. “It’s okay. I forgive you.”
“Is Angus tellin’ the truth? Yer sellin’ yer livelihood and movin’ here?” Taran held Penelope’s gaze as he asked the question.
Nodding, she said, “Yep. I signed the contract before we left for Edinburgh.”
“Thank you.”
“Not a huge loss for me. I’ve wanted to live here since I was a little girl. Now I’ve just got a better excuse than ‘because it’s pretty.’” She smiled at Angus and ran her fingers through his hair. He smiled up at her, and there was no denying what his brother had with her.
“It shouldna have taken an ornery ram to get ye two talkin’ again, but we’ve never done things the easy way, have we?” asked Rory.
Angus laughed and then winced. “I went through an entire television show to get her, so I’m pretty sure if there’s a hard way, we’ll find it.”
Rory put his arm around Taran as he chuckled. “Glad to have ye back too. Are we goin’ to be seein’ ye more now?”
“I dinnae know,” Taran mumbled.
“Sarah?” Rory asked Taran.
Pene
lope tilted her head. “Sarah? What about Sarah?”
Taran’s face reddened. “She’s been sneakin’ into my barn and messin’ with my horses.”
“Oh.” Penelope rolled her lips in, trying to hide her smile.
“And he’s got a crush on her.” Angus grinned.
“If ye werena already beaten, I’d be sluggin’ ye.”
Angus grunted. “Don’t make me laugh!”
The door opened, and a nurse walked in. “What are ye three doin’ in here? He’s nea ready for visitors yet,” she said in a rushed whisper.
“She’s staying. These two,” Angus said and waved a finger between Rory and Taran, “can definitely go.”
Like caught mice, they slinked out of the room and back to the waiting room. Rory felt like the weight of the world was lifted from him. His family was back together. The happy feeling settled deep inside him, and he smiled as Paige came into view. There was only one piece of the puzzle missing. Her.
CHAPTER 31
A fter Angus’s run-in with the ram, Paige spent her time running back and forth between the hospital and the guesthouse. Mostly, she was staying in the room when Penelope needed to eat or go home and shower. Star power came with a price, and the normal few days it would have taken turned into a week stay. Just a precaution, the doctor had said. It translated to: he’s famous, and we really don’t want to get sued if we’ve missed something.
“Penelope?” asked Angus as he blinked awake.
“Nope, the evil twin.” Paige laughed.
He snorted and then grimaced. “Oh, laughing is bad.”
Paige sat down on the edge of the bed next to him. “You know, if you weren’t so good-looking, you’d look even worse.”
He smiled and held his ribs. “Stop.”
She rolled her eyes and feigned a sad sigh. “Fine, fine. A girl can’t have any fun these days.”
Angus eyed her. “You know, Penelope warned me that you’d try to impersonate her.”
“I’ve hung up my hat on that. I’m going to stick with being myself from now on.”
Mending the Billionaire Scotsman: A Clean Scottish Romance Book Two Page 14
