Without another word, he pressed play on the remote. All through the movie, he held me close as he trailed his fingertips up and down the length of my arms while Tink slept in my lap.
Far too much time had passed since I’d been held in this way, and I reveled in it. When the movie finally came to an end, I glanced up at him to see tears in the corners of his eyes.
“You did like it, didn’t you?”
He nodded. “Aye, lass, and I liked the company even more.”
I saw him glance at my lips and my heart began to pound against my ribs in the familiar, frantic panic of the night before.
In an effort not to repeat my previous freak-out, I sought to go in for the kiss first, but I moved too quickly, and instead, basically head-butted him so hard we both cried out in pain.
He recovered quickly, laughing as I reared back in horror.
“Come here, Allanah. Let’s try that again.”
He moved to reach for me, but I bolted away from him as my stomach surged, and I pushed myself off the couch as I hurried to the door.
“Another time, perhaps. I better be going. Thanks for a lovely evening. Goodnight, Ross.”
As soon as I closed the door to his apartment, I full-on sprinted back to my own. Shoving my keys into the door as quickly as possible, I unlocked the bolt, hurried inside and collapsed against the door as Georgie looked at me from the living room couch in confusion.
“Do I need to grab a trash can?”
I nodded. “It’s official. I’ll never hear from him again.”
How was it that a hard whack to the head had given him such an unbearable erection? This second attempt at a kiss had been even more disastrous than their first, but somehow it had him even more worked up.
God, she’d felt so good in his arms. She was soft, and sweet, and too likable to be someone he only shared one night with.
Allanah was the sort of woman any man would want in his life, which made everything about the situation even worse.
He would only hurt her if things continued. She wasn’t the sort of woman who might be interested in anything casual. If she were, the thought of a single kiss wouldn’t make her so nervous. She was the sort of woman who would always want more. And he had nothing more to give.
Her quick retreat from his apartment would make it easy for him to let things just fizzle out naturally. Allanah would surely be busy with family for Christmas. He would simply keep his distance. Over time, she would stop expecting him to call her again.
He’d done what Caleb had asked him to. He’d gone out with the lass for Beth’s sake not only once, but three times.
That was enough. It would have to be.
Chapter 12
Three Months Later
* * *
“Okay, Danny. You did great today. I truly believe you’ll be walking without the walker within the next few weeks.”
The old man smiled as I heard the doors to our right swing open. His wife, on time as usual, was here to pick him up. Her entry was followed quickly by Gramps, who was here to take me to dinner.
I watched as he looked at me still standing near my patient, and he gave me a quick wink before taking a seat near the door to wait on me.
“Same time Monday, yes?”
I nodded, and turned to speak to Danny’s wife, Charla. “I can tell that you’re making him work at home. I appreciate it. He’s healing more quickly than some patients half his age.”
She beamed with pride as she looped her arm with her husband’s. “He puts up a fight, but I always win. He’s going to be ready to go on vacation with our grandkids by summer if it’s the last thing I do.”
I laughed as I walked with them to the door. “It won’t be the last thing either of you do, and we will make sure he’s ready to keep up with the grandkids by then.”
They both thanked me, and I watched them make it safely to their car through the window before turning to address Gramps.
“Thanks for waiting. Is Georgie meeting us there?”
“No. She bailed. Said she already had plans. Looks like it’s just you and me.”
“Hmm.” I frowned as I thought about Georgie. Not that I minded it just being the two of us for dinner. It was only that Georgie seemed to have plans with alarming frequency lately, and I could never get her to share what those plans were. I could only assume that years of being away and having no one to report to had made her dead set on maintaining her privacy.
Gramps nodded as if he read my thoughts. “I know. She’s a bit of a mystery, isn’t she? If you question her too much, she just pulls away more.” Gramps gave both of his thighs a quick pat before pushing himself up from his seat and dismissing the subject all together. “So…how does deli food sound? I’m craving a pastrami on rye.”
“Sounds great. You can just drop me off here before you head home.”
There was a fantastic deli place close to my office. Even though it was now March, winter still held a tight grip on Boston, and I wasn’t about to have Gramps walking in below-freezing weather.
The moment I made it to Gramps’ car and opened the passenger door, I was met by the overwhelming smell of floral perfume.
“Good God, Gramps. Maybe you should tell Gladys to take it easy on the perfume. I’m not sure you’ll ever get that smell out of your car.”
Gramps scrunched up his nose in agreement as he reached to buckle his belt. “If that was Gladys’ perfume, I would gladly tell her. It isn’t. It’s her mother’s.”
I still hadn’t actually met Gladys. Although her name made me believe that she was most likely close to my grandfather’s age, the mention of Gladys’ mother brought horrifying images to mind of Gramps dating someone closer to my mother’s age.
“Gramps, just how old is Gladys exactly?”
Please be at least seventy. Please be at least seventy. I played the mantra in my mind like a prayer as I awaited his response.
He laughed as he turned on the engine. “Relax, Allanah. She’s eighty-five.”
My eyes widened in response as I tried to calculate the youngest possible age for Gladys’ mother.
“That’s older than you, Gramps. That would mean, her mother would have to be…”
“One hundred and one. The old crone is one hundred and one and as sharp as a tack.”
“Wow.” The smell really was overwhelming. “Maybe you should have Gladys tell her to take it easy on the perfume?”
Gramps’ laughed. “Gladys is terrified of her mother. So am I. If Merle wanted to pour the entire bottle of perfume all over my leather seats, I’d let her.”
I chuckled, as he pulled out of the parking spot, but I didn’t have a chance to respond, before Gramps spoke again.
“I don’t want to talk about Gladys, Allanah. I’m taking you out to dinner because I want to talk about you.”
“Oh, is that right? Fantastic. What exactly is it that you’re concerned about?”
I crossed my arms as I sighed in preparation. Why was it that all of my family members seemed so intent on maintaining privacy in their own lives but saw absolutely no reason to extend me the same courtesy?
“I think you need to start dating again, and quickly. You’ve let all of that mess with Caleb’s friend throw you off. Time to get back on the horse.”
It had taken most of my effort over the past three months to keep Ross off of my mind. After that dreadful night where I’d head-butted him, nearly vomited, and then fled his apartment, I’d not heard a word from him. Worse, I’d passed him in the hallway numerous times and all I would get from him is a polite nod and sheepish smile before we would each keep moving in our intended directions.
Of course the whole mess had thrown me off. I was mortified, disappointed, and hurt. I knew that I didn’t know Ross well—not at all, really. But I just wouldn’t have expected someone that Beth wanted me to be with, and someone that Caleb recommended so highly, to ghost me so ruthlessly.
Not that I blamed him. I’d made a fool of myself on both dates, but a hug
e part of me had hoped he would just be a little more patient. He wasn’t. And the radio silence that had followed our It’s A Wonderful Life date had embarrassed me to the point where I was just as likely to join a convent as I was to date over the course of the next year.
And if anything happened to go wrong in my apartment for the duration of my life there, I would just have to live with it because there was no way I was ever going to resort to calling Ross for help.
“We’re not discussing this, Gramps.”
He persisted as he activated the blinker and turned into the small parking lot of the deli. “But Allanah, I’m…”
I cut him off, keeping my voice firm. “Gramps, I’m serious. You don’t ever talk to me about Gladys. Georgie doesn’t talk to me about anything lately. I’m under no obligation to discuss my dating life, or lack thereof, with you. If that’s the only reason you wanted to eat with me, turn around and take me back to my car.”
Parking, he let out a loud, sad, sigh and turned frustrated eyes on me.
He stared at me hard another minute before giving in. “Fine. Let’s just spend our evening gossiping about what your parents are up to in Washington.”
That I could do.
“Done. Now, let’s go inside. I’m starving.”
“She’s gotten quite used to you. Look at how she settles into your chest.”
Ross nodded, the corner of his mouth pulling up in the slightest hint of a smile despite himself.
It pleased him that both Maggie and Hannah felt comfortable with him. And the fact that Maggie now tended to fall asleep within minutes of being strapped to his chest on the mornings he walked Hannah to school only made the whole ordeal that much easier.
“Aye. I’ll admit I’ve gotten quite used to the wee lass, as well. Hannah, too. I’m not sure I’m looking forward to the day yer marathon training comes to an end and I no longer have these mornings with them.”
“Same.”
Hannah’s voice came from the doorway, and both men turned in unison. Dressed in matching clothes with both of her Velcro shoes on the right feet, her hair brushed, and her backpack on, she was ready to go.
Ross watched as Caleb beamed at her and moved across the room to scoop her up into his arms. “You’re too good to me, Hannah. You’re such a big girl the way you get ready almost entirely on your own.”
Ross resisted a laugh, as he looked at Hannah roll her eyes over his shoulder as she tried to squirm out of his arms.
“I’m in kindergarten, Dad. What do you expect? Now, we better go. If I don’t get there early, Brandon will try to take my cubby. And I have the best one in the whole class.”
Caleb set Hannah on her feet and turned to look at Ross.
“You heard the girl. Sounds like the three of you better get going. There are clean bottles on the kitchen counter for Maggie when you get back. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Ross reached for Hannah’s hand as Caleb gave them a brief wave before jogging toward the front door.
As usual, it took Hannah all of three seconds for her to start talking his ear off. “How old do you have to be to have boyfriend or girlfriend?”
Ross’ eyes grew wide as he glanced down at the young girl in horror. “At least twenty years older than ye, lass.”
Hannah pulled her nose up in disgust as she laughed at him. “No, silly! I don’t mean for me. I meant for you. Are you older or younger than my Dad?”
Ross shrugged. He honestly wasn’t sure. “I doona know, but I imagine we are close to the same age.”
She nodded, as if she’d suspected as much. “Then, why don’t you have a girlfriend or boyfriend, Ross? I mean...” She paused. “I know why Daddy doesn’t. But I can’t think of any good reason that you don’t.”
Ross shook his head. The things that came out of the small child’s mouth never ceased to amaze him.
“Some just doona wish to have a girlfriend or boyfriend, lass. Mayhap I am one of those.”
Hannah’s face scrunched up as she shook her head. “No. You’re not one of those, Uncle Ross.”
Of course the wee lass didn’t believe him. He didn’t believe himself.
Not a day had gone by since that December evening that he hadn’t kicked himself for deciding to step away from Allanah.
“Mayhap, I doona have a girlfriend because I am a fool who canna seem to keep one.”
Hannah nodded. “Now that I can believe.”
Hannah had ruined his day. Her small mention of a girlfriend had brought the one person he worked so diligently to keep from his mind right to the forefront. All morning, thoughts of Allanah plagued him.
He’d not behaved well toward her, he knew. For a short time, he’d been able to convince himself that he was retreating from the situation for her sake, but really he’d taken the coward’s way out.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, stirring him from his thoughts.
Mrs. Jenkins. A surprising amount of time had passed since he’d heard from the woman.
He answered it, thankful for something to stop his self-defeating thoughts.
“Mrs. Jenkins, how are ye, lass?”
“Good afternoon, Ross. I’m fine. Just fine. But there is a hole in the back stairwell window. It’s causing a terrible draft.”
Ross glanced at the clock. Five on a Friday. He wasn’t going to be able to get anyone out there to fix it.
“Thank ye for calling me. ’Twill most likely be Monday before ’tis fixed, but I’ll go and tape it up to keep the wind out straight away.”
“I just thought you should know about it, dear. You know me. I can’t ever take the elevator. Those contraptions are death machines, I tell you.”
Ross laughed. “If ye say so, Mrs. Jenkins.”
“Yes. I do say so. Now, go and get that taped up, and when you’re done, stop by my apartment, and I’ll have a warm loaf of banana bread for you.”
“I’ll see ye shortly, lass.”
Perplexed, Ross leaned back to try to see the entirety of the damage to the window. What could have caused such a perfect hole? Nothing lay on the ground at the bottom of the stairwell. No bird or rock had come through the window. Whatever it was, had hit with a lot of force.
The window sat high above him. Setting up his ladder so he could reach, he then placed tape onto his work belt so he would have everything he needed right at hand.
Once up the ladder and eye level with the busted window, he began his work, all the while thinking of Allanah. Of her beautiful eyes, and her thick head of hair that had smelled so wonderful as she’d leaned into him during the movie.
What had been his reason for stepping away? Why was he so set against ever loving again? Now, after months of missing her, he couldn’t remember.
Everything happened quickly then. The door to the stairwell swung suddenly open and a giant yellow lab bounded up the stairs and toward the ladder.
He heard the ladder shift before he realized what was happening, but it only took half a second for him to feel it give way beneath him. His right foot slipped beneath the ladder step, keeping his leg trapped in the metal as it crashed to the ground.
He fell with the ladder, his leg caught and twisted. He heard his bones crack, heard the awful popping, as the stairwell swirled around him. He glanced down to see his thigh bone exposed to the wintery air.
The last thing he heard before passing out was the panicked sound of the young resident whose dog had just tried to kill him.
“Ah, shit. Hang on, man. I’m calling an ambulance.”
Chapter 13
“You’re not Ross.”
Disappointed that Hannah wasn’t at least a little bit more excited to see me, I nodded and smiled as I stepped into the house.
“You’re right, I’m not. I’m going to be walking you to school in place of Ross for the next few months.”
Hannah looked shocked. “Months? I know Dad said he had some broken bones, but I was really hoping they’d be better by today.”
From
all that Caleb had told me on the phone, chances were good Ross wouldn’t be walking them anymore for the rest of the school year. Not only had he broken his thigh bone in two places, but his knee was entirely busted, as well. His surgery had been extensive, and his recovery would be long.
Karma. It had to be karma. I was fine with it—even if that did mean I wasn’t quite as good a person as I thought I was.
“Bones take a really long time to heal, but I promise to try to be as good of a walking companion as Ross was.”
Hannah ducked her head. “Not possible.”
Ouch.
“Hannah, we already talked about this. Sue doesn’t have to be doing this for us. She’s helping us out. You are not to be rude to her, do you understand me?”
I tried to wave Caleb off. I didn’t want him scolding Hannah, but it was already done.
Hannah looked up at me remorsefully. “I didn’t mean to be rude to you, Sue. I’m sorry. I like you too. It’s just that I really like Uncle Ross.”
I smiled and reached out to tussle the top of her hair. “It’s okay. I get it. We all have our favorites.”
Caleb reached for Hannah’s backpack and held it out for her so she could slip it on.
“Will you grab Maggie’s carrier from my bedroom?”
Hannah nodded and hurried out of the room.
“Thank you for doing this, Sue. It really would’ve been okay for me to miss some training.”
I laughed. “Are you kidding? No, it wouldn’t have been. Gramps would’ve never let you hear the end of it. You guys are so close. I don’t mind, truly. I’ve just bumped my mornings back. It’s really not a big deal. One of the perks of running my own practice—I’m the boss.”
“I…” Caleb started to say something and then stopped.
“What?”
He hesitated. “It’s nothing. I know you’ll say no, and I wouldn’t blame you one bit, anyway.”
Now I had to know what he was talking about.
“What? What is it?”
Love Beyond Boundaries (A Scottish Time Travel Romance): Book 12 (Morna's Legacy Series) Page 8
