A Highlander's Destiny (Digital Boxed Edition)

by Willa Blair

  Nessa closed her eyes, clenching the phone tighter. She should have never answered it, especially when she didn’t recognize the number. She squelched the tendril of self-imposed guilt by rerunning Cordelia’s words through her head. She’d be damned if she’d become any man’s lapdog, even one as handsome as Gabriel Burns. She might be plain, but she had a lot going for her and she wasn’t afraid of being alone. If true love really existed, that would be great. But she wasn’t about to go fawning after any man, no matter how great he looked in a pair of tight-fitting jeans.

  “Nessa? Are ye there?”

  Gabriel’s voice interrupted her fuming and pulled her back into the conversation. “I’m here. Sorry. I guess we must have a bad signal here.” Nessa shrugged her shoulders at Trish as she scratched her nails on the phone in her own simulation of cellular interference.

  “Promise me ye will be good enough to stop by the pub tomorrow and allow me to fix ye a bit of lunch.” His voice smooth and conjoling, Gabriel purred into her ear.

  Too tired to argue, Nessa latched onto the next best thing she could think of; she decided to play the clueless female. “That’ll be great. Trish and I have to come into town to file some papers. We’ll stop by the pub on the way out and you can treat us both.”

  Nessa grinned when Gabriel went silent. She knew he had intended for her to come alone. She closed her eyes, leaned back against the headrest, and waited for his reply.

  “That’ll be grand. I’ll see the two of ye tomorrow and I’ll fix ye a fine repast.” Nessa stifled a giggle, She was almost disappointed. Gabriel had recovered well. His voice held only the slightest tinge of frustration over a strong layer of determination.

  “We’ll see you then.” Nessa clicked the phone shut and stuffed it back into her pocket. She reveled in an eye-watering yawn and then turned to face Trish’s expectant you-better-tell-me face. “What?”

  “Okay. First, you’re so insecure you’re afraid to go out with this guy. Then you attempt a date with him and decide he’s okay but you’re not really interested. But you’re still kind of wishy-washy and could go either way. Now, although he doesn’t realize it yet, you’re cutting your ties to him by dragging along the old best friend. What gives with this guy?” Trish waited, one brow arched as she darted glances between the road and Nessa’s face.

  Nessa rubbed her face with her hands, yawned again, and scrubbed her fingers through her hair until it stood on end. “Let’s just say I don’t think Gabriel is quite what he seems. I’ve rethought my first impression of the man and I think holding him at arm’s length isn’t such a bad idea right now.”

  Trish shook her head. “Pass him on to me. I’ll hang onto him for you. I think he’s hot.”

  Trish pulled the car into the gravel driveway around to the back of the building. “They said we could park here in the back. There’s a separate entrance to the room we’re going to rent.”

  At the sight of the quaint structure with the weather-stained boards, Nessa attempted to stifle another jaw-cracking yawn. Pawing for the handle to open the car door, she noticed the starched white curtains freshly hung in the spotless windows. “I can’t believe Brodie came by and picked up all our stuff from the inn. They must’ve really been anxious to find someone for the room.” Sliding out of the car, Nessa stretched and rubbed her aching neck. She didn’t know how she would manage to stay awake tonight.

  Trish turned the key in the lock and edged the door open with her shoulder. Swinging the door wide, she stood aside, motioning Nessa into the over-sized room. Two comfortable-looking twin beds stood in opposite corners, each paired with its own nightstand and cozy reading lamp. A slightly used but clean kitchen table and chairs inhabited the other side of the room. A door led to an adjoining bathroom lit by the welcoming glow of a hostess light. A dormitory sized refrigerator hummed, stuffed with sodas and snacks. It squatted between two dressers with several tins of biscuits and sweets in a welcoming basket on top.

  Brodie had placed their bags just inside the closet door that he’d left open for them to find. As Nessa looked around, she realized with pleasant surprise that they were going to have quite a bit more space here than they’d each had in their separate rooms at the inn.

  “Are you hungry, Nessa? Looks like they’ve stocked the refrigerator and there’s a hot plate on the kitchen table.” Sorting through the contents, Trish emerged with a can of soda and popped the tab as she walked about the room.

  Nessa shook her head and bent to unlace her boots as she settled on the edge of the farthest bed. “I think I’m just going to prop up here for a while and read through a few of these papers. I didn’t have a chance to go over them today and the students have been bugging me for my opinion.”

  As she headed for the doorway, Trish tossed a separate key on the table and wrinkled her nose in Nessa’s direction. “Suit yourself, chick. I’m going to walk around to the shop and let them know we’re here and that the room’s going to be great. Why don’t you try to turn in early tonight? You’re really starting to look pretty rough.”

  Nessa pinched the bridge of her nose, shut her gritty eyes, and forced a tired smile onto her face. “Thanks a lot for your honest observation. I’m fine. I have to get through these papers tonight so we can include them in the overnight packet to the university tomorrow. Tell the MacKays I said hi and thank them for the room. This’ll be great while we’re here for the rest of the dig.”

  Nessa pulled her backpack up on the bed beside her. She wadded up the pillow and stuffed it behind her back. As she sorted out papers, she was careful not to look up. She knew Trish would notice she feared falling asleep. She knew it had to be a flashing red light strobing on top of her head. She heard Trish clicking her nails on the door facing while she waited. Not good. Trish always fidgeted when she worried. Trish finally relinquished with a grudging sigh. “Whatever you say. I may be out for a bit. I’ll try not to wake you when I come in.” Without another word, Trish slipped out the door and eased it shut behind her.

  Nessa plunked her head against the wall. She took a deep breath as she glanced around the room. This place was going to be too comfortable. She’d never manage to catnap in this cozy atmosphere.

  Her eyelids grew heavier, as though weighted. They risked slamming shut. Her head noodle-necked off her chest. Nessa fought against the relentless fatigue. Maybe if she just closed her eyes for a couple of minutes, she’d doze just enough to stay conscious enough to control her dreams.

  He stood a bit away from her. He kept his hands clasped behind his back, his head slightly bowed. It was almost as though he waited for judgment—waited for his sentence to be read. Her heart quickened as she realized she was well within his reach. Nessa’s hand fluttered to her throat. Her breath came quick through her parted lips. Her heart pounded in her ears. She debated whether or not she should run. If she turned now, she knew she could escape. He couldn’t reach her yet.

  But he just stood there. Sorrow and pain filled his eyes. His usual heart-quickening smile narrowed into a soul-wrenching line. Nessa waited. His anger had disappeared; he seemed so defeated. She swallowed hard and caught her lip between her teeth as she moved just a bit closer. Her fear of him lessened. The torment in his face tugged at her heart; the suffering in his eyes cried out to her louder than words. She recalled what the mysterious woman of the woods had said. She had to let him know what he’d done. “You frightened me. What you showed me you were capable of doing to Gabriel...your rage…your anger… It frightened me.”

  For the first time since he’d introduced himself into her mind, she spoke to him while he was in her dream. She reasoned with him about what she felt. She had to make him understand.

  She frowned and reached out to him as she tried to explain. “I don’t know what you want from me. You’ve been in my dreams since I was so young…but you’ve never been this way before. You’ve never been this difficult to understand.”

  Latharn took a deep breath. He nodded his head just once, then
lowered himself to his knees. He bowed his head and held out his hands to her, pleading for forgiveness of his sins.

  Nessa’s eyes stung with unshed tears and she pressed her hands to her cheeks. A mountain of a man kneeling at her feet was more then she could bear.

  She placed her hands in his her tiny fingers disappeared within his muscular palms. She moved closer. As she bent, she pressed her cheek to his. Her breath caught in her throat as she touched the moisture of his tears. That’s all it took. Her fear was gone. This man was brave enough to show her his heart. He’d bared his emotions.

  “I wish you could tell me why you keep appearing in my dreams. It seems like you’ve been with me forever.” Nessa dropped to her knees, looking up into his eyes. She held his face between her hands, drowning in his gaze.

  A sad smile played across his lips. Latharn shook his head as he turned to kiss the palm of each hand. He buried his face in her neck and crushed her against his chest. He covered her throat with desperate kisses, nuzzling a trail to her mouth. He closed his hungry lips upon hers. He devoured her as though he were a man possessed. He claimed her with his kisses, deep and ardent. He branded his possession of her soul.

  She clung to him as though he was a life preserver keeping her afloat on the sea of her emotions. She would open to whatever he asked. However, tonight Latharn was different. He didn’t go any further than the hungry possession of her mouth or the desperate, crushing embrace. Nessa sensed he needed this night to be different. His body tensed beneath her touch, he restrained his caress as if he wanted her to reason rather than just shatter into mindless bliss.

  He raised his head and gazed into her eyes. Nessa flinched at the depths of pain and frustration etched in his face. He struggled, trying to communicate, to connect with her deepest emotions without the use of words. He took his palm, flattened it against his heart then placed it upon her chest. His brows drawn together in a questioning frown, he tilted his head and waited for a sign that she understood.

  Her lower lip quivered at the very obvious gesture. Nessa whispered and covered his hand with hers. “Are you telling me you love me?” Her whisper caught in her throat.

  One corner of his mouth pulled up into a relieved smile as Latharn nodded and brushed his lips across hers. He took a deep breath as though steeling himself against his own deepest fears. He took her hand and repeated the heart touching gesture from her chest to his. Then he raised a brow and awaited her answer, anxiety filling his eyes.

  A lone tear escaped down her cheek as Nessa stared at her hand splayed upon his broad chest. “You know I love you,” she murmured with a moan. “I just wish that you were real.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut, pulling her into his arms to cradle her against his chest. Holding her close, he stroked her hair as she gave way to tears. His arms tightened around her and he gently swayed as she softly wept in his arms.

  “Nessa. Are you all right? Nessa. Wake up! Was it another nightmare?” Trish shook Nessa by the shoulders to pull her from the dream. As she pulled her closer, Trish raised Nessa’s head from her tear-stained pillows.

  “I’m fine,” Nessa hiccupped through her tears as she accepted a handful of tissues to wipe her face.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Trish asked, sitting cross-legged on the side of the bed.

  As she drew a deep breath, Nessa shook her head. “Not tonight. It’s still too fresh in my mind. It’s late. You go back to bed. I’m going to try to go back to sleep. Somehow…I don’t think he’ll be back tonight.” Flipping her pillow over, dry side up, she curled over onto her side.

  Trish pulled the cover’s around Nessa’s shoulders. She tucked Nessa in as though she were her child. “Well, okay. You try to get some rest. You can fill me in tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow.” Nessa closed her eyes, sighing as she slipped back into the lonely darkness.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Nessa slung her backpack over her shoulder as she entered the front of the shop. She smiled her good mornings at Brodie and Fiona where they stood chatting behind the counter. “Have either of you seen Trish this morning? The minx got up early to beat me to all the hot water and now I can’t seem to find her. We’ve got to get some data sent out so that it gets to the university by Monday.”

  Rummaging through the cluttered shelves stacked behind the counter, Fiona found the note from Trish. “She’s already gone to overnight the papers. She said she didn’t have the heart to wake ye this morning since ye have been so exhausted of late. She said there was no need for ye to come along. She said something about having everything covered.”

  Unfolding the piece of paper, Nessa groaned and dropped her bag to the floor. Trish and her meddling. How many times had she told that chick to butt out? “She knows I promised Gabriel we’d stop by the pub for lunch. I really hoped our visit to him today would get him to take the hint he’s wasting his time. Did she say she was going to be coming back in time to pick me up? Her note is kind of vague.”

  Brodie lowered Latharn’s globe from the shelf above the counter and placed it in front of Nessa. “She mentioned something about going to the pub without ye and relaying your regrets to Gabriel. She said ye told her yesterday ye were trying to find a way to back off a bit from that evil bastard.”

  “Brodie!” Fiona scolded. “Gabriel is no’ an evil bastard, Nessa. But Trish did mention ye weren’t quite as taken with him as ye had first thought when the two of ye had just met.”

  Since when did everyone have full rights to her love life? Nessa fumed, her aggravation tightening in her chest. “That still doesn’t give her license to interfere. I’ve talked to her about this before.” She slid her over-stuffed backpack across the floor and propped it against the counter. When she did, the hypnotic pulse of the glowing witch’s ball captured her eye.

  Mesmerized, Nessa’s irritation with Trish disappeared as she gazed into the swirling purple vortex. She cupped the globe between her hands and sank into its endless depths. Nothing else in the room existed. The whirling energy captivated her within its dancing lights.

  Fiona elbowed Brodie and nodded toward Nessa. “Look at the aura. The light surrounds her. It’s as though the globe cradles her in its energy.”

  With a nervous cough as though to clear his throat, Brodie tapped the counter beside the globe. “What do ye think of our wee bauble here? It’s been in the MacKay family for years.”

  Nessa tore her attention from the vibrating energy. She found it difficult to look up from the crystal orb. “Oh it’s…it’s lovely. I don’t know why but it seems to draw me into it. It’s as though the lights are dancing to some silent song.” She trailed her fingertips across the surface. Nessa smiled as the energy patterns changed with her touch. “Look! The lights are following wherever I touch. It’s almost as if it’s following my fingertips. How does it do that?” The glass felt warm. She swore it pulsed as though it had a heartbeat.

  Brodie’s lips twitched. Then he shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve never seen the globe react that way before. Not in all the years I’ve had it in my possession.”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. Nessa touched the ball again. The light sprang from within its core in response to her touch. “Really? I wonder why it responds to me. You said it’s been in your family for years. What’s its story? Where did it originate?”

  Fiona edged her way between Brodie and the counter. “They say it was given to Laird MacKay and his wife, Rachel, in the early 1400s. They were the laird and lady of clan MacKay at that time. The globe has been protected and passed down through the family since that era until it came to be Brodie’s and mine.”

  The dancing lights entranced her senses. Nessa had to drag herself away from the counter. The globe drew her in. It mesmerized her and made her feel as if she floated on a cloud of purple down.

  “It’s addictive. I could gaze into that thing forever. It’s so hypnotic. It’s almost as though it’s alive. Who gave it to Laird MacKay and his wife? Some sort of wizard ma
ybe?”

  Her fingers trembling, Fiona smoothed her hands across the top of the counter and dusted around the globe. “No one knows the true identity of the giver. That information seems to have been lost.” Brodie coughed and shuffled his feet, backing away from the edge of the counter.

  Nessa couldn’t resist a mischievous grin at Fiona as she bent to retrieve her bag. “Wouldn’t it be great if it was like a genie’s lamp? We could just tell it our deepest desires and poof...our wildest dreams would come true.”

  Brodie’s eyes bulged; he coughed and wheezed until tears streamed down his face.

  “Brodie! Are you okay?” Nessa dropped her bag and rushed around the counter. Brodie’s face flamed a bright cherry red.

  Thumping him on the back, Fiona waved her away. “Oh he’s fine. He just gets choked verra easily sometimes.” With a smile, she nodded in the direction of the globe. “Now wouldn’t that be grand if that crystal ball was just like you said! Our verra own wishing ball. Perhaps that’s what it was meant to be all along and it was just forgotten down through the passage of time.”

  Fiona pulled a box of tissues from under the counter and shoved them into Brodie’s chest. Turning back to Nessa, her eyes sparkled and her voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “And if it were such a magical thing? What would be one of your dearest wishes? What would ye ask of the ball?”

  Nessa paused before hefting her bag up on her shoulder, half-tempted to play along. Wouldn’t it be great if she could wish her nocturnal Highlander into reality and fall right into his arms? Wouldn’t that be her lifelong dream come true? Who was she kidding? That’s the stuff fairy tales were made of. Her old self-preservation habits kicked in at the last minute and she recoiled back inside her carefully constructed shell. Settling her backpack on her shoulder, Nessa shuttered her emotions as well. “Oh, I don’t know. I’ve pretty much got everything I need.”

  Fiona’s face fell at Nessa’s reply. “Ah well…then ye truly are blessed. Ye not only have everything ye need but ye’re wise enough to know it.”