Sins of the Heart
Page 8
“Grant, are you all right?” He pulled out his gun and pointed the barrel toward the man who had begun to crawl away.
“Aye, cousin. I’m fine.”
Christina came out of the woods and crossed the street.
“Lass, your shooting amazes me again.”
Abigail beamed at the praise. “Well, my dad always did want a son.” She smiled and winked at Grant.
The police showed up and after moments of talking with them and making sure they understood who were the bad guys, the four of them stood watching as Aiden, John, and his men were handcuffed and loaded into the squad cars.
Malcolm turned to his cousin and chief. “If no one has any objections, I would like to go to my wife.” No one objected, and he walked away toward the car.
Chapter 21
Pulling up to the curb, Malcolm and Grant jumped out of the car before Graham could put it in ‘park.’ They both ran toward the door, eager to see their women.
Grant opened the door and walked in. “Starshine, where are you?” he asked as he peeked around the corner into the living room. Finding it empty, he proceeded to the kitchen as Malcolm stroke purposefully down a hallway.
“They’re in the kitchen,” Grant said, jogging around the table and brining Abigail into his arms. She felt good, right. Backing away a bit, he examined her.
“Are you all okay?” His hands roamed her body, inspecting.
“Yes, they didn’t hurt me, us. They didn’t hurt either of us.” She returned the inspection and searched his person for any signs of damage. “What about you? Is this your blood?”
She pointed to the stain on his right chest. Her fingers fumbled with his shirt to see his skin and the wound that she feared might be there.
“Nay, it’s Aiden’s. We fought.”
She patted his chest, glad to hear the news.
Graham and Christina entered the kitchen. “Can I get you both something to drink?” She went to the fridge when they nodded and poured four glasses of lemonade and passed them out.
After an hour of talk about the day’s events and making sure that indeed everyone was truly unharmed, everyone but Grant stood to leave.
As the door closed, Grant turned and eased Abigail into his arms. “I owe you an apology. I should never have involved you as I did.” He slipped away and gently grasped her face in his hands. “When I found out that you had been taken and then when I saw you with a gun to your side”—he sighed—“I knew what fear was.”
She hugged him and laid her head on his chest. He ran a hand up and down her spine.
“It wasn’t as if you could have known it would turn out like that.” She peered up at him, meeting him eye to eye. “But you’re right. No more secrets.”
“Aye, no more secrets.” He kissed her. Gently at first, then with more urgency. He needed her to know how he felt. As if that one kiss could tell her everything in his heart.
Reluctantly, he stepped away. “I have to go back.”
“Really?”
“Aye. I’m chief, and therefore I have duties. Besides, there is a lot to explain to a few people.”
She left his arms, and he felt empty. He wanted her in his life. During the months they had been chatting online, he had grown to care for her more than he realized. Now, with all they had been through, he wanted her near.
“I don’t want you to go, but I understand. You will be wanting to take the shield with you.” She turned to look at him. “Is this goodbye then?”
He watched as a tear slipped down her cheek. Seeing it made him feel two things—sadness, for he never wanted to see her cry, and happiness, for it meant that she felt something for him too. She had every right to turn away from him and he would understand it if she did.
“Nay, in a week, I want you to come to Scotland. I will have an airline ticket waiting for you at the airport. You can ship the shield and sign over the paperwork to me then.”
She reached out and grabbed his hand. “Yes. It’s a date.”
Chapter 22
Grant stood staring at the shield where it sat perched on the wall in his office where it belonged. The room felt whole again, and he smiled. Life was as it should be. Malcolm and Keltie went straight to the hospital as soon as they got back to Scotland. She was under treatment and looking better. She wasn’t out of the woods, but on her way, and Grant was happy for his cousin.
He spoke with the other members of the board and decided that even though he had done wrong, the circumstances around it were justifiable. Especially considering the plan against Malcolm.
The door at his back opened, and Abigail entered the room. His life was full for the most part. Something had been missing before, and he now knew what it was. Her.
“How are you today, dear sir?” She set the breakfast tray on the table near the window and walked over to him. Placing his arm around her, he kissed her forehead.
“Well, thank you.”
He watched as she glanced at the shield.
“It looks good up there, right as it should be.”
“Aye, it does.”
There was something he had to do, and he needed to do it before he chickened out.
Turning to her, he held her hands in his. “Abigail, your plane leaves tomorrow.”
She lowered her gaze. “I know. When will we see each other again?”
Looking back up at him, she smiled. He’d give anything to see that smile every day after today.
“Well, that depends.” The expression on her face turned to sadness.
“On what?”
“Whether or not you want to go back.” He led her over to the couch by the window and sat down, pulling her down next to him.
“Abigail, I don’t want you to go back. As Chief, I can’t leave to go live in America.” He swallowed. “I know you own a home and business there, but I’m hoping you will stay here with me.”
He searched her face for some sort of clue to what she must be thinking.
“We can get to know each other better, but I will be honest with you and tell you,” he continued. “I want to marry you.”
Her hand flew to her mouth and her eyes filled with tears.
“Oh, Grant. Are you serious?”
“Aye.” Please stay here with me.
She wiped away a tear and then smiled. “Of course I’ll stay. I want nothing more than to be with you.”
He hugged her to him. This was exactly how he hoped it would turn out. Life would be good with her.
“I promise to make you happy and will spend the rest of my life proving that statement to be true.”
“Oh Grant, you already have.”
She leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed him.
He returned the kiss, the promise of things to come lingering in the air between them.
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DREAMS OF THE HIGHLANDER
After suffering with the loss of his wife and child, fierce Highland warrior Alexander Macpherson vows to never love again—but now his recurring dream of a beautiful woman is haunting him every night.
Marlana Crawford has sworn off men after the love of her life cheated on her but when she reveals her dreams of a sexy Scot to her friends, they encourage her to take a trip abroad in the hopes of finding out the meaning of her dreams.
Now, one careless wish lands Marlana in 18th century Scotland and into the arms of Alexander but to conquer his pain he must learn to love again, or will he allow his bitter enemy to lay claim to her for himself?
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Sarah Hoss:
Sarah Hoss grew up believing she could try anything and if she set her mind to it, she would succeed. Sixteen years of da
nce lessons, Cheerleading, and school plays proved to her that her parent’s words rang true. Writing was no exception. Reading the Outlander series made her fall in love with time travels and the historical places books could take her. Always a child with a vivid imagination, she realized as an adult, she could put her imagination to good use and began writing. Marrying her very own hero, they live in Indiana in the town where she grew up. They have three beautiful children and one hyper dog. When Sarah isn’t writing, she enjoys gardening, camping, and watching her kids’ play sports.
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