by Donna Fasano
Although Megan willed herself not to blush, her cheeks heated. It was a curse of her coloring that she did not blush well. She pasted on a smile and kept her hands still, resisting the urge to fiddle with her sash.
Blair continued. "We army doctors think we know about danger, but if you want to hear some hairy stories of rescuing casualties from dangerous situations, this is your girl. Megan works with mountain rescue in the Scottish Highlands."
"Five hundred pounds." Major General Knight's baritone boomed deep and clear through the momentary silence in the ballroom. She'd known good old Uncle George all her life; he was one of her father's best friends. She could always count on him to start the bidding on her.
"Six hundred," another man said, although she didn't catch who.
"Seven hundred," Uncle George countered.
Silence fell and Megan's heart beat a rapid tattoo in her chest. This was the truly nerve-wracking part of the auction, standing up in front of 250 people praying for bids.
She'd made a conscious effort not to look at Daniel, but now her gaze skated over the upturned faces in search of blonde hair, blue eyes, and a warm smile.
He sat at the table with her friends, an empty seat beside him. Her breath caught; for a moment she struggled to suck in air. The woman Daniel had been talking to was not with him, she was seated next to his brother, Sean.
Daniel leaned back in his chair, a lazy smile on his face as he watched the proceedings. She tore her gaze away from him and let it drift unseeing over the mass of people. Her chest ached with longing—if only he would bid on her. When the clock struck twelve tonight and kisses were exchanged to celebrate the New Year, she wanted to be sitting beside Daniel Fabian.
The bidding continued. Another of her father's friends offered nine hundred pounds for her, then silence fell. Megan consciously drew in a breath and pushed it out, her heartbeat marking off the seconds. Any moment now, Blair would declare her sold.
Her fingers flexed on her purse, crushing the soft fabric. Much as she appreciated her father's friends supporting her, it was humiliating to be passed over by the younger men. They all probably had their sights set on the pretty young daughters of the senior officers who were still waiting in line.
"Three thousand pounds." The words echoed around the room. Clothes rustled and chairs scraped as everyone turned to see who had bid such a large amount.
Daniel rose, the lights glinting off his blond hair. Giving the impression he enjoyed the limelight, he stepped behind his brother's chair and ambled between the tables, obviously in no hurry, a self-assured smile on his face.
"Sold to Major Fabian," Blair announced. There was a moment's stunned silence, then applause broke out and rippled through the crowd.
Megan trembled, her legs suddenly unsteady. She gripped Blair's arm for support as he led her to the top of the steps. "Way to go, Meggie," he said under his breath. "Highest bid of the night by far."
Then louder he said, "Major Fabian has set the bar high, gentlemen. Let's see if we can top his generous donation before the night is out." He passed Meg's hand to Daniel and stepped back.
Daniel glanced up at her, his blue eyes twinkling with pleasure. "Will you join me, Dr. Mackenzie?"
Despite the mad jig of her heart and wobbly knees, somehow she hung on to her composure. "I'd be delighted to, Major Fabian."
His warm fingers gripped hers to guide her slowly down the stairs and back between the tables.
Alice grinned as Daniel pulled out the chair for Meg.
"Wonderful. I'm so pleased you're at our table."
Radley and Cameron Knight both greeted her with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. They had been at school with her brothers and she'd known them all her life.
Daniel introduced her to his brother, Sean, who sat on her left with his wife, Kelly, the woman with the mahogany hair.
She placed her purse on the table and waited until the auction recommenced, then leaned towards Daniel. "Thank you for rescuing me again," she said softly.
"It's my pleasure." His fingers brushed the back of her hand, the lightest of caresses, but she felt that touch in every fiber of her being.
Her heart fluttered like a moth in a bottle. What was it about this man that had her in a spin? It wasn't just his good looks, although they helped.
She tried to concentrate on the auction, clapping politely after each woman was sold, yet most of her attention focused on the gorgeous man at her side as if her body had realigned itself to his wavelength.
She adored the Scottish Highlands, adored the rugged wild countryside, the mountains, the snow, and the wildlife. But at this moment, she wished with all her heart she lived closer to civilization, closer to where Daniel lived. She longed for the chance to get to know him better. But that would never happen.
Her responsibilities, her mountain rescue work, and everything that mattered to her were in Scotland and always would be.
She must make the most of her few hours with Daniel, because they might be all she ever had.
The evening passed in a blur of happy conversation and laughter as Megan caught up with the news about her friends' children. Sean Fabian and his wife, Kelly, had adopted a six-week-old baby boy just before Christmas. Kelly passed her mobile phone around to show off photos of their three children.
After the main course of dinner, Sean and Kelly wished everyone a happy New Year and left before dessert, so eager were they to be home with their new baby, Liam, and their twin girls.
Whenever she could, Megan snatched moments of private conversation with Daniel. He asked her about her work with Kindrogan Mountain Rescue. She related some of the most dangerous rescues to impress him.
"So tell me, how do you know Duncan?" Megan felt as though she had been talking about herself all evening. It was time she found out more about Daniel.
He glanced down and straightened his napkin, the light shining off the paler streaks in his blond hair. "I met him at a medical conference in Canada a few years ago, before I joined the army. His work on freezing-cold injury interests me." He paused for a second as if thinking, then met her gaze with a slightly strained smile. Was he uncomfortable talking about himself?
"His line of work has personal relevance for me. I'm a bit of a snowboarding junkie. I trained as an instructor between school and college and passed my level two. It gave me the chance for lots of riding freestyle, off-piste, and backcountry."
"And plenty of après ski as well, I imagine," Megan added, hoping to turn the conversation to his social life. She didn't really want to hear about all the girlfriends Olivia had hinted at, but at the same time she did want to know what sort of man Daniel was.
At that moment, the lights dimmed and the band that had set up on the stage started playing. A number of couples stood and stepped onto the small dance floor in the center of the room.
"Would you do me the honor?" Daniel said, rising and holding out his hand. She had the impression he was avoiding talking about himself, but she often overanalyzed things. Relax and enjoy the evening, she told herself.
Daniel's arms came around her, strong and warm. As he eased her into his embrace, her rational thoughts slipped away. She drifted into a dreamy heaven against his chest, imagining he was really hers and he cared about her. She had known him for only a few hours, yet already she was halfway in love with him.
She leaned her head on his shoulder and breathed in the spicy smell of his aftershave as the singer crooned. They circled the dance floor with the other couples, enjoying the strange intimacy of being in each other's arms amid the crowd. She could not imagine a better way to bring in the New Year.
Daniel seemed in no hurry to sit down again. They danced together for at least an hour, swaying to the rhythm. She wished the evening could go on forever, but eventually the music ended and her brother Blair stepped up to the microphone. "Charge your glasses, ladies and gentlemen. It's five minutes to twelve."
Daniel took her hand and led her back to their table, wher
e fresh flutes of champagne waited for them. He picked up hers and handed it over, then lifted his own. Blair started a countdown as the chimes of Big Ben were broadcast into the ballroom. Everyone joined in, cheering when they reached midnight.
"Happy New Year!" Blair shouted over the joyful hubbub as people congratulated each other.
Daniel tapped his glass against hers. "Here's to new beginnings," he said. Then he set down his drink and drew Megan into his arms.
Her heart thundered and she could barely draw breath.
"Happy New Year, sweetheart," he whispered as he held her close. She melted into his arms, resting her palms against his shoulders. He bent his head and his lips brushed hers in a sweet kiss that was over far too soon.
Then he released her and turned away, kissing Olivia and Alice, shaking hands with Radley and Cameron. Her mind fuzzy, her breath short as if she were standing on a high mountain peak where the air was thin, Megan shared good wishes with the others, kissing Radley and Cameron, hugging Alice and Olivia, all chatting with excitement.
Even as she laughed with her friends, her attention was really on Daniel, her ears attuned to the pleasant timbre of his voice, her fingers aching to sink into the warm grip of his hand.
When he turned back to her, his arm slipping around her waist, sensation zinged along her nerves. Daniel's touch made her feel more alive than she'd ever felt before.
She didn't want this night to end. She didn't want to say good-bye to him.
"Are you staying in the hotel?" he asked.
"Yes. Duncan and Blair are too."
He'd already told her he lived in London, so he'd be returning home tonight for his last week of leave before his new posting. When she inquired where he was being sent, he'd been a little mysterious and hadn't answered.
"Shall we go outside to catch the end of the firework display over the River Thames? We should be able to see some of them from here."
"Oh, yes. Good idea." Anything to extend the evening.
Megan's cheeks were warm, her head light from the champagne. Daniel took her hand and led her into the reception area. He slipped off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders. "It'll be chilly outside. I don't want you to get cold."
"What about you?"
"Real men don't feel the cold. Didn't you know?"
She laughed as he led her out the main door. "Real men feel the cold in Scotland, Daniel. Believe me."
They crossed the road to Hyde Park and stared into the sky, catching the last few minutes of the massive pyrotechnic display over London to celebrate the New Year.
When the fireworks finished, Daniel took her hand. They wandered beneath the lit-up trees, frost forming spiderwebs of ice on the grass and plants. Megan shivered, more from excitement than cold. Had he brought her out here to kiss her again?
"There's something I need to tell you." The serious tone of Daniel's voice sent a frisson of unease through her.
"My next posting is in Scotland." Daniel cast Megan a sideways glance.
He was going to be posted near her home? Why did he sound so glum about it?
"I'll be working with Duncan at the Army Institute of Survival and Thermal Medicine."
For a moment, she couldn't breathe. She'd imagined she wouldn't see Daniel again for months, but he would be stationed six miles from where she lived.
Turning to face him, she gripped his hand in both of hers. "Daniel, that's wonderful. We can see each other again." His frown dampened her excitement. "Is something wrong?"
"Duncan asked me if I'd like to stay with him."
Megan's already pounding heart nearly burst out of her chest. Daniel was coming to stay at Kindrogan Castle? She would have been over the moon if not for the lines of tension on his face.
"Before I accept his offer, I want to check that it's okay with you."
Was the man crazy? Didn't he realize how much she liked him?
"It'll be lovely to have you to stay." Megan nearly bit her tongue, she spit her words out so fast.
"The thing is, I don't want to give you the wrong impression. It's only fair to make it clear up front that I'm not looking for a romantic relationship."
Her heart crashed, the avalanche of disappointment sending a shockwave along her nerves. Did he mean he didn't want a romantic relationship at all, or was he just not interested in her?
Megan turned away and stared at a red double-decker bus trundling along the road. Why was she surprised? Men were never attracted to her. Not men like Daniel, anyway. She had been a fool to imagine, even for a nanosecond, that he might be.
Blinking away tears, she summoned a stoic expression. Rejections too numerous to recall had taught her how to put on a brave face. She swallowed hard and cleared her throat, then turned back towards him. "That's not a problem. You're still welcome to stay with Duncan. We can be friends, can't we?"
"Of course. I'd like that. I've really enjoyed our evening together. It's nothing to do with you, Meg. It's me."
Stop, please stop, she mentally entreated him. After the lovely evening they'd shared, he was ruining it.
"I promised myself I'd concentrate on the army for twelve months with no distractions." He gave a wry laugh. "I've been far too easily distracted by women in the past."
Meg looked down and fiddled with her purse. Tears pricked the back of her eyes and clogged her throat. She had to get away from Daniel before she cried all over him. She'd never be able to face him when he came to stay if that happened.
Shivering, she hugged her arms around herself. "I'm chilly. I'm going inside."
"Of course. Sorry to drag you out here, but I wanted to talk in private."
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
Daniel offered his arm, but Megan pretended not to notice and hurried back along the frosty path towards the road. The link she thought she'd formed with Daniel must have been all in her mind. Now she felt alone again, separate. Lonely.
Suddenly, she wanted nothing more than to be at home in the world she knew, away from the bustle of London and these people.
"I'm sorry, Megan," Daniel said as they reached the hotel doors. She shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it at him.
"There's nothing to be sorry about. I appreciate your company tonight."
"Megan."
Daniel's soft entreaty halted her rush through the door and she turned.
He raked back his hair with his fingers, a pained look in his eyes. They stared at each other for long moments, then she tore her gaze away and rushed into the warm hotel.
He was out of her league. How could she ever have thought he would be interested in her?
Chapter 3
Daniel dumped his bags and snowboard case beside a bench outside the tiny Scottish train station and sat down. The cold stung his face and nipped at his fingers while he waited for Duncan to pick him up. The place was silent, hardly a soul about. A bird of prey soared overhead and the wind whistled through a stand of pines nearby.
He'd felt terrible all week, and he didn't feel much better now. The last thing he'd wanted to do on New Year's Eve was hurt Megan, yet he had. But surely it was best to quash any romantic notions she had, rather than let her hope there could be something between them?
Even if he hadn't decided to give the army his undivided attention for another six months, it would be career suicide to mess with his commanding officer's sister. He would not screw up his chance at a new life for a romantic relationship that might be over in a few months. This time he'd put his long-term future before short-term pleasure.
A noisy diesel engine snagged his attention. He stared at the narrow road, waiting for the vehicle to appear. A muddy Land Rover pickup full of dents crested the ridge and lurched down the hill. He smiled to himself. One wouldn't see anything like that in London. The vehicle was probably older than him.
The vehicle came to a halt and Duncan climbed out, wearing army uniform. Daniel gaped for a moment before he remembered to hide his astonishment.
Dunc
an held out his hand. Daniel jumped to his feet and shook it. "Hello, sir."
"Call me Duncan. We don't stand on ceremony here." He grabbed one of Daniel's bags and dumped it on the bed of the old pickup. Daniel dropped the other beside it and laid his snowboard over the top.
"Good journey?" Duncan inquired.
"A long journey. I could fly to New York in the time it took me to reach here."
Daniel climbed in beside Duncan, trying to get comfortable on the cracked vinyl bench seat. He reached for the seat belt, but there wasn't one. Duncan noticed.
"Most of the journeys this old girl makes are on private estate roads. She's probably not legal on normal roads."
Duncan pressed his foot on the clutch and slammed the gearshift into place with an eye-watering crunch, then the vehicle lurched forward.
"Clutch is a bit sticky," Duncan said as Daniel grabbed the door and what passed for a dashboard.
"How far is it to your place?"
"Only a few miles. We'll take the scenic route."
"Sounds great," Daniel said, wanting nothing more than to arrive at the destination so he could get out of this death trap.
At the bottom of a hill, Duncan swerved onto a rustic road and they bumped along the stones. For the umpteenth time, Daniel held on to the door to stay in his seat.
Mist hung beneath the close-packed trees on either side, an eerie half light turning the countryside mysterious as dusk fell.
"Sorry about the road surface," Duncan said, slamming the Land Rover down into a lower gear with a nasty grating sound. Daniel was starting to understand why the Scotsman used an old vehicle. Anything modern would be ruined in no time. If Daniel tried to bring his sports car this way, he'd probably have a broken axle by now.
They crested a steep hill, the engine whining. Duncan brought the vehicle to a stop and leaned on the steering wheel, staring out the windshield. "There you are, that's home. Kindrogan Castle."
A valley lay before them, a river meandering along the middle, white-water rapids visible in places. At the head of the valley, a gray stone castle sat by a loch, lawns running down to the water. Snowy mountain peaks framed the scene.
