Kaitlyn and the Highlander

by Diana Knightley

  “Will ye drive the Mustang?”

  I said, “Definitely. I'm really cool when I drive it, have you seen how cool I am?”

  “Cool?”

  I chuckled. “Like grand.”

  “Och aye, ye are braw when ye drive my car.” He swung up onto the horse and held down his hand. It took me two tries. I was tired and missed when he pulled, falling back and off.

  Magnus laughed. “You oughts tae go up, not down.”

  “I know, but my legs are wiggly.” The next time I was able to swing up in front of him again. Something about the long day together, the close proximity, the long pauses — I began to suspect he was going to kiss me. Like really kiss me.

  And that I really, really wanted him to.

  The day was still warm, the ocean sparkling in the long afternoon sun. The tide was low. Shells crunched under the horse's hooves. Our bodies rocked together as we rode, again in silence, but a comfortable one. It was also uncomfortable, charged and expectant, those two things existed in the space. His forearms rested on my thighs, and I let myself relax a bit, leaning back, closing the space between us.

  With his arms and shoulders curved around me, I could smell him — musk and spice and leather and wool. I closed my eyes, the movement rocking me, and wondered if I could be this silly. Was I falling for the rich Scotsman?

  Hayley knew I was a sucker for a prince on a horse. But I lived in the real world, I never thought I would actually meet one. What did I know about this guy anyway?

  He was running from something. Dangerous. He carried a sword. That was truly all I knew.

  He shifted slightly, took the reins in one hand, and twisted to look behind us. I missed his arms around me. I had gone untethered.

  Then he shifted again. His arms enclosed me, white linen sleeves brushing my bare arms, the reins went back into both his hands equally, and I could have sworn I felt him inhale deeply, just near the back of my head.

  Quietly, in his rumbling baritone of a voice, he said, “Bidh thu a 'fàileadh mar ghaisgeach.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “You hae the scent of a breeze, or perhaps, osna, a sigh.”

  My breath caught. “I do — I mean, that's a compliment?”

  He said simply, “Aye.”

  And I wondered if I really truly might swoon into his arms. Except I was already there, in his arms, collapsing would just be extra.

  Fifteen

  Finally home, Magnus dropped me at the closest beach access. The walk was easy for me, but a horse traipsing up and down the subdivision's roads might cause a problem.

  I sort of hoped there would be some kind of kiss goodbye. Possibly like that scene from the movie where the couple collapses into the surf. We could kiss in the water with the waves washing around us, or not, that might be weird. But anyway, our goodbye was far more ordinary. Magnus helped me slide down to the sand and then he looked down at me, the horse stepping side to side. I supposed it was happy to have me off, lighter now, wanting to run.

  I said, a little awkwardly, “I'll pick you and the Mustang up at seven?”

  Magnus nodded. “I look forward tae seeing ye.” And then he rode away.

  On the walk back home I considered the day. Was I starting something with the Scotsman and was that okay?

  I had been mooning over Braden. Now I hadn't thought about him at all since yesterday, except to lament the time I wasted thinking about him. He sucked. And Magnus didn't. That was nice. I actually thought I liked Magnus a lot. Like a real a lot.

  At home I got dressed for the night. A cute sundress — a little slip of a piece along with strappy sandals. I put my hair up into a messy bun. I had a little pink from the sun across my nose and hoped it made me look cute and sunshiny.

  I drove to Magnus's after eating a quick dinner with my parents.

  They were irritated that I was partying so often and not focusing on my next plan. I tried to tell them I was still sad about Braden, but I don't think the sun-kissed nose and the cute little dress really sold: depression.

  Mom squinted her eyes. “Are you seeing James tonight?”

  “Just meeting friends.”

  She met my father's eyes. “The gossip on the island is that you're spending a lot of time with Magnus Campbell. I need to tell you that does not seem like a good idea.”

  I scowled. “I'm not spending a lot of time with him. I — we're friends.”

  She said, “Good, keep it that way. Your father is his money manager. I'm making a tidy sum off his lease, plus I plan to speak to him about some real estate investments. If you're playing footsie with him under the table it might complicate things. So don't.” She ended firmly.

  “Don't complicate things or play footsie?”

  “Don't be a smart ass Katie, you know what I mean. A big part of our income this month and possibly into the foreseeable future is dependent on the estate of Magnus Campbell. It won't be a good idea if you go messing it up with him.”

  “I'm not going to mess anything up.”

  “Well, you know how you get dear,” said Dad.

  “How I get? Man, I'm so sick and tired of people saying that to me. I don't get any way. I react when people treat me badly. That's all. I just happened to be on camera when it happened. I'll admit it wasn't a good look for me, but Braden is the asshole in this situation. He's the one who gets...” I trailed off, because I had stopped making sense and sounded like a petulant kid.

  Was that a side effect of being in my twenties and living with my parents — every interaction turned me into their child?

  Mom said, “Well dear, you brought it up. Your dad and I spoke about it and unless we see real improvements in your life. A job, money coming in, something besides sunbathing all day, you'll need to find a new place to live.”

  “You're going to kick me out? My fiancé broke my heart a month ago, and you're punishing me?”

  “No, see, this is what you do. I explain what will happen if you don't do something, and all you hear is what will happen. You completely ignore what actions you can take to make it not happen. You've always done that since you were little. I would say put your toys away, or I'll take them all and donate them to poor kids who will be grateful for them, and you'd burst into tears, completely ignoring the part where you need to put your toys away.”

  “So you're saying I don't accept your threats in the manner you intend them, and that's my problem? Maybe I simply don't respond well to threats?”

  Dad chuckled. “Now now, don't go flying across the table.”

  “Jesus Christ Dad, are you serious about this?”

  Mom said, “You've been here for a week, we're just wondering how long you'll be staying.”

  I sighed, deeply. “Fine, I'll move out.”

  “That's not what we're saying at all.”

  “It's what I'm hearing. I'll see if I can stay with Hayley for a bit while I figure out what to do next. Maybe a hotel. I can probably afford that for a few weeks.”

  Dad said, “If you invested what little money you have left it would grow.”

  “When new money was coming in it might have been good for investing, but right now I need it for living.”

  “You could be a YouTuber again.”

  “I pushed food around on my plate. “I've been disgraced. I'm not going to be able to start over, not without some serious PR, and I don't really have it in me. I would like to go to school...”

  “You quit school, to start your business. Now you quit your business and want to go back to school. Maybe you should consider real estate. Sell houses, that's where the future is.”

  Dad said, “Or plumbing. There's great money in plumbing, or risk management in the financial sectors.”

  They both cleared their plates as if the matter had been well-discussed.

  I SnapChatted Hayley a selfie with crossed eyes.

  I wrote: Parents suck, can I crash at your place for a week?

  Her reply was a selfie with a grin. She wrote ba
ck: Yes. Pay rent and you can stay as long as you want.

  I took a photo of myself frowning: How much is rent?

  She smiled in her picture: $200 a month.

  I wrote back: Done.

  Sixteen

  I drove to Magnus's to pick him up. He was waiting downstairs again, knife at his hip, sword on his back. A little pink on his nose too, but his came across as rugged and handsome. He seemed happy to see me and I caught him checking out my legs, which was entirely the point of the dress. Nicely done, self.

  I loved driving the Mustang. It was fast, with a purr, and when I was driving it made me feel sexy.

  I looked over my arm at other drivers imagining them thinking, Who's that sexy girl? Because I looked amazing and beside me? Magnus. Handsome. Hair blowing in the warm breeze. And we were going out together. His shoulder near mine, my thoughts on him. His leg draped in his kilt, so close to my leg, mere inches. Farther away than today on the horse, but still...

  “What did Chef Zach make you for dinner tonight?”

  “A dish I believe he called fettochina alfredric. Verra delicious, but all Chef Zach's recipes are good. This evenin' he had me listenin' tae Grand Band. He and Emma danced on the deck. Twas a braw evening. I would hae like ye tae be there.”

  I glanced over my driving arm trying to read his face. “I wish I had been. My dinner was frozen broccoli and rice with leftover chicken. The entertainment was my mom and dad telling me to get on with my life. I'll be moving in with Hayley this weekend.”

  “You hae been punish'd, for what offense?”

  “It's more like a threat of punishment to force me to get a job, but I don't like threats. I never have. So I went ahead and told them I would move. Away.” It dawned on me right then that this was a sad, sad story. Not a principled reaction, but a depressing turn, further downward, of my life to a very bleak rock bottom. “I guess after I lost my fiancé, my career, my apartment and money, losing my parents is the next glorious step in my epic, awesome life.”

  He watched me from the corner of his eye. “I was sent from my home when I was but eleven years auld. I lived under the guardianship of my uncle, in London, verra far from my kinsmen and my Highland home. So I understand what ye are goin' through. Tis difficult when your life is a trial tae your parents.”

  “But you're living with your mother now, protecting her. It's better, right?”

  “Nae, tis nae better. I must do as she commands. But my plans are verra different from Lady Mairead's plans, soon enough our paths will diverge.”

  I turned the car up Sadler Avenue toward the restaurant. Parking was easy, just down the street. We walked together past quaint little historic buildings, keeping an easy stride that matched well. When we walked into the small bar all eyes turned to us. I was decent height for a girl, but he was tall, and big shouldered, and still had that smoldering darkness. I could never reconcile it with his actual coloring, it seemed as though he was unlit.

  It made me believe in auras actually, I never had before. Seeing his shadows were darker, his light dimmer, made me understand what people meant when they used that word.

  But also, he wasn't frightening. I had dropped my guard days and days ago and trusted him completely. He seemed so competent and true. I pushed through the crowd toward Hayley, Michael, Quentin, and James in the back in the courtyard. Sarah was sitting beside Hayley and there was an empty chair beside James with a girl's pastel sweater thrown over the back.

  For a testy second I thought, nice, jerk, date already?

  But then Magnus pulled two chairs away from the table and he and I sat beside each other. And I forgot everything else but this.

  He leaned in and yelled, “Tis verra loud.”

  “It is.” I took a cocktail napkin, tore some strips, wadded them up, and gestured for him to lean forward. I pressed the paper into his ears, my hands resting on his jawline, his eyes closed, trusting. Then he opened his eyes and they lingered on mine.

  I collected enough air to ask, “Better?”

  “Verra much.”

  Tom, the bartender, tapped him on the shoulder. “Hey man, you aren't allowed to have that weapon in here.”

  Magnus joked, his smile wide. “Oh? But what would happen if the MacDonalds attack?”

  “The McDonalds — what are you talking about? This is Fernandina Beach — there better not be any attacks.”

  I said, “Weapons aren't usually allowed in bars. He has a point.”

  Magnus laughed. “I hae a point as well. Where I hail from a man of any sense winna enter an establishment without his sharpest point in hand.”

  “Well, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave or put it in your car.”

  I asked, “Tom, could you keep it behind the bar for him?”

  “I suppose, but there better not be any trouble.”

  Magnus stood and removed the big sword and the smaller sword and passed them both to the bartender. He smiled sheepishly. “I feel rather bare to the world.”

  Tom chuckled, “I think you'll survive.”

  My group ordered another pitcher and everyone drank heartily and talked and laughed happily. Hayley raised her glass and slurred. “To Katie, my new roomie, we'll be the bestest sharers of rooms ever.”

  I said, “Hear hear!” And then asked, “How long have you been drinking, Dearie?”

  She said, “Since early. You can be my designated driver.”

  “Sure, I can give you a ride home when I take Magnus home.”

  Hayley acted like she just noticed him. “Magnus! You better be nice to our Katie.” She wobbled on her feet. “She is a sweet girl, and she doesn't deserve any more assholes.” She giggled, and pretend whispered, “Not like that last guy, James. He was a total loser.”

  James said, “I'm sitting right here.”

  I watched Magnus to see how he was taking it. He seemed jovial and not embarrassed at all. “Your Kaitlyn does deserve better, you are exactly right Mistress Hayley.”

  James was in a conversation with his date and missed the comment.

  She looked at me and energetically fanned herself. “Jeez did you hear him say my name? That is so hot.”

  She wobbled to look over at Michael, sitting on a barstool, bleary-eyed and wobbly headed. “Did you hear how hot he was Michael?”

  Michael chuckled. “Glad he's not my type. I mean your type.”

  “Oh yeah, what's my type?”

  I said, “Drunk guys you've been in love with since high school.”

  She giggled. “Right! Just be nice to her, don't break her heart, don't leave her, and always tell her the truth.” As she said it she leaned so far over the table that she was very much in Magnus's space. And saying things to him that were way past our point-in-time reference. If he wasn't afraid of my baggage yet, she was probably filling him full of fear now. She raised up and said, “Let's dance!”

  She grabbed me by the hand and pulled me to the crowded dance floor and we bopped around to the beat. I was trying to look sexy for Magnus, but James started a conversation with him. Then they were all laughing and talking and the song was almost over and he hadn't looked up at me once.

  I was about to give up because what was the point of dancing with Hayley, who was stumbling drunk, to a song I didn't even like much, if not to get the attention of —

  He turned.

  He brought his gaze up and across the dance floor and watched me dance, focused and intent and interested. My breath caught in my throat. There was something in his eyes, a longing that I had never — had never been directed at me.

  For a moment it was as if I owned him. With one gesture I could compel him toward me. I could lift my hair and he would come kiss my neck. I could smile and he would — but then he dropped his eyes and pulled himself away.

  I kept the beat a moment longer with Hayley swinging her head back and forth not quite to the beat. “I'm going to sit down!”

  We both went back to the table and joined the others. The boys were all talking about th
e video playing on the wall, a montage of surfing wipeouts. James was doing a comedic narration since there was no sound over the loud, loud music. And Magnus was laughing at James's dialogue.

  His big booming laugh made me laugh until I snorted. Then Magnus laughed harder and James became funnier and funnier. James's date for the night was acting kind of bored, and yeah, that was cool too. Because me, I was the life of the party and kind of loving my vibe a lot.

  At the end of the night, Michael picked Hayley up and slung her over his shoulder, because she really couldn't walk, and it was definitely time to go home. Somehow he deposited her into the back seat of Magnus's car and jumped in beside her. “Don't let her throw up, Michael, this is Magnus's new car.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” Michael's head lolled as if he was about to spew too. So I drove them fast to Hayley's small townhouse, and Magnus and I helped Michael get Hayley to the front door. She called, “Don't do anything I wouldn't do,” as she was pushed up the steps.

  Magnus laughed as we returned to his car. “I daena think that leaves much.”

  “That's what I always say.”

  I loved it that our thoughts jibed. And actually, now that the night had been so good, plus the day, what I was hoping was somehow it would lead to me spending the night. I mean, why not? He clearly favored me. I had to drive him home. I would get out of his car, and he could invite me upstairs. He lived with his mother, but not in the traditional way. It was more like she lived with him. She was very formal; she might disapprove, but then again, she seemed to like me.

  My breathing was a little faster than usual, and our silences were deep and uncomfortable, like he was trying to figure out how to speak, what to say. Finally I pulled his car into his driveway and into the garage. I stepped out of the car and jiggled the keys back and forth in my hands nervously.

  “That was fun,” I said for the fourth time. Dumbass.

  “Aye,” he said vaguely. He squinted because the lights of the garage blared on when we drove in. He strode to the wall and flicked them off, overriding their insistence that we be able to see.