by L. L. Muir
He growled and followed her laughing retreat. The blades met and held, and just as he was debating whether to use his strength to press her, she slid her sword out from under his and poked him in the stomach. “Point!”
He growled again, “So that’s to be the way of it, is it?”
Skipping back, she laughed again. “You know it!”
Blades met once more, slid, and he was nearly disarmed, barely managing to hang onto the sword.
She’d more skill than he’d imagined and he started to relax, losing the fear he’d hurt her.
Steel clashed against steel, as they moved about the room, dodging, parrying, stabbing. He finally scored a point against her, but ’twas quickly followed by a tap to his side.
He was soon laughing out loud, the joy of her, the music, and the exercise all combining to enhance the magic of the moment.
He ran back, she followed, and he loved the excitement of her chasing him.
His turn.
Steel against steel, he pushed her backward. When she lunged forward, he grabbed her wrist, spun her around, and pressed her flush against him.
“Point?” She grinned up at him.
He laughed. “I surrender. Completely, and utterly.” Sliding his sword across the slick floor, he grabbed hers and did the same.
Not wishing to let her out of his arms, still enjoying the music, he spun her into a waltz. They stumbled a bit before finding a rhythm. He’d be the first to admit he wasn’t a good dancer, but he wouldn’t give up this chance. “Mayhap had we lived back in the day this house was built, we would have met at a ball, and danced together.”
Her gaze was flirtatious, and as the music swelled, so did the moment for him as he tried to memorize each and every feature.
“Do you think my chaperon would have allowed me to dance with such a scoundrel?”
He laughed. “Mayhap ye have the right of it. I’d have been chased from the building by three servants, and thrashed soundly for my impertinence.”
“I’d have met you later. Under the oak tree by the swing.”
“Ye’d come to me?”
“Yes. I’d run off with you in a heartbeat.”
“I wish … I wish …” He stopped dancing, and reached down to touch the soft skin of her face. He gently stroked the apple of her cheek with his thumb, and yearned for what could never be.
She could never be a girl that he’d met in his youth.
He could never be a man who stayed in her future.
He could never be the hero who’d captured her heart.
“I wish I was more handsome for ye.”
She laughed. “Are you kidding me? You are so handsome it hurts to look at you.”
He made a scoffing noise.
The smile she gifted him was pure deviltry. “What you are is masculine. Mm,” she looked into his face and shivered. “Boys aren’t supposed to be pretty. If they’re lucky, they look just like you: strong, handsome, male.”
He couldn’t seem to breathe under her admiring gaze. If she thought him so, it was good enough for him.
He leaned down and kissed her with everything he had. With everything they wouldn’t have. His emotions were erratic, all over the place. He tried to pour every ounce of affection he felt for her into that kiss. He loved her. She was everything to him. He would do anything if she could belong to him, if he could stay here and keep them all safe.
When he broke off the kiss, he gazed into her flushed face, uncertain. How to tell her what was in his heart? What if she didn’t feel the same? He didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable, or obligated in any way.
Besides, what could he say? You have my heart? I love you and wish I could stay but I can’t? Better to just keep his mouth shut.
She was smiling at him, happy with him. When he left, would that turn to disgust? Or even bitterness?
She pulled away, and he reluctantly let her go.
“I suppose I should go inside and cook something for dinner.” She winked at him. “Something special.”
He watched her walk away, wishing with all he had that things could be different.
Lilith felt incredibly happy as she cooked. As she gathered ingredients to make a Scottish meal in Alan’s honor, she found herself humming Pirates of the Caribbean once more.
She smiled. She couldn’t make the man haggis, because she didn’t have entrails just lying about the house. The thought made her chuckle, and she wondered if someday she might actually make haggis for him.
It must be love.
Surely, in the end, he would stay?
That kiss … that kiss had been something else. She didn’t have a lot of experience, but that kiss had been full of hope, promises, and yearning.
On both their parts.
He couldn’t kiss her that way and not feel something for her.
Surely, he would stay?
He’d saved her daughter. He’d made her laugh, which was completely unexpected. He was wonderful in social situations. He worked hard, was a tease, a good dancer, a fair fencer, and was incredibly attractive.
Just the thought of his strong arms wrapped around her made her shiver in the most delicious way possible. She wanted to melt against him.
This man definitely had the ability to make her fall in love with him.
Who was she kidding? She’d only known him a couple of days and she was already most of the way there. And look what he’d given her daughter. His prized possession! Surely, even if he had to leave for a little while, he’d come back to them?
Surely, he wanted to be here is much as they wanted him here?
Granted, they’d have to begin their life together in a tiny little apartment, but they could figure it out. She knew they could.
There was a knock on the kitchen door.
Lilith threw a handful of chopped vegetables into the bubbling pot, and crossed the room. She saw the three boys through the window before she even made it to the door. With a smile, she threw the door wide. “Grant, Stephen, Zach! What are you doing here? As if I don’t know.” She smiled at the tallest young man with the scruffy goatee, and the thick, floppy brown hair.
Grant gestured to the two friends behind him. “We just thought we’d stop by, see if you were busy.”
The three local ghost hunters, would often show up unexpectedly at her back door. She knew them from past inspections, and the three of them were lovable idiots on a mission.
From the way Grant looked at her, his gaze intense, he still had a crush on her.
She thought about the packing she needed to do and considered turning them away, but realized this might be the last time they had the chance to do this. “I’m never too busy for you boys.”
Grant looked past her into the kitchen. “We heard about the séance in town, and about the alleged ghost sighting, and we thought we’d come out and run some tests.”
She smiled at them. “Of course, you did.”
“We can pay you if you’d like?”
Apparently, the ghost sighting wasn’t the only rumor going around town, as the boys had never offered to pay her in the past. “No need for payment. Come on in, boys. Just try and keep it down as Olivia is taking a nap.”
The three froze, and she realized Alan must’ve come up behind her. She could tell the minute the other men spotted him, because they stiffened up and looked a bit startled and wary.
She glanced back to look at her Highlander. He eyed the three newcomers, his expression stern. She supposed she could see how he might frighten people, but the thought of it amused her, as she wasn’t afraid of him at all.
“Boys, this is Alan MacBean, from Scotland.”
They nodded at him respectfully as they moved past him into the kitchen.
“Smells good in here,” Steven was looking at the stew in progress and she couldn’t help a smile. She usually fed the three when they showed up.
“If you’re still here for dinner, we’d be glad to share.”
Steven looked thril
led at that, “We’ll be here.”
Grant fiddled with a box connected to a thick strip of material around his neck. “Can you show us where the specter was last seen?”
“Specter?” Alan asked. “Do ye mean the ghost?”
Zach glanced up sharply. “Yes. Did you see it?”
Alan nodded. “Aye, I saw him.”
They headed into the dining room, and the boys unloaded their equipment. Cameras, Geiger counter, other odds and ends. When they switched the Geiger counter on, it made a few strange noises and Grant’s face lit up. “I think he’s still here!”
Lilith looked at Alan, who shook his head. “Nae, no ghosts here.”
The boys looked disappointed.
“But I could be wrong. Mayhap he’s just not visible on this particular plane.”
They perked up at that and went over every inch of the room while Alan remained with her, taking her hand, and if she wasn’t mistaken, staking a claim.
The boy’s enthusiasm was catching, and entertaining. With the deadline looming over them the way it was, these young men were just what they needed as a pick-me-up.
Grandma came into the room to see what was happening. “Oh. The ghost hunters are back?”
As they all said their hellos, she instructed the boys. “If you see any ghosts, ask them where the treasure is buried, will you?”
That excited the boys even more, and after exhausting the dining room of any possible existence of ghosts, they moved next door to the ballroom.
“Did you find out anything more about the treasure?” Grant wanted to know.
“We found out it’s here.”
All three boys stopped what they were doing to look at Grandma. “What do you mean?”
“Well, while the ghost was here, he confirmed there was, indeed, a treasure behind a locked door somewhere in the house. And we found the hidden room it might have once been in.”
“What?” Grant looked astounded. “Show us!”
Alan and Grandma took the boys upstairs as Lilith went back into the kitchen to stir the stew and turn down the heat.
When they rejoined her about fifteen minutes later, Alan was regaling the boys with adventures of the Ghosts of Culloden Moor.
“Lilith,” Grant moved to intercept her. “That room was amazing! If you’re getting low on money, we could have some ghost hunters from other chapters come in. We could drum up some business for you. Especially with that hidden room.”
Too little, too late, but she certainly appreciated the thought. “Thank you, Grant. That’s very generous, but we’re moving out on Monday.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. You’ll still be in town?”
“Yes.”
He nodded. “Good. That’s good.”
The boys ran through the house, upstairs and down, and Lilith just let them. It might be the last time they were able to do any such thing, and who knew? Maybe they’d find Grandpa’s ghost, he’d tell them where the treasure was, and all would be saved.
Lilith went into the dining room to pack some china and Grant followed. He shut the door behind him, so it was just the two of them in the room together. She glanced around, a little surprised. “Grant? Can I help you?”
“Lilith …” The boy seemed to hesitate. “I need to talk to you about something.”
Lilith had a momentary feeling of uneasiness.
“You know how I’ve asked you out in the past.”
Oh dear. She could see where this was going. “Yes.”
“It looks like maybe you’re ready to start dating again? Because if you are, I’d like a shot too.”
“A shot?”
“At a relationship with you.”
Grant had never done anything inappropriate, but she certainly did not want to be stuck in a room with him having this conversation. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but she did want to get out of the room. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Thank you for asking though.”
She picked up a box and headed toward the closed door, but Grant blocked the way. “Lilith, I know you think I’m too young for you, but I’m twenty-one now. I’ve been waiting a long time for you to be ready to start dating again.”
That was the excuse she’d given the boy when he first asked her out. It worked at the time because she actually hadn’t been dating anyone. Now she wasn’t sure what to say, and before she had a chance to answer, Alan swung the door wide. He took a look at the two of them in the room alone, came inside and set her box down on the long table. He quickly wrapped an arm around Lilith and pulled her close against him.
Yes. Definitely staking a claim.
Relief and happiness filled her.
Grant looked between the two of them. “Or, maybe I’ve left it too late?”
“Left what too late?” Alan wanted to know.
“Oh, nothing. I was just showing Grant the most likely spot to set up his equipment.”
Alan nodded, but continued to eye the other man with suspicion. What had happened to her bashful Highlander? The man looked like he could tear heads off if he had a mind to.
And as wrong as it felt to her, she actually loved his show of possessiveness.
If he wanted to stake a claim, apparently, that was all right by her.
Chapter 13
About thirty minutes later, cries of excitement filled the house and Lilith headed into the foyer. The noise was coming from the kitchen, and she hurried inside. “What is it?”
They were all gathered around the dumbwaiter.
Stephen turned, his eyes glowing with excitement. “What’s underneath there?”
Lilith was a little surprised, “Underneath?”
“If you look close, and shine a light, you can see there’s a space below here. There’s actually a keyhole in the back of the dumbwaiter.”
Lilith’s heart started to pound. “Are you kidding me?”
She ran upstairs to find Grandma writing a letter at her desk. “Grandma! Hurry! We need the key!”
Wonder and hope filled Grandma’s face, and without a word, she set the pen down and followed Lilith down the stairs.
When they arrived in the kitchen, the boys started chanting, “Key! Key! Key!”
Excited, Grandma lifted the chain from around her neck and handed the key over.
Lilith and Alan exchanged a glance. Was this for real? Could this truly be happening?
“Wait!” Lilith looked at Grandma. “I think you should do the honors.”
The boys quickly handed the key back to Grandma, and the older woman hurried forward. Grant pointed out where the keyhole was and directed his flashlight at the now exposed lock, and turned it.
With a click, the four pieces of the dumbwaiter seemed to loosen.
Grant filled the space once more and pulled on the bottom piece of metal and the room crackled with excited expectation.
“What do you see?” Zach wanted to know. “What is it?”
Grandma took a step back, and the boys crowded the space in order to fold the sides of the dumbwaiter and pull the unit loose.
Lilith hadn’t even known it could do that.
They scanned the area underneath the dumbwaiter with the flashlight and then Grant slowly straightened.
“What is it?” Lilith tried to see around him, but couldn’t because the other two boys were sticking their faces into the exposed hole. “What did you find?”
Alan quickly grabbed hold of one of the boys and pulled him back and took a look himself. He straightened. “There is naught there, lass.”
Her stomach dropped. “Nothing? Let me see!”
Lilith hurried forward to scan the six-inch area below the dumbwaiter. Nothing but dust and cobwebs. With a heartfelt sigh, she straightened again and let Grandma finally have a look.
When Grandma straightened, she looked dejected and older than Lilith had ever seen her. She appeared to have aged in the last few moments, the vitality sucked out of her.
Lilith hugged her. “I’m sorry, Grandma.”
/> Grandma sighed. “That’s okay. What had we expected? That we really would find the treasure? It was probably in your closet, years before. No doubt my family found it and spent it a long time ago.”
Everyone in the room looked devastated.
Grandma gave the boys a sweet smile. “It’s okay, boys. I think the treasure is probably long gone at this point.”
As Grandma shuffled away, Lilith’s heart actually hurt in her chest.
After all the hope, all the discoveries, even Grandma was ready to face the truth at this point.
She hadn’t said her customary, it will work out, and far from being glad Grandma was finally ready to face reality, it broke Lilith’s heart.
After that, the mood went downhill, and the boys decided to forgo dinner and leave. Alan escorted them to the door where they said their goodbyes.
Grant adjusted his eyeglasses. “They gonna be okay? The girls?”
Alan wished he could say they’d be fine, that he’d be there to care for them, but he couldn’t say any such thing, could he? “We’ll hope for the best, won’t we?”
He waved them on their way, then went back inside to find Lilith putting food on the table for an early dinner.
Grandma and Olivia were already seated, and Lilith placed rolls and butter on the table and filled the drinking glasses with ice water.
He joined them, slowly sinking into a seat.
He didn’t truly feel like eating. And from the expressions of those around him, no one else did now either.
He had no right to feel or act so possessively toward Lilith, and he knew it. He’d be leaving, soon, possibly at any moment.
“What time did you say your friend is coming by?” Lilith asked him as if reading his mind.
Tension built in the room as Grandma, Olivia, and Lilith all looked to him for an answer.
He wanted her to ask him to stay. He knew he couldn’t even if she asked, but he was a selfish bawbag—and just wished to hear the words. To know it was what she wanted. To know she wished him to stay. It might be all he had to cling to in the hereafter.
“Anytime.”
