by LL Muir
Nae. He’d not frighten her, nor waste time lying about. If he had but two days, he’d spend them laboring at the task Soni set before him. “I’ll not spend time in a sickroom, lass, and that’s the end of it.”
He was alive!
There was much to do.
Chapter 2
Allison was at a loss. Surely he had at least minor injuries, but his adamant refusal to go to a hospital didn’t leave her many options. “Can you at least tell me where it hurts?”
“I doonae feel pain, lass. I just had the breath kicked out of me for a bit. Such has happened before and if ye’ll just give me but a moment, I’ll be right as rain.”
“You’ve been hit by a truck before?”
He chuckled, and the noise, dark and sinful, raised the hair on her neck. “Nae, lass. I’ve not been hit by a lorry, but I’ve been thrown by a horse.”
He shifted his legs, moved his upper body one way, then the other, seemingly without pain, and relief poured through her. Smiling, she replied, “This is Texas. Who hasn’t been?”
“Ye said Texas?”
Worry furrowed her brow once more. “Yes, you’re in Texas. Didn’t you know that?” She rose up on her knees and lifted her phone to use the flashlight again to search the man’s head, to see if she could spot injuries. The startling green of his eyes, his tan skin, and powerful build left her breathless. Even sitting on the ground, he appeared huge.
The scar from cheek to jaw in no way detracted from the man’s appeal; he was incredibly attractive in a rough-and-tumble sort of way. Not handsome, exactly, but with his strong jaw and broad cheekbones, overtly masculine. Dark curls waved about his face from his shoulder-length hair. He should have been in Hollywood, not Texas. Once again she ran hands gently over his head, searching for cuts, blood, abrasions, or bumps, but couldn’t find anything.
Face to face with him, she considered running her hands over his chest, just to check for injuries, of course, and she swallowed.
“I’ve heard of Texas before and seen it on a map.”
“But you didn’t know you were here?”
“Ah, lass. I might not have known where I was going, but I’m certainly glad to be here.”
He wasn’t making sense, and that worried her. “Look, I really do need to call for an ambulance. It’s the law. I’m a law-abiding citizen. I’ve got to make sure you’re not hurt.”
He snatched her phone from her with his free hand. “Thank ye just the same, but I’m verra happy to be exactly where I’m at. I’ve not had a pretty girl’s fingers drifting through my hair in a long while.”
She stilled as she realized she’d gone from checking for injuries, to gently running her fingers through his hair. Again.
Gah! What was she doing? She was attracted to the man, but she’d just run him over with her truck. Now wasn’t exactly the time to be running her fingers through his hair.
She was acting like an idiot.
Heat flooded her cheeks as she snatched her hand back and tried unsuccessfully to pull her captured wrist free. “I’m so sorry.”
That chuckle again. The man was too enticing for his own good. For her own good, actually. “Can I have my phone back?”
“Not if ye’re to take me to a medic.”
What was she supposed to do if he refused to go? There weren’t any obvious bumps on his head, and he moved easily, so perhaps he wasn’t injured. She remembered the thump she heard when she’d hit him and winced. More than likely, he was in shock. Didn’t internal bleeding bring on shock?
She glanced down the road one way, then the other. It was actually quite surprising there hadn’t been any traffic in the last few minutes. Maybe someone else would have more luck talking him into medical care.
But there was no one.
“Look. I work for a clinic and, granted, it’s a veterinarian clinic, but before you say no, just hear me out. Let me take you in and check you out.” Her face heated. “I … I mean, check you for injuries. I’ve had some medical training and I’d feel a lot better if you came with me so I can make sure you’re okay.” Perhaps she could see where the truck hit him and assess whether it was likely he had internal injuries. She had to do something.
“Why do ye care so much?” He sounded genuinely curious.
She huffed out a breath. “How do you think I’d feel if I woke up tomorrow to find out you’re dead and I didn’t do everything in my power to help you?”
“Dead?” He chuckled.
“It’s not funny.”
He looked at her for a long moment. In the darkness, face to face, his hand encircling her wrist, the intimacy of it was surprising.
He chuckled again, low and deep. It was definitely a sound she could get used to. “All right. If it will ease yer conscience, I’ll go with ye.” He handed her back her phone.
Relief rushed through her. “Thank you. It definitely will.”
Reluctantly, Kenrick released the lass and immediately felt the loss of her smooth skin beneath his own.
He slowly stood, towering over the girl. Without a second thought, the lass tugged at him, patted his upper arm, and didn’t seem to notice his size or appearance. If anything she radiated approval, esteem, caring. “Let me help you into my truck. It’s going to be all right, I promise.”
She easily touched him? Comforted him? In a flash, it brought back memories of his wife. The way she’d often skittered back and away from him, her gaze lowering. His size had intimidated and distressed her. The scar cutting into his face and denting in the side of his jaw was generally off-putting to any of the female sex. He found that he enjoyed the novelty of her lack of fear.
Shrugging, he allowed her to pull him along beside her. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be doing anyway, so he may as well go along with her until he did.
Following her was like a compulsion, anyway.
A beautiful girl, who looked like an angel, sought his company? He wasn’t a fool, nor would he act like one.
He followed docilely beside her as she gently held his forearm and elbow, guiding him. Who was he to say Soni hadn’t intended this all along? Mayhap he was to do this girl a service?
Until he knew otherwise, keeping her company seemed a fine plan indeed.
Allison hadn’t realized how tall the man was. Her head barely came to his shoulder and for some reason she felt ultra-feminine in his company.
Maybe she’d hit her head on the steering wheel?
Or, maybe he’d hit his head on the pavement and the awestruck way he looked at her was simply messing with her head.
She held his forearm, cupped his elbow, and when he stumbled, she placed herself under his shoulder, helped him wrap a heavy arm around her, and led him to the truck. He walked slowly at first, his attention moving from her, to the starlit sky, to the pavement. He stomped on the pavement twice, as if testing it, then continued forward.
Definitely strange behavior. Her worry escalated. “Does your head hurt?”
He held her close. “Nae, lass. I’m fine.”
They walked to where her truck was parked on the other side of the road and she opened the passenger door and helped him inside. When he settled into the seat, she tucked the edge of his kilt under one muscular leg and helped him put his seatbelt on.
“I’m sorry if you feel I’m treating you like a child.”
“Are ye, then?” His pleased expression said he didn’t mind at all.
She hurried around the other side and climbed into the driver seat. The dogs stood at attention in the back, leaning forward as far as their seatbelts would allow, sniffing the air and the man.
She looked over her shoulder and soothed, “It’s all right. Don’t worry, everything is fine.”
Both dogs settled onto the seat, though Billy licked his chops nervously and panted as he looked between her and the man at her side.
“Sorry, I didn’t ask your name. I’m Allison King, and you are?”
“Kenrick Macfie.”
She
glanced down the long, straight road and the darkness beyond. There wasn’t another car in sight. Sudden uneasiness swirled through her. She didn’t know a thing about this man and she’d just installed him in her truck. “What were you doing out here, anyway?”
“Ah…” He glanced to the right, looking confused.
The guy could be a serial killer or something. What was she doing?
She glanced back at her dogs, surprised to see them both relaxed on the seat, seeming entirely unconcerned. She exhaled. They had better instinct than she did, and if they weren’t anxious or uneasy, she wouldn’t be either.
“I was placed here by a friend.”
“Oh?” Maybe he’d been hitchhiking and didn’t want to admit it. She glanced at the kilt again and decided not to borrow trouble. “I like your accent.”
His lips quirked, a quick tugging at the corner of his mouth. “And I yers. I’ve heard people speak with such a burr. Usually they wore hats upon their heads.”
She grinned. “Cowboy hats? I have my share.”
His smile widened. “I should like to see ye wear such things.”
Amused, she started the truck and pulled forward. “So are you a Highlander?”
“Aye. From Lochaber.”
She paused and gave him a sideways smile. “And there can only be one, right?”
He glanced at her, puzzled. “One? Nae, lass. There are seventy-nine of us.”
She chuckled. “Right. Sorry. Don’t mind me. I watch too many movies.”
It took ten minutes to arrive at the vet clinic and thankfully, the lot was empty. Allison helped Kenrick inside, struck again by his size. Though his balance seemed fine now, he didn’t protest. She unlocked the door and led him through the darkened lobby by the glow of the accent lights. Someone had forgotten to set the alarm, so she guided him to one of the examination rooms.
She patted the high bench. “Have a seat while I take a look.” In the full light, he was even more attractive than she’d thought. Her heart gave a little twist as she met his green-eyed gaze and noted two thin braids on one side of his shoulder-length dark hair. The scar at his jawline looked to have been painful at one time, but it certainly didn’t detract from his looks. She inhaled and took in his broad chest and massive arms.
The crisp white linen of his shirt that tucked into his kilt was smudged with dirt from the accident. He wore a round, pewter belt buckle with an intricate design, and around his neck he carried a leather pouch that hung to his waist. A man purse? Her lips quirked. She didn’t know another guy in Texas that would be caught dead with that accessory. He wore brown leather boots that stopped just below his knees, and some sort of woolen stockings rose just over the tops. She’d never seen boots like those, but they did go well with the kilt. As far as she could see, he had no visible injuries. No blood certainly; not even a scraped knee.
“Can you tell me where you’re hurt?”
He glanced down at himself, moved both arms and legs as if testing, and finally shook his head. “Nothing seems amiss, lassie.” He rubbed his chest over his heart and smiled at her. “I once had a gaping wound here, but it seems to have healed up quite nicely over the years. All in all, I doonae think I am injured.”
She lifted her hands to hover over his chest. “Do you mind?”
He shook his head.
Through his shirt she felt his chest and down his ribs. “Does that hurt?”
Watching her face, he shook his head.
She removed her hands. “Do you know where I hit you with my truck?”
He swallowed and shook his head once more.
“Do you feel nauseous?”
“Nae.” He rubbed his stomach. “A bit hungry now that ye mention it.”
A possible head injury still concerned her the most. She gently pressed her fingers into every inch of his scalp, but nothing seemed to bother him. She shined the ophthalmoscope into both eyes, checked his pupils, but both seemed fine, reacting normally.
Suddenly aware of the scant inches that separated their lips, she took a step back. “Nothing hurts?”
“My pride, mayhap.” He grinned. “I’ve never had a woman care so much before, no matter the injury, and certainly never one so beautiful as ye.”
Her face heated, and the room seemed to shrink as the realization that she was alone with the mysterious man occurred to her. She didn’t feel any fear, nor did her dogs show any concern. She was just aware, and extremely attracted to him. She tucked her hair behind one ear and glanced at him, uncomfortable yet pleased with the compliment. “Thank you.”
He looked slightly abashed, as if he’d surprised himself with the praise. “Just telling the truth of the matter.”
She was still a bit worried about the earlier confusion. “You mentioned Bonnie Prince Charlie. Are you a historian?”
His expression tightened. “He’s naught for ye to worry about.”
Billy started to growl, and when she looked down, she expected him to be protesting Kenrick’s sudden change in demeanor, but he was looking at the door.
A few seconds later she heard footsteps, and the door to the examination room was thrown wide.
Her boss, Carter Baldwin, consumed most of the doorway. He was tall, overweight, and perpetually angry. He didn’t wear his regular white lab coat, but was dressed in a pale blue polo shirt that stretched over his muffin top before disappearing into tan slacks. The look on his face was thunderous.
“What in the blazes are you doing here, Allison?” He glanced suspiciously at Kenrick, who stood from the bench and drew himself to his full height. His commanding presence seemed to fill the room. He lifted a big hand and slowly pushed Allison behind him.
Allison glanced around Kenrick, then stepped back around him to face Carter. “I was just showing my friend where I work. I didn’t see your car here.” She kept her tone neutral.
“I parked around back.” Carter glanced between the two of them, and then at the dogs now silent at her feet. “Stop using this office as your personal dating center. And keep your dogs under control.” He glanced at Kenrick. “All three of them.” He turned to walk away, then swung back. “And just so you know, you won’t have to worry about that German Shepherd again. I’m taking care of her tonight.”
She sucked in a breath. “What you mean?”
Carter walked away. “What do you think I mean? I’m putting her down. She’s a menace.”
“Checkers? You can’t do that!” Allison cried desperately. “She’s been through a traumatic event and will come out of it, we just need to give it time. You haven’t seen what she’s like with me. She can be gentle. She just needs more love and attention.”
He glanced back and sneered, “You’re right. I haven’t seen it.”
As he turned on his heel to walk away, she glanced at her dogs. “Rory, Billy. Stay.”
The dogs whimpered, but both of them sat. She glanced at Kenrick. “I’m … I’m sorry. If you could just wait here, I’ll be back soon.”
She ran after Carter who had just gone through the swinging doors.
Checkers was muzzled and strapped down to the table, ready for the injection.
The dog growled menacingly, but when she saw Allison, she relaxed slightly and moaned.
Allison rushed to the table and placed her hand on the dog’s side. “You can’t do this!”
Carter picked up the syringe and stuck it through the rubber top of a small bottle “Do I need to remind you who the boss is here?”
He was normally gone as soon as the clock struck four. Something wasn’t adding up. “Why would you come in here at night for this? Nobody wants this done.”
“No one but me. Unfortunately for the rest of you, I own this place so my vote is the only one that counts. As to why I came in at night, well you can thank my lovely ex-wife for that. Since she left and took the kids with her, there’s no one at the house anymore so I have plenty of time on my hands.” He glared scathingly at her and continued. “Also, I thought if I cam
e in here after hours, I wouldn’t have to listen to anyone whining. Guess I was wrong about that though, eh?”
Allison leaned closer to Checkers and sank comforting fingers into her fur. “I’ll do it. If it has to be done, let me do it.”
“Fine by me.” Carter lifted both hands in the air, then turned and stomped off. “But it better get done,” he threw over his shoulder. A moment later she heard the door and he was gone.
Tears filled her eyes. “It’s okay, Checkers. I promise you, it’ll be okay.”
The dog looked up at her with as much trust as she’d ever seen in any animal’s eyes.
Allison continued to gently stroke the dog’s fur.
She knew she couldn’t do it. She wouldn’t do it.
She also knew she couldn’t take her home. As things stood at the moment, the dog was a menace, and could hurt someone. The poor animal just needed time and patience. Maybe another clinic would take her.
Allison would just have to figure something out.
Chapter 3
Kenrick pushed his way through the doors, Rory and Billy following at his heels, and the door swung shut behind the three of them. He glanced around, his gaze hard until it finally settled upon her and softened. “Is everything all right, lass?”
Tears filled her eyes and she could barely see his outline. “My boss wants me to put this dog down. To kill her. She’s not violent, I swear it. She’s been abused and simply needs some human kindness.”
As Kenrick approached, Checkers growled viciously. He placed his hand on the dog’s back. “There now,” his deep voice rumbled. “Noise like that’s not going to do a body any good.”
Checkers stopped growling immediately, and after a moment gazed up at Kenrick and whimpered.
