Matchmaker Abduction: Aliens In Kilts, Abduction 1

by Donna McDonald

  Erin leaned back in her chair. “Since I don’t trust ya, I would be stupid to promise ya anything, now wouldn’t I?”

  “Is the Best Matchmaker in Lisdoonvarna afraid of taking my bet?”

  “No, but I’ll not be taking yer dare either. There were no aliens in Lisdoonvarna.”

  Angus shrugged. “Ya don’t know that for certain. Most look just like us. Everyone there could have been one for all ya know. Remember Delbert Clancy? His ears looked just like Darcone’s.”

  Erin crossed her arms and glared. “Delbert went out in a bloody ice storm without his hat and lost pieces of his ears to frostbite, ya eegit. Stop fooling around. If ya don’t talk Mia into making a choice, what do I get when ya lose?”

  “A foot rub,” Angus offered instantly. Her sputtering laugh brought a smile to his lips. “Plus a tongue lashing ending in a glory hallelujah that ya won’t forget soon. See? Either way with this bet… ya can’t possibly lose.”

  “I’ll not be won with promises of more disappointing sex. No woman with any sense wants to be let down again and again. Last night was fine for the whole ten seconds it lasted. But it ended nearly as badly as our last go at each other. All I got for my trouble was yet another sleepless night alone in my own bed while ya snored away happily in another room.”

  Angus rose from the desk and grinned. “I admit I wasn’t my best last night, but I’m more than ready today. Maybe you won’t be won by sex, because ya are a hard woman, but I’m guessing Mia Johnson might not be so big a challenge for the one she picks.”

  He walked over and opened the door to the common area and yelled. “Mia Johnson, I had to break up a fight this morning because of ya, woman. Get yer arse in here. We need to talk.”

  There was a commotion and a female yelling “What did I do?” before the crowd around got busy buzzing with worry and concern. Angus grinned over the commotion, thinking about the women wanting to mob him for yelling at one of them. He’d be as apt to use Nate’s fancy bracelet on the draftees here as he would on the aliens.

  Behind him, Erin called out his name as she chastised him for summoning Mia in such a fashion. It was a sweet benediction to know she was at least talking to him today. Next time she froze him out, he wouldn’t be headed for alien ale. There was a much better distraction between Erin’s legs and he was thinking of making it his personal property.

  “Angus MacNamara, ya are a crazy, bloody bastard. Stop yer yelling.”

  Angus nodded. “Aye… I’m crazy alright, but I’m also the best matchmaking partner ya are ever going to have, Erin O’Shea. Ya can thank me properly later.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “They were really fighting over me?” Mia asked, chewing on her lip.

  Angus nodded. “Bloody and scratched all to hell. It took six of us to pull them apart. One of them was calling yer name the whole time.”

  “My name? Which one?” Mia asked, wringing her hands.

  Angus pretended to think. “They all look so much alike to me. They’re more aliens on this ship than there are women, ya know. Let me think… his name was… ”

  Behind Mia’s head, Erin held up her tablet for him to see. He narrowed his gaze at the letters and numbers, but read them aloud. “TJX984… I think that was his name.”

  “Oh,” Mia said, her face dropping.

  “What’s the matter? Ya don’t like that one?” Angus asked.

  “No, Jex was nice,” Mia said.

  “But…?” Angus prompted.

  “But what?” Mia asked.

  “It was in yer voice, woman. Jex was nice, but…” Angus paused and held his hand out, palm up. “Here’s the part where ya get real honest and tell me and Erin what the fecking problem is with him.”

  Mia shook her head. “There’s nothing wrong with Jex. I just thought it might be Kor-el who said my name, that’s all. Kor-el knew more about me. He kept saying my name when we talked. I felt like I was special to him. I’ve always gone for the one who was sweetest to me, but look how that’s turned out in my life.”

  Angus nodded solemnly. “I see where ya are going with this. Ya don’t trust yer own judgment.”

  “I’ve made a lot of mistakes when it comes to men,” Mia admitted.

  “Ya don’t have the market on that,” Erin declared, bringing Mia’s gaze to hers. “Just saying… we all make our share.”

  Mia looked back at Angus. “This is the last time in my life I get the chance to choose though. Wrong or right this time—I’m stuck with the one I pick.”

  “Well, that’s not a very positive way to look at this grand adventure,” Angus said. He looked over her head at Erin. “Can I see photos of the two again? Maybe I can see something in their eyes that might help Mia. My da used to tell me that a man’s soul was in his eyes. Of course he wasn’t speaking of aliens, but it probably works similar, don’t ya think?”

  Erin rolled her eyes as she pulled the two photos from the file. She passed them to Mia who offered them to Angus.

  Angus shook his head. “Tell me who’s who. I wasn’t joking when I said they all look the same to me.”

  Mia held out the two photos. “This is Jex.” She held out one. “And this is Kor-el,” she said, holding out the other.

  “Really?” Angus said. He snatched the two pictures, his gaze darting rapidly between them. “Bollocks. I hate it when I’m wrong. Erin likes to rub it in so.” He held out the picture of Kor-el. “This is the one that kept calling yer name. Kor-el, ya said?”

  Mia squealed in relief and clutched the photo to her chest. “Oh, thank goodness.”

  Angus pretended all the surprise he could manage. It was hard not to laugh with Erin giving him the evil eye. He was winning and she was not happy with him.

  “Ya seem awfully relieved about that alien being the one, Mia. I thought ya hadn’t made a decision yet.”

  Mia pulled the photo away from her chest. “I didn’t think I had, but I got scared when you told me it wasn’t Kor-el that called my name.” She glanced back at Erin. “Kor-el is the one you liked from the beginning, wasn’t he?”

  Erin nodded. “Yes. The man has kind eyes and a nice arse. That’s a great combination. I certainly wouldn’t toss him out of my bed for eating crackers in it.”

  Mia only blinked at her statement. The girl didn’t understand a thing she said. Maybe the girl didn’t understand her reasoning either. Her model of the perfect man was the fool trying to trick Mia.

  “My opinion doesn’t count, Mia. What does yer heart say about Kor-el?”

  Mia’s gaze went back to the photo. “I think if I have to look in someone’s eyes for the rest of my life, I could only hope they’d look back the way Kor-el’s did when he first saw me. He reminds me of Lexi that way, only this time I won’t have to share my man with a jealous wife.”

  Angus crossed his arms. “So what exactly are ya concluding there, lass? My following got lost somewhere in yer inner determining.”

  Mia held out the photo of Kor-el. “Tell Jex I’m sorry, Angus. I’m choosing Kor-el for a trial time. I also think I’m ready to move in with him whenever he wants. Prudence won’t talk to me and it will be nice to have someone paying attention when I speak.”

  Angus smiled at her. “Ya sure about this, lass? There really is no rush ya know.”

  Mia nodded as she smiled back. “Erin keeps telling me that same thing, but I know you two can’t call up the next woman until I decide. Thanks for helping me, Angus. I hate that I caused a fight between two good men, but knowing about it did help me admit to myself which one I wanted.”

  Angus held up a hand. “Mediating yer match is my job, Ms. Johnson, and today my work’s been a real pleasure.”

  Mia stood and looked at Erin. “Thank you for your patience with me, Erin.”

  “This isn’t over until ya say it is, girl. Ya can still change yer mind if it turns out Kor-el snores and leaves ya staring at the ceiling all night.”

  Mia giggled. “I don’t think I’m going to have a pr
oblem keeping Kor-el awake and interested. I like men and they like me back.”

  Erin snorted. “Ya are a wonder. I’m trying to remember if I ever once in my life had yer level of confidence in such matters. I don’t think so, Mia. I don’t think so. But I’m guessing ya are probably right about Kor-el. I’ll cross my fingers for ya.”

  “I’m going to go pack my things,” Mia said.

  Erin noted how cheerful the woman looked skipping out the door. Her gaze went to Angus, who was still perched on the desk with his arms crossed. He looked just as smug as she’d expected him to look about how it’d worked out.

  She snorted as she glared. “Ya only won with my help. I knew Jex hadn’t said a bloody word. He hates talking, that one does. It’s Kor-el that’s all moon-eyed over Mia. The man talked her ear off at their sweet meet.”

  Angus grinned. “Thanks for the assist. Now I have the unpleasant task of informing TJX984 that he’s back in the fecking alien queue.”

  It turned out that a couple glasses of alien ale numbed Jex’s heartache considerably. The alien threw up a hand and made a sound Angus took for resignation. He frowned at his tea, but drank it with grace because he did not want to go back into the cooking box any time soon.

  The winner, Kor-el, looked ready to explode with excitement. While Kor-el was off gathering up his things for his move, Angus drummed his fingers on the table, finally noticing Seltz grinning at him.

  “If ya know a joke, this would be a good time to tell it,” Angus said, knowing the alien hadn’t understood more than a couple words of what he’d said.

  “You—mad at woman. Right?” Seltz asked.

  Angus stopped drumming and shook his head. “No. I’m not mad at Mia. She needed to pick the right one for her and she did. What I don’t like is this fecking process. This is no way for normal attraction to occur. I’m for getting the whole lot of ya in front of all the women and letting them pick the ones of ya they want to meet. I bet it would move this whole thing along much quicker if the women did the picking. Human women are driven by their natures to pick the ones that appeal to them.”

  Seltz shrugged. “No understand.”

  Angus chuckled. “Ya don’t now, Seltz, but ya will if I get something worked out.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Darcone came to collect them late in the afternoon. Instead of seeing them back to their quarters though, they ended up in a room with a small, strange looking plane in it. A man in a uniform nodded to him and Darcone huffed once before turning around and leaving them.

  “Not a very friendly sort, is he? Most aliens at least try,” Angus remarked.

  “Darcone grows on ya,” Erin said, staring at their guard’s retreating back. “He’s got a lot of good qualities, but he puffs out his chest so big ya can’t look past it.”

  Angus nodded as their pilot introduced himself and invited them into the little plane. Having never flown before, he and Erin both gripped their seats as the thing took off. They shot through some opening of the big metal flying machine and out into the bright blue sky. Only the strangeness of other flying vehicles convinced them they were not back home.

  “There go some more fecking birds flying by us,” Angus said, staring out the window.

  Erin drew in a breath and laid a hand on his arm. “Angus, look where we’re headed.”

  “Would ya look at that? It’s a fecking castle.”

  Angus had to pretend surprise because he’d forgotten to tell Erin he knew about it. Sincere joy made her face so beautiful it robbed him of normal speech. He smiled when she squeezed his arm.

  “It looks so much more grand than those I’ve toured in Eire. In fact, it’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen. And it’s on its own island, no less. Who do ya think lives there?”

  Angus reached out and took her hand in his. “I think it was the home of the original matchmakers. I never got the chance to tell ya, but after ya left the meeting the other day, Director John said we now owned all the material possessions that the originals had bought. I guess it’s like an inheritance for us.”

  Erin blew out a breath and shook her head. “But do ya really think they owned a whole flipping castle?”

  Angus lifted his shoulders. “Don’t know. Certainly makes ya wonder what they were like, doesn’t it?”

  The little plane landed smoothly on a solid surface in the large courtyard that seemed designed for just such a vehicle. They were climbing out when bagpipe and flute music instantly began to play.

  Looking for the source of the music, Angus’s gaze landed on a silver-haired woman and man dressed in their best Sunday plaid walking toward them. The bagpipe music instantly stopped when they did.

  Dwarfing them by over a meter in height, Angus looked over their heads searching for the mysterious musicians before meeting the man’s gaze.

  “Welcome to Daroonga Castle. My name is Carleton. This is my life partner, Elsa. We’re here to serve your needs.”

  “Pleased to meet ya both,” Erin said, sticking out a hand.

  Angus had to grin when Carleton and Elsa looked at it strangely. He saw Elsa whisper something in Carleton’s ear. He looked embarrassed briefly, then took Erin’s hand in his and bowed his head to her over it.

  When Angus couldn’t hold back his snicker any longer, Erin turned and glared at him for it. He grinned and nodded to both of the castle keepers. “Thanks for coming to meet us. Do ya work here?”

  He could tell his question totally surprised Carleton. But Erin’s laughter surprised everyone when the bagpipe music started up again as they began their walk toward the castle. She covered her mouth when Carleton and Elsa looked at her strangely.

  “Sorry,” she said. “It’s the music. It’s like it knows every step we take.”

  Carleton nodded. “There are sensors implanted across the entire castle grounds. The previous Mr. MacNamara liked the tradition of it greeting him when he arrived home.”

  “Can it be turned off?” Angus asked, wanting to laugh again when Carleton’s shocked gaze met his. “Oh, it’s quite nice and all—very authentic to the Scottish part of our homeland—but don’t ya think it’s a bit much for a simple walk to yer front door?”

  Elsa turned her head away to laugh over his gentle complaint, but of course they all knew she was doing it because her shoulders were shaking. Angus felt quite proud of himself when Erin had to stifle a giggle as well.

  Carleton cleared his throat. “Of course, Mr. MacNamara. I’ll see the music gets deactivated today.”

  “No, no. Don’t rush to do anything. I was only teasing ya,” Angus declared. “Leave the music on if Elsa and ya like walking to it. I just can’t promise I won’t laugh my arse off every time I hear it being played at my every step.”

  When Carleton sniffed a little, it was all Angus could do not to laugh. The man was a bit stiff, but seemed as polite as a London hotel bellman. He grinned, wondering how much a little alien ale might loosen the man up. Elsa didn’t seem half so proper in her ways.

  Seeing it from the air had been breath robbing, but the inside of the castle rendered them completely speechless. Instead of landscapes and paintings, there were medieval weapons covering nearly every inch of wall space as far as the eye could see in the cavernous space.

  Rooms off to both left and right of the monstrous foyer held massive furniture sized for giants like Toorg and Berg. He remembered Nate teasing him about being much bigger than the original Angus, so he didn’t quite understand why a small man would surround himself with things that would make him feel even smaller.

  He glanced at Erin and saw her mouth open wide. Chuckling, he reached over and knuckled under her chin to close it. She turned and glared at him, then laughed. It had him reaching for her hand and clasping her fingers between his. Even without her possessing a most outstanding pussy, he would still be exceedingly glad the very brave and beautiful Erin O’Shea walked by his side through this place.

  “The previous MacNamaras chose a wing in the
east end of the castle for their private quarters. Director John contacted me personally and said I was to let the two of you choose whatever rooms you preferred. They can be custom designed to incorporate your living preferences. All you have to do is leave a list with us. Your new quarters will be ready upon your next return.”

  Angus nodded. “Ya are going to have to forgive us, Carleton. This place is quite the shock as we had no knowledge of it until today.”

  His apology seemed to shift something in the man. Carleton’s gaze fell to his fingers wrapped around Erin’s.

  “Elsa and I know you are… alternates. Your originals here knew you would one day be brought to the castle. The original Angus and Erin both warned us that you might be very different from the MacNamaras we were used to serving. Is there anything we can do to help your transition?”

  “Oh yes,” Erin said, using the opening. “Ya can show us images of the originals and tell us what they were like. I’d like to know more about the shoes I’m filling. Now that I’ve agreed to stay, I don’t want to be letting anyone down.”

  Angus watched Carleton and Elsa exchange a look, before Carleton looked back at them both.

  “Actually, they wanted to tell you about themselves and their life here personally. The former MacNamaras left you a private recording. It was entrusted to my care. No one knows about it but me and Elsa… not even their children.”

  “A recording? Is there a big telly we can watch it on instead of those small tablet things?” Erin asked.

  There was that bravery again, but like always with his Erin, the real motivation was a genuine desire to know all she could. Angus rubbed his chest with his free hand. Falling in love was like getting the worst case of indigestion. He waited patiently for Carleton and Elsa to make a decision about Erin’s request.

  “There’s a view screen in the parlor of the private suite. Let’s get you settled there and Elsa will bring you some refreshment.”