BLOWING ROCK, NORTH CAROLINA
The Cottage Property- Present Day
Turns out, time wasn’t on her side at all. After they got back to the cottage, Gavin sat at the table while she reheated some pizza from last night’s dinner.
The silence between them was deafening.
The last thing she wanted to do was look for more games.
The microwave dinged, making her jump.
“Lass, did ye drink too much coffee today?”
“No. Why?”
“Ye seem a mite jittery.”
Jittery wasn’t even close to what she was feeling. “I guess I’m just tired,” she lied and sat the plate of pizza along with a glass of lemonade on the table for Gavin.
As Gavin ate his fill, the conversation turned back to the Highland games.
“Can ye look on that thing ta see about the games?”
Paige acted nonchalant and lifted the plates from the table. “Huh?” She walked over and set the plates in the sink. She knew immediately what ‘thing’ he was speaking of—her laptop.
“Lass…”
“Hold on, can’t hear,” she lied and blasted the water, rinsing off the plates. For once, she wished she had some more dishes in the sink, so she had a reason not to look up the damnable Highland Games. After a few minutes, she had to turn off the water for fear of running the well dry. Picking up the dishtowel, she wiped off her hands and finally turned back towards Gavin. “What did you say?” She played dumb.
“I would like ye ta look up the Highland Games.”
“Oh, that.” She tossed the towel back on the counter and walked towards the trashcan, thinking to delay the inevitable for a bit longer.
“Are ye going ta look now?”
Paige halted in mid step and her shoulders slumped in defeat. What was the point? “If you like,” she said.
“Good.” He stood up from the table and rubbed his taut belly. “That was a good meal.”
Paige scuffed her slippered feet across the floor back towards the table. “It was just leftover pizza.”
“Aye, I know. But it tasted good.”
“I’m glad you liked it.” She bent over and pulled her laptop out from the basket on the floor. “You want something else to drink before we start?” Paige set her laptop on the table and sat down.
“Nay.” He shook his head and sat down again.
Paige stood back up.
“Where are ye going?”
“I think I’ll have some tea.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now.”
“Ye still have a drink.” He pointed to her glass of lemonade on the table.
“I want something else,” she snapped, not meaning to. “Is that all right with you?” Even though it was just a question, she felt like he was pushing her to look up the damnable games. And if she found one, she was afraid he would want to leave. And if he left, was he going to take her or go alone? There were too many questions and not enough answers.
His brows creased. “Aye, lass. It is all right with me.”
As usual when she snapped at him, she immediately felt bad but she couldn’t seem to help herself. After making a cup of tea and squeezing some lemon in, she half-heartedly made her way back to the table and sat down in front of her computer.
Gavin’s frown returned. “Ye don’t have ta look so downtrodden, lass.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Lass, we are jes looking. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“If we are only looking then why do we have to look today at all?”
He let out an audible sigh and scrubbed his hands over his face. When he dropped his hands, the resolute expression was back and she knew she didn’t have a choice in the matter. “I need ta know.”
“Fine,” she said, but she wasn’t fine with it at all. Actually, she was feeling quite the opposite. Opening up her laptop, she keyed in: Highland Games. She had one hand under the table with her fingers crossed. She was hoping like hell there wouldn’t be any until next year.
Gavin sat forward, leaning close, so he could see the results.
Paige saw the results, and let out a deflated sigh. “There’s one in West Virginia in a week.”
“Is that far from here?”
“It’s about a six-hour drive, I think.”
“Will ye be able ta take me in that metal beast o’ yers?”
Paige knew he was talking about her car. He hated it. Her heart picked up pace. If he wanted to get in her car, he must really want to go to the games. “I guess so.”
He sat back and looked at her. “Don’t look so distressed, lass. I don’t know if she will even be there.”
“If you don’t know, then why don’t we wait?”
“Don’t ye understand?” he implored. “I have ta at least try.”
“Okay, fine.” She sat back and slammed her laptop shut.
“Och, lass. Why are ye so mad?”
“Who said I was mad?”
He looked at her laptop then back to her face, his brows creasing.
“It slipped.”
He gave her a look that said otherwise, but didn’t say anything more.
♦
Gavin knew his lass wanted more from him…needed more, but the visions of his murdered men and the knowledge of what had really happened to Jillian had settled deep within and did not abate with time.
Actually, these feelings of remorsefulness—they were growing worse the longer he stayed here. He kept seeing Jillian. He didn’t want to. He tried to forget, push her from his mind. He really did, especially at first. But he couldn’t and he wasn’t sure what ta make of it, but knew, he would need ta find the witch ta figure it out.
Mayhap it was guilt, plain and simple. Nothing more, nothing less, but either way he still needed ta find out, one way or the other.