Anisa made another sneak trip to the library to return the romance book. She told the librarian she’d already read it and had forgotten until she got partway into the first chapter. With her scarf off her head, the lady at the checkout desk was too busy checking out her stitches to pay much attention.
She hurried over to the computers to see if there might be an email waiting for her and almost cheered in happiness when she found one from Ronan. He understood. He wasn’t angry. He loved her. Was his mention of going on vacation a veiled hint he was coming here? She noticed the librarian turning off some of the lights, so she quickly logged out and returned to her room.
Thank goodness Ronan had replied, for she had paced the floor of her small room and worried over every angle of her situation. Why was she in this hospital? What would the medical team do to her tomorrow? When would they do the D&C that would kill her child, if she and Ronan had created one? If she hadn’t had the books to read, in between pacing the floor in dread, she’d have gone insane. She flopped over onto her stomach and heaved a sigh. For her, the future might be a bitch.
A pair of tan boots came into view, followed by heavy white stockings and sexy knees. She caught just the hem of a navy and green kilt, and pinched her arm to see if she was still awake. She couldn’t believe what she saw. Surely it wasn’t Ronan.
“A man in love flies fer hours to see his beloved and…”
She rolled over, squealed, and jumped out of bed to wrap her arms around him. “Is it you?” She patted his chest in his dark green Henley shirt. “You came? You…you…”
Ronan lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist and he backed her to the closed door. His hand held her bald head while his lips and tongue reacquainted themselves with her mouth, and his other hand slipped under her gown to cup her bottom. “I love ye, Beauty. I will always find ye, no matter where ye are. Of course yer email helped.” He kissed her face, lips, and neck while he whispered to her in a way that sent chills of heat through her. “I answered it because I wasna sure how soon we’d arrive. I’ve been nearly insane, woman. Earnan had to hypnotize Magnus fer he was frantic with terror.”
He placed his face against his favorite spot of her neck. “I admit to being fookin’ scared, too. Fer ye are mine. Until me dying day and fer a lifetime after that, ye are mine.” His lips covered hers and their tongues meshed. Kisses and nips and mingled breaths were shared as if they couldn’t get enough of each other. “I love ye, Beauty.” He kissed her jawline and neck. “God ken I love ye with every beat o’ me heart.”
Still stunned he was here, she sank into the passion of their reunion. She returned his kisses with as much fervor as he delivered them. Juices flowed from her so freely, the tops of her thighs were wet. “I love you, too, my man, my man of strength and gentleness.”
Ronan reached behind her neck and untied the back of her hospital gown. He pulled the front down with his teeth until one of her breasts popped out. His tongue laved across her nipple several times until her nipple practically begged to be sucked. “Raise yer gown fer me so I can get inside ye.” He lifted his kilt and positioned his cock at her entrance. As soon as he took her nipple in his mouth and sucked, he plunged into her wet depths, and pumped. He held her bare butt with his hands, while her legs slipped under his kilt to squeeze his ass to her.
She held his bald head to her breast. “That’s it. Give it to me hard. For I have missed you so damn much.” Her words made him suck and pump faster. Her abdominal muscles coiled and tightened, her thighs shook as her climax approached.
“Are ye ready, luv, fer I canna hold back much longer. Kiss me.” Their lips united as did their hearts. And each swallowed the other’s scream of release. Ronan pressed her tighter against the door as his climax seemed to go on forever. “Ye drain me, woman,” he uttered between rasping breaths, his face in the curve of her neck.
He carried her back to her bed. “I’ll need to wash off. Willna be but a minute.” He came back with a warm, wet washcloth for her. “Lie back so I can wash ye off, too, luv. Ye ken ye have’na moved since I left ye. Did I play ye out?” Raising her gown he wiped her labia and the tops of her thighs. “I didna give ye much time to prepare for me. I hope I didna hurt ye in any way.”
“No. It was wonderful.” Her gaze never left him as he returned the washcloth to the bathroom. That man is never wearing anything under his kilts. One less piece of clothing to contend with.
He came back into her room and sat on the bed. She crawled onto his lap, where he enveloped her in his arms and brightened the dismal room with one of his sexy-as-hell smiles. She cupped her hands on his cheeks. “Darling, you have no idea what this means to me to have you here. I…I was scared.” To her embarrassment, tears flowed and she wiped them away. “I guess this proves how much we need each other.”
“Aye, luv, it does. I didna come alone. Earnan is with me. His plan is to act as if he were yer doctor in Scotland, and he’ll try his best to figure out why these needless tests have been ordered. He’ll also snoop into yer records when he can. Fer now, it’s just the two of us. Creighton, Bryce, and God knows who else will be coming later. They’re still working on plans.” He caressed her bald head. “I felt ye needed me now.”
How could he possibly know? It was as if he could read her mind at times. She burrowed against his warm neck. “Paris is no longer home. Here. Right here in your arms is home. I can’t put into words what you coming to find me means. How it erased any doubts I might have had although, in all honesty, I had very few from the first moment I saw your bare ass hanging out of those torn pajamas and the way you believed my telling of all I’d been through with the CIA and ICAT. Part of me knew then.”
“Which part, luv?” His brown eyes pierced her with intensity.
She kissed his eyes and lips. “The part that could still feel happiness and pure joy.” Her training and job had consumed a large chunk of the slice of life’s enjoyment from her soul. Ronan had implanted it again.
“Magnus wants me to say hi and he missed ye something fierce.”
She rubbed Ronan’s pecs. “Tell him I said, ‘Hi, Magnus, my hero. I’m glad you and Ronan are here. I love you both. Soon we’ll be able to hug.’ ” She glanced into Ronan’s eyes. “You mentioned Earnan. Is he out in the hallway?”
“Nay, he’s grabbing a couple hours’ sleep at our hotel. The vibrations of that auld helicopter were hard on him.” His hand swept up and down her back. There was almost a constant touching between them as if they could not stop themselves from showing their affection.
“Who flew the copter?”
“I did.” He bit her earlobe and nuzzled her sensitive spot under her ear. “Hell, I’d have swum the English Channel to get to ye. Here, let me set yer gown to rights. A nosy French nurse might wonder why ye’re airing out one delectable boob.”
Her eyebrows wrinkled. “You never told me you knew how to fly.” Something shiny sparkled against his neck. She touched it and knew right away what it was. “You’re wearing my necklace.”
“And ye’re wearing me engagement ring.” He nibbled at her lips. “I feel like I’ve been away from ye fer a month. Och, before I forget. Magnus doesna ken why ye might need a D&C. We dinna mention the meaning of it. Earnan’s going to ask ye many questions about that and advise ye in what to do. Right now, he’s against it.”
A nurse walked in and stopped. “I had no idea you had a visitor.” She glared at Ronan. “I’m sorry, but you must leave. Visiting hours do not start until eleven.”
Anisa stood. “This is my fiancé. He’ll be here for a few days to keep me company.”
“Even so, I must insist he leaves until normal visiting hours.”
He rolled his eyes, stood, and hugged Anisa. “One minute after eleven and I’ll be coming through that door, me luv.”
True to his promise, at 11:01, both Ronan and Earnan walked to her room and found the door locked. He jiggled the doorknob again, dread taking a chokehold on his throat. What the feckin’ hell?
He knocked on the door, but could hear nay movement inside.
They retraced their steps and inquired at the reception desk, the young woman at the computer keyed in Anisa’s name and said she’d been checked out nearly an hour ago.
Ronan and Earnan looked at each other. “Where did they take me fiancée?”
She smiled and brushed bangs from her forehead. “I’m sorry. I’m not allowed to give out that information.”
Gone. His woman was gone again. His warm blood chilled and all but clogged in his veins. Fear and anger held hands and raced through his system on a gigantic shudder. Magnus went into a panic, crying fer his Anisa.
Earnan elbowed his way in front of Ronan. “I’m her doctor from Scotland.” He handed her a card. “Was she taken away in a car or ambulance? Was she conscious?” Earnan leaned into her space. “Young lady, who ordered that me patient be moved without me knowledge? Is this the haphazard way yer hospital is run?”
“Well no, sir.” Her hands trembled over the keys and she pointed to the information displayed on the screen. “The French government, Doctor.”
“Who in the French government had the gall to steal me patient?” Earnan’s voice reverberated off the walls.
“Ah…Major Mouzon from the Department of Security.”
“Thank ye, lassie, ye’ve been most helpful.” Earnan turned toward Ronan. “Let’s go back to our hotel and talk.”
Ronan was livid. “Major Mouzon was the Frenchman Anisa found some evidence on that linked him to the two rogue CIA agents. If he has her, Lord only knows what will happen. Bloody hell, I need a drink.”
They decided to use the pretty spring day to sit at a café several blocks between the hospital and their hotel. Ronan cussed nearly every step of the way. “The Major Mouzon who took her was involved somehow. Anisa could never find out how.” He called Creighton to tell him what happened. “I think once her nurse saw me there, she notified her superiors, who called the army. Hell, fer all I ken, she worked fer the army. The defense department decided to put her into hiding away from me. I’ve lost her again.”
“Bloody hell. I did get to speak to the Minister of Defense, the milksop. He claims her hearing will be the day after tomorrow at nine in the morning. I told him we’d never be able to get her a lawyer on such short notice and I’m sure I heard the numpty chuckle. But he doesna ken we have clan members in France, too. Cook Edweena reminded me her nephew, Donnel Matheson, practices law in Paris. She called him. We’ve got that end covered.”
“Aye, I remember Donnel. Has a shrewd mind, if I recall correctly.”
“He suggested we all show up in full regalia. I’ll pack yers. Effie and Mum will pack Earnan’s.” Creighton expelled the bark of laughter he used when he kent he had the upper hand. “When I was talking to the Minister of Defense, I pretended the day after tomorrow was too soon fer us to get there to support her. He all but purred his regret, the feckin’ bastard. I suggest ye two check out of the hotel ye’re in and go stay with Donnel. He’s invited ye. I’ll text ye his address.”
“Sounds great. It’ll give us a chance to fill him in with all the details so he can better represent Anisa. Where is this hearing supposed to be held?”
“Donnel said he’d make a few discreet calls to find out. Never discount a Scot. He willna be home until later this afternoon, so do some sightseeing until then. We’ll get her. Dinna worry.”
But he was worried. He was worried out of his damn mind and some bastard would pay fer scaring his woman when they moved her out of the hospital to God knows where.
Over espressos and fresh croissants, he told Earnan about his conversation with Creighton, Earnan nodded and smiled. “Think of those French military men when we march in. Hell, they willna ken whether to shite or go blind. Meanwhile, I’ve got some important shopping to do. Ye can help me pick out an engagement ring fer Effie. I figure she’d get a charge out of a ring from Paris.”
“Me woman’s missing and ye want me to help ye pick out a diamond fer yers?” The thought galled him.
“Son, for the present, we’ve done all we can do. Anisa kens ye are here. That has to bring her some peace. A woman, even a so-called liberated one like me Effie and yer Anisa, has to ken she has a man who will come support her when she needs him.” He tilted his head. “And a man needs to ken the same thing. Fer a couple are two parts of a whole. At one time, the one needs to be stronger and, at another, the other person must exhibit the needed strength—fer nay one can be strong forever. Life has a way of thumping at all of us at different times.”
Ronan sipped at his strong brew. “How’d ye get to be so wise?”
“I got auld and I met Effie.” Brown eyes regarded him behind spectacles before he hacked a laugh. “A man needs a woman who wakes up his soul. Isna that what yers has done fer ye? I know how I dragged through every day before Effie flew into it like a crazed bumblebee and stung some life into me. Let’s see if we can hail a taxi in this mad traffic.”
Riding in a Parisian taxi was an experience like no other. Ronan had forgotten the driving practices of the French from his time there six years ago. Still, it was interesting to watch four lanes of traffic shift back and forth, horns honking, hands gesturing. At times, the taxi driver drove on the sidewalk or barreled in reverse down a narrow street. Bicycle riders zipped in and out of this insane traffic with nay show of nerves. Cars parked end-to-end with barely an inch between them. Yes, this was the high-strung city he recalled. He understood why the sidewalks were streaming with people. He’d always felt safer walking when he stayed here.
The taxi driver came to a halt in front of Cartier jewelers, and Ronan was glad to unfold from the backseat of the small car. His chin hurt from his knees being jammed into it.
Earnan pointed to the wide sidewalks. “Did ye ever see such wide walks in yer life?”
“Aye, but look where they lead.” He pointed to the Arc de Triomphe. “See the wide streets full of cars? Imagine the Nazis marching up these streets toward the Arc de Triomphe. ’Twas a day of devastation fer the French.”
Earnan turned and stared. “How many outdoor cafés are there in this town? They’re damn near side by side. And would ye look, people bring their dogs and the mutts are eating off the china set on the sidewalk.”
“Yeah, it took me awhile to stop staring at that, too. Let’s go get yer lady her ring.”
A saleswoman swooped down on them as soon as they entered the store, all smiles and gestures. Earnan told her what he wanted—a round pink diamond engagement ring. Her eyes lit with the possibility of a hefty sale. She told him she had three in stock. After much staring back and forth, the auld doctor chose the bright pink round diamond with circular smaller diamonds around the pink stone. She quoted the price and to Ronan’s surprise, the stingy Scot whipped out his credit card.
Brother Bear or Magnus, Ronan didna ken what to call him anymore, led him to a display of earrings.
Look! The sapphire earrings in the middle of the top row. Dinna they match Anisa’s necklace?
Another clerk came over to inquire if he could help Ronan choose something. Ronan held out the sapphire on the chain and pointed to the earrings. “Do you think they’d match close enough?” He unhooked the necklace to place it next to the earrings the clerk set on the glass counter. The stones were the same color and the fancy silver filigree trim was almost an exact match. His woman deserved something special after all she’d been through, but this hardly seemed enough.
“I do have a matching bracelet. Follow me.” The clerk motioned him to another cabinet and removed a silver filigree bracelet with deep blue sapphires alternating with emeralds, his clan’s colors.
As soon as Ronan saw it, he whipped out his credit card, too. Magnus huffed in disappointment. “I’ll also take the earrings.” Ye can be a pain in me arse. I’ll tell her ye picked out the earrings just fer her.
The two men ambled out of the store in credit card shock. “What the hell came over us?” Ronan looked at Earnan.
“I dinna ken. I kept thinking about how much love and joy Effie brings to me life and I just didna care about the cost.” He elbowed Ronan. “Hell, we’re Scots, man. We didna even try to haggle.”
“I need a drink.”
Earnan nodded and looked up and down the street. “ ’Tis a grand idea.”
They found a brasserie and slid into one of the booths. Both, still in shock over how much they’d spent, had their Cartier purchases in their travel bags tucked between their feet. Ronan ordered two whiskies fer each of them and a hamburger and frites, or French fries.
The waiter set their food down and rushed away.
Earnan stared at his sandwich. “What the bloody hell? They put a fried egg, sunny-side up on top of me burger. A double dose of cholesterol. ’Tis nay wonder all the Frenchmen walk so tight-arsed.”
Ronan set the top of his roll on the egg. “In case ye have’na noticed. We’ve been getting our fair share of stares, too. Especially from the women.” He took a bite of his sandwich.
“Aye, I noticed. They think we’re wearing skirts. Like I told Effie, if ye wear underwear, it’s a skirt. If ye dinna, it’s a kilt.” He chuckled and took a bite. “God, the woman’s a tonic to this old man. She’s worth every euro I just spent. Order us two more whiskies, son, while I use the restroom.”
Ronan started worrying. The auld doctor had been gone for quite some time. Finally he appeared and sat, huffing and cussing.
“What an ordeal just to take a piss! First ye had to ask where the restrooms were.” He leaned in. “They’re in the basement, down a flight of narrow, circular steps, with a brass railing into a tapered hallway past sinks and mops and buckets.”
Earnan motioned fer the waiter to bring them another round of whisky. “I walked into the one marked fer men and it was dark. I didna think anything of it. I just felt around for the switch. I go into a stall, hike up me kilt, and notice a light switch in there. Odd, thinks I. Then to me surprise, the feckin’ lights go out!”
He waved his open hands. “The entire room was dark. I feel around for the switch I’d just been staring at and the lights came on again. Now, a young buck might be able to whizz in a jiffy, but we older gents with prostate issues sometimes take a while to get started and the lights in the bathroom were on a young man’s bladder timer. Fookin’ hell, it took me six tries to get the lights and me penis in the same time zone.”
Earnan downed the whisky the waiter delivered. “Me nerves are shot. I was never one fer pissin’ in the dark.”
Ronan laughed like he hadna since his woman had been taken from him. Now he could see why Earnan and Effie got along so well. The cell vibrated and he removed it from his sporran. “It’s from Donnel. He’ll be home in an hour and wants us to come over.”
“Ask him if his bathroom is in the basement.” The auld man smirked. “Didna ye say ye had a present to buy fer little Colleen? Let’s head off and shop for the sprite before we head for Donnel’s.”
Ronan knew his niece well enough to realize if he didn’t buy something for both sisters he’d be in big trouble. He bought them matching pink teddy bears—one small and the other larger.
Ronan and Earnan took a taxi to rue du Bac and hiked the three flights of steps to Donnel’s apartment. They knocked and a dark-haired man with silver highlights at his temples answered. Donnel hadn’t been back to Mathe Bay since he moved to Paris three years ago, except fer a few funerals and always on his mother’s birthday. He laughed and gave them each a boisterous hug.
“Someone from home. I can’t tell you how nice it is to see you. I’ve got your rooms ready, but they’re small.” Donnel invited them into a wide foyer, decorated with a marbletop table and a statue of a naked woman in the corner. Glass doors hung open to what he called his salon. The walls were painted yellow and his sofa was ivory leather while his chairs were navy. Ivory and navy plaid valances topped the French windows that opened onto a wrought-iron narrow balcony. A bar sat across one corner and in a little windowed alcove were his desk and computer equipment.
“I’ve not started dinner yet. I thought we’d talk first after you get your bags put in your rooms. All I’ve heard about this case is what the government allowed in the news. I’m hoping you’ve got more information.”
“Aye. Much more and if ye want it, I can get ye the computer evidence Anisa copied from the moles working in ICAT.”
“You’re kidding? Yes, see if you can do that.” Donnel scribbled something on a slip of paper. “Here’s my email address here at home.”
Once Ronan was in his room, big enough for a bed and a small dresser, he texted both Creighton and Kendric, asking if they still had what was on the external drives Anisa turned over and could they email it all to Donnel.
Then Ronan walked into the salon and began telling Anisa’s story, starting with her educational and training background and moving on to her finding the sticky note on her coworker’s monitor.