Chapter One - DECEMBER, PRESENT DAY NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS SOMEWHERE NEAR INVERNESS
Chapter One
DECEMBER, PRESENT DAY NORTH WEST HIGHLANDS SOMEWHERE NEAR INVERNESS
“Please don’t die, please don’t die, puh-leeze don’t die,” crooned Paige MacDonald. Gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white, she stared through the swirling snow ahead and held her breath. The little standard-shift rental car sputtered, lurched, but thankfully, kept going.
Paige let out a gusty sigh. “Thank you,” she whispered, and shifted into third gear.
She knew she was lost. She’d missed the turnoff that led back to Inverness.
But she needed to get somewhere fast, before the car broke down and she got stranded in this snow.
She inched along, searching for any indication of a town, a house, a gas station—anything. Several more miles passed. Nothing.
All at once, she spotted a narrow path. It turned sharp left from the track she was on and then disappeared through a dense forest. A small red sign marked GORLOCH B then that deep voice mumbled, “Aye.” “Err, great. Thanks,” said Paige. The throaty brogue was so thick, she barely understood the man. Grasping the pen, she steadied her shaking hand and signed in.
In the great hall, Gabriel Munro shoved a hand through his hair and paced. He stopped, glanced at the girl, pushed his thumb and forefinger into his eye sockets, and cursed. Then he rested his hand on his hips and paced a bit more.
What, by the devil’s cloven hooves, was he to do with her? Damn the Craigmires’ arses for leaving him here alone. The old fool and his wife had sworn the weather would keep tourists away.
Gabriel glanced at the girl still shivering in the foyer. Her gaze shifted first left, then right. Then, she sat down.
It had kept all away, save that one. What was she doin’ out in such a storm? And alone, as well?
He’d have let her leave, had she no’ admitted to being stranded.
He damn well couldna let her stay out in the snow and freeze.
And freeze she surely would, in such a wee, thin coat and scarf.
Even the hat she had pulled nearly to her eyes looked paltry.
’Twas apparent she was no’ from the Highlands. Her accent had been the proof o’ that.
Now he was stuck wi’ her. Alone.
Christ.
He had no choice but to handle things until the girl left. With a final silent curse, Gabriel took a deep breath, readied himself, and stepped into the foyer.
The girl sprang to her feet the moment Gabriel appeared. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of him, and he prayed mightily that he’d dressed appropriately. Still, she said nothing. She all but gaped.
“You’re wantin’ a room, aye?” said Gabriel.
She nodded, and her cheeks flushed. “I do.”
He gave a curt nod at the desk. “Chamber thirteen. Grab your key from yon drawer and follow me.”
The girl’s eyes darted to the desk, and a gloved hand slowly pulled out the drawer. Finding the key, she picked it up, shouldered her pack, and looked at him. “Okay,” she said quietly. Her voice, smooth and feminine, quavered just a bit. From fear or the chill, he didna know which.
Gabriel strode across the great hall toward the staircase, the light tread of the girl’s boots just behind him, hurrying along. He’d settle her in for the night, then retreat to his own chamber. Hopefully by morn, the weather would clear and she’d leave.
At the staircase, Gabriel glanced over his shoulder. “This way.”
“Thanks,” she said quietly.
Gabriel made his way to the third floor then strode to the end of the corridor. At the last door, he stopped and inclined his head. “Thirteen.”
The girl nodded, then slowly looked up to meet Gabriel’s gaze. “My name is Paige MacDonald. Thank you for the room,” she said. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
Paige MacDonald. He found himself suddenly speechless. He’d not seen the lass full-on until now. Her beauty nearly knocked the breath from him.
At least, that was what it felt like.
A wee thing, the top of her head came no higher than his chest, and her skin was the smoothest he’d ever seen.
A small nose that fit her face, full lips, and he imagined her hair to be the color of straw.
Only a small portion poked out from beneath her funny hat.
He guessed the rest must be stuffed under it.
’Twas her eyes that caught him off guard, though.
No’ just the shocking color of blue, or how the width narrowed and turned up at the outer corners and gave them the most unusual of shapes.
’Twas one reason he knew her no’ to be from those MacDonalds.
The other reason? He’d killed them all before his own demise.
’Twas obvious she descended from another clan.
All of those things struck him, in truth. But ’twas the sadness Gabriel saw in the blue depths that struck him the most.
It made him mightily uncomfortable.
Just then, a growling noise interrupted his thoughts.
The girl blushed furiously, and pressed a hand against her belly. “Sorry. I haven’t eaten in quite a while.”
Och, damn. “Right. Err, you settle yourself in and come downstairs to the larder. I’ll show you where everythin’ is. Aye?”
“Okay, thanks.” She turned, stuck her key in the lock, and opened the door. Stepping inside, she glanced at him and gave the slightest of smiles. “I didn’t catch your name.”
He met her gaze and held it. “Munro. Gabriel Munro.”
The hesitant smile on Paige’s face didn’t reach her eyes. “Thank you again, Gabriel Munro.”
And with that she shut and locked the door.
Gabriel stood and stared. He pinched the bridge of his nose, shoved his fingers through his hair, scrubbed the back of his neck, and sighed.
What in bloody hell was he to do with a beautiful, melancholy lass? If she only knew what he was, she’d never have asked to stay. At least she wasna one of those MacDonalds. Snow or no, he wouldna have even let her through the door.
As he disappeared down the corridor, he frowned and prayed mightily that the storm would pass and Paige would leave come the morn.