We’d just finished our meal, when a thump rocked the door, followed by a bark.
I jumped up from the table. “That’ll be Lochie bringing Ellie home.”
My lass smiled. “Your dog slept on the floor at my side last night.”
We both moved to the hall. “Protecting what’s hers,” I threw back.
At the crofthouse’s entrance, I swung the door wide and crouched to receive the crashing hug of an enthusiastic collie. Ellie broke from Lochie’s hold and bowled into my legs before she huddled against me, quivering with delight. I’d trained her not to leap up, but she’d never been away from me for this long. It might take a few days for her to forgive me.
I stroked her ears and patted her side, telling her what good girl she’d been.
“Lochinvar, this is Elise,” I said, not forgetting my manners.
The head of the mountain rescue service gave a nod over his severe glower. “Aye, your parents introduced me. Meeting your lass was the only indication I had that ye were coming home. What the hell happened? We were all expecting ye yesterday.”
I beckoned him inside, and we took seats in the lounge. Elise’s phone buzzed again, and she held it up, displaying Viola’s name, then excused herself to the kitchen, my dog trotting after her.
I regarded Lochie. As his second-in-command, it was my responsibility to keep in touch with him, but once he’d heard my story, I knew he’d be nothing but incensed.
Rapid-fire, I outlined exactly what had gone down.
As predicted, Lochinvar’s gaze narrowed and his nostrils flared. At the hint we were expecting trouble, he stood and paced to the window. After what had happened with Cait last winter, this would bring back memories. It had for me, and our defence training came to mind.
Finally, he turned back to me, blinking the bleakness from his gaze. “Can I give ye a piece of advice?”
“Always.”
“The biggest mistake I ever made in protecting my wife was letting her out of my sight when we knew she was in danger. I regret that every day.”
Cait and Max had driven off the estate on an errand. We’d assumed they’d be safe, but that hadn’t been the case. Looking back, I could see why Lochie dwelled on the point, even if the circumstances were so far-fetched to be almost unreal.
Then again, the situation we were in now resembled that in many ways.
A threat. Ruthless people with their own agenda. Unpredictable elements.
I shot my gaze to the kitchen door, to where Elise chuckled on her call with my cousin.
“Lochie,” I said slowly. “I’m going to need more time off from the service.”
The man inclined his head. “Aye, ye are. And lad? Whatever ye need from us, consider it done.”
He left, and I picked up the land line to speak to Gordain. Whatever our enemies had to throw at us, I was on my home turf, and none of it would touch Elise.
Not if it took my last breath to ensure.
With all the drama and the travel, Elise insisted we go to bed early. I was bone-deep tired, but despite my need to be alert and aware, exhaustion took over.
“You’re on guard,” I mumbled to my dog.
She gave a happy wuff then curled up on the rug.
That, plus an unceasing awareness of Elise, were all I knew for a solid eight hours.
The next morning, I woke to an empty bed but singing coming from downstairs.
I emerged bleary-eyed from the stairwell to find the woman I loved dancing around the kitchen, barefoot, and with something burning.
It was all too surreal, having her in my home again, being able to sneak up on her to steal a kiss. I did exactly that, earning a shriek of surprise.
She placed her palms on my chest but curled her fingertips into my T-shirt and urged me closer for a deep kiss. Now this, I desperately wanted to get used to.
A sudden thought crossed my mind. We’d admitted some pretty heavy stuff last night, but nothing was decided beyond that.
“Promise me something,” I demanded.
“Anything.”
“You’ll stay here with me.”
Her gaze flickered down. “This is your parents’ home. I’m sure they’ll have something to say about a strange woman hanging around. No matter how nice they’ve been, we can’t deny I cause trouble wherever I go.”
“Leave that with me. For the now, ye live with me.”
Very nearly, I went to add that I’d find us a place of our own. But that was a far cry from here, and I didn’t want to scare her off.
Elise kissed me around her smile, then broke away abruptly. “Oh shit. Smoke.”
She danced to the grill and yanked out the pan, displaying blackened slabs of charcoal. “That’s meant to be toast.”
I forced back a laugh and pointed at the counter. “Do ye not have toasters in Los Angeles?”
“No? I don’t know. I’ve never used one.”
I hugged her to me, overjoyed with the relief of having her here, home, with me. Together we made a fast breakfast.
“Gordain wants to see us the minute we’re ready,” I told her.
Elise dipped her head. “Good, because I need to talk to Viola and Leo. Can we go to Braithar?”
“Aye. Have ye decided what ye want to do?”
“I think so. I’m going to need help to pull it off.”
Help, I could deliver.
Once ready, I drove us through the estate to my uncle’s castle. Elise peered at my repaired windscreen and offered a small guilty smile. But the mood had shifted. Action needed to be taken, and I was under no illusion that this would be easy.
In Braithar’s hall, we found the family. Viola instantly wrapped Elise in a hug, Leo following suit. My uncle came to me, gripped the back of my head so he could examine me properly, then thumped my back.
“Good to have ye home. Dinna ye ever disappear on me again.”
Now, I picked up the stress holding his features taut.
“I swear it.”
Elise cleared her throat, and we all gave our attention to her. From now on, she was my priority, and I’d do exactly what Lochie had suggested. Then I’d find a way to keep her, once and for all.
