talking." He crossed his arms over his chest, his feet planted in a wide stance.
Deanna drew into a cross-legged position and found his eyes riveted to her crotch. Men… "If we're going to talk, at least look at my face."
He jerked his head up and narrowed his eyes at her. "Mayhap you shouldna dress so wantonly."
Deanna started to bristle, then realized for this time period it was true. Well, there was nothing she could do about that. "What would you like to talk about?"
"Who sent you here and by what magic?" He leaned in and she could feel his body heat. His brogue was thicker than the man in her dreams but she was sure it was him. Why didn't he know her?
"Why have you been haunting my dreams?" she shot back. That brought a bark of laughter from him. Not exactly the response she'd been expecting.
"Haunting your dreams? Are you daft?" He bent down closer, a wicked smile on his face. Deanna felt her heart speed up and hoped he couldn't hear it. "I dinna haunt dreams, lass. I create them."
His lips were inches away from hers now, the dark stubble along his jaw line only adding to his magnificence. The man dripped sex appeal. The words out of his mouth kept slapping her across the face, though.
He rose back up like a satisfied cat. "You can stay in here until you feel like answering my questions." He turned and stalked out the door, leaving Deanna furious enough to think of picking the vase back up and hurling it at him. What an egotistical, pompous jerk. She wished she didn't want to wrap her legs around him at the same time.
***
Ian couldn't believe how badly he'd handled that, letting her lead the conversation. All he could think about was tasting those sweet lips. He'd barely managed to escape with his dignity intact. One more second and he might have thrown himself down on top of her—a Cameron. He must be losing his mind. That's the only explanation he could think of.
His mother passed him with a tray of soup and bread and started up the stairs.
"Where are you taking that?"
"The girl must be hungry. You dinna intend to starve her, do you?" She gave him a knowing smile and kept walking.
Ian opened his mouth to say something but he'd only be talking to her back. He'd had enough losing battles for one day and she did need to eat—until he decided to throw her out on her ear, which would be soon. He'd get his answers first, though.
***
Boulder, May 2012
Robert spotted Ian sitting at a table, staring off into space while absently stirring his coffee. He hid a smile and walked over to join him.
"How goes the memories?" he asked and slid into a seat.
Ian looked over at him and grimaced. "I am acting the fool."
"When did she show up?"
"In 1505. I'd recently had a skirmish with a few Cameron trespassing on my land so the bitterness of my father's death was fresh on my mind. It would have been easier if her name hadna been the same."
"Well, you were young," Robert said. "What were you? Twenty-three?"
"Aye. That's still no excuse. I could feel the difference of her, but in my arrogance I've decided it was the magic surrounding her." Ian went back to staring into the distance. Robert decided to leave him be for now. He'd adjust to the double memories soon enough.
"I'm sure your mortal self will figure it out."
Ian grunted, his eyes haunted as he gazed back over at Robert. "If I give her a chance before throwing her out to fend for herself."
"Have faith in yourself, my friend." Robert patted Ian's shoulder as he walked by. "I always have."
Chapter Sixteen
Highlands, May 1505
There was a knock on the door, followed by a pause. Curious, Deanna grumbled a curt "Come in" but stayed on the bed. A tall woman entered, her long dark hair held back in a braid, carrying a tray of food. Deanna's stomach growled in response to the aroma. She hadn't eaten breakfast before she left for the graveyard and it seemed to be nighttime here.
"I'm Isobel, Ian's mother." She had a pleasant lilt to her voice and Deanna
Deanna drew into a cross-legged position and found his eyes riveted to her crotch. Men… "If we're going to talk, at least look at my face."
He jerked his head up and narrowed his eyes at her. "Mayhap you shouldna dress so wantonly."
Deanna started to bristle, then realized for this time period it was true. Well, there was nothing she could do about that. "What would you like to talk about?"
"Who sent you here and by what magic?" He leaned in and she could feel his body heat. His brogue was thicker than the man in her dreams but she was sure it was him. Why didn't he know her?
"Why have you been haunting my dreams?" she shot back. That brought a bark of laughter from him. Not exactly the response she'd been expecting.
"Haunting your dreams? Are you daft?" He bent down closer, a wicked smile on his face. Deanna felt her heart speed up and hoped he couldn't hear it. "I dinna haunt dreams, lass. I create them."
His lips were inches away from hers now, the dark stubble along his jaw line only adding to his magnificence. The man dripped sex appeal. The words out of his mouth kept slapping her across the face, though.
He rose back up like a satisfied cat. "You can stay in here until you feel like answering my questions." He turned and stalked out the door, leaving Deanna furious enough to think of picking the vase back up and hurling it at him. What an egotistical, pompous jerk. She wished she didn't want to wrap her legs around him at the same time.
***
Ian couldn't believe how badly he'd handled that, letting her lead the conversation. All he could think about was tasting those sweet lips. He'd barely managed to escape with his dignity intact. One more second and he might have thrown himself down on top of her—a Cameron. He must be losing his mind. That's the only explanation he could think of.
His mother passed him with a tray of soup and bread and started up the stairs.
"Where are you taking that?"
"The girl must be hungry. You dinna intend to starve her, do you?" She gave him a knowing smile and kept walking.
Ian opened his mouth to say something but he'd only be talking to her back. He'd had enough losing battles for one day and she did need to eat—until he decided to throw her out on her ear, which would be soon. He'd get his answers first, though.
***
Boulder, May 2012
Robert spotted Ian sitting at a table, staring off into space while absently stirring his coffee. He hid a smile and walked over to join him.
"How goes the memories?" he asked and slid into a seat.
Ian looked over at him and grimaced. "I am acting the fool."
"When did she show up?"
"In 1505. I'd recently had a skirmish with a few Cameron trespassing on my land so the bitterness of my father's death was fresh on my mind. It would have been easier if her name hadna been the same."
"Well, you were young," Robert said. "What were you? Twenty-three?"
"Aye. That's still no excuse. I could feel the difference of her, but in my arrogance I've decided it was the magic surrounding her." Ian went back to staring into the distance. Robert decided to leave him be for now. He'd adjust to the double memories soon enough.
"I'm sure your mortal self will figure it out."
Ian grunted, his eyes haunted as he gazed back over at Robert. "If I give her a chance before throwing her out to fend for herself."
"Have faith in yourself, my friend." Robert patted Ian's shoulder as he walked by. "I always have."
Chapter Sixteen
Highlands, May 1505
There was a knock on the door, followed by a pause. Curious, Deanna grumbled a curt "Come in" but stayed on the bed. A tall woman entered, her long dark hair held back in a braid, carrying a tray of food. Deanna's stomach growled in response to the aroma. She hadn't eaten breakfast before she left for the graveyard and it seemed to be nighttime here.
"I'm Isobel, Ian's mother." She had a pleasant lilt to her voice and Deanna
Similar Books
