Page 49 of Irish Betrayal

Ulf was right, though. She did look as though she’d lost weight, the light bruises under her eyes more telling than words.

Daniel felt his throat grow tight when, for his eyes alone, she leaned close and whispered in her husky voice, “Forgive me, Daniel. I have reasons.” She paused and then, “I’m sorry.”

He leaned closer yet, until only she could see his lips move. “I don’t care what it is. Please, Blair, please, just tell me that you’re mine. Everything, anything else can be managed. I need you,” he finished in desperation.

She rested her forehead against his. He felt her tears wet his cheeks. Before he could question the good sense of it, he curled his arms around her slight body and scooped her against his chest as he stood.

She didn’t resist. A shuddering breath wracked her body as he tightened his hold.

“I’m taking Blair to the guest house,” he told the room before walking toward the front door.

Ulf, knowing Blair couldn’t hear him, said, “We’ll figure this out, nephew. If Samson is responsible, he’ll regret every moment of his life before we’re done.”

twenty-one

Bunchrew, Scotland

Beauly Firth

COLL BARR

“You’ve been quiet?” Coll announced into the silence. His wife sat at his shoulder as they relaxed on their home’s wraparound deck, the creak of their twin rocking chairs the only sound beside the occasional bird call and the chitter of red squirrels.

Thomas and Josephine were in Ireland visiting their grandchildren, and Charles and Aileen were in Edinburgh visiting Mirren and her family.

Laith was with Lochlann, mowing for some of the local businesses that had hired their newly minted lawn service, L&L Services. The boys were determined to have enough money saved by the time they graduated from high school so they could buy a house together. Coll appreciated their willingness to work and the drive and determination to meet their goals.

He and Thomas were pretty proud of their sons—equally proud of their daughters. Gray was a mother of two and thriving in Josephine’s family’s hospitality business. His Blair was frighteningly smart, driven, and settled for nothing short of perfection when it came to her plants.

It was possible that because of his friends’ absence, Catriona’s quiet grew louder. Though there had been signs for weeks that his wife had pulled back from him. He was the fool for letting it go on as long as it had.

Nothing and no one was more important to Coll than his wee Cat. So, when she answered with, “I’m sorry, Coll, just daydreaming, I guess,” he didn’t stay silent.

“We aren’t doing that.”

Catriona met his gaze, recognizing from his tone that something was up. Christ, but the woman was still the most beautiful creature to ever breathe. Her hair was still a fiery, riotous mess that he barely could keep from running his fingers through. Her big eyes and thousands of freckles called to him like the sun called to the moon.

“What aren’t we doing exactly?”

“You aren’t going to pretend to be fine, and I won’t pretend to believe you. You’ll tell me what’s bothering you. Now.”

She huffed in exasperation, turning her head to look over the pastoral scenery. He reached over and plucked her from her seat and into his lap before she had time to put up any resistance.

“Now, my heart, you will tell me why you’ve been quiet.”

When her eyes started to blink rapidly, as if she were struggling not to cry, his heart seized. Squeezing her tight to his chest, he begged, “Tell me you aren’t sick.” His sister Aileen had battled cancer twice, and that had been difficult enough. If it was Cat… No.

She kissed his cheek, letting her lips linger by his so that when she spoke he felt the vibrations of her words like he was swallowing them.

“I’m completely healthy. It’s only,” she sighed, scratching the back of his neck, soothing him and probably herself, “Blair.”

Ahh. “You miss her? I do.”

“Yes, but—” she stopped, tilting her head to look up at the sky.

Coll waited, knowing she would eventually get her thoughts in order. If she was missing Blair too terribly, then they would fly to the States tomorrow. Blair had told them both several times that she was having an amazing time but was so swamped she wouldn’t be able to take time off to see them, even if they did go to the trouble.

“Blair isn’t…she isn’t the same Blair she was before she left. And before you tell me I’m being silly, which I wouldn’t advise doing if you’re attached to your balls, there is a strain in her voice. The last time we spoke over video, she had dark circles under her eyes. She looked unhealthy. Our daughter has been nothing but a vibrant star since she was born.