Page 22 of An Unlikely Knight

Padraig Clarre affected her in a way she’d never expected. Especially not from a three-hundred-year-old man.

“Let’s give them time to talk and figure out things,” Tammie said ushering the others from the room.

“We’ll be across the hall,” Gwen motioned to the doorway as the group filed out of the room.

“Do you mind if we go to the kitchen?” Padriag asked. “I’m hungry for anything from here.”

“Sure,” Erin replied, standing.

“After you.” Padriag motioned for her to walk past.

The pull between them was tangible when she moved closer to the doorway. Then, for some unexplainable reason, she stopped and looked up at him. “If we are to do this, I need to feel more comfortable with you. Can we hug?”

Surprise was evident, his expression instantly changing to what she could only call startled.

“Of course.” Padriag opened his arms and Erin cautiously moved into his embrace. Instantly, the familiarity of the last time they’d touched came to mind. It had not been a romantic situation, running for one’s life could never be that. But the solid chest, the thick arms and the smell of a combination of leather and meadow reminded her that this man had risked his life for her.

His embrace tightened, and when he pressed a kiss to the side of her head, Erin smiled, glad that she could give him what he’d not had in centuries. Being touched by a woman attracted to him.

“You feel wonderful. I could remain like this forever.” His voice, muffled by her hair, sent shivers of delight through her. It would be awkward to be the first to push away, but Erin feared dragging the man to the nearest bed and demanding he take every bit of clothes off.

“I bet there’s cake in the kitchen,” Erin said, already hating having to move away from him.

Padriag released her, but couldn’t seem to stop touching her, his fingers wrapping around her upper arm, his eyes pinned to her face. “That sounds great.”

The spacious kitchen was fitted with modern appliances and gleaming marble countertops. A round table with four chairs was surrounded by a bank of floor to ceiling windows. The cook brightened upon seeing them enter. A woman of about forty waved for them to sit, seeming to understand the only reason for them being there was the need to eat.

“I’m starving,” Padriag said to the woman, flashing her a smile.

Cook seemed impervious to his attractiveness, then again, she saw the other handsome men, including Gavin, who had to be the most beautiful man on the planet, on a daily basis. “Sit,” she instructed.

“I’ll start with cake,” Padriag said, pointing at what was left of the dessert that was kept on a plate under a glass dome.

The cook not only offered Padriag a slice of cake, but also made Padriag a plate heaping with sausage, roasted tomatoes, potatoes and turnips. The man ate like someone starved for many days. He moaned and closed his eyes, relishing every bite, making Erin smile.

Although left alone in the kitchen, she sensed he didn’t want to talk in-depth there. So she asked surface questions.

“How old were you when you left here?”

“Five and twenty.”

“What of your family? Did you come from a large family?”

A shadow cross his face, his gaze falling to the table. “Somewhat. I had two siblings, a brother and sister, both older than me,” Padriag replied, his tone even. “My parents both came from large families, so I had many aunts, uncles and cousins.”

Her heart broke at realizing how hard it must be to outlive your relatives, especially your siblings. She decided to not continue to ask about his family.

“You speak more modernly than the others.”

It was nice to see his good-natured grin return. “I came back to Scotland constantly over the years. The changes in the world fascinated me. The others would perhaps wait a decade or two, finding it hard to come knowing they couldn’t stay.”

“Totally get that,” Erin replied. “I am not sure what I’d do in your shoes.”

“Since my home was turned into flats, usually younger people lived there, making it easy for me to keep up with trends and language.”

“Being that you are physically young, it would be strange if you spoke like other older people,” Erin remarked with a giggle.

He lifted his right eyebrow and looked down his nose at her. “How dare you.”