Lynn Kurland - A Garden in the Rain by A Garden in the Rain

Author:A Garden in the Rain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Berkley

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Chapter Twenty-One

Patrick pulled to a stop in front of the keep, turned off the car, and looked at Madelyn. She was staring at Jamie's hall with wide astonishment.

"Wow," she said, sounding a little breathless.

He smiled. "It's just a castle."

"Yeah, but people live here. You lived here."

"Aye, there is that. But it seems quite ordinary to me."

"Right," she said dryly. "And this black rocket we're sitting in is just one step up from a lawnmower."

"You have a point there." He smiled and opened the door. "Wait. I'll come fetch you." He went around and opened her door. He helped her out of the car, then caught her as she stumbled. And once he had his hands on her arms, there was no reason to let her go, was there?

None he could think of.

Was it going to be possible, he wondered as he lifted her face up with his hand and kissed her, to stop kissing the woman any time soon?

Would it be possible to actually put her on a plane home?

He could hardly bear the thought.

He lifted his head and stared down at her, marveling at the changes in her. Gone were the constrained tresses he'd seen her first wearing. Her hair was down, curling madly about her shoulders and down her back. Jeans and sweaters suited her perfectly, as did her visage unenhanced by pots of makeup. She was still that fresh-faced American, but now with a bit of Highland untamedness to her.

He was, he admitted uneasily, quite lost.

His heart murmured its approval.

"Anyone home?" she asked with a smile.

He blinked, then shook his head. "Sorry. I was just looking at you."

"Oh."

"Aye, oh," he said with a smile. "And I have to say that 'tis the finest view I've seen out of all the attractions I've had the pleasure of looking at over the past few days."

She blinked. She might have blushed.

"Well," she said finally.

"By the saints"—he laughed—"am I so stingy with compliments, then?"

"It isn't that—"

He took her face in both his hands and looked down at her seriously. "Then what, Madelyn? What is it, then?"

She closed her eyes. "It's just—"

He waited.

"It's just—"

"Oh, Pat's here!"

She jumped back as if she'd been bitten. For himself, he was so surprised, he almost fell over on top of her. He looked up, glared at Ian, who stood at the door grinning like the fool he was, then met Madelyn's eyes.

"I'll kill him later."

"I'll help."

"Jamie has quite a lovely view from the roof."

"I have a coat."

He laughed. "Then we'll rendezvous there later, after I've disemboweled several of my family members."

"Good plan."

He took her hand and led her into his brother's house Easily.

As if it weren't the monumental occasion it really was.

The hall was full of family. Jamie and his two lads were holding court there, imparting the good tidings of a new little girl resting upstairs to any and all who would listen. Ian and Jane were there with their children. Elizabeth's brother Alex and his wife Margaret were there with their children.

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