Beyond A Highland Whisper (19 page)

Both Brodie and Fiona averted their gaze. Latharn bathed the room with a calming glow. He would cleanse the room of Gabriel’s poison. “I will keep my Nessa safe. I have surrounded her with protection spells. But I would still like for ye to watch over her as well.”

A knowing grin spread across her face as Trish smoothed her shirt back down over her scarred body. “No one had better make the mistake of underestimating Nessa. She might be small but she packs a punch.”

Brodie put his hands on his hips as Fiona eased out of his hug to clear the table. He tucked his chin to his chest in disbelief. “That wee lass?”

With a nod, Trish handed Fiona the extra dishes and napkins from her side of the table. “That ‘wee lass’ has been practicing kick-boxing for years and is single-handedly responsible for saving my life.” A faraway look crossed Trish’s face. “I won’t bore you with the gory details. But let’s just say our little Nessa can take care of herself.”

As he folded his arms across his chest, Brodie smiled. “That almost makes me wish the bastard Gabriel would test the waters. If wee Nessa doesn’t snap his neck, ye can rest assured Latharn will.”

Chapter Nineteen

Nessa sipped her coffee and searched for another Web site referencing any mention of clan MacKay. Her eyes scanned back and forth across the screen. She frowned as she continued her research. She’d sat at the Wi-Fi Café for hours. She’d first logged onto the university’s library, then expanded her search to encompass the World Wide Web.

She’d stumbled across several Web sites with vague stories and legends, a few of them had referenced some sort of family curse. The only place she’d found Latharn MacKay’s name specifically mentioned was one site listing the children of Caelan and Rachel MacKay. While that particular Web site went on to list what had become of each of the children, it had omitted any details about how Latharn’s life had played out.

The MacKay history read like a compilation of fantasy legends. Nessa took a deep breath as she scrolled down the page. The laird of the clan always destined to dream of his intended wife, he never found peace until he found her and made her his own. Time-traveling wives, witches, powerful druids…consorting with the goddess for the promise of destinies fulfilled. She knew the Scots loved their legends but this was getting ridiculous. Where was she going to have to go to find out the truth about the MacKay line?

Latharn’s sister, Aveline, was reported to have been immortal. Nessa peered closer at the screen and selected another link. Several accounts listed her joining to a god and then her disappearance into the sky on her brother Ronan’s wedding day.

Nessa propped her chin in her hand and wrinkled her nose to shift her reading glasses higher as she clicked and continued her search. If there was anything the science of archeology had taught her, it was persistence and patience.

She found Caelan and Rachel’s romantic legend. Her heart swelled as she read of their love that had reached across the barrier of time. Nessa scanned the passage where Rachel jumped to her death after her husband Caelan arrived home, shield on his chest, a fatal wound beneath it. Swallowing hard against the emotions knotting in her throat, Nessa blinked back the tears and continued her search.

She smiled as she read of Ronan and his wife Harley’s life upon the sea and the legacy of seafaring children they’d brought into the world. Her brows arched in surprise as she found several mentions of the sister Aveline. She’d reappeared at different moments through the annals of time to assist several descendents of the ancient clan.

“I wish she’d appear to me and give me a little guidance,” Nessa mumbled aloud as she widened her Google search to include any mention of witches and druids in the clan. While she massaged the tension from the back of her neck, she read of Faolan’s powerful leadership of the family and his children’s unbelievable gifts in the mystical ways.

With a heavy sigh, Nessa tucked her glasses into the vee of her sweater and massaged the corners of her eyes. She glanced up from her corner and stifled a groan as she noticed Gabriel walking in her direction.

“Good day to ye, Nessa. Are ye feeling better? Trish said ye had been unwell.” Gabriel pulled out a chair and slid into the seat with the grace of a stalking panther.

Nessa closed her laptop and rubbed the top of the machine as though it were a wishing stone. She forced a polite smile across her face and nodded in reply. “I’m feeling much better, thank you. I was finally able to get a good night’s sleep in our new room. There must’ve been some bad chi or something at the inn.”

A look of confusion registered on Gabriel’s face. He pursed his lips as he motioned for the waitress to bring another cup of coffee to Nessa and one for himself. “So, that’s why my calls to the inn have gone unanswered. Where are ye staying now?”

Nessa damned herself for accidently confessing her new location, and smiled over gritted teeth as the waitress refilled her cup. “Didn’t Trish tell you? We’ve rented a room from the MacKays’. It’s really nice and a lot more spacious then we had at the inn.”

“The MacKays.” Gabriel spat the words, his nostrils flaring as he sipped at his steaming cup. “I would have thought a well educated woman such as yourself would have had nothing in common with those two.”

Nessa studied Gabriel over the rim of her mug, her hands tensing at the venom she heard in his voice. So, there truly was bad blood between Gabriel and the MacKays. Nessa wondered why she hadn’t picked up more on this bit of tension the first night they’d all gathered at the pub. “I like Brodie and Fiona. They’re warm and friendly. Since I’m a stranger in this country, I’m grateful for the way they’ve taken us in.”

Nessa reopened her laptop and powered it down. It was obvious Gabriel wasn’t going away.

His face darkened into an even uglier scowl. Gabriel sneered in disgust as he waved his hands in the air. “They’re backward. The two of them live in the past. Apparently, they’ve not even got the Internet or else ye wouldn’t be stuck here in this café.” He folded his arms with an air of superiority and sat back in his seat.

Nessa clenched her teeth. She drummed her fingers on the table and returned his haughty glare. Gabriel was really getting on her nerves. She’d had about enough of Mr. Burns. With an arched brow, she sat a bit taller in her seat and adopted her own superior air. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten. I’m an archeologist. The past is what interests me the most.”

Gabriel leaned forward in his seat, his hands tightening into fists. Nessa pressed her lips tightly shut to keep from snickering in his face. Gabriel had heard the cynicism in her voice and he wasn’t taking it well.

“Ye know very well that’s not what I meant, Nessa. Apparently, ye’re still not feeling yourself. Ye seem a bit on edge today.”

She slid her laptop into her bag and zipped it shut with a bitter chuckle. From what she could see, Gabriel was only Prince Charming when everything went his way. She was relieved she’d found out he was an absolute toad before they’d developed any type of relationship.

She forced a smile as she smoothed the strap of the bag between her hands. It was definitely time for a parting of ways. “I’ve got to be going. It was nice seeing you, Gabriel. I’m sure we’ll drop into the pub some time soon.” She swung her bag up to her shoulder and gestured to the waitress to bring her the bill.

Gabriel snatched the tab from the waitress’s hands and gifted Nessa with his most irresistible smile. “That’ll be mine. No woman sits at the table with Gabriel Burns and ends up paying her own way.”

Nessa strained to keep the polite smile on her face with a gracious nod of her head. “Thank you.” Now all she had to do was make her escape and be done with this guy.

Gabriel leaned close and laid a restraining hand on her arm. “Would ye mind giving me a lift back to the pub? My knee’s grown a bit stiff for the return walk home. I must’ve overused it on my stroll across the square.” As he rose from the table, Gabriel winced, obviously feigning a slight limp as he edged closer to Nessa’s side.

Her lips tightened with a stifled sigh. Nessa never had this problem with a man before. She pretty much disappeared into the woodwork and let the cute girls take over the room. What the hell was Gabriel’s problem? Couldn’t he take a hint? He must be one of those men whose pride never let the woman be the one to sever the ties.

Something about Gabriel nagged at her heart. Not a good nag, but a sense of dread. Whenever she looked at the man, she sensed a slow-growing cancerous rot. An aura of negativity surrounded the man and she wasn’t the least bit interested in finding out why.

Nessa drew a deep breath. Her face ached from the polite smile stretched across it. Nessa answered with a sharp jerk of her head. “Sure. I think I know the way to the MacKays’ from the pub. I can take the shortcut and drop you off.” Nessa knew her answer borderlined sheer rudeness but she didn’t care. She shot Gabriel a challenging glare and hoped he’d change his mind.

His eyes narrowed as he cocked his head to one side. Gabriel held out his hand and he bowed his head. “That’ll be grand. I appreciate the lift. Here, let me carry your bag.”

Nessa hitched her bag closer to her body. She wasn’t about to hand over her precious laptop resting snugly in its bag. How stupid did he think she was? With that anger flashing in his eyes, the jerk would probably smash it to the ground. She sidled away from him and headed toward the door, tossing a smile back at him over her shoulder. “That’s okay. I’ve got it covered.”

Making her way out the door, she tucked her chin to hide the mischievous grin she couldn’t quite resist. She hadn’t missed the ripple of Gabriel’s jaw when he’d clenched his teeth at her refusal.

The rising wind tugged at her hair as she stepped out into the street. With a glance to the sky, Nessa sniffed the strong breeze. The scent of rain rode upon the air. That was another thing about Gabriel. Whenever he was around, the weather always took a turn for the worse.

The storm clouds gathered, banking and roiling like a cook pot set to a boil. Nessa pulled her jacket tighter about her chest. The day plunged into an uneasy darkness. The clouds erased the sun from the sky.

Nessa didn’t wait for Gabriel to open her door and laughed out loud at the look of irritation on his face. “Get in!” she shouted over the rumbling thunder. “We don’t have time for chivalry. It’s getting ready to open up and pour.”

Gabriel scowled and stomped around to the other side of the car. He slid into the seat and slammed the door shut with a muttered curse. Crossing his arms over his chest, he stared out the windshield with a face as dark as the thunderous sky. Just as Nessa slid the keys into the ignition, he covered her hand with his. He squeezed her fingers and held her hand captive as he forced her to turn and look into his eyes. “Why are ye no interested in seeing me again, Nessa? Have the MacKays filled your head with lies?”

“First of all”—Nessa lowered her voice and turned to Gabriel with deadly intent—“you’re hurting my hand. Now I suggest you let me go or I promise, you will regret it.”

A look of surprise flitting across his face, Gabriel released her fingers. His hands curled into shaking fists as he pulled them away. “I’m sorry, Nessa. I didna mean to hurt ye. I just thought there was a spark between us worth pursuing. I don’t understand what went wrong.”

Nessa clenched the steering wheel. She swallowed hard against the bile rising in the back of her throat. They hadn’t known each other long enough for him to act this way. All of her alarm bells blared at top volume. Gabriel just wasn’t
right.
She’d better be careful. She had to get him back to the pub and out of her life, the sooner the better.

“I’m sorry, Gabriel. You’re a great guy. But I’m afraid my work has picked up so much right now that I just don’t have enough time to give you the attention you deserve.” Nessa forced the most helpless female look she could muster on her face. She blinked at him in feigned wide-eyed innocence.

It was as if she had pushed a button. Gabriel relaxed. His easy smile replaced his scowl. “I thought perhaps I’d done something wrong. I would never do anything to offend ye.”