For All Time (4 page)

“Mead was the culprit. I knew not what I was doing,” Margery continued, her voice cracking. And for a moment, an itsy-bitsy moment, Sage felt sorry for her. “I speak the truth.”

“Banish the happenings of thy past transgressions. It matters not. Ye do not owe me the truth or otherwise.”

“I love ye.” Margery’s eyes filled with tears.

Now this was downright pitiful. Sage almost reached out to her.

Cade inhaled deeply. “Angels in heaven, give me strength,” he murmured, pulling Sage closer. “Ye know not of love, Margery. However, I hope ye find it someday.”

Impressive
. Sage was glad she bit her tongue. Cade was tender even though she saw his jaw clench a couple of times. He possessed patience, kindness and didn’t raise his voice—except when he defended her.

Sage smiled, her heart filling with pride. Both for herself for resisting opening a can of whoop ass and toward Cade and his patience.

Margery’s features crumpled into a furious scowl, marring any beauty she possessed. “Ye smile at my pain? I shall stab ye in thy sleep.”

Stunned by the abrupt change in Margery’s tone, Sage was at a loss for a snappy comeback.

Cade glared at Margery. “And I shall wrench thy dagger from thy grasp before ye draw near.”

Sage kept looking from Margery to Cade. “What is it with you people and daggers? I don’t know, or care to know what the hell is going on. Well I do, but...” Not quite what she meant to say. “Margery, step away from my man.” Her man? Again, her mouth had no filter.

“Whose man?” Margery stepped closer.

“Mine. I traveled a long way to be here with him.” If the woman even had a clue how true it was she would faint on the spot.

“Oh, did thy clothing fall off on the way?”

Sage pulled the cape closed and flipped her off.

“Cease that!” Margery held up her hands, shielding herself. “Is that a spell?”

Why did everyone think she was a witch? Oh well, right now it’d work to her advantage. She waved both middle fingers.

Margery backed a step, tripped on her hem and fell on her bottom so hard, Sage filled with remorse. The older man returned just in time to snatch her from the ground and pull her from a carriage’s path.

Cade’s eyes were filled with awe. “What a wondrous spell!”

“I’m. Not. A. Witch.” She poked his forehead with each word. “Get that through your head.”

“Very well, but...” He raised his middle finger and turned his hand from side to side. “Do ye use this finger to make one leave?”

She grinned. “Yeah, you could say that.” She guided his hand down, her smile faltering and her patience thinning. “What the hell was that all about?” She shook her head. “Forget it. I don’t think I want to know.”

“Ye are distressed. I shall explain about Margery now.” He spoke so quickly his words ran together.

She winced at Margery’s name passing his lips. “Screw her. No, don’t.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. The flood of confusion muddled her mind. “Where was I?”

“Surrey—nay—New York.”

She threw up her hands. “I want to go home. With my dog. Where is he? How did—was it the kiss that brought us here?” She sucked in a breath.”And who was that dude? And what was with Margery?” She could see he was trying not to smile. “It’s not funny. I have no idea where I am and before I can figure anything out she comes over here and tries to—”

“Calm down. I can explain. I think.”

“Calm down?” She poked him in the chest to drive home her words “Don’t even go there.”

Cade looked around. If he asked where he should go she’d scream.

Movement caught the corner of her eye. Margery glared at them from across the lane and Sage flung her hand toward her. “Seriously?”

“Ignore her.” He sighed. “Sage, I—”

“Did you plan this? Did you know all along what would happen when you kissed me?” Or know she’d fall for him?

His brown eyes narrowed. “Damnation, woman. I planned
naught
.” He motioned across the lane. “Margery is naught.” He threw up his hands in exasperation, the inflection on the word once more. “
Naught
makes sense!”

“No shit.” Her body shook with terror—or was it bewilderment? She decided it was both.

He tucked a stray lock behind her ear. “Though ‘tis selfish, I thank the heavens I did not journey home without ye.”

“W-what?” She shoved his hand away, taken aback at the way her heart responded to his touch. “Just kiss me again.” She grabbed his tunic and led him back into the empty alley. “Hurry.”

A flicker sparked his eyes. “Ah, now I see. I did not think of it ‘til this moment.”

“What, kissing? Your old girlfriend? That friend of yours? My dog? There’s a lot to think about here, don’t you think?” She knew she pouted, but didn’t care.

He pulled a small pouch from his belt and dropped something into his palm. “’Twas not our kiss that brought us here, but this.”

She peered into his hand. “A rock?” She stared at it for a moment before slowly looking up at him. “Cade, I’m seriously considering throwing one at you at this point. A much bigger one.”

He sighed. “Lend me thy ears, if but for a moment, woman.”

She crossed her arms. “Fine, but don’t talk to me like that. I have a name, you know.” She kind of liked how he called her Woman. How barbaric. And hot.

His nostrils flared. “Very well, Sage.” She loved his accent, especially the way he said her name. “A bit of patience while I explain.”

She motioned for him to go on.

“That man, Wren?” He waited for her nod. “He is a powerful sorcerer.”

“A what?”

“Sorcerer. He gave me the stone.”

She blinked. Opened her mouth. Nothing came out.

“Do they not have sorcerers in New York?”

She shook her head.

“Well, a sorcerer is one who can conjure—”

“I know what a damn sorcerer is!” She held up her hand. Tears threatened. Hell no, she would
not
cry. “Just tell me why you’re showing me a rock that guy—sorcerer—gave you.” She’d always pictured a sorcerer as a bearded, decrepit old man wearing a pointy hat, his eyes shooting flames. Okay, maybe nix the flames. She was a bit disappointed that Wren didn’t vanish in a plume of smoke instead of walking away. The silly thought kept her tears at bay.

“I was trying to. But ye interrupt—”

“I can’t help it.” She yanked the cape tighter around her but it didn’t do much to ward off the incessant wind.

He pulled her close. “I should have fetched that coat.”

She relished his warmth, his scent. “Why do you smell so good?”

He thought a moment. “I bathe?” He pressed his forehead against hers. “Now, do ye fare well enough to listen? You look upset.”

“You think?”

“I do.”

Sarcasm was lost on this man. She cuddled underneath his chin. “Go on. Explain.” Yeah right. How could she listen with his arms wrapped around her? She took a step away. “I’m listening.”

“Wren rewarded me with the stone—though I thought it an odd gift at the time.”

“Rewarded? For what?”

“I rescued his daughter from drowning. Her celebratory ball was last eve.” He frowned. “Or mayhap longer—but time may have held while I was gone.”

God, couldn’t he explain this later? She just wanted him to kiss her to bring her home to her dog. At least it was warm there. She settled for snuggling deeper into his arms while he continued.

Two dimples graced his cheeks. “Ah, what a pleasure, fair one.” He bent and she inhaled his woodsy scent. A shiver ran through her when he brushed his lips on hers. “However, kissing ye distracts me,” he whispered. “Do ye not wish to hear the rest?”

She grabbed his neck and kissed him hard then looked around. “Damn. That didn’t work.” Oh but it did, just not the way she intended. Her body responded, her pulse quickened, but they didn’t travel back to the nature reserve.

Cade shook his head. “Wilt thou cease thy spells long enough to listen?” He continued without waiting for an answer. “Now, about the celebration—”

Was he waiting for her to interrupt? She pursed her lips, a smile itching to escape.

He grinned and continued. “He held it on the first day of the new year for his daughter’s birthday.”

“Is she another of your girlfriends?” she blurted.

“She is but four years old.”

“Oh.”

He chuckled. “Do not fret, I do not have a woman, a wife, nor a maiden who captures my heart. Never have.”

Something tore inside her soul.
What about me?
“Yeah, well about that rock.” She lowered her voice. “And you say I ramble.”

“Nay, ye said that. Not I.” He ran a finger along her forehead. “Do not frown, fair one. I adore the ramble of thy words.” He tipped his head to meet her eyes. “I shall do my best to explain everything.”

Explain why your touch reaches straight to my heart then
.

“Wren freely partook in the festivities—the food, the music, the wenches.” He raised his brow. “But even more so of the ale.”

So now he was talking about the drunken sorcerer with a bird name. She had a feeling this was going to take a while. The whole time her dog was probably searching for her. Still, she loved the cadence of his voice, his accent, and the tender way he ran his hand down her back as he spoke

Dammit. She loved
him
.

“Why do ye look at me like that?” Busted. Her emotions must be written over her face.

She grinned and pulled him deeper into the alley—and farther away from Margery, who was still watching them from across the lane. “About the Wren dude,” she prompted.

“Wren’s wife died several years since, and he thought it time to find a soul mate. So he created this stone.” He held up the stone, which was shaped like a heart. How original.

When she touched it, she was surprised to find it was warm—or maybe she was frozen solid. Shivering, she peered closely at its shine, which gleamed as if it were intermixed with stone and gems. “Beautiful,” she whispered.

“He was drunk, and I figured he merely needed to believe in the stone. I listened as a friend would, and accepted it when he said he could not bear to use it.”

“So you decided to use it?” He knew? And yet didn’t tell her?

“Nay. I forgot he said it would carry my heart to find true magic...and true love.” His face flushed. “He witnessed my guests’ antics at the ball and said I needed assistance in my choice of women.”

“Would that guest be marry-me-Margery?”

He ignored her question. “I angered at his presumption, but then Wren gripped my arm and said I deserved a true and pure love and naught would come from the foolish ways I sought a companion. I knew not of the glory of love.” His gaze met hers.

She wanted to dance, shout, and celebrate his love. Wait. He didn’t claim he loved her. Not really. “So, what are you saying?” The words trickled out her mouth. “Do you think I’m that woman?”
Please, please, please say yes
. She began planning how she would explain her odd boyfriend when they returned to her island.

“I am merely repeating what he told me. I know it sounds foolish.”

It made sense to her. But now she feared it didn’t mean anything to him. “Go on.”

“Not wishing to offend, I graciously thanked him and tucked it into the pouch on my belt. Later, I was drinking with my fellow knights—”

“You’re a knight?”

“Ye are interrupting again.”

She pretended to lock her lips with a key, and then tucked her arms back under the cape.

He gave her a curious look. “As I said, I was with my fellow knights and I took out the stone to show them. The last thing I recall before I awoke in that tree is laughing about the story while rubbing it between my fingers.”

“Not so funny now, is it?” She rested her palm on his broad chest. It looked so tiny against him. She wanted to ask if he believed the part about his heart finding true love. He took her hand from his chest and turned it.

Her gaze darted up to his when he placed the stone into her palm. “Let it carry ye, Sage. If ye so choose.”

“But...” She froze, afraid any movement would catapult her away from him.

“Ye did not have a choice. Now I give ye one. I suppose upon rubbing it shall take ye home.”

“You didn’t rub it to come here. Maybe that’s not how it works.” She wanted to drop it to the ground. Forget it existed.

“If it does not work, we shall seek out Wren.” He propped his shoulder against the stone wall, studied the stone, and then her. “I want thy happiness above all.”

He wanted her here—but what did she want? She felt as if the world fell away under his scrutiny. Did she have to make the decision right now? A big part of her already had. She leaned into him and he held her head against his chest. His deep voice vibrated against her ear. “The time between us was a blink of a day, but I avow...” his voice faltered.

She pulled back and brushed his ebony hair away from his eyes. His tears pooled like oil, then one spilled softly and hung for a moment on his square jaw before dropping away to his tunic. He swiped at his eyes and turned away.

“Cade?”

“I never weep.” He whipped around. “Ever. But the thought of ye leaving shatters all defenses. Ye may deem me a fool for believing such nonsense about magic, about the stone. Yet because of it, I acquired everything that ever mattered. I found worth in life. I found ye, Sage.” His hand cupped her chin. “I found ye,” he repeated.

The weight of his words knocked her over the edge of happiness. She started to speak, but he continued, holding her captive with the tender hold upon her chin.

“Perchance ye feel as I do? Ye feel the magic? The bond when we kiss?” Again, he spoke before she could respond. “Because of ye, I have nay doubt of the power of love.”

She took several steps back. “Wait.” She closed her eyes against his piercing and pleading gaze. Should she believe so easily? Could she trust her heart as well as his? Her soul answered with a resounding yes. Suddenly home wasn’t important, though she’d miss Tex. The crazy, high-spirited dog saved her sanity when everyone else had abandoned her. Her last relationship had hardened her heart, yet Tex was her constant companion through everything. And now she had to abandon him?