Stone Heart (10 page)

She leaned into him, looked up and smiled. "I've never had so much fun in my entire life. You're wonderful."

"I hardly think the men in yon room think the same, lass. I should go and help them if you are sure you are all right."

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Stone Heart

by Candace Sams

"No. Just stay put. The plumbers will handle it. They've got equipment for emergencies like this."

He hung his head. "I know not what a plumber is. But I do know I have caused you much trouble this day. You'll be wishing you had never heard of me or the spell to set me free. I canna' think why you would call me wonderful."

She turned to him and took one of his hands in hers.

"Angus, everybody has caused messes in bathrooms. Nobody is perfect, and everybody screws up."

"What is
'screws up'
?"

"It's what people nowadays call making a mistake." She leaned her head against his shoulder. "And it's okay. Really.

I've done the same thing in my house back home."

"You are only saying that to make me feel less like a hapless fool."

"No, I'm not. I've had to call the same kind of people to come clean up my messes in my own bathroom several times. Sooner or later it happens to everyone. So, it's over.

Don't even worry about it any more. Okay?"

He gazed down at her. "'Tis so verra' sweet you are. I wish the whole world could know you."

Looking into his dark eyes, Karen began to wish, too. She wished she were healthy and could be with him for more than just a few more weeks. Unshaven and up close, he was captivatingly handsome. So many wishes passed through her brain, even as Angus lowered his head and planted a very soft kiss against her mouth.

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Stone Heart

by Candace Sams

"You are like a bright little star in the darkest sky," he whispered. "No matter what happens, you still shine and always, always will."

Stupefied into silence by the most breathtaking compliment she'd ever received, Karen sat there for some minutes gazing into his eyes. She couldn't move, and he seemed equally as entranced. Some minutes later, she had no idea how long it really was, Karen barely heard a loud voice from the doorway. One of the hotel employees was saying something to her. She slowly turned her head in his direction.

The plumber repeated what he said. "Did you 'ear me?

We've got the mess cleared up and the commode seems to be in order, Miss. Try not to flush anything down the pipes like that load of 'air again, will you?"

She stood up, grabbed her purse and tipped the men very well. "Thanks very much. You've no idea what I'm talking about, but you've just given me one of the best clogged toilets of my entire life."

The plumber grinned. "Whatever that means, good on you, Miss. 'Ave a nice evenin'."

Karen watched as the plumber and his companions left the room. She quietly closed the door behind them and turned to face Angus. "So, how was your shower?"

He burst out laughing the same time she did. It took a long time for him to get his laughter under control, but it was as she had said. The incident was over and they were the closer for it.

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Suddenly remembering she had been gone for quite some time, Angus eyed the bags sitting on the bed. "I assume you employed those men to help you with all these bundles?"

"They're hotel porters," Karen explained. "I couldn't carry the food and everything else, so I got them to help me."

"I canna' find my clothing."

"Your things are in one of those bags." She pointed to the parcels on the bed. "First, let's eat. I think the food is still hot."

Angus watched as she picked up one of the bags, placed food on a small table and pulled up two chairs. The aroma that filled the room almost had him on his knees. Whatever the food was, it smelled as though the gods and goddesses had a hand in its making. "What have you brought?"

She crooked one finger, beckoning to him. "Come see."

Angus dropped the robe he had held against his body and approached. He stopped suddenly when Karen's eyes grew twice their normal size and she began to ogle. He looked down and remembered that only the thick cloth covered the area below his hips. He backed away. "'Tis sorry I am, Karen.

I had nothing to wear. If you will but show me m'things, I'll dress quick."

And miss eating with Hercules?
Karen tried not to stare, but it was impossible. She'd never seen so much pure, unadulterated man in her entire life. Not that she had any experience in that area, but surfing the 'Net and perusing the stud sites had been a late night hobby once upon a time.

None of what she'd seen could possibly compare with a man only a few inches short of seven feet. A man whose body was 85

Stone Heart

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so finely crafted that it seemed a sin to bother with the oversized towel. Muscle rippled, biceps flexed, and those pectorals made her mouth go dry. His body was almost free of hair except for a soft fine line running down the middle of his chest. The line divided small pillows of abdominal muscle, and Karen could only image what lay below those abs. And the flesh on his thighs and calves bulged.
Yes! I can die
happy.

"Lass?" He arched an eyebrow and put his hands on his hips.

"Hmmmm?" she responded.

"M'clothes?"

Karen jerked herself back into reality and raised her gaze from where it had been. "It's okay. You ... you can sit and eat just as you are."

Angus tossed his hair back over his shoulders and tried not to laugh again. He reasoned that Karen probably wasn't used to seeing an almost nude man. There was a time when he would have taken total advantage of the situation, but not now. And certainly not with a woman who might be innocent about how to handle a man's basic needs. Besides, her body was frail. Instinct told him pleasuring her might cause more harm than happiness. So, he slowly sat and waited for her to push some of the food toward him. As she did so, he ignored her hot stares.

Putting her attention on the food, Karen said, "It's hamburgers, fries and a chocolate shake. Just like you wanted." She watched his face break into a broad grin as he unwrapped the meal.

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Angus' eyes closed for a moment as he bit into his first hamburger, tasted the French fries and almost guzzled the chocolate shake. "The food here is better than any king in my time could have feasted upon. I dunna' believe I will ever get enough of it. Forgive my manners if I eat hearty."

She chuckled as he stuffed himself. Something about the way he ate made her happy. So many people took such things for granted. It would do them good to see someone who had probably fought for every scrap of food he could get.

He'd said the past had been harsh. She believed him.

Karen ate as much as she could, then let Angus finish off the rest. She cleared away the empty wrappers and walked toward the bed. "Now, I've got some surprises for you."

"More than the food?" He glanced at the parcels. "I am unworthy of such treatment."

"You have to have some more clothing. So, I got a few things," she responded and shrugged, as though her gifts were nothing of consequence.

Angus shook his head. "There are a wee bit more than a
few
things here."

Karen was almost giddy with excitement. She couldn't wait to see what he'd look like in the new clothes. They were all conservative, meant to blend in with everything other people would wear. After seeing him with only a towel on, she knew it was an exercise in futility. Angus MacGregor was going to stand out, no matter what he did. But he'd do it with simple class.

She rifled through the bags until she found what she wanted. "Here, we'll try these today."

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Angus took the garment from her with a barely concealed air of anticipation. No one had ever done so much for him. He had no way to repay her. No coin or property. But he
could
show gratitude for the offering and be thankful. He ran his hand over the soft blue
pantaichean
, or pants, and held them up to his body.

Karen eyed him critically. "I think those are going to fit fine."

"What is this fabric called? The cloth is soft, unlike anything I have ever felt."

"They're called blue-jeans, or just jeans for short. They're made out of cotton. And I think this will look great with them."

He placed the jeans on the bed and took the shirt. It was a soft gray color and reminded him of the kitten he had saved for Elspeth. "I verra' much like this color," he said.

"The cloth is called flannel." She tried to hold it up across his chest. They both laughed when she had to stand on her toes just to hold it against him. Then, she stumbled and lost her balance.

Angus caught her and pulled her against his chest. For a long moment, they stared at each other. Three hundred years was a very long time to be without a woman, and he'd already tasted one sweet kiss from her this day. Though she was thin and pale and he knew he should not excite her, Karen was still a lovely creature. Were it not for her illness, she would be absolutely
enchanting
. There were lochs in Scotland that reflected the same blue in her eyes. She was short next to him, but taller than the women he had known.

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Her lips were pink, full, and trembled just a bit.
If I could but
taste of them again
. He slowly lowered his mouth toward hers.

"I'm sorry, Angus. I can't kiss you again. Before, it was different. Those hotel employees were in the room and nothing could come of it. Now that we're alone, the excitement might..." Karen let her voice trail away, swallowed hard and pushed herself out of his embrace. It was one of the hardest things she'd ever done. But no woman should ever play around with a man like him. Whoever did would be in heaven
and
hell. Heaven because of how it would feel to be with him; hell because it would end. In his time, Angus probably had the choice of any woman with a pulse. The present would be no different. They would flock to him, and Karen couldn't compete. Not only did she consider herself physically unappealing, but the doctors told her sexual relations were out of the question. So, it was best to not even go there. Angus would be a friend. That was all. Most importantly, her main goal now was to get him to someplace where he could safely live. She couldn't do that if she was physically incapacitated.

"I understand, Karen." He changed the subject "If you would show me how this clothing is worn, I will put it on," he murmured, trying to get over the moment. But she was so adorable in her innocence, and his body still craved closer contact and was actually shaking because of it.

Karen looked up, gave him a tentative smile and picked up the jeans. "You put these on like your leather pants, except 89

Stone Heart

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I'm sure you're not familiar with this." She showed him how the zipper went up and down.

He gave a mock shudder. "
That
is a mantrap!"

Karen burst out laughing. "You'll just have to be very, very careful, won't you?"

"Aye," he agreed, "else I will be hurt."

"Then, there are these." She held up a pair of cotton, athletic underpants with the longer legs." I didn't know what kind you might like, so I picked something I thought would be comfortable," she lied. She'd picked the damned things because she could imagine how great he'd look in them.

Karen tried not to think about the bikini briefs, pouches or thongs she had considered. Lord only knew what he'd have done had she bought those.

Angus admired the soft, black short-pants. "These go underneath?"

"
Aye
." She jokingly tried to mock his deep voice and accent.

He laughed. "I'll have you talking
Albannach,
or Scottish, in no time." Angus picked up the clothing and headed to the bathroom.

"Don't forget the socks," she tossed him a pair just before the bathroom door closed.

Angus quickly donned the garments, brushed his hair again and looked himself over in the mirror. "I
like
these things." They were soft, comfortable and allowed him to fit into a world where his own clothing might not.

"Did you say something?" Karen called out.

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"I said that I think you will be pleased," he responded, and opened the door. Angus saw her blue eyes widen with amazement. She
was
pleased. There was the unmistakable spark of desire in her gaze. The same as when he had so badly wanted to kiss her.

Karen tried not to look as captivated as she felt. His long hair was parted on the side and neatly draped down his back.

The gray shirt was tucked into his jeans. And they hugged him everywhere she shouldn't look. But the fit was perfect. Or it was the man who made the clothes look like perfection.

Either way, the impact was the same.

"Now, all I need is m'boots," he walked across the room, sat and pulled them on. Underneath the soft cloth of the jeans, they would look like any other man's boots instead of the Highlander gear they were.

"Very nice." Karen looked him over and hoped she'd concealed the wistful tone in her voice.

"Thank you for your gifts. The fabric and colors are wondrous. I have never owned such fine garments."

"You're more than welcome."

Angus stood and walked toward her. Again, there was a moment when something more should be said or done.

Clearly, Karen was afraid to let that moment happen. She turned and began to pack up the parcels.

"We should get going. I'm sure it's a long drive."

"We should." Though it would not take so long as she thought. The
crop circles
would show them the way.

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Stone Heart

by Candace Sams

Chapter Five

They still had miles to drive before reaching England and finding the mysterious place where Angus wanted to go. But lunch time approached, so Karen stopped, more to stretch her legs than anything else.