Timeless Mist (8 page)

"I should think it
was
obvious. I'm try
ing
to move this th
ing
, on
ly
it's
not
cooperat
ing
."

"Why?" an arched brow
indicated his humor at the situation.

"Why what?"

"Why are ye try
ing
to move it?"

"Maybe because I want to see
what's behind it. Is
n't
that
usual
ly
why a person moves someth
ing
?" Her tone dripped
with sarcasm. It seemed to be becom
ing
a habit around this guy.

Hands on her hips, she pulled
herself up to her full five feet, three inches. "Look, enough is enough. I
want to know what's go
ing
on around here right now. I've
had
enough of this charade, and I do
n't
like
be
ing
the brunt of a
joke." With a lift of her chin, she bold
ly
met his gaze. "I want to speak to Mr. MacGregor this minute." She
stamped her foot to emp
has
ize
her point, putt
ing
as
much authority in her voice as she could.

"I am the MacGregor." Iain
gave her a perplexed look, "what is it ye wished to speak to me
about?"

"I
have
no idea what kind of game you're play
ing
here," Kris moved
to stand in front of him, a low growl escap
ing
her, "or who put you up to it, though I've a
pretty
good idea. I do
n't
know what kind of joke Mr. MacGregor thinks
he's pull
ing
, but I do
n't
like
it. I do
n't
like
surprises and I
do
n't
have
time for sil
ly
games." She glared
at him, irked when he offered no response, his manner cool, aloof.

Obvious
ly
, the direct approach would
n't
work. The man continued
to stare at her as if she
were
nuts. She tried a different tact. She took a deep breath to calm her unsteady
nerves.

"Look, I realize you're on
ly
an actor be
ing
paid to play a part. I'm
sure Mr. MacGregor is pay
ing
you
very
well. I can
assure you, you wo
n't
get into trouble, you wo
n't
be fired, and you'll still be paid for your services, I'll make sure of
that
. You're
really
quite
good. You
had
me fooled."

She smiled, try
ing
to put a sooth
ing
tone in her voice,
"you can stop now. I know what's go
ing
on. I've guessed the game, so you can all stop with the play or charade or
whatever it is you're do
ing
."
She looked at him for a long moment, a lump form
ing
in her throat, "I just want to go home." She turned away, her hands
clenched stiff
ly
at
her sides.

Kris swiped at her cheeks with
her hands. She
was
stronger than this. She
hadn't
cried in years, she
wasn't
about to start now. And she would
not
,
could
not
, let this
man see her cry.

She
was
halted by an iron grip on her wrist. Iain
turned her around to face him. Cupp
ing
her chin, he searched her upturned face. She could see by his look
that
she'd insulted him.

"First," he began as
released her after a long minute. "I am no' an actor." He crossed his
arms in front of his broad chest; the disgust in his tone unmistakable. "Second,
I would glad
ly
send ye
home if ye would but tell me where 'home' is, and third, why dinnae ye explain
to me what ye think is go
ing
on."

"Okay, fine," her anger
returned, fierce and quick, at his arrogant tone. It
was
her on
ly
defense. She raised a brow at him in amused contempt, "
have
it your way. I know Mr.
MacGregor hired you to play the part of Iain MacGregor. I also know he somehow
snuck in here in the middle of the night and either moved th
ing
s around in my room, or
moved me to a
not
her
room, although I'm
not
real sure how he would accomplish either of those unless he drugged me or
someth
ing
." She
waved a dismissive hand and continued when he opened his mouth to interrupt. "Anyway,
he did one of these so it would appear I
was
back in the seventeenth century. Why he did
that
,
I
have
no idea. Maybe
he's a practical joker, maybe he does it to all his guests to give them a feel
ing
of realism or someth
ing
, I do
n't
know." She gave him
an appreciative smile as she let her gaze travel the length of him. "I
must say, though, he did an excellent job pick
ing
you out. You bear a
very
strong resemblance to the real Iain MacGregor." She met his gaze,
"but it's over now. I know all about it, so you can just stop pretend
ing
, br
ing
me my belong
ing
s and I'll be out of here
ASAP."

"ASAP?" Iain's brows
knit together in confusion.

"As soon as possible." Kris
planted her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. At Iain's blank expression,
Kris lost all sense of composure. She groaned in frustration at his cool, aloof
manner and threw her hands in the air. She stalked back to the closet. "If
that
's the way it's go
ing
to be, if you're
not
go
ing
to tell me the truth,
could you at least help me move this th
ing
?"

"I ask ye again, why?"

Kris sighed in exasperation, but
forced her voice to remain calm. He
was
worse than a child with all his 'whys'. This guy
was
either
very
good or
dumb as a stone. Maybe he'd
ing
ested
to many steroids or someth
ing
.

"So I can see what's behind
it,
that
's why."

"'Tis naught behind it save
a wall." Iain shook his head,

"I do
n't
believe you. Now, are you go
ing
to help me move it or
not
?"

Iain continued to stare at her as
if she
hadn't
any wits
left in her head.

"I'll just move it myself
then." Kris pressed her lips together to keep from sputter
ing
out her anger when he
did
n't
move. She stood
to the side of the wardrobe and firm
ly
planted her feet. She realized she
wasn't
go
ing
to get it to
move this time any more than she could a few moments before, but
that
did
n't
stop her from try
ing
.

Of course, the stubborn th
ing
still would
n't
budge. She turned and
planted her backside against it again and for a second time, pushed with all
her might. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and told herself
that
her headache, rapid
ly
becom
ing
a migraine, would be
well worth it when e
very
one
stopped play
ing
games
with her.

And after she showed Iain
that
she knew what
was
go
ing
on, he could stop act
ing
and get her some aspirin
and a cup of coffee with which to take them. She braced herself more secure
ly
, closed her eyes, and
pushed again with e
very
ounce of anger, frustration, and will power she
had
.

It moved!

Her eyes flew open and she looked
up in triumph then gasped when she realized Iain stood over her, his arms on
either side of her head. Her concentration
had
been so intense on mov
ing
the wardrobe she
hadn't
heard him approach.

He stood close enough for her to
feel the heat from his body and smell the musky male scent of him. He smelled
of outdoors, of sweat and fresh air and all male. The sensations overwhelmed
her for a moment and she froze as her senses leapt to life. A sensuous light
passed between them as she met his blue eyes. Eyes
that
darkened with desire.

His gaze traveled over her face
and searched her eyes. A t
ing
le
started in the pit of her stomach and someth
ing
intense flared through his apparent interest. His nearness made her senses spin
and her heart race.

Kris saw his head lower ever so
slight
ly
, uncertain
ly
. Her lips parted in
silent invitation, though she did
not
give them permission to do so.

When his lips final
ly
touched hers, the heat of
his mouth sent a wave of pleasure through her entire body. It
was
a kiss meant to tempt,
not
seize, to woo and
seduce,
not
overcome
and conquer, but to give in to. She leaned into that kiss, accept
ing
it and silent
ly
ask
ing
for more.

The shock of her response jolted
her back to reality. Her eyes flew open and she broke the kiss. She cleared her
throat, pretend
ing
not
to be affected. With a
deep, unsteady breath, she moved away from him before she did someth
ing
complete
ly
stupid,
like
throw herself back in
his arms and kiss him this time.

Iain's brows flickered a little
and he offered her a sort of half smile. Her knees tremble a bit. His smile,
though
not
quite
a smile,
was
almost
as intimate as his kiss. She looked
away, then back up when she heard him move.

He shrugged in indifference
before he proceeded to move the heavy piece of furniture out from the wall as
easi
ly
as he would
move a goblet from one place to a
not
her.
Or so it seemed to her. She stood and watched, silent
ly
wait
ing
to see what
was
behind
door number one, as it
were
.

When the wardrobe
was
far enough away from the
wall, Kris crossed the room to peer behind it, half in anticipation, half in
dread. What she saw, or rather did
n't
see, made her blink several times in rapid succession. A scream of fear and
frustration built in the back of her throat.

She froze, mind and body benumbed
with the reality of what she saw. She stood motionless and shook her head in
dismay, too stunned to cry or give voice to her panic. She
was
so confused
that
for a moment she could
n't
speak. When she final
ly
found her voice, a faint
thread of hysteria crept into it.

"I-I do
n't
understand." She
looked at Iain, "I
was
so certain." Her anger evaporated, leav
ing
on
ly
uncertainty and
agony of loss. Her mind refused to register the significance of what she looked
at behind the wardrobe.

Not
h
ing
.

Not
h
ing
but a blank wall. No
hidden door lead
ing
to
a closet, no knob,
not
even the s
had
ow of an
outline for a door. Just an empty wall. In desperation, she examined the wall
hop
ing
to find
evidence of a concealed door. The spark of hope
that
flickered in her spirit
was
ext
ing
uished in a
heartbeat. Her heart squeezed in anguish as she realized she
was
stuck here. Wherever
here
really
was
.

*          *          *

"Are ye ill, lass?" Iain
watched the various emotions cross her face. She gazed at him in anguish, her
expression one of utter desolation and hopelessness. He'd
not
seen such a look of loss
and desolation since his clan
had
lost so much six months prior.

"I think so," she spoke
in a suffocated whisper.

"Come, lass, and sit ye
down." He touched her elbow light
ly
,
urg
ing
, yet
protective. Kris gave one last, hopeful glance toward the wall, then did as he
bid.  Sink
ing
into the
stuffed chair, she stared numb
ly
at the wardrobe.

"Here," Iain crossed to
the table and poured a goblet of wine. He returned and stood before her,
"lass, drink this." He offered her the chalice. When she did
n't
take it, on
ly
continued to stare with a
blank expression, he sank down before her. "Lass?" No response.

"Kristianna, ye must drink
some wine."
Not
h
ing
. Iain reached out and
took her by the arms, shak
ing
her light
ly
,
"Kristianna!" He called loud
ly
.