A Highland Home A Contemporary Highland Romance Book Two (10 page)

Angus tried his best to turn her mood around, but Rowan said little more, lost in her thoughts. If they did ever find the bastard, he’d have words with the man for doing this to her-and harsh words at that.

Once at the university, they parked and found their way across the school campus, weaving through the college students who were wrapping up their classes and getting ready for the weekend. The sun was setting, streaking pinks and blues across the evening sky, the air damp and holding onto a bitter chill. Angus wanted to hold her close, wanted to pull her into his arms and comfort her, but she kept her pace brisk and he knew the last thing she’d want is him standing in the way of her one and only goal.

They stood at the counter of the registrar’s office and waited for the clerk. “I’m sorry to say, but we don’t hold onto the housing records more than five years. And ye don’t have a name?”

“Just my mother’s-Iona Campbell. She was a nursing student.” Rowan looked so tense and on edge, she was all but vibrating.

The clerk punched something into the computer, but then shook his head. “I’m sorry. The files don’t go back that far. Ye could talk to the Associate Dean in charge of the nursing program-Mrs. Daile. She’d likely be able to help. Back then they tended to house the majors together, so there’s a good chance the roommate was also in nursing and Mrs. Daile would know her. Here’s where ye’ll find the nursing department.”

Rowan took the paper the clerk handed her, and gave him a small smile. “Thanks.”

Once outside, she gave Angus a hopeful smile, though hesitation and worry tainted her eyes. “It’s worth a shot, right?”

“Aye, love. It can’t hurt to speak to the woman. She may even have files dating that far back.” He kept any doubt from his voice, knowing she’d pick up on it. She was already fighting to stay positive. He didn’t want to add to her uncertainty. “We’re one step closer, aye?”

“We are.” She threw him a sideways glance, her lips turning up in a hint of a smile, and then took hold of his hand, making his heart trip with hope and possibility. “And with some luck, we’ll soon have even more information to go on.”

“Aye, love.” He brought their linked hands to his lips, still unsure of what to do about her father.

Mrs. Daile listened to Rowan’s request with a keen interest. Though she must be in her sixties, she didn’t look a day over fifty. “Yes, dear. I remember your mother. One of the better students in the program.”

“I doubt you were aware of it, but my mother was pregnant during the last few months before her graduation. I’m trying to find my father, and need to track down her roommate. I think she may have been another nursing student, but I’m afraid I don’t have a name-for either of them. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.” Rowan sat perched on the edge of her seat, her back stiff as she waited for an answer under the woman’s eagle eye gaze.

“I’m afraid we don’t give out student information for reasons of privacy.” Mrs. Daile pursed her lips into a frown. “I’m sorry. I do wish I could help, but it’s school policy.”

“Please. I have to speak to her. She’s the only one that can help me figure out what happened back then.” Practically out of her seat, Rowan’s voice was so raw with emotion, it had Angus second guessing himself once more, his guilt tearing at his insides.

He put an arm around her, and pulled her close, wishing he could take away her pain. “Whist, love. We’ll figure it out.”

“I really am sorry, but I do hope you understand.” Mrs. Daile got to her feet. “Before you go, be sure to have a look at the display cabinet. Your mother and one of her close friends both received an award when they were here. It’s just at the end of the hall. You’ll pass it on your way out. Be sure to take a look. It shouldn’t be missed if ye’ve come all this way to find out about your mother.”

“Thank ye for yer time.” Angus tried to steer Rowan out of the room, but she stiffened in his arms, not wanting to move. “Come, love. We’ll find her another way.”

Rowan nodded, with a final glance over her shoulder at the older woman. Once out in the hall, she collapsed against Angus’s side, and he knew if she looked at him, he’d see her green eyes sparkling with tears.

But there was something in the woman’s insistence… Ignoring his mother’s warning, he pointed down the hall. “Look, love. That must be the cabinet.”

“Frankly, I don’t care about some stupid award. My mom’s roommate was the only hope I had of tracking down my father. The chances of finding him were slim to begin with, but without my mom’s roommate, I have no hope at all.”

When she continued walking past the cabinet, Angus grabbed her hand and pulled her back. “Just a quick look. Then I promise we can get out of here.”

With his arm around her shoulder, and her body pressed against him, he turned her towards the glass display case-and it quickly became apparent what Mrs. Daile was trying to tell them. “Look, love. It’s yer ma-and another woman. Imogen Murray.”

A strangled sound of hope escaped her. “Do you think that’s her then?”

“Aye, love. I do. There was a reason Mrs. Daile was insistent about the cabinet. She couldn’t give you any information directly, but clearly, she still wanted to help.” Angus brushed a stray curl from her face, his touch lingering on her soft skin.

What the hell was he doing? Was he helping her or trying to hinder? Not even he knew.

Rowan squeezed his hand before letting go. “I need to thank her. I don’t think she realizes what she’s done for me. I’ll be just a minute.”

He watched her head towards the office, her red locks bouncing down her back, an ease back in her step. It was damn good to see her happy, especially when so much could still go wrong. He supposed, all he could do is try to keep her happy-and safe.

When she came jogging back down the hallway, it was with a smile on her face. She twined her fingers through his and beamed up at him, his worries forgotten in the sparkle of her eyes. “I’m buying you dinner.”

“Are ye?” He bit his bottom lip and took her in as if she alone could sustain him.

When she started to go, he pulled her back to him and wrapped an arm around her waist to hold her close. With her curves pressed against him, her body molding to his, he could barely think straight, his only thoughts of her.

She slowly blinked with a deep breath, and then looked up at him through her thick lashes, her full lips turning up in a teasing smile. “Are you not hungry then?”

“Aye, love, I’m hungry. Of that there’s no doubt.” By the gods, it took all he had to not devour her then and there. To not pin her against the wall and ravage her until she melted under his touch, until she whimpered with need and screamed out his name, riding a wave of passion. How he mustered the self-control to let her go, he hadn’t a clue, though he kept his hand linked with hers, still needing to feel her touch. “Come on, love. I know the perfect place.”

***

After a quick dinner, Angus took Rowan to his favorite pub when in the city, settling them down with a couple of pints. “We can track down Imogen’s number later, once we get to the hotel.”

“Aren’t you the least bit worried about finding a room? We’ve yet to get a place for the night.” Her eyebrows perked in an accusatory fashion, as if this would be an ‘I told you so’ moment in the near future if all the rooms were booked for the night. She’d wanted to get it out of the way before grabbing dinner, but he’d put it off.

“Och, we’ll be fine, love. Worse comes to worse, we can drop the seats in the back of my Rover and snuggle up together.” Though he was joking, he’d be happy enough to squeeze his six foot three frame into that cramped space if Rowan was nestled against him.

“I’m not snuggling with you, Angus. Not in the back of your Rover or in a hotel, for that matter.” She looked so matter of fact, he had to laugh.

“Well, we don’t have to snuggle if ye don’t want to, love. I’m sure there are plenty of other things to occupy our time.” He knew he shouldn’t be teasing her with innuendos, yet he couldn’t help himself-not when he couldn’t get her out of his head. He was never like this, but he couldn’t resist her.

The glint in her eyes and the smile on her lips only encouraged him further. She reached over and slapped his arm. “You are so bad, Angus. I’ve told you-I’m no good at this sort of thing. Stop. Flirting.”

His mouth popped open in mock horror. “Flirting? Me? You’re the one that’s been doing all the flirting, my dear.” He then pursed his lips together and shook his head with a stern look. “And I can tell ye right now, ye’ll not get me into yer bed no matter how hard ye try. I’m just not that sort of lad, thank ye verra much.”

“I’m ignoring you.” Yet she laughed and leaned into him.

“So ye are.” Seeing her smile return eased the tension knotted in his gut. Things had been emotional for her the last few days, and with such uncertainty still looming ahead, he was happy for these moments to fortify them. Tilting his head towards her empty glass, he slid off the stool where they were sitting by a far counter. “Will ye have another?”

“Sure. We’re walking distance to wherever it is we’ll be staying, right?”

“Och, aye. There are plenty of hotels in the neighborhood. Back in a sec.”

Now that the offices had let out, the bar was crowded with locals as well as tourists from around the world. Being a Friday night didn’t help much either. Another pint, and then he’d see about finding them rooms.

He wrestled his way to the bar, and after finally getting the barkeep’s attention, made his way back to Rowan, drinks in hand-only to have his back go up when he found a couple of young louts annoying her with unwanted attentions.

Chapter Nine

“Like I said, the seat’s taken. And I’ll say it again, in case you missed it the few first times, I have no interest in you guys showing me around. Thanks.” Rowan was getting annoyed.

Minutes after Angus had gone, two American tourists had come over to ask if the seat was available. Once they’d identified her as a fellow countryman, they’d refused to leave, wanting to show her all the pubs they’d already discovered in the few days they’d been in the city-several of them in the last few hours if their levels of inebriation were anything to go by.

“I promise to show you a good time.” He leaned towards her, but when Rowan shifted away it was to find herself coming up against his friend.

She’d come across jerks like this before when she’d been traveling. It seemed every country and every city had its share of obnoxious drunks, and walking away never worked-they only followed and escalated it.  “You guys need to back up. I’m in no mood and you’re starting to piss me off.”

The guy in front of her tugged on one of her curls so that it bounced when he let it go. “But this is fun. Don’t you think this is fun, Jerry?”

Before Jerry could answer, Angus stepped to her side. “Is there a problem? Looks like the lady wants a bit of space, and I want my seat back.”

The guys were big, but Angus stood a good six inches taller-and since Angus wrestled cattle and sheep most days of the week, Rowan was sure he also had a bit of power packed into those muscles.

“We were just talking.” Jerry looked cocky and stupid, and neither of them was leaving.

Angus shouldered the first guy out of the way so he could move towards his seat and put their drinks down, though he made sure to keep an eye on them at all times. “Conversation’s over. I suggest ye take yerselves off to sober up some place.”

“Why don’t you mind your own business?” The guy pushed Angus with a rough hand to his shoulder.

Angus shifted to shield Rowan, his body coiled tight. She wanted to tell him it was fine if they left-that it wasn’t worth the trouble, yet she knew any attempt to walk away would likely result in one of those jerks doing something stupid when they had their backs turned. When the guy tried another push, Angus grabbed the guy’s hand, lightning quick, and bent it in an awkwardly painful position, the man crumpling in pain.

Angus applied a bit more pressure, and the guy stifled a squeak, throwing the friend a quick warning to not get involved. “I said it’s time you go. Wouldn’t ye agree?”

When the guy nodded, Angus pushed him towards his friend. “I suggest showing the lady some respect next time.”

Once they’d scurried off with a few hateful glares, Angus ran his hands down her arms, his touch comforting. “Are ye all right, love?”

“Yeah. Just glad you showed up when you did.” She tried to keep the tension from her voice, but now that those jerks were gone, her façade slipped lose and she realized just how uneasy they’d made her.

Angus pulled her into the safety of his arms and held her to him, his body still stiff and bristling from the incident. With her head against his chest, she slipped her arms around his waist, the solid feel of him reassuring, and his scent of wool and leather comforting. He kissed the top of her head and then leaned his cheek there. “Ye’re safe, love. I promise. I won’t let ye come to harm.”

And it really was that simple. She knew she could trust him. Not only to keep her safe, but to be there for her-in a way no other man ever had. Not Stephen, and certainly not her father.

Yet she still feared she’d muck it all up if she let it get serious. But maybe, just maybe… Would he be willing to keep things casual until she could get her life sorted out? That way, no one would get hurt if things didn’t work out. Really, she shouldn’t even go down that road, but she found herself thinking of him more and more with each passing day, and as of late, she didn’t think either of them could stay away from each other, even if they tried.