A Highland Home A Contemporary Highland Romance Book Two (23 page)

Rory reached up and brushed her cheek, his touch weak. “Dinnae cry, my darling lass.”

She tried to shake the tears free, not even aware they’d fallen until he mentioned it. All that time lost, time she should have spent with him-and for what? The greed of people. So a father could force his son into the family business. So a sister could manipulate a situation. 

When the sirens could be heard approaching, her tears turned to ones of relief. “Help’s here. Just hold on.”

“Forgive me, my dear. I wish I could have been there for ye.” With his words spoken on a ragged breath, his eyelids fluttered shut.

***

Rowan took comfort in Angus’s embrace, his strong arms holding her to him as they continued to wait, her father taken into surgery hours ago. She didn’t know how she’d ever thank Angus for all that he’d done.

The police had taken Imogen and the men she’d hired into custody. Worried as Imogen had been about her brother, she’d made a full confession to the police. Not that Rowan was ready to forgive her for nearly killing Rory and kidnapping her at gunpoint. Somehow, it wasn’t exactly the family reunion she’d been hoping for.

And speaking of family-the police said they’d contact Rory’s family, though he was divorced from him wife, and neither of his two sons lived in Scotland. Two brothers. She actually had family once again.

But how would they feel about her when she was the reason their father was fighting for his life? And what if they thought she was only after the family fortune and business? Would they think she was only there for her share of the money? Would they even accept her-or would they question the authenticity of her claim? With her worries pushing her towards desperation, she held onto Angus, and tried her best to keep her thoughts at bay.

It was another hour before the surgeon approached. Rowan sat up out of Angus’s arms, her back stiff and her muscles wound tighter than rigging on a full sail. “He’s out of surgery, and we were able to repair the damage, but he’s lost a lot of blood. We’re keeping him comfortable. Still, it’ll be a while before he wakes, so I suggest going home and getting some rest. We’ll call if there’s any change.”

She waited until the surgeon left before turning to Angus, knowing he’d want to take her home. Looking up into his blue eyes, she reached out and took his hand, the feel of it strong, capable. “I don’t want to go.”

“Och, love, ye need to get some rest. Ye’ve had a long day, and it won’t do ye any good to wait here when there’s no chance of him waking. We can stay in a hotel close by, and come back at the crack of dawn. Ye’ve likely not even eaten since this morning.” He tucked a red curl behind her ear. “Let me take care of ye for a bit, and I promise to have ye back here first thing.”

“What if he wakes and no one’s here?” She closed her eyes to keep her emotions from overwhelming her. “I can’t bear to lose him, Angus.”

“Aye, love. I know. But ye’ll want to be in good form when he awakes, and that won’t happen if ye’re neglecting yerself. With the medications they’ve given him, he won’t awake tonight.” His hand wandered to her cheek, his touch lingering as his gaze flicked to her lips.

She could see he wanted to kiss her, and more than ever, he meant the world to her, yet her life was still in an upheaval and he deserved better. He could have also been injured, and for something he’d tried to warn her about, no less. She just had far too much uncertainty in her life-and wondering if she was pregnant certainly wasn’t helping matters.

As if he might read her thoughts, she looked away and took a step back. She couldn’t imagine what he’d think if he found out she might be pregnant. Maybe she could get away for a few minutes and pick up a test. She was finally far enough away from Dunmuir to not be recognized. And if she got some answers, then maybe she’d feel a bit more settled. After all, she’d finally found her father.

“I guess you’re right. And if we stay local, we can get back here early enough.” She managed a smile, hoping to set him at ease, and then, unable to resist him when he was so near and needing to feel the solid comfort of him, she slipped her arms around his waist. “Thank you.”

“Anything for you, love.” He kissed the top of her head. “I don’t know what I’d have done if I lost ye.”

“I’m just sorry you’ve had to deal with so many of my messes. And
you
… you could have been killed today, and it would have been my fault.”  The thought of it had her gut in knots, her chest tight and tears stinging her eyes. “You’d be smart to get as far away from me as possible.”

“Now, how could I possibly do that, love, when ye’re my very heart?” He tipped her chin up towards him. “Look at me, love. None of this is yer fault-ye weren’t the one with the gun, and ye weren’t the one who put us in danger. That was Imogen. Do ye hear me?”

“I know.” And she did-yet she still felt responsible. Still felt guilty.

“Do ye really?” He ran a hand down her arm and linked his fingers with hers, a sigh escaping his lips. “Let’s get ye out of here. Maybe once ye get some rest ye’ll see the reality of the matter.”

Angus found them a hotel nestled in the outskirts of Glasgow. Thoughts of their room accommodations left her debating what she should do about him, but Angus didn’t give her an option, and instead booked them two separate rooms next to each other. She was at once both relieved and disappointed.

“Are ye coming, love?” Angus looked at her, worry creasing his brow.

“Sorry. Just a bit distracted.” She let him steer her towards their rooms, while she tried to decipher her feelings for him.

Truth was, if she stuck around-if she gave in to the feelings she had for him, she knew she’d be a goner. She’d fall heart and soul, head over heels with every fiber of her being in love with him. And that scared her. She’d been burned before, and she knew that if she let herself fall in love with Angus, she’d fall far harder than she had for any other man. That left her wanting to put on her racing shoes and find the nearest exist, her wounds from Stephen still too fresh to want to acquire new ones.

Yet the thought of being left alone with nothing but her thoughts had her tightening her grip on him as he saw her into her room. “Angus, I don’t want to be alone.”

“I can stay if ye’d like.” He sat down on the bed. “Come, love, and rest yer head.”

And so she did, curled up against his side, his strong arms holding her close until exhaustion swept her away into a mercifully dreamless sleep.

***

Come morning, her body felt like it’d been twisted like a pretzel and run over by a truck. She was hoping a good night’s sleep would have settled her worries about Angus, but with uncertainty about her father’s health looming, it only made her question things further.

Not having thought to bring a change of clothes to a kidnapping, she did her best to freshen up and then got ready to head to the hospital. “Are you ready to go?”

He pursed his lips as those knowing eyes of his took her in. “Aye, love. I’m ready, but ye have me worrying about ye. It’s not just yer father is it?”

She wanted to groan. And curse. “Isn’t that enough? I mean, what more do I need?”

“Is that really all there is, then?” His eyes narrowed as if scrutinizing every detail of her. “Because ye have a tendency to roll yer eyes for just a flicker of a moment when ye’re trying to avoid discussing something.”

“That’s not true.” The man was infuriating. “There’s nothing bothering me other than my father being on death’s door before I ever get the chance to know him.”

“Och, lass, I get that ye’re worried about yer da, but the eye roll ye just did again tells me there’s more bothering ye.” He took her hand and slowly pulled her to him, and though she resisted, it was only for a moment. “Tell me what else is on yer mind, love. Ye can trust me-despite all my screw-ups.”

And then before she had a chance to think, before she found the strength and courage to deny him, she spoke the words she’d been keeping to herself. “I think I’m pregnant.”

Angus swept her off her feet and twirled her around as he let out a whoop of joy-which only made her feel guilty that she couldn’t be as enthusiastic about the whole thing. He finally set her down, and when he looked at her, his smile faded, his brows drawn.

“Och, love. Dinnae fash yerself. A bairn could be a good thing.” He brushed her cheek, his touch gentle.

She let out a weary sigh and fought to keep the frustration from her voice, but failed miserably. “Yeah, it could be a good thing-when my entire life isn’t in an upheaval. When I’m in a relationship-or married. Not when I’m single, in the middle of opening a new gallery, and just survived a kidnapping. So don’t tell me not to worry-or fash myself. Because I’m
fashed
up to my eyeballs, Angus. And I can’t do this. It was a mistake to think I could settle down and a have a normal life.”   

“Rowan, I get that this isn’t ideal-and ye may not even be pregnant-but ye can’t go panicking. Ye’ve ne’er been so close to getting what ye want, yet ye’re getting ready to run again-just like ye always have.” He looked away with a shake of his head. But when he looked back, it was with an intensity that stole her breath away. “Don’t ye see… ye can be happy, love. Even if it’s not with me-though I sure as hell hope it is-ye can’t keep running if ye want to find happiness. Ye’ve got to take the bad with the good and stand yer ground-fight for yer happiness. It’s the only way, love.”

“Didn’t I warn you? I’m no good at this, Angus.” How many relationships had she ruined? He meant too much, and she couldn’t bear to have the same thing happen between them. She started to turn away but he grabbed her hand, her emotions overwhelming her.  “I just can’t think of this right now. I need to get to the hospital.”

“Very well. Let’s get ye to yer father, though we’re not through discussing this, love.” He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, her curves pressed against his solid form, his lips too close, his gaze intense. He had her head spinning as her breath hitched-and he looked ready to devour her. Brushing the hair from her face with his free hand, his touch lingered, and then he kissed her once, twice, and then again in a thorough exploration, until she clung to him, her hands fisting his shirt.

When he pulled away, they were both breathless. “I’m not going to let ye run, love. I’ll be here by yer side as a friend or lover, and I’ll always have yer back, no matter what problems arise. But we’ll deal with them. Ye don’t get to take the easy way out. Ye don’t get to run.” 

He was right. Damn it. She couldn’t let history keep repeating itself, nor could she let her past and her insecurities keep getting in her way. She took a deep breath and gathered whatever courage she could muster. He deserved better-and so did she. She deserved to be happy. And it was a start.

She steeled herself and got ready to make a stand. “You’re right. I’ve found what I was looking for, what was missing from my life, and I’m through running. I’ll deal with what comes and make the most of it. I want a life in Dunmuir, and though I’m still not sure what that will entail, I’m going to give it the shot it deserves.”

He smiled and her heart beat a little easier. “That’s all I’m asking for, love.”

“Yeah-asking. I don’t exactly recall a whole lot of question marks in that statement of yours.” She burst out laughing-and it amazed her that he could still set her at ease, despite everything. “Now are you going to take me to see my father or should I start walking?”

He linked his hand with hers and brought it to his lips. “Let’s go, love.”

When they got to the hospital and walked into her father’s room, it was to find he was awake and being kept company by two men in their twenties, their resemblance to him hard to miss. Reddish hair, blue eyes. They looked just like him-just like her.

She stopped short, her breathing shallow as her pulse raced. These were her brothers, her father. It was everything she’d hoped for, yet she felt like a stranger intruding on a private moment. Worse still, she was the reason Rory had been shot. If he hadn’t tried to save her, if she hadn’t gone looking for him, he’d never have been injured.

“I’m sorry to interrupt. I can come back.” She was already spinning on her heels when Angus put a steadying hand on her shoulder and motioned with a tilt of her head to the people behind her.

She turned back to them and found her brothers standing there by her father’s side. There was a long pause of silence between them, and then the eldest of the brothers stepped towards her.

“I’m Niall and this is my younger brother, Finnean. It’s a pleasure to meet ye, lass.” Niall extended his hand, but when she took it expecting a shake, he pulled her into a hearty embrace. “Ye’re family now.”

Niall let her go, and Finnean gave her another hug, relief flooding through her, her heart overwhelmed with emotion. “It really is a pleasure.”

They both shook Angus’s hand, and got the introductions out of the way, before Niall grabbed his brother. “I could do with a coffee. We’ll be back in just a few.”

Angus quickly kissed the top of her head and joined her brothers, so it was now just her and her father. She sat down in the seat near the bed, quickly taking him in. He looked a bit pale, which made his freckles stand out, but his blue eyes were clear and attentive, kind and intelligent. “How are you feeling?”

“I’ll manage, lass.” Rory reached out and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “I can’t tell ye how happy ye’ve made me. Yer mother… she meant the world to me, and I can’t apologize enough for not being there for ye. I can only hope ye’ll let me be a part of yer life now.”