An Enchanted Spring: Mists of Fate - Book Two (16 page)

“How?” he asked again.

Aidan’s gut twisted with her look of helplessness. It was one he figured she didn’t wear very often, if ever. “I don’t know,” she admitted.

“Let me help you,” he said softly. She jumped up from the bed and started to pace. “Like it or not, I’m involved. I have ways to protect you from him.”

“I don’t want to need your help,” she whispered, the tears spilling onto her cheeks. “I didn’t ask for this.”

“You didn’t,” he agreed. He stood and stopped her, sliding his hands down her arms to join hers. “But you have it. And I can help you. But you have to let me.”

A charged moment passed, and while she silently considered, Aidan said more prayers than he had cumulatively in the whole of his life.

“Okay.”

He released a breath. “Your trust isn’t misplaced, Emma. You have ten minutes to be downstairs, and we’re leaving in fifteen. Grab what you can and I’ll buy you more when we get there!” he called over his shoulder as he thumped down the stairs.

• • •

“…a month, maybe more.” Aidan was on the phone when Emma cautiously entered the kitchen.

“Let’s roll.” Reilly bounced on his heels. “I’m ready.”

“Reilly loves to fly,” Aidan explained wryly.

“I do,” he confirmed. “A metal bird in the sky that I control? Oh, aye. Definitely aye.”

“Wait. You pilot the plane?”

Reilly smirked. “Private pilot’s license.”

“Les will be flying this time, though,” Aidan said with a roll of his eyes. “He’s meeting us at Logan.”

“We’re really doing this,” Emma said, dazed.

“Cian, bring Ms. Perkins’s bags to the car,” Aidan instructed. “Colin, tell your mother that I’m sorry to have missed her.”

“No way,” Colin said with a glare. “
You
can tell her when you next see her.”

Aidan gave a slight shake of his head, and Colin paused before he nodded back, resigned.

“Be well, uncle.”

“You too, nephew. Take care of things if they don’t go as planned,” Aidan said with a finality that, in Emma’s opinion, was a bit unnecessary. Did they say goodbye like this every time?

Well, every family had their weird quirks, she supposed.

“When do they ever go as planned?” Colin replied, and they both grinned like fools before pulling each other into a tight hug. They slapped backs, and Emma looked away when she noticed Colin’s damp eyes.

“Emma. I can’t thank you enough,” Colin said, pulling her into his arms. The hug surprised her; she felt like she’d had more human contact in the last hour than in the last ten years. She awkwardly hugged him back.

“You don’t have to thank me,” she replied.

“I do.” He lowered his voice. “Can you keep a secret?”

“I’m a publicity manager, remember? Secrets are second nature to me.”

“God, I hope so,” Aidan muttered.

“What was that?” she asked.

“Ready to go,” he said, louder.

Colin beamed at her, then whispered in her ear, “In all my years of knowing Aidan, he’s never looked so alive. Thanks for letting him take care of you.”

She blushed and managed a nod. She was uncomfortable enough realizing that she needed help; it only made things worse when it was acknowledged.

She gave Colin a little wave as they walked outside, where Cian had a black SUV waiting. She slid into the vehicle, and Cian shut the door behind her. She glanced at Reilly, who was sitting in the front seat. When she caught Aidan’s eye, he didn’t look away. He returned her stare grimly.

“This is not how I wanted to spend my day,” he said, surly.

She laughed, causing Reilly to turn around.

“It’s for the best,” Reilly said pointedly.

“When did you become her sire?” Aidan muttered.

“The moment I met her,” Reilly retorted. His eyes softened when he focused on Emma. “You’re safe with me, lass.”

“But not with Aidan?” she couldn’t help but tease.

“Not even close,” Aidan murmured so only she could hear. Her pulse fluttered. “Cian, what’s our current flight status?”

• • •

They pulled directly onto the tarmac, and Cian drove straight to a private hangar. Before he even had the SUV in park, all doors opened and airport personnel helped Emma out of the car and into the waiting jet. A cheery flight attendant handed her a mimosa, and a uniformed officer checked their passports and luggage.

Even Aidan MacWilliam couldn’t escape TSA.

Emma looked around in awe. The jet was lushly appointed; the cream-colored seats faced each other in groups of four, a table separating them into cozy conversational areas. Outlets were everywhere, and she hadn’t missed when the flight attendant pressed a button to lower the giant television screen into a discreet compartment in the floor. The minibar at the front of the cabin had a blue light around it, and a door at the back of the cabin stood open, displaying the stewardess’s prep station.

Reilly slid into the seat facing her and let out a heavy sigh. “I hate when Les is the pilot.”

“Why?”

Reilly pouted, transforming instantly from a man to a boy. “He doesn’t let me in the cockpit.”

Emma stared for a moment, then burst out laughing. “You’re kidding.”

“Nay,” Reilly said, shaking his head sadly. “He follows the rules all the time. Makes for a stodgy life, if you ask me.”

“Stodgy?” she repeated.

“Dull. Boring. Uninspired,” Aidan said as he joined them. “Also could describe Reilly on a typical day.” To Reilly he added, “Back off Les. He does a fine job of flying this beast, and you could learn a thing or two from him.”

“If he let me at the controls, I might,” Reilly muttered punitively.

Aidan ignored him. “Mandy’s loading the food and we should be in the air shortly.”

“Who’s Mandy?” Emma asked.

“The flight attendant,” Reilly replied, pulling out a book and popping in earbuds.

A flash of something raced through Emma at the nickname, and her eyes narrowed as she remembered the woman who’d handed her the mimosa. The attendant’s nametag had clearly said
Amanda
.
Not Mandy.

“Easy,” Aidan murmured, amusement lighting his eyes. “I’ve no desire to see bloodshed over a mere name.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Mmmhmm,” was all he said.

“Mr. MacWilliam, it’s a pleasure to serve you again. Would you care for a drink?” Amanda asked, oblivious to Emma’s stiffness.

“Please, Mandy, an orange juice would be fine. How’s Paula?”

The flight attendant’s eyes lit up like the fourth of July. “She’s wonderful. I can’t believe she’s six months old already!” She grinned at Emma. “Paula’s my baby. Named her after my husband, Paul.” She gave a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I get a bit carried away when it comes to them.”

“No worries,” Emma managed to say. “Congratulations.”

Amanda went off to get Aidan’s drink, and Emma refused to look at him.

“Mmmhmm,” he repeated.

She ignored him and settled the small sleep mask over her face. Unfortunately, it didn’t block out his infuriating chuckles.

• • •

As they flew over the Atlantic, Aidan reluctantly put thoughts of Emma, naked in his bed, aside. He needed to make plans. Contingency plans, in case things went awry.

Aidan pulled out his phone and powered it on. A flood of voicemails, emails, and texts came through, prompting Emma to look up in surprise.

“I thought I was the only one who had your number?” Her voice was deceptively mild, but Aidan heard the note of jealousy.

“This is my work number,” he said, holding up the BlackBerry. “You have my personal, American one. When we land, I’ll obtain a mobile for you. With my
personal
Irish number.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m disappearing, remember?”

“To everyone else,” he reminded her. “Never to me. I’ll get you a secured line.”

“Sometimes I forget just how wealthy you are,” she murmured, then turned her attention back to the screen.

His defenses rose. “It’s just money, Emma. It doesn’t define me,” he snapped.

“I didn’t mean to imply it did,” she replied. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to him, lass,” Reilly said, walking toward them from the front of the plane, a Guinness in his hand. “It’ll just go to his head.”

“Les still won’t let you in the cockpit?” Aidan guessed.

Reilly’s face darkened. “He threatened to call the bobbies when we land if I didn’t return to my seat,” he growled. “As if they could ever stop me.”

Emma watched Reilly silently.

“What?” he asked, shifting under her gaze.

“What kind of things couldn’t they stop you from doing, exactly?”

He settled into his seat. “Nothing for you to worry about.”

She stared at him so silently for so long, even Aidan felt the need to squirm.

“Emma, ignore him. He’s put out about not piloting, is all.” Aidan folded his arms.

“Where are we staying?”

“Reilly’s, to start. Then I plan to head home.”

“Where will I go?”

“With me.”

She had the grace to flush. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I think it’s best if we keep things…professional between us.”

“Smart,” Reilly agreed.

“No one asked for your opinion,” Aidan said, resisting the urge to open the emergency exit and toss Reilly into the water below. He concentrated on Emma. “I had an alternate impression earlier today.”

She threw him a glare that would freeze the depths of hell. “I’m aware. And I’ve had plenty of time to think about it. I won’t make that mistake again.”

Reilly whistled. “Ouch.”

Aidan’s eyes narrowed to slits. “O’Malley, tell Les that if he doesn’t let you in that cockpit, this will be his last flight on my jet.”

“Woohoo!” Reilly exclaimed, all five-year-old boy as he leaped out of his seat and charged back to the cockpit door.

“Cian, remove yourself to the washroom,” Aidan commanded. Cian, who had been sitting near the bathroom, looking miserable with a bag clutched tightly in his hand, immediately unfastened his seatbelt and closed the small door behind him. Amanda discreetly closed the door to the back cabin.

“Care to explain what mistake you’re referring to?” Aidan asked, his voice deadly calm.

She crossed her legs. “You don’t scare me, MacWilliam. Everyone else might jump as high as you demand, but I won’t.”

He didn’t move. “That’s a poor explanation.”

She clasped her hands in front of her. “I made a stupid, rash decision earlier. The universe stepped in and stopped us from making a colossal mistake. I accept that truth. You’re not even my type,” she finished firmly, apparently not noticing his expression progressively darken.

“Excuse me?” he barked. “What did you just say?”

She blushed, but refused to give any ground. “You’re not my type.”

He sat back and crossed his arms. “What, exactly, is your type, Emma? From where I sit, your
type
isn’t exactly working for you.”

“You don’t know anything about me!”

He closed his mouth, instantly regretting his words and temper. She sniffed, and his gut twisted at the anguish on her face.

“Did you so truly love him?” he asked softly.

“You don’t have the right to ask that question. And you certainly don’t have the privilege to know the answer.”

He saw it then. Fear, uncertainty, vulnerability. It was written all over her lovely face, tied into her anger. With sudden clarity, he realized he’d need to do more than seduce her in order to gain her heart.

He let out a sigh. He didn’t care to argue with her. His phone rang, and he didn’t take his eyes off Emma as he answered.

“Colin.”

“I have a bad feeling. The same one I had about eight years ago, which preceded a phone call from Reilly detailing your arrival.”

Aidan’s stomach clenched. “Damn.”

Colin—like Reilly—had instincts that were not to be ignored. Both men could bend time to their will when they had to.

“Reilly’s not picking up his phone.”

“I sent him to the cockpit,” Aidan admitted.

“Nah, it’s been off longer than your flight. You must’ve been desperate to get Emma alone if you sent him to fly your plane.”

“Did you need me to pass along a message, perhaps?” Aidan asked, annoyed.

“Yes. Let him know that I know what’s up, and that I’ll take care of things on this end, but he has to get himself back to Brianagh soon.”

Aidan didn’t envy Colin and Reilly’s duties as O’Rourke Protectors, but he did envy their unique travel plans. Colin mostly traveled with Reilly, though Aidan suspected him of doing a fair bit on his own. Reilly, however, could bend time to whenever the need arose, although he claimed he could only do so with the permission of the Fates.

Despite years of asking, Reilly had thus far refused to take Aidan with them on any journey, claiming that he hadn’t been given explicit permission to do so.

It was their biggest sore spot to date.

Aidan had been desperate to return to his brother and sister-in-law. From a very young age, Aidan’s sole purpose in life was to guard his brother’s back. And just when he needed him the most, Aidan ended up in a ditch somewhere, close to death…only to be rescued by Reilly O’Malley and Colin O’Rourke.

For that, he would do anything for either of them. But when it came to Reilly, he didn’t have to like it.

Aidan checked his watch. “I’ll let him know.” He glanced at Emma, who was staring defiantly out the window, her arms crossed. “Any news on our friend?”

“Posted bail from the hospital about an hour ago. He hasn’t shown up here, so I’m not sure if he’s off the scent or not. It would make life a lot easier if you could just kill the man and be done with it,” Colin added with a sigh.

“Modern times are…” Aidan searched for the word.

“Wimpy?”

Aidan snickered. “I was thinking ‘refined.’ But yours applies too.” He hung up and leaned into Emma’s seat, trapping her with his arms. “This is not over, Emmaline. I’ll be damned if I’m just your
client
.
”

“Technically, you’re my boss,” she muttered.

He gave her a scathing look, then went to talk with Reilly. He rapped on the cockpit door. Les swore from inside.

“MacWilliam, I swear, if you don’t get him out of my copilot’s seat, I will quit before you can fire me,” Les threatened.