Falling in Time (5 page)

He braced his hands on either side
of her, caging her against the table. “I regret speaking poorly of her if she
truly has come to harm. But you need to know, as you’ll hear it soon enough,
that she was my clan’s choice for my bride. I resisted because” – he leaned
close and kissed her, slow and deep – “I knew you’d come to me someday,
somehow.

“And” – he straightened, his
expression solemn – “because Lady Euphemia was the last female I’d have wed,
regardless. There’s no’ a laird or kitchen laddie in these parts, save o’ this
clan, that she hasn’t bedded.”

“But-”

“I told you, Lindy-lass, no buts.”

“Even so-”

“None o’ those either." Rogan
shook his head. “Truth is, Lady Euphemia has been trysting with a shepherd who
has a cottage in the next glen. She has to pass by Smoo Cave on her way to meet
him.”

Stepping closer, he cupped Lindy’s
chin, lifting her face to his. “That’ll be what she was about. A pity if she
fell into one of the sink holes. But she should have thought of the danger
thereabouts before she traipsed across those cliffs.

“Now” – he set his hands on her
shoulders, looking down at her – “I’d hear what was fashing you before Gavin
came bursting in here.”

Lindy glanced aside.

She still believed the MacNairn
woman had been sent forward in time.

And if so….

“I don’t want to be responsible for
someone else’s misery." There, she’d blurted the only honorable thing she
could say.

Rogan lifted a brow. “If Lady
Euphemia has replaced you where’er it was you hail from, sweetness, I promise
you, she’ll no’ be unhappy. Such females know well how to fend for themselves.”

“Then…." Lindy considered.

“Do you want to stay with me?"
Rogan’s arms were around her again, pulling her close.

So near that she could feel his
solidness
pressing against her.

“You know I want that – to stay
with you." She leaned into him, unable to resist.

“Then do." He swept her up
into his arms, carrying her across the room. “Stay here and be my wife.”

“I will." She didn’t care that
the plaid fell from her shoulders as he lowered her to the bed. As for her few
extra pounds, the smoldering look in Rogan’s eyes said he didn’t see them.

Oh, yes, she’d marry him.

In her heart, she already
was
his wife.

She didn’t want to dwell on it too
deeply, for fear of jinxing herself, but she believed that, after losing him in
their Viking life, whatever powers watched over souls had now reunited them.

For a moment, she wondered if such
gods or their helpers might wear small black boots, carefully tied with red
plaid laces.

The thought made her smile.

Seeing as she was here, she
supposed it was possible.

It was just a shame she’d not be
able to put her experiences in a romance novel. She was sure that if she could,
her book would be a bestseller. But then Rogan was throwing off his plaid and
stretching out on the bed beside her, and she no longer cared.

And as she opened her arms to him,
pulling him down to her, she knew she’d never feel the urge to read or write a
Scottish medieval romance again.

After all, why should she?

As of this moment, she was living
one.

Sue-Ellen Welfonder
is a Scotophile whose burning wish to make frequent
trips to the land of her dreams led her to a twenty year career with the
airlines.

Now a full-time writer, she’s
quick to admit that she much prefers wielding a pen to pushing tea and coffee.
She makes frequent visits to Scotland, insisting they are a necessity as each
trip gives her inspiration for new books.

Proud of her own Hebridean ancestry,
she belongs to two clan societies and never misses a chance to attend Highland
Games. In addition to Scotland, her greatest passions are medieval history, the
paranormal, and dogs. She also has a heart for stray and feral kitties. She
rarely watches television, loves haggis, and writes at a four-hundred-and-fifty
year old desk that once stood in a Bavarian castle.

Sue-Ellen also writes fun and
sexy Scottish paranormals under the pen name Allie Mackay. She is married and
currently resides with her husband and Jack Russell terrier in Florida.

Connect with Sue-Ellen Welfonder:

Sue-Ellen's website:
www.welfonder.com

Her blog Tartan Ink
:
www.tartaninkblog.wordpress.com

Twitter:
www.twitter.com/ SE_Welfonder

If you enjoyed this short story, Sue-Ellen has others
available:

THE SEVENTH SISTER

A story of love, legend, and magic...

In The Seventh Sister, down-on-her-luck American
artist Maggie Gleason returns to Ireland, hoping to put old hurts behind her.
Instead, revisiting the fishing village that enchanted her twelve years before
only reopens wounds - until the unexpected appearance of roguish pub owner
Conall Flanagan proves the Ancient Isle is a magical place where anything can
happen and true love always stands the test of time.

For a complete list of Sue-Ellen's books, including a
printable list, please visit her website:
www.welfonder.com