Highlander's Magic (Highlander Heat #2)

I glanced at Cole. He clapped the man on the back then urged him and the others away and into the throng of battling protectors. Well, this was it. We didn’t suit, and now I’d made him lie to protect Hope and me. I couldn’t ask anymore of him. A twinge of pain settled around my heart. Dismissing our bond wasn’t going to be easy, but we had no choice.

I drew his leather jacket collar over my nose and breathed deep. If I had his scent close, I’d manage the separation with more ease, or at least the hunter in me would. “We’ll leave, Hope, after one more small task. This won’t take long.”

I flashed us to Cole’s quarters. If I was taking something of his to aid me, then I’d leave him something of mine in return. I wriggled my hands back through my shirtsleeves, jiggled about and managed to remove my black lace camisole. I tugged it over my head then shoved my arms back into my shirt.

Hope gaped at me. “What are you doing?”

“We’re trackers. Having a piece of clothing that holds our scent will calm the craving to hunt. Taking in the scent is like a fix.” And I couldn’t go without my shirt or pants, so the slip was it.

“Are you sure? I’ve seen dogs go berserk when given a scrap of material to sniff. It makes them want to hunt even more.”

“Did you just call me a dog?” I flicked her arm. “I’ll get you for that later.”

“Sorry.” She chuckled. “I make the worst wing-woman.”

“You just need more practice, and we were pretty much done. I’ll leave Cole a note to make sure I’ve got my bases covered.” I folded my camisole and laid it on his bed. At his desk, I scrawled him a message.



Dear Cole,

I have your jacket and I’m keeping it. In return, I’m leaving you something of mine. It was nice meeting you and all. Have a fabulous life, and go and chase the one you really want.

Yours no more,

Lieska.



Good. Brief and blunt. I tucked it on top of my slip.

“Lieska? Where are you?”

Cole. His voice echoed in my head. No fair. He couldn’t go creating a telepathic link of trust with me. That really wasn’t on.

“Lieska, answer me.”

Should I? No. It was best not to.

“I need to know you’ve gotten away all right. Have you left?”

Holy moly. I better do that now before he thought I might have returned here. I seized Hope’s arm and brought the image of Wincrest Station into my mind. I ’ported us, and we arrived, the red outback dust swirling and settling over our booted feet.

Hope grabbed the corral railing. “Whoa. That was fast. Why the rush?”

“I sensed a problem, and now I’ve averted it.” I hugged her. “Thanks for coming with me today. It helped having you on hand.”

“No problem.” She squeezed me back. “And if you need to talk, I’m here. I know how tough it is to be mated.”

“We broke up.”

Smiling, she patted my back. “Sure you did. Okay, I better go and get some actual work done. I’ll catch you later.” She walked toward the feed sheds, whistling chirpily as if she knew something I didn’t.

“Lieska, I’m in my room.” Cole, back in my head, and sounding very aggrieved. “You left me your camisole? Hell. Couldn’t you have made it something less personal to stay my need to hunt?”

“It was all I had on me.” Drat. I probably shouldn’t have answered him.

“Where are you?”

“It’s okay. I got away without a problem.” I strode into the long run of white weatherboard stables and nabbed my Stetson off the hook in the central holding room. Argh, Hope’s hat. I’d have to retrieve it for her later. Or buy her a new one. I’m sure she’d understand about getting a new one. “I’m in the outback. How’d you explain our disappearance to your comrades?”

“I didn’t. The less said the better. That jacket was one of my favorites by the way.”

“I’ll take very good care of it.” I stroked the soft black leather. “Promise.”

“I have an old sweater you might like more. I’ve worn it a million times.”

“Lieska.” Maslin jogged toward me. “Goldie asked me to look for you. That bushfire on the other side of the hills has spread. It’s still some hours from here, but winds are now fanning the flames our way. We’re going to need all hands on deck for roundup. Have you seen Hope?”

“A minute ago. She was headed toward the feed sheds.” Damn. One could count on the land being ripe for bushfires in November, but we were only midway through October. Summer temperatures didn’t even spike until after New Year’s. “What does Goldie want me to do?”

“You’re to ride out toward the closest watering hole. If there’re strays, herd them down to the river.”

“Will do.”

“You still there, Lieska?”

“I am. Sorry.” I grabbed my gear, raced out to the corral and saddled a bay mare. “Cole, if you really need the jacket back, I can swap it for the sweater. Hand it to Silas and I’ll ask Hope to get it from him.”

“You sound anxious all of a sudden. What’s wrong?”

“Bushfires, but some distance away. Sometimes they arrive on our doorstep, and other times, well, they tend to get even closer.”