That was the nicest way she could possibly put it. He’d suffocated her with a million tiny little rules that dictated every aspect of her life, from her clothes to her friends to what she ate for dinner. The yelling and throwing things that resulted from not following his rules had made teenage rebellion not an option. The rules would be followed. But he had cared for her, in his way. She had to think so.
“He died of a heart attack right before I went to college.” And his death had allowed her to study whatever she’d wanted. The sudden freedom had been exhilarating, the adjustment difficult. Over time, she’d managed.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
She could do nothing but nod, caught up in memories of the past.
***
They neared their destination for the night an hour later. It would take two days to reach his home on Mull. The ferry only ran occasionally at this time of year, on the edge of the wilderness of Glencoe. Because this part of Glencoe was closer to the coast, the mountains had become more rolling and less peaked. The valleys had supported flocks of sheep for hundreds of years, shepherds tending them as the sun rose and set countless times on the faces of mountains that never changed. Now, the sun shone through the low, wispy gray clouds, spreading dim beams of light across the valley.
He turned right off the main road. After about ten miles on one of the tiny lanes, he pulled up to the old inn he’d been staying at for centuries. Ownership hadn’t changed, nor had the interior, and he appreciated the familiarity. Watching the world change could be as wearying as it was exciting.
“Is this where we’re spending the night?” She scanned the stone front that had been carefully built so many years ago. Flowerboxes were fixed to the windowsills, but frost had killed the plants that awaited the first winter snow. What had originally been a four-room mountain inn had been expanded over the years until there were nearly a dozen rooms from various periods fitted together in a hodge-podge beneath the slate roof.
“Aye. There aren’t many visitors to this part of Scotland so close to winter. There shouldn’t be many other people here, which is good.”
“In case there’s another attack?”
“Aye. It’d be better to be away from people so there’s less to explain.”
“I see.” She adjusted her sweater nervously.
They checked into their room at the pub bar, which also acted as an informal reception desk, and with her overnight bag slung over his shoulder, they walked through the winding corridor to the back of the inn. He slipped the skeleton key into the lock, jiggled it, and the old door popped open. He ducked under the lintel as they walked inside and slung the bag onto the small double bed.
“Are you staying next door?” she asked.
“Nay.”
“Down the hall?”
“Nay again.”
“You can’t stay here.” She glanced pointedly at the bed, but as she did so, she wondered how much she meant it.
“Aye, lassie, I am. I’m no’ leaving your side ‘til I know that you’re safe.”
Diana frowned. “How long could that possibly be?”
“A while. Though when we’re at my home you’ll be more secure, so we won’t have to share a chamber. Doona worry. I’ll take the chair.” He nodded at the big chair near the window.
“Um, okay. Thanks.” Was she happy about that? Strangely, she didn’t feel the relief she’d expected. In fact, she didn’t know what else to say, and suddenly the room felt very tiny. “I guess I’m going to go shower.”
Chapter 9
What the hell have I gotten into? Diana’s mind tumbled over itself as she tried to relax beneath the gentle fall of water, the thin stream leaving a lot to be desired in the pressure department.
One day she had a nice stable life and the next she had a destiny that involved fleeing from demons while she tried to figure out the mystery of her past.
It sounded crazy. She shivered despite the heat of the shower. This mess felt like a carrot being dangled in front of her starving rabbit self. Finally, a chance to figure out the nightmares that had stalked her to this day. All she had to do was get past some demons. No big deal.
Just like the wildly attractive man now pacing in the room beyond the door. What was she supposed to do about him? She didn’t date much because of her workload, and she’d certainly never been around a man quite like him.
His past was tragic, though how he dealt with it was admirable. She felt strangely comfortable in his presence, despite their short acquaintance—as though he could actually protect her from this nightmare.
Diana sighed, shut off the water, and grabbed a towel from the rack. She swept the curtain back from the old clawfooted tub that had been converted into a shower. She shivered as she stepped out of the tub onto the tile floor, then immediately slipped in a puddle.
A curse broke free of her lips as she tried to catch the shower curtain and scrabbled for purchase. The curtain rod snapped, clanged like falling steel pipes, and her curse bounced off the walls of the small bathroom.
Damn. She’d probably alerted the cavalry.
She swore again as Cadan burst through the door and caught sight of her sprawled on the ground. She clutched the towel to her chest; it barely covered the essentials.