“I said Magnus took her to her apartment to collect some clothes,” Mortimer repeated patiently.
Scotty shook his head, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. He’d woken up just moments ago, rolled over to reach for Beth, found the bed empty for the first time in two days and had a small panic attack. Honestly, Scotty had freaked out and pretty much dressed on the way downstairs to search for her, pulling his jeans on as he hopped to the bedroom door, and then donning his shirt as he hurried to the stairs. He’d managed to get it only half-buttoned by the time he’d hit the main floor, and had finished the job as he’d walked through the house, looking in each room. Not only had he not found Beth, but he hadn’t seen anyone in the house at all until he found Mortimer and Donny in Mortimer’s office.
“But she’s no’ supposed to leave the house,” Scotty said finally.
“Beth was suffering a bit of cabin fever, and she wanted her clothes. She has Magnus with her,” Mortimer said reassuringly.
“And Rickart,” Donny added, and when Mortimer glanced at him in question, the younger man explained, “I saw them getting into Rickart’s car with him as I pulled into the garage.”
“There, you see?” Mortimer said, turning back to Scotty. “She will be fine.”
“How long ago did they leave?” he asked at once.
“I am not sure,” the head of the Enforcers admitted, glancing at his watch and then looking at Donny in question as he guessed, “An hour ago?”
“Closer to two,” the younger immortal corrected him.
“Hmm, time flies when you are chasing after a bunch of cowboy Enforcers hunting rogues,” he said dryly. Mortimer then glanced to Scotty and said, “They have probably already been to whatever fast food restaurant they chose in the end, so it’s probably too late to put in an order, but I can call them and see, if you like?”
“Call them,” Scotty said grimly. He was less concerned about placing an order for takeout than assuring himself that Beth was safe and on her way back to him. He couldn’t wait to have her in his arms again, but not just in his arms. He wanted, needed, her in his life. Being with Beth was like nothing he’d ever experienced. The sex was mind-blowing, of course, but it wasn’t just that. They’d also talked and laughed and just enjoyed each other’s company these last few days, and he’d found they had a lot in common. They had many of the same likes, the same opinions on various subjects and even the same morals, which had been shocking to Scotty. He’d been painting her a scarlet woman all these years because of one part of her life, but Beth was so much more than the one-dimensional woman he’d been viewing her as. These last few days had added many colors to his vision of her. Hell, the time he’d spent with her since arriving in Canada had done that. Beth was a rainbow, a beautiful kaleidoscope of colors and shapes, and endlessly fascinating. Scotty felt a lightness of spirit when with her that he hadn’t experienced since being turned. He’d felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his chest. He’d felt like he was no longer alone. Beth completed him.
Her past be damned, he thought grimly. There was no way to alter that. It was already written. He was the one who had to change if he wanted to hold on to the happiness he experienced with her. And he wanted that more than anything in this world. Scotty had come to that realization as he’d watched her sleep this morning, and before drifting off himself, he’d determined to tell her so when they woke up. He’d planned to tell her he was sorry for being such an ass, that she was a goddess among women and that without her he was nothing. He’d planned to beg her to forgive his stupidity, and to promise that if she’d only agree to be his life mate, he’d spend a lifetime making it up to her. Many lifetimes. Eternity, if they were allowed that.
But Scotty had never got the chance to tell Beth all of that and beg her forgiveness. He’d woken up to find the bed next to him empty, and had immediately had a terrible feeling he’d lost his chance, that something was wrong and he would never be able to claim the woman who possessed his heart.
The sound of ringing filled the room, and Scotty’s attention shifted to Mortimer. The man had put the call on speakerphone, he realized as the sound stopped mid-ring and a deep voice announced, “This is Magnus. Is there a problem, Mortimer?”
“No, no,” the head of the Enforcers said quickly, and then added, “Scotty’s up.”
“Ah,” Magnus said in his wise voice.
“Yeah,” Mortimer said dryly. “So, I think he wanted to be included in the takeout order, but you are probably almost home. Right?”
“Actually, we are still at Beth’s place,” Magnus said almost apologetically. “It took her longer to pack than expected. But we are just walking out to the car now. A quick stop for takeout and we will return.”
Moving to the desk, Scotty leaned toward the phone and barked, “Do no’ stop for takeout. Come straight back. Donny can go get takeout after ye return.”
“We are only going to stop at the drive-through on our way back, Scotty,” Magnus said in his patient voice. “It will be perfectly safe. I—”
“Come straight back,” Scotty repeated sharply.
“Just a minute,” Magnus said and must have placed the phone against his chest or covered it with his hand, because all they heard was a muffled, unintelligible conversation and some rustling.
Then Beth’s voice, clear but distant, snapped, “Give me the phone. Just give me the phone.”
Eyebrows rising, Scotty straightened and waited. He didn’t have long to wait.
“Hey!” Her voice came sharp over the speaker. “Listen here, Cullen MacDonald! You aren’t my boss, and you haven’t claimed me as your life mate, so you have no right to order me about. I can go for damned takeout if I want.”
Scotty’s eyebrows rose at her agitation. Beth had mostly been calm and even-tempered since he’d arrived in Canada. Well, other than the fight they’d had in Vancouver. But now she sounded more like the old Beth, angry and hurting. Something had obviously stirred her up, and he feared it probably had to do with him. He really should have woken her up and told her everything this morning, rather than wait until they’d both slept. Since he hadn’t said anything, Beth had no doubt concluded that nothing had changed and he was still a stupid ass unable to get over his hang-ups and claim her as he should.
“In fact,” Beth continued sharply, “I can stay here if I want, and maybe I just will since you’re being such a bossy bast—”
A loud explosion cut off her words, and then the line went dead.
Horror clutching at him, Scotty whirled toward the door. “Donny—!”
“I’m getting the SUV,” the younger man assured him as he rushed out of the room.
Scotty followed quickly.
Fourteen