Clan Ross: His Heart's Desire Part 7

"Centuries, Elspeth. It has been centuries." Braden offered a smile.

"Aye." Elspeth took a sip of her tea. "The Trust will be having its monthly meeting in two days' time. We'll inform the chairman of your return."

"I no longer want my keep to be a . . ." He looked over at Catrona. "What did you call it again?'

"Tourist attraction."

"Aye, a tourist attraction." He nodded as he turned his attention back to Elspeth. "I wish to reside here since it is mine."

"Of course, Laird. We'll speak to the trustees about this at the meeting."

"I wish to take up residence today. There is no reason for us to stay elsewhere. We must conserve our coin."

"I don't see any problem with that. Your part of the keep was never opened to the public. Only the great hall, kitchens, chapel and women's solar were used in the tours." Elspeth stood and went to the corner cupboard. "Here are the keys to your keep."

Braden took them and smiled. "'Tis good to be home." Turning, he faced Catrona. "Let's return to your inn and retrieve our belongings. We'll sleep in my castle tonight."

Braden took another look at the stone keep. For the first time in centuries, he felt peace and completion. Nothing had ever felt so right, and he wished he could freeze time so he could enjoy this perfect moment.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

Cat drove them back to the hotel in silence. She didn't know what to make of the afternoon so far. There were still not many answers to the million questions dancing the tango in her head, but there was nothing that could be done about that right then.

"Do you think Alec will be back from his wanderings yet?"

Braden smiled. "Aye. I imagine he'll be waiting for us to return. He'll be thrilled to know we can stay at the keep."

"Are you sure? I don't think your castle is wired for digital cable," she teased as they drove into the car park of the hotel.

"This is true. He'll just have to learn to live without this modern invention for the time being."

Cat didn't say anything, but she had a feeling that was going to be easier said than done. Alec, like all modern men, had a thing about the remote control.

Together they made their way to her room and found Alec reclined on the bed with a bag of chips and what looked like a rather depleted six pack of Cola.

"The food in this time period is rather extraordinary. These are called potato crisps." He held up a bag. "I wish to get more of these."

Cat resisted the urge to laugh. Oh, Alec was going to get along fine in this century. He'd already managed to do what males the world over did. They dominated the remote control and ate the junk food.

"Is there anything left or did you eat it all?" Braden asked.

Alec frowned. "I left one bag of crisps and a bottle of Cola."

"It's fine. I'll just run back to the store and get some real food."

Braden was shaking his head. "No, we'll have food delivered. You'll not be spending your hard-earned coin on Alec and me. We will take care of things."

Silently Cat let out a sigh. She really didn't have much cash left, and she didn't want to have to break out the plastic.

"Verra well." Alec sat up and dusted the crumbs from the chips onto the ground. "Have you made arrangements to have a television installed in my chambers?"

Catrona bit her lower lip in an attempt to still the laughter welling in her chest.

"Nae, Alec. I have not. Good lord, man, you've lived centuries without this box. I imagine you will be able to survive for the time being without it."

The next few moments were spent packing and gathering her things. Cat didn't want to leave anything behind. She pulled out her painting and smiled. The artist had indeed done a fabulous job at bring Braden to life.

"Okay. I'm ready." Cat turned and faced the two men in the room.

Her eyes met Braden's, and she offered a small smile. "I probably should call my friends and let them know that I'm going to be out of touch for a couple of days."

Alec quickly found his s.p.a.ce on the bed, with remote control in hand, and Braden sat as she picked up the phone. "I'll be quick, I promise."

Cat didn't know whom she should call. Summer was no doubt with their other friends, Lacy and Skylar. She quickly dialed Summer's home number and listened as the phone rang and rang. The answering machine picked up, and Cat left a quick message and reminded Summer to pick her up at the airport in a week.

"All is well now?" Braden moved close and picked up one of her bags. "We can depart?"

His body language indicated he was ready to go. Standing at the door with suitcase in hand left little doubt in her mind. Alec, on the other hand, looked quite comfy on the bed.

"Yes." Cat moved over to Braden and waited for him to open the door. Alec grumbled behind them as the trio made their way down the corridor.

With a little jockeying around, Cat managed to get her suitcase, Braden, Alec's swords and plaids, and the clothing she'd bought them into the compact's trunk.

Once everyone was strapped in, she started the car and headed back towards the castle.

Cat wasn't thrilled about spending the rest of her time there. For one thing the structure was large, cold and a wee bit foreboding, and secondly she had to drive the crummy road.

"Are you all right, la.s.s? You seem verra quiet suddenly." Braden touched her on the arm.

"What?"

"You seem troubled."

"Ah, no. Just concentrating on the road."

"I know I promised you answers that you haven't received yet. But you will get them."

"I know, Braden." And she did. She knew she'd get the answers, but more than half of her was afraid of those answers. Life had become terribly complicated.

This time the drive to the castle was a little bit faster than the previous trips. She was getting to know the road and didn't have to go as slow as she had in the beginning. Pulling into the car park, she found a spot close to the keep and killed the engine.

Braden got out of the car and moved back to the trunk. Alec followed quickly on his heels and stood with legs braced apart as he took it all in. "Aye, 'tis good to be home."

Cat easily understood their feelings. There was something about being gone for a while and returning to where your heart resides. Strange as it was, she felt a connection to this mystic land. And deep in her heart she knew why.

Braden and Alec made their way into the keep, both commenting on things that had changed over the course of eight centuries. She listened with half an ear as she took in the wonder and splendor of the castle. Free of tourists, the building had a new feeling to it. Now, she took a moment to look at the priceless tapestries that graced the stone walls and other objects d'art that sat on antique tables and shelves.

"Our clan has done well for itself, has it not, Braden?" Alec gazed about the long corridor.

"Aye. I will be meeting with the Board of Trustees tomorrow."

"What is this board you speak of?" Alec fingered a vase before moving on to the next shiny thing that caught his eye.

Cat laughed as she watched this. He was almost childlike in his curiosity.

"'Tis a group of clansmen that have been watching over our lands and coffers."

"Ah." Alec rubbed his hands together. "I'm going to go and seek my chamber. Is there a la.s.s to help me?"

"You need a woman to find your chamber?" Braden shook his head. "Things haven't changed that much."

"No, I would like company."

"Company?"

"Aye, company. 'Tis going to be a long and lonely night without cable."

"Oh, for the love . . ."

"I'll take that as 'nae' on the woman." Alec frowned.

Cat couldn't help it. She started to laugh. She was more bent out of shape and confused than these two men. If this had happened to her, she was sure she'd have freaked out coming to a new time and different way of doing things. That didn't seem to be the case, however, with her bonny Highlander and his cousin. It was almsot business as usual with them. When she looked, both men were staring at her with comically confused expressions on their face.

"Do you ken why she's laughing, Braden?"

"Nae."

Cat wiped the tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry. It's just that you're funny."

"I'm funny?" Alec pointed to himself. "Well, 'tis glad I am here to amuse you, my lady."

"I'm sorry, Alec. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

"You didn't, la.s.s." He smiled and turned to Braden. "I'm gone. I'll see you in the morn."

Alec quit the room with a jaunty whistle on his lips.

"Did I upset him?" Cat moved closer to Braden.

"Nae. He is fine. 'Tis how Alec has always been. He will likely find himself a willing la.s.s among the staff and spend the evening . . . well, he'll be fine."

Cat smiled. "So. Where should I put my bags?"

Braden picked up her suitcase and moved through the hallway. When they reached the wide staircase, he took her hand in his and led her up the stone stairs to the second level.

"I thought you'd enjoy staying in the tower room."

Cat nodded her agreement and continued to follow him down another dimly lit corridor until they reached a spiraling set of steps. They reached the landing, and Braden pushed the door open. Cat's breath caught in her throat at the beauty before her. "It's like something out of a fairytale." She wandered further into the tower room. Elspeth had taken excellent care of the rooms that were not on the tour and the s.p.a.ce was clean and ready to accommodate guests.

A beautifully carved bed stood on a raised dais, and the four posts were draped with sheer white material. A gorgeous lace cover draped over the bed. She turned to face Braden. "I can't sleep here."

"Why not, la.s.s?"

She waved her hand at the bed. "That's an antique."

"What? I don't ken what you're saying, la.s.s."

"That bed is too fine for me to sleep in."

Braden put down her suitcase and then divested her of her backpack before turning back to her.

His heat reached out to her, and she found herself leaning into him. He was her lodestone. Her heart already knew what her mind had yet to accept. She was meant to spend her life with Braden. But how? She had a life back in New Orleans. She couldn't stay here at Castle Ross and live here with him.

All thoughts vanished when he cupped her face with his warm hands and bent his head to hers. The kiss was soft. His tongue traced the seam of her lips, and she opened her tongue, meeting him halfway; she was eager to taste him once again. Fire coursed through her body, leaving her aching and wanting. It was too soon. She didn't really know this man. Her toes curled in her shoes and she gripped his rock hard arms. Tongues rubbed against each other in a sweet friction, giving and taking and fanning the flames of desire higher and higher. Cat never realized how erotic a kiss could be until she kissed her Highlander.

With reluctance she pulled back and put some much needed distance between them. She was pleased to see Braden was just as affected by their kiss. Desire for her shone in his expressive dark eyes, and when her eyes tracked lower, she couldn't miss the impressive erection pushing against his jeans.

"There is nothing finer than you, Catrona. I want to fall asleep knowing you're here in this bed with these silken sheets touching your delicious skin."

His words made her melt. His tone and his accent all combined into a sinfully erotic experience. Briefly she wondered if he could bring her to o.r.g.a.s.m simply by talking to her. Lord, that didn't bear thinking about.

"Thank you, Braden." She rubbed her hands down her jeans in what she knew was a self-conscious move.

"Rest, mo chridh. Know you aren't far from my thoughts." He kissed her once more before he left the room.

Cat took a moment to look around. It really was a beautiful chamber, and the multi-paned window provided her with a breathtaking view of the sea. Tomorrow, she vowed, would be the day of answers.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

Cat was not as comfortable as she could have been in her new room. She might be staying in a centuries' old keep, but the accommodation was far from luxurious. For starters, it was in the original part of the castle and therefore not wired for electricity. She realized this once darkness fell, and she was left scrambling to find matches to light the beeswax candles s.p.a.ced throughout the room. Even then, it was so d.a.m.n dark. The candles did little to dispel the shadows in the other parts of the room. How did they live like this back in the day? She was too modern a woman to live in the dark and wondered why no one had updated the place.

Moving around the room, she poked in trunks and corners looking at the various treasures carelessly left out. Eventually she turned her attention to her suitcase and unzipped the bag, digging around for her sweatpants, t-shirt, and socks. Her tower room was cold, and she never had been keen on the idea of being cold when she didn't have to be.