Highlander's Beloved 02 - A Highlander's Passion Read online

  “Nay.” Bryce closed his eyes, trying hard to ignore the fist of fear twisting his guts. “Warlock Morpheus—the heid bummer, or the ruler, of all the witches, or so it would seem—has a pretty good idea where she’s at, and I’m not at liberty to tell you how he knows. Ye’ll just have to trust me.”

  Paisley slipped a cell from the pocket of her capris and thumbed a number. She scooted off Creighton’s lap and moved to stand in front of the bookshelves. “Gram, I want the truth and I want it now.” She was evidently talking to her grandmother, Effie.

  Bryce stood and poured his eldest brother a whisky, neat, and extended it to him. “Here, ye may need this.”

  “Hell, ʼtis barely ten in the morning.” He crossed one foot over his knee and then made to brush the glass away.

  “So you really are Wiccan?” said Paisley, her voice rising as she cast widened eyes on Creighton. “What do you mean you’re the high priestess of a coven of witches?”

  “Bloody fukin’ hell!” Creighton yanked the tumbler from Bryce and drained it in one long gulp.

  “Well, Gram, we’re over here getting ready to make some wedding plans. I think you and Kenzie need to get your butts to the lodge right away. Oh, and a warning: My aura will be stormy blue, because I am damn pissed. You raised me. We never kept secrets from each other.” She swiped at tears. “And now, when my pregnancy hormones are all over the place, I find out you’re some queen witch?” Her shouts bounced off the walls, and Creighton pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.

  Bryce patted Creighton’s shoulder, trying his best not to laugh at the expression of dread on his brother’s face. “Good luck with that, buddy.”

  Creighton’s dark eyes focused on his. “Fook me running. A witch?” He stood, in full rant. “Christ, me wife’s grandmother is a Wiccan princess and now me future sister-in-law is a witch! Not only that, but she’s a member of our clan and is Polish and Romanian, not Scottish. We’ve got a five-year-old who can zero in on pornographic magazines from across the room. Why canna life ever be normal around here?”

  A red-painted fingernail jabbed his chest. “And you’re a bear shifter who talks in his sleep, so get your shit together and deal because I’ve had all I can take for one morning.” Paisley stormed out and slammed the door.

  Creighton held out his glass. “Give me another shot or two before I chase her down. Bloody hell, she can be a handful.” His lips quirked. “But isna me woman beautiful when she’s pissed? Dinna anyone bother us for an hour until I get her calmed down.” One thing could be said about Bryce’s eldest brother: He loved his wife with an intensity that bordered on obsession.

  Chapter 15

  Kenzie’s anxieties had every cell in her body practically twitching. If she didna soon get her breathing under control, she’d hafta stick her head in the brown bag she kept folded in her purse for when she hyperventilated. Meeting with Bryce’s entire family after he’d told them of her history and her Wiccan abilities was sure to be awkward. She’d known them all her life—as a Scot. Now she was Romanian and Polish and about to become part of their family. How would they feel about her real identity?

  She glanced at the diamond on her finger. Its beautiful presence was still a novelty, and her thumb slid the heart stone back and forth. Fiona had presented it to Bryce to give to Kenzie before she knew the entirety of her background. Would the kind woman regret her generosity?

  “Shoulders back and head held high, Sparrow,” said Effie, who was wearing a lively pink floral blouse over bright pink slacks, and, of course, her beloved pink pelican baffies. “You’re fretting over this Scottish business, but when you stop to think about it, all of the Matheson men seem to fall for non-Scottish women. Why, you’ll be fine as a frog’s hair split three ways.” Effie nodded once when Kenzie glanced her way, skepticism no doubt obvious on the young woman’s face. “I’m speaking the truth. Fiona is Irish. My Sweet Pea is as American as you can get. You’re Eastern European.

  “Oh, and wait until Ronan meets his love.” Effie snorted, and chuckled. “We’ve got a spunky one lined up for him, so we do. She’ll knock him on his Scottish ass.” She pointed at Kenzie. “And that’s all I’m saying about that.”

  Effie took Kenzie’s ringed hand in hers and delicately touched the heart-shaped diamond. “I want you to believe me when I tell you that you have every right to be part of this family. Stop worrying about heritage. We’re all human, after all. I think you’ll soon find out, yours and Bryce’s marriage was always meant to be.”

  Hamish, the chauffeur, eased the car to the castle steps, and Colleen nearly flew down them in her exuberance to reach Kenzie.

  Effie touched Kenzie’s arm. “Look at the happiness beaming from that child’s face and tell me this marriage isn’t the right thing.”

  Kenzie opened her car door and the child leaped inside, her arms extended and wrapping around Kenzie’s neck as she kissed her. “Can I call ye ‘Mumma’? Can I? Da says the wedding plans arna made yet, but it’ll be soon.” The child laid her head on Kenzie’s chest. “I’m thinking ye should move into the lodge right away, so ye can get used to me.” Colleen pulled back and gazed into Kenzie’s eyes. “I’m told I can be a handful.” Her lower lip pouched out. “Now the kids canna call me ‘half-orphan’ because I’ll have the prettiest, most talented mum there ever was.”

  Kenzie was overcome with unexpected love and instant devotion for this darling child. “That’s what the kids used to call me, too, when I was small. It was common knowledge me da was dead. They also made fun of me because I had one blue eye and one brown. Nasty words like that hurt, don’t they. Leena?”

  “ ‘Leena’! Is that going to be yer private name for me?” The child’s face beamed so brightly one almost needed sunglasses. “Like a special name a mum gives her little girl? A nickname?” She seemed starved for a mumma, even though Kenzie knew the entire family doted on the child; she had quite a job ahead of her to love and mother this darling cherub. Colleen fiddled with the chains Kenzie wore. “No one can call me that, except fer ye. It’ll be our secret name.”

  Me God, the child is burrowing her way right into me heart in the backseat of a Bentley.

  Effie handed her a tissue and Kenzie used it to blot the tears blurring her vision. She removed the shortest of the chains and placed it around her future daughter’s neck. “This necklace is me birthstone. It’s an amethyst, the birthstone for February, the month I was born. Now when ye wear it, ye’ll always have a bit of me with ye.”

  Colleen touched the silver chain and the small round stone before hugging Kenzie again. “I’ll never take it off. Never.” The child, who didna seem to stop talking for long, reached for Kenzie’s left hand. “Let me see how the ring looks on yer finger. Grandpa gave it to Grandma for having Da, so ʼtis only right ye should have it. Ohhh,” she breathed in childhood wonder. “It looks beautiful on yer hand.”

  “Colleen.” Bryce’s deep, warning voice made all the hormones in Kenzie’s body purr a slow, sultry tune. “If ye will get off Kenzie’s lap, we can be polite and help her out of the car. Everyone is waiting fer her inside. Besides, I’d like to kiss me fiancée good morning.” He lifted the child off Kenzie’s lap while Hamish opened the other door for his employer.

  Bryce leaned in, his sexy-as-hell smile igniting his handsome features, and linked his fingers with Kenzie’s. “Come here, beautiful. I havena had me morning kiss yet.” He winked, because he’d had more than a kiss before he crawled out of her bed a few hours ago. In fact, parts of her body were still humming the hallelujah chorus. He pulled her into his arms, slipped a hand into her hair to tug her head back, and laid claim to her lips.

  Oh. My. God.

  Her knees nearly gave out.

  His lips created a hot trail to her ear and he whispered, “Is yer pussy a little tender?”

  She gave a love tap to his solid abs with her fist, and he chuckled.

  He cupped her face with one hand. “I love ye with a pa
ssion, so I do. Come. We have a wedding to plan.” He turned to his daughter, who was holding out her necklace for his inspection. “And what is this piece of grown-up jewelry yer wearing?”

  The child beamed at Kenzie. “Me mummy gave it to me. It’s an ‘amepist,’ her birthstone. She also gave me a special, private name, too, but I canna tell ye. ʼTis just for mummas and daughters.” She leaned in to Kenzie, and her love for the child bloomed brighter.

  Bryce glanced at Kenzie, more love in his eyes than she thought possible. “I see. While we adults have our boring meeting, I’d like for ye to walk Heather Mist. Make sure ye wear yer barn boots so yer sneakers stay clean for the movies.” He slipped his cell from the front pocket of his jeans and thumbed a message. “Colleen, the groomsman is expecting ye. Listen to him now. Ye are to walk the horse—no canter. Her leg is still healing.” He tapped her nose. “And so are ye, so no riding until tomorrow. Did Grandma remember yer medicine?”

  She nodded. “Aye, Da and Mummy.” Off she flew, as if she had fairy wings on her feet.

  “I love her. She just wormed her way right into me heart.” Kenzie’s palm spread over her chest. “She gets that ability from her da.”

  He slung his arm across Kenzie’s shoulders. “Aye, I’ll take the honors for that.” Effie was almost to the top of the five steps when Bryce whispered to Kenzie, “Watch this.” He made a step toward the pink-haired woman. “Effie, I’m not sure if Paisley is in the office or not. Creighton said something to upset her and she stormed out. He’s trying to make up with her, but…” He shrugged.

  Effie’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, he did, did he? Upset my Sweet Pea while she’s suffering with morning sickness with his child?” She puffed up like a baby-powdered pink thunderstorm. “Ohhh, I think not.” Turning on her pink baffies, she marched into the lodge.

  “Och, ye rat fink. Ye got her riled on purpose.” Kenzie hoped the couple hadna argued over the revelation of her true identity.

  Bryce laughed. “Aye. I want to see big brother tremble with fear just once. God, I hope she threatens to change his pecker into a worm.”

  “Or a wee toad.” She jutted her chin, showing him a taste of attitude.

  He chuckled and gave her a quick kiss. “Okay, beloved, point taken.” He held the door open for her and winked before leaning in. “Think of all the fun we’d lose with a toad, though. Especially when me pecker’s so much bigger.”

  “Braggart.” She elbowed him as she passed by and stepped into the office.

  The women immediately encircled Kenzie to admire her engagement ring. Paisley, her eyes red-rimmed, was back in the study, so whatever differences she and Creighton had were obviously worked out. Creighton, on the other hand, was cornered near the fireplace by one finger-shaking, protective pink grandma. And, Bryce? He rubbed his finger over his full lips as if to keep them from flowing into a wide smile.

  Fiona wiped her tears with a tissue. “We tend to keep jewelry in the family; we love the sentimentality of it. As soon as I told Bryce the story of this heart-shaped diamond, he chose it for ye.” She cupped Kenzie’s cheek. “I want ye to ken I couldna be happier about this marriage.”

  “Thank ye. And ye ken about everything?” Kenzie glanced around the room at everyone, trying to gauge their reactions to her. “I dinna want secrets. There’s been enough in me life already.”

  Creighton, who was finally able to escape Effie, cleared his throat, indicating he was ready to make a speech. “Our mates come to us sometimes in a flash, the way me beloved did.” He glanced at Paisley and winked. “Sometimes our mates have been around us forever and we’ve been too dumb to ken it.” He shot Bryce a scowl. “Kenzie, ʼtis important ye ken ye are welcome to our family and that your heritage matters not. Nor does the fact ye are Wiccan. What does concern me is that ye might be in danger. From this moment on, ye are our little sister. We Mathesons protect what is ours.”

  Bryce stood behind her, his arms around her waist. “Effie and Kenzie, on me way back to the lodge this morning, I ran into your lynx. He had some explicit orders for us.” Once he repeated the mysterious cat’s instructions, Effie’s face lit up.

  “Of course!” Her hands clapped once, her eyes twinkling. “From the thirteenth century, Midsummer’s Eve, or St. John’s Eve, was celebrated from June twenty-third until St. Peter’s Eve, which is June twenty-seventh. No.” She shook her head. “No, I’m wrong. It’s June twenty-eighth. Oh my, they lit bonfires, feasted, and partied hearty. So, according to our lynx, your wedding should be on the twenty-third, the first eve of the solstice celebration.”

  Ronan ran a hand over his face. “So, we’re letting a cat set a wedding date?”

  Effie got in his face and his eyes shot open. “You shifters have the owl to guide you. We have the lynx. Same difference. Just wait until you meet the love of your life, young man. You’ll do anything to make her happy.”

  Red-faced, Ronan slowly shook his head. “Willna happen unless she drops outta the feckin’ sky, because I enjoy being alone too much. Creighton is getting the heir our clan needs. Colleen is going to have the mum she wants so badly. I just want to be left alone.”

  The old woman leaned in and whispered to Ronan. Whatever she said turned the tips of his ears scarlet and made her laugh in that lusty way she had.

  Effie spun back toward Bryce. “What else did the lynx say about the ceremony?”

  He stepped away, his index finger tapping his chin. “Let me make sure I get this right. Have the three types of fires from pagan times and then take her to the hidden cabin for a honeymoon, where she’ll be safer.” He glanced at Ronan in silent question, for the cabin belonged to him; he’d built most of it himself. Ronan nodded his approval.

  Effie held up three fingers. “Yes, of course. The pagan fires make perfect sense. One fire was of clean bones with no wood and was known as a ‘bonnefyre.’ Another was of clean wood and no bones. Pagans called it a ‘wakefyre’ because men stayed awake by it all night. Drank and told tall tales. Sang raunchy songs.” She pointed to each finger as she spoke. “The third was made of both and was referred to as ‘St. John’s fire.’ ”

  Creighton laid an arm across Effie’s narrow shoulders. “Yer knowledge of our ancient history is pretty accurate. From what I’ve read, they used to march toward the fires, often singing or chanting, and dance within the triangle created by them. Couples would go off alone. Babies were conceived. Then the Church pushed the government to banish such celebrations. Some areas hung on to the pagan traditions longer than others. Some openly. Some in secret.”

  Bryce’s mother sat at Creighton’s desk, a pad and pen in front of her. “So, we have a date for this wedding—June twenty-third, Midsummer’s Eve. Ronan, ye’ll be in charge of finding clean bones and wood for the fires. Get whoever ye need to help ye. Didna women wear floral wreaths in their hair?”

  Effie nodded. “Yes, they did. We could make it a theme wedding to disguise what we’re really up to.” She clasped her hands to her chest. “We could call it a Midsummer’s Eve Wedding. Oh, I can see it all now!” Her hands spread dramatically. “All the guests could march in, just like they did back then. They could sing the olden songs.”

  “Hold on!” Kenzie’s palm rose in a stop gesture. Her heart was pounding in her ears. This was all happening so fast. “All I want is a small ceremony. Why canna we have it here, in this room, with just the family? Why all the fuss?” This was her wedding. Shouldna she have a say in it?

  Paisley hooked her arm through Kenzie’s. “I felt the same way once Creighton slipped the engagement ring on my finger. Everyone was making plans for my wedding—setting the date, making up the guest list. They’d forgotten one important fact. It was my wedding too. I didn’t want a bunch of strangers there. I wanted time to plan something special. Everyone wanted it by a certain date to end a Viking curse. It was a nightmare. Then something horrible happened and all that mattered was marrying the man I loved.”

  “Aye, I remember bits of it.” Kenzie loo
ked into Paisley’s blue eyes. “I was in the hospital, under some heavy painkillers, when Creighton’s bear was shot. Even after I got home, I was too absorbed in me own pain to think of anyone else. I came to yer wedding out of respect fer our laird, but I couldna join in on yer happiness. ʼTis ashamed I am to admit it.”

  Paisley took both of Kenzie’s hands in hers. “We all mourned for the baby you lost. Sometimes I feel a bit guilty, being so happy when you’ve had so many horrible things to go through. Creigh told me about the first pregnancy.” Her eyes filled with tears, and so did Kenzie’s. She leaned in and lowered her voice. “My obstetrician is young and up on the latest techniques. Why don’t you go see her? Let her give you a complete examination? Whenever you’re ready, or if you’re ever ready, I could call and make an appointment for you.” She held up her hand. “No pressure. Just let me know if the mood strikes you.”

  Her future sister-in-law’s kindness touched her. “I’ll think on it. It would probably be a wise idea. If I canna conceive, then I’ll let go of the dream.”

  It was odd: This ceremony she wanted no part of seemed to be providing her with a new friend, in addition to helping to bring her and Colleen closer. Almost as if the dear child sensed Kenzie’s sadness, she’d brought her crayons and art paper. They’d spent the afternoon coloring, heads touching as they drew animals and flowers. Now there would be more days like that. She could teach Colleen how to use chalks and oil paints.

  “Kenzie?” Bryce’s warm hand cupped her cheek, jarring her out of her reverie. “Ye are the bride. Is there any of this ye can feel comfortable with? If ye want the ceremony in this room, we’ll set the fires in the driveway. We’ll do things however ye want, and it’ll be a beautiful day fer us to remember.”

  His chocolate eyes caressed her with adoration, and she was surprised. “Ye mean that? Ye willna be angry with me? No one will be upset I canna face a large crowd of people so soon after becoming a widow?”