Deadly Intent (Linked Inc. Book 1) (10 page)

Chapter
17

Collin woke to Quinn’s voice as she argued with Ian about leaving. He had no measure of time for how long he’d been out, but neither Quinn nor Ian was in their dance attire.

“You arenae doing him any good sitting by his side. Let Angus take you back to the castle to get some rest.”

“No one asked you.”

“Lassie, you’re about to fall on your feet. Collin would want you to rest.”

“Ian McDougall, don’t make me hurt you.”

“You cannae hurt me, Quinn. I’m no’ wearing my kilt.”

“I wouldnae test that theory, Ian,” Collin said, turning both pairs of eyes to him.

Quinn’s eyes were red and puffy, and Ian was right. She looked like she hadn’t rested in days.

“Collin. Oh, thank God,” Quinn said, moving to the bedside. She took his hand. “How do you feel?” 

“Well rested, luv. Unlike you.”

Quinn rolled her eyes. “Not you too.”

“How long have I been out?” Collin asked Ian.

“Twenty-four hours. You lost a lot of blood, but they patched you up.”

Collin’s gaze softened as he stared up at Quinn. “And you’ve been here the whole time?”

“Aye, she has,” Ian answered. “The staff tried to send her home, and she threatened bodily harm.”

Quinn shrugged. “My court date is in two weeks.”

Collin’s mouth parted.

“She’s teasin’, Menzie. I talked them out of pressin’ charges.”

“I owe you.” Collin smiled. “And Ramsey?”

They both shared a look. “He’s dead. They found even more stuff at his house. We don’t know how much he’s smuggled out or where any of it went.”

Collin let out an exasperated sigh. “I never would have suspected him.”

“Well, the curse did say someone was going to die,” Ian said, and Quinn smacked his arm.

“If I hear the word curse mentioned one more time, I think I’m going to scream.”

Collin squeezed her hand, pulled her down, and kissed her lips. “I needed that.”

“He’s fine,” Ian said and headed for the door. “Quinn, call me if you need anything. I’ll convert you to red if it’s the last thing I do.”

“The hell you will,” Collin argued, making Ian chuckle.

Quinn moved to the other side of the bed and crawled up against Collin, as he wrapped his good arm around her. She looked up at him. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“I’m glad
you’re
okay.” He kissed her forehead and stroked her hair while she fell fast asleep. 

****

Collin walked into the castle and was greeted by his staff. Each looked happy for his arrival, but none more so than Mavis, whose arm was in a sling. He crossed the room to her, lifted her good hand and kissed it. “We’re both casualties of the curse.”

“I cannae cook, but I can supervise.”

Margarete headed for Collin, but Quinn quickly stepped in her way. “He’s off-limits, and he needs his rest.”

“You cannae talk to me that way.”

“I just did, honey, so go back to playing with the furnishings because you won’t be playing with him.”

Collin wrapped his arm around Quinn’s waist and kissed her neck. “Your claws are showing, luv. Why donae you take me upstairs and make good on the promise you made before the dance?”

She glanced over her shoulder and grinned. “I would, but I don’t have my dagger.”

“We’ll make do.” Collin took her hand and led her through the crowd and to the stairs. He had a date with this gorgeous woman and his bed. He wouldn’t ravish her right away, but he could hold her in his arms while she got a decent night’s sleep, and that was exactly what he did.

Collin woke before Quinn the next morning, partly because of the pain in his arm and partly because she was in his arms. Her time in Scotland was dwindling, and the thought made his heart ache. She had a life before him, one she’d be returning to. The curse had played out, well except the fire but with Ramsey no longer in the picture, the curse was all but over. A nobleman had indeed fallen, not only from stature but also from the side of a cliff to his death.

How had Collin been so blind not to realize what was happening?

“You’re thinking too loud,” Quinn mumbled, moving to rest her cheek on her hand.

“Sorry.” Collin pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “I need to go down to my office and try to figure out what happened and take inventory of the missing items.”

“I’m sorry your friend was a lowlife, sniveling thief.”

Collin stroked her red silky hair. “It’s no’ your fault. You probably saved the castle and me from ruin.”

“I save you; you save me. That’s how we work.” She grinned and slid out of the bed. “Is it safe for me to leave the castle?”

“Aye.” Collin reached for her, and she scooted out of reach. “I need some more things from town and want to check in on Johnny. My sisters are going to want an update. I’m surprised they haven’t shown up yet.”

“Keep Angus with you, just in case.”

She slipped into her jeans and fastened her bra before climbing back onto the bed, giving Collin a taste of her creamy flesh. “I’ll be fine.”

He cupped her cheek. “See that you are.”

“I’ll be back before you miss me.” She got off the bed and slipped on her shirt.

“No’ possible.” He smiled up at her, and she frowned.

She stood at the end of the bed and whipped her hair up into a ponytail. “Collin Menzie. I love you. I didn’t plan it and have no idea what to do about it, but I said it, so yeah.”

She nodded, spun on her heels and left, leaving Collin speechless. The lass had stolen his breath, and then just disappeared in typical Quinn fashion. He rested his hands beneath his head as he repeated her words in his mind. She loved him. Surely he could convince her to stay. 

Chapter
18

Quinn sat in the front passenger seat next to Angus. She no longer felt right sitting in the back, no matter how much Angus protested. Mavis and he weren’t servants in the castle. They were Collin’s family. “How’s Mavis?”

“As bossy as ever,” he answered with a twinkle in his eye. He reached over to the glove box, opened it and pulled out the replica emerald-encrusted dagger. “She wanted you to have hers.”

“Oh, I couldn’t.” Quinn pushed his hand back.

“I’m no’ telling her that. You can tell her, lass. I did my duty. She willnae be yelling at me. She can yell at you,” he said, laying the dagger in her lap.

“Chicken,” Quinn teased.

“No’ chicken, smart.” He tapped his head to point to his brain. “Where to first?”

“The hospital to check on Johnny.”

Angus started the engine and glanced in Quinn’s direction. “You still plan to leave?”

She nodded, remembering the bomb she’d dropped on Collin. “The sooner, the better.”

“But, lass…”

“It’s for the best.” Quinn smiled, contradicting the ache in her chest. “I don’t belong here, and he doesn’t belong in Florida. There’s no way to make it work.”

“Forgive me for saying so, Quinn, but you’re making a mistake.”

A huge, colossal mistake, but then again, she never did anything small. She’d told him how she felt, which was more than she would have done a week ago. Like their attraction, she didn’t fight it, and she didn’t fight her newfound feelings, but acknowledging her feelings, and living the rest of her life in Scotland, were two very different things, and there was no way he’d ever be happy living anywhere else.

****

Johnny was dressed, sitting in a chair, with a newspaper in his hands when Quinn walked into the room. She’d expected him to be covered in mountainous red bumps like a hormonal teenager, and yet, the few he had were covered in cream.

“They told me you weren’t contagious anymore and you’re healing in rapid time,” she said, glancing around at his accommodations. It wasn’t a five-star hotel, but it was better than the hotel where they’d been staying that first night.

“I’m glad you didn’t come down with it.”

“You and me both.” Quinn walked over to the window and glanced down at the cobbled streets below. “When are they cutting you loose?”

“Tomorrow.” Johnny folded the newspaper and rose. “I hope you’re done with your business. I’d really like to go home and see my family. They’ve been worried sick.”

Quinn clasped her fingers together instead of patting his arm. One couldn’t be too careful. “I’ve finished my business, and I’m ready to leave when you are.”

“Great.” A smile stretched across his lips. “I’ll call your cell when I get to the plane.”

“Uh… My cell died a slow, painful death, and I don’t have Collin’s number at the castle. I’ll call you when I head to the airport, and if you’re not there yet, then I’ll just wait.”

A blush spread across Johnny’s cheeks. “I’m sorry I delayed your return trip home.”

“I’m not.” Quinn did the unthinkable and squeezed his arm. “Well, I am sorry you got sick, but I’m not sorry I was stuck here longer than expected.”

“Noon it is.” He nodded. “If I have to sneak out of this place. I’ll be there on time.”

Quinn left Johnny’s room and rubbed at her aching heart. She’d meant what she told Angus. She didn’t belong in Scotland, but that didn’t make it any easier. She’d miss this place. She’d miss Collin, Mavis, and Angus. Hell, she might even miss fighting with Ian. Nah. Who was she kidding?

Angus was waiting by the hospital entrance for her. The smile on his lips fell into a frown as she approached. “What is it, lassie? Did he take a turn for the worse?”

“No.” Quinn linked her arm through his and led him outside. “Everything’s fine. We’re leaving tomorrow.”

He patted her hand and opened the passenger door. “Everything will all work out. Have faith.”

Faith. She had faith that she’d be leaving. She had faith that her sisters would give her an earful, and she had faith that there would always be ghosts and people who needed her help.

****

Quinn entered the castle with bags in both hands. She’d done more than purchase another set of clothes. She’d bought going-away gifts for everyone who had touched her life. She jogged upstairs and put most of them on the bed before jogging back downstairs and into the kitchen to find Mavis instructing a new person behind the stove.

Quinn’s smile softened at the way Mavis gently guided the new woman, with words of encouragement. “I brought you a parting gift.”

She turned to Quinn, her lips tilted in a frown. “You’re leaving?”

Quinn gave her the best enthusiastic face she could muster and held out her bag. “One more day and you’ll have me out of your hair.”

Mavis’ shoulders dropped as she took the bag. Reaching in with her good hand, she pulled out two objects wrapped in tissue. The first was her dagger.

“I gave this to you. Why are you givin’ it back?” she asked, perplexed.

“Because it’s your family heirloom. This dagger represents the strong women in your family. The ones the Menzies trust and that I trust. It’s only right that it belongs to you and is passed down to the next generations.”

Mavis pressed the treasure to her chest and smiled. “I’ll make sure they know how the legend ends.”

She unwrapped the second gift, and her eyes sparkled as she met Quinn’s gaze. “Plane tickets?”

Quinn grinned. “Two open-ended round-trip plane tickets to Florida for you and Angus. You deserve a vacation, and I won’t even expect you to come cook for me. Of course, you’ll have to wait until after you teach your new student to cook. You can’t leave Collin to go hungry.”

Tears misted her eyes. “I’ve never been outside of Scotland.”

Quinn winked. “I wish you the best that life has to offer, including amazing Italian food.”

Quinn’s heart clenched as she hugged her. She’d miss Mavis and her fabulous cookies. “Take care.”

She hurried from the kitchen as her eyes misted. Quinn still had so much to do and pack, but she went in search of Collin. She found him in his office with a pile of paperwork up to his chest. He ran his hand through his hair as he read through some document. “I knew I’d find you here.”

His gaze shot up, and the tension from his face softened as he rose. “It took you long enough. I thought I’d have to send out a search party.”

“How bad is it?” Quinn asked, as she crossed the room toward him.

“It could be worse,” he answered rounding the desk. He pulled her into his arms and lowered his head until his lips were a mere inch away from hers. “We should talk about this morning.”

The butterflies, she’d always heard about, took to flight in her belly. The last thing she wanted to hear was if he loved her, or worse, that he didn’t. “No, we don’t.”

Quinn pressed her lips to his to steal his train of thought. His hands on her back made a sensual path down her spine to her ass, and he lifted her in the air. She wrapped her legs around his waist and held on for dear life when he broke the kiss.

“I missed you, and I have something special planned for this evening.”

“I’m leaving tomorrow,” she blurted out and eased down his body. He remained quiet for several long seconds while she watched her words register. They’d both known the day would eventually come, no matter how hard leaving would be.

“Well then.” He nodded and took her hand. “It’s a good thing I planned your surprise for tonight.”

He pulled Quinn out of the room and down the hall, bypassing the stairs where she thought their destination might lead. Taking her to bed apparently wasn’t his idea of a surprise. Pity.

Quinn followed him through the kitchen and out into the courtyard where cell service was as dead as the ghost that hung out in the castle. To her surprise, they kept walking. Her hopes diminished when he turned away from the direction of the bridge and the empty cabin beyond the ridge.

Harness came running out of the barn, and she steeled herself for his attack. Instead, he wound his way around her legs and barked just as Garth, the lumberjack caretaker, walked Collin’s stallion out of the barn by the reins.

“He’s ready.”

Collin grinned, climbed onto the horse and held out his hand. Quinn surprised them both when she took his hand and let him swing her up. He reached behind him for her hands and wound them around his waist. “Just hang on and I’ll take care of the rest.”

Quinn lowered her hands, stroking his jean-covered crotch. “We’ll see who takes care of who.”