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“You’re a right fine lass.” Gerard nods. “It’s time this ol’ man was on his way. I’ve spun enough of a tale for one night.”
“Thank you,” Ryan says, rising and sticking his hand out. “And seriously, I’m sorry. My mouth runs faster than my head sometimes.”
“Aye, lad,” Gerard says, staring at Ryan.
I’m only half-listening, though. The shadowy stranger has most of my attention. Something glints where his eyes must be, like a cat’s eyes reflecting the light.
The old man continues, “You’d be well to remember, if ya don’t see the bottom, don’t wade.”
“Yes, sir,” Ryan says agreeably, though I’d bet he has no idea what Gerard means.
The shadowy stranger lowers his head to the glass on the table in front of him. I force myself to pay attention to Gerard and my friends, but I can’t help but watch the stranger in the peripheral of my vision. He looks well-built, and his eyes…the intensity of them on me...call to me.
“Thanks for the story,” I say to Gerard.
“Ach, lass, thanks for the pint,” Gerard says with a wink and a smile before turning and shuffling off.
“I’ll be right back,” I say.
“Where you going?” Savannah asks.
“Nowhere, really. Be right back,” I repeat.
When I turn back to go and meet the stranger who I’m certain has had an eye on me all night, the booth he was in is empty. Again.
Quinn, a soft, whispery voice says right in my ear, and it feels like a cold breath passes over the back of my neck. Goose pimples rise on my arms.
Shivering, I turn but no one is there. Same as what happened at the train station.
I hope my dream trip to Scotland isn’t turning into a nightmare.
Chapter Three
That stranger. Those eyes. The things I felt. It’s silly, sure, but knowing something is silly doesn’t change what I’m feeling. Like my first crush in middle school. When Billy Talbott would look at me with his perfect, ice-blue eyes, I would have sworn he was staring into my soul. Tall, rich dark skin, perfect hair, and his smile… to die for. Or so I thought then, but then Cassie Russel caught his attention long before I could work up the courage to talk to him.
We have our breakfast in the hotel restaurant along with a busload of tourists that arrived last night and a small handful of locals. Every time someone enters the dining room I look. Hoping to see the mystery man from last night. Every time I’m disappointed.
“Earth to Quinn,” Savannah says, weaving a forkful of haggis in front of my face.
“Huh? Oh, yeah,” I say, forcing myself to quit staring at the door to the dining area.
Which forces me to watch Ryan feeding Gail a forkful of pancake with whipped cream spread over it. He ‘accidentally’ smears cream across her lips then slowly cleans it up with his tongue.
Blech.
“Get a room,” Savannah says.
“We did,” Ryan says, grinning. “But what can I say? I love this girl. Can’t get enough.”
“We know,” Savannah and I say in unison which makes all of us laugh, lightening the mood.
We finish our meal and Professor Galmatin gathers us up for the ride to the dig site up in the Highlands. I look all around for the stranger as we leave the hotel and get into the van that will transport us but to no avail.
“Do you see that?” Savannah asks.
“Hmm?” I ask, still searching for my mystery man.
“That raven,” she says, pointing. “It looks like the same one from last night. Doesn’t it look like it’s watching us?”
