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She thought she felt his breath on her cheek, but surely, she’d only imagined it. Still, a light shiver ran through her, despite the warmth of her bag.
There it was again! This time she was positive she felt it. “Taran?”
“Aye, lass. I’m just putting the wee light atop yer clothes, in case ye’ve need of it.”
“Oh. Okay. Thank you.” She continued staring into the darkness, annoyed by her ridiculous sense of disappointment.
Chapter Six
“It’s so cold!” Paige shrieked as the water of the North Sea lapped around her ankles.
“Aye,” Taran laughed from their grassy campsite. “ ’Tis a bit hard tae heat the big pond, but I’d be happy tae build a fire and warm ye a smaller amount o’it.”
He’d offered to bring her a container full, so she dinnae have to wade out there to wash up, but she’d insisted on going herself.
“No time for a fire,” she called back to him. “This will do fine. It’s a better wake-up tool than an entire pot of coffee.”
Looking around to make sure they weren’t leaving anything behind, Taran picked up Paige’s pack to test the weight and hurriedly shifted what he could into his before she noticed. “Is that everything?”
“Yes, I think so,” she replied, sweeping the coastline with her gaze as she made her way from the narrow sandy beach to the grass. “I had no idea how beautiful it is here. No wonder Austin is so fascinated by it.”
“ ’Tis beautiful, indeed,” he replied, stopping to watch her approach with her bouncing step and bright smile. She looked surprisingly fresh for the cramped night she’d endured. She hadnae pulled her hair up yet and it drifted around her shoulders, backlit by the morning sun. He longed to sink his fingers intae the thick strands to discover their texture. Surely, they couldnae be as silky as they looked. But he dinnae wish to stop there. He imagined pulling her closer to…
Och! Guides dinnae take such liberties. And that’s all he was to her. All he’d intended to be. She’d given him her trust when she’d accepted his offer to help her, and he wasnae about to destroy that, or the time they had left together by crossin’ a line.
He picked up his somewhat heavier pack and slipped it on his back. “If ye ken ’tis pretty here, wait until ye’ve seen the Fairy Glen.”
“I’m sure you’re right. I’m anxious to get there, but…” Her shoulders slumped as she glanced at both their packs, then around their campsite. “You’ve already packed everything? I’m so sorry, Taran, I meant to help, really. I didn’t intend to take so long on the beach. I guess I got sidetracked admiring the scenery.”
“ ’Twasnae any trouble, lass. Glad tae do it.”
“Well, at least let me fix breakfast,” she teased, pulling two apples from the pocket of her jacket. “Hungry?” she asked, holding one out to him.
Aye, but no’ for the apple.
’Twas good to see her less stressed. Playful, even. But he still struggled to banish the feel of her huddled next to him all night. Even with the thick barrier of her sleeping bag between them, he’d felt her every movement. He wasnae sure how much she’d slept, but he’d managed verra little.
“Nae, thank ye.” He summoned a smile, determined to expel the thoughts in his head once and for all. “Mayhap later.”
She stuck one back in her pocket and took a noisy bite of the other. “Mmm, they’re so good! Remind me to thank Lauren for sending them.”
A tiny trickle of juice shimmered on her chin. Without thinking, Taran reached out to wipe it away with his thumb.
Laughing, she brushed her fingers where he’d touched. “I told you they were good. So juicy and sweet.”
Taran brought his thumb to his lips to taste for himself. “Verra sweet, indeed,” he agreed, watching her lick more juice from her lips.
Enough! Stifling a frustrated moan, he turned away. “If ye’re ready, we’d best get started. If I remember correctly, it doesnae take long tae walk through the Glen, but if we’re going tae investigate the place thoroughly, ’twill take some extra time. Assumin’ they’ll even let us have free rein. Like I said, ’tis been a while since I was there so the rules may have changed.” How could they no’ in nearly three hundred years? Especially, since there wernae any a’tall, back then.
Paige dropped her apple core into the bag they’d brought for empty water bottles and other trash and tucked it into an outside pocket of her backpack. “I’m ready,” she grinned, reaching for her pack.
Taran helped her adjust the weight on her shoulders. “Are ye okay? No’ too heavy?”
“No, it’s fine. Just lead the way.” Wrinkling her nose, she brushed at some dirt on her thigh. “Since we’re parked near the Fairy Glen, I’d like to stop by the car on the way. I really need some clean clothes and a toothbrush. I can’t do another day in these grimy jeans.”
“Aye,” he nodded. “If we dinnae have any luck in the Glen, we’ll move on tae the caves. Mayhap beyond Hillockhead. If so, we could be a few days.”
Starting off, Taran went slow to make sure she could keep up, even though he’d lightened her pack considerably.
