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“I told ye I was goin’.” Marcus stared down his best friend.
“Aye. Ye’ve told me a fair lot of things over the last several centuries, but that doesnae mean I took them all seriously.”
“Then I guess ’tis time ye did,” Marcus stated. “I’ve decided tae travel tae America and start my journey at a place called Yellowstone.”
Will crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, studying Marcus like he’d lost his senses. “Yellow Stone. Ye’re goin’ all the way tae America for that? Ye cannae find any yellow stones around here?”
“I’m no’ goin’ for the stones, ye numpty!” Marcus scowled. “I’m goin’ tae see things we havnae even dreamed of!” He pushed his own plate aside, planted his forearms on the table and leaned forward. “They’ve a thing called a geyser that spits a plume o’ water straight intae the sky, then swallows it back up and minutes later, spits it out again.”
“Ye’re daft.” Will sneered.
“And they’ve great wooly creatures called Bison. Sort of like a big hairy cow.”
Will shook his head and gave Marcus a derisive snort. “Ye dinnae have tae cross an ocean tae see a big cow. We’ve those here, ye ken. I cannae believethat’swhat ye’ve in mind tae do with yer new life!”
“Och! I’ve no interest in the hairy creatures beyond seein’ one in person.” Marcus sat back and studied his friend. “Come wi’ me, Will. ’Twill be an adventure tae remember. We dinnae want Fleming tae have all the fun, do we?”
“I’m sorry, Marcus, I cannae,” Will sighed. “I dinnae ken what I’m tae do wi’ my life, but whatever ’tis, I’m fairly sure ’twill be in Scotland.” He reached across the table and offered his hand. “But I wish ye the best of luck in a land that spits at the sky. Just dinnae let it spityeout, as well.”
“Aye,” Marcus replied, grasping his friend’s hand with both of his. “I willnae. And if the Fates are kind, mayhap we’ll meet again one day and compare adventures.”
Chapter 2
Strolling past the shops on Canyon Street in West Yellowstone, Montana, Marcus shifted and rolled his shoulders, trying to get used to the feel of a T-shirt and jeans. He kenned if the horde of tourists wearing them ever tried a kilt, they’d agree his native attire was more comfortable, no’ to mention far more functional.
But he wasnae in Scotland, and almost to a man—or woman—his new clothes seemed to be the local outfit of choice. Especially if the overabundance of ‘I Heart Yellowstone’ shirts were any indication. As for himself, after arriving yesterday afternoon, he’d spent some time in a store picking out jeans and pondering between a T-shirt with the likeness of a wolf or one with a bison. This morning in his motel room the bison had won out, and now stretched proudly across his chest. Though he’d bought the wolf as well for backup, along with what the salesperson had called a ball cap, with a West Yellowstone, Montana, logo.
Pausing to lean against one of the store’s exteriors, he glanced at his newly purchased watch. Twenty minutes before his scheduled bus tour into Yellowstone Park. He still had time to—
“There you are, Sweetheart! I thought I’d lost you.”
Marcus barely glimpsed the woman who threw her arms around him, peppered his face with kisses, and pressed her trembling body intimately against his.
“Please, Mister, play along,” she whispered, sounding desperate as she clung to him and nuzzled his neck. “There are two men trailing me who mean to kill me. Please! Just pretend we’re together for a little while? Then I’ll go away. I promise. But I need you to make this look real. Okay? Kiss me, please? And make it convincing. Like you’ve been waiting for me for a lifetime.”
Stunned, he opened his mouth to ask who—
Her mouth met his in a searing kiss that obliterated centuries of longing and loneliness on the moor. Nothing in his memory or imagination matched this lass’ kiss. Nor the way her body, curvy and soft, fit against his in such a seductive fashion.
Seemingly of their own accord, his arms encircled her, pulling her tighter into his embrace. If their kiss wasnae believable, he dinnae ken what could be. ’Twould certainly leave nothing to the imagination of onlookers.
His however, was peaked beyond words. He’d understood Americans to be bold, but this lass was a wee bit more than he’d expected. No’ that he had any thoughts of complainin’.
On the contrary, he thought to try another kiss just to make sure his senses wernae tricking him. Threading his fingers through her silky honey-blonde hair, he lowered his mouth to hers and let his instincts take over. But just as he settled into eager participation, the lass regretfully ended the kiss and hugged him again. “I’m sorry to come at you like this,” she murmured, “but I’m desperate. Please, if you’ll just go along with me a little longer, I’ll explain everything. I promise. The men searching for me think I’m alone. I need to look like part of a couple. Like I’m with someone who appears strong and…capable. And you seemed to fit the bill.”
Capable of what? If ’twas kissing, he was both capable and willing. Though completely unexpected, the lass’ kiss had been most pleasurable, indeed.
She spread kisses along his cheek and nuzzled his neck again as she continued to whisper. “Youarealone, aren’t you? I didn’t see anyone with you, but I confess when I glimpsed them just now, not far behind me, I didn’t have a lot of time to pick someone out.”
“Aye,” he managed, trying to tear his attention from the bewitching tickle her lips left on his neck. “All alone.”
“Could you hold me a little tighter, please? Pretend you’re really into me, but try to see if there are two men watching me? Watching us? One has a slim build, light blonde hair. Dark pants and shirt. The other one is shorter, dark hair, also wearing dark pants, but a blue shirt, I think.”
Intae her?Though he dinnae ken her exact meaning, Marcus gathered her closer, brushed back thick strands of butter-smooth hair and pressed a kiss to her shoulder, bare but for a thin strap. Moving to her neck, he brushed past a delicate gold chain and left a lingering kiss just below her ear. It took a good deal of concentration to focus on stealthily studying the crowd instead of the soft warmth of her skin beneath his lips.
Her beguiling scent kept stealing his attention from the task. “Aye,” he said at last, boldly pressing a second kiss to her shoulder. “I see them. But they’re no’ lookin’ this way. They’re stoppin’ people tae show ’em a picture and they dinnae seem pleased with the responses they’re gettin’.”
He felt her shiver as she dropped her forehead to his shoulder. Though he wished ’twas from his kiss, he kenned well enough ’twas truly prompted by her fear of the men pursuing her.
