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Seating herself in the alcove, Sarah pulled up her legs, crossed her arms above her knees, and rested her head upon them. She heaved a deep sigh. “Sometimes life leads one down strange paths.”
Indeed, here she was, among Keir’s people, his family. And from the short moment she had spent in their presence, Sarah was certain that they were as good and kind as Keir had said, as Keir was himself. But would it be enough? Would they truly accept her? Even welcome her? Not only as a stranger in need of help, but…?
Again, Sarah buried her face in her hands. “I don’t even know if he wishes for a future with me,” Sarah whispered to Loki, still curled up by the fire. “He said he was not ready to bid me farewell, that he might never be, but does that mean he wishes…” Even finishing that thought was something Sarah shied away from.
Something she had learned in her life was that hope was a very dangerous thing. And yet, it came as it chose, did it not? Often unbidden, making her feel like a little girl standing before a fairy, revealing her heart’s deepest wish.
Only there was no fairy, was there?
A soft knock sounded on her door, and Sarah flinched. For a moment, she stared at it, dumbfounded, before her feet moved, once more settling upon the floor and pushing her upright. “Who could it be this late?” she murmured to herself as she tiptoed across the rug in front of the hearth. “Perhaps Kate needs me!”
Swiftly, Sarah pulled open the door, concerned that something might be wrong with the children… only to find Keir standing there.
His face lay in shadow, his features barely illuminated by the soft glow from the fire in the hearth. His hair was tousled, windswept even, and his clothes looked rather disheveled. His coat and vest had disappeared, and he had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, as though intent on tending to some sort of laborious task. Yet at the same time, fatigue clung to him like a heavy blanket, and Sarah realized how much Keir had done for her.
In the past few days alone.
“Are ye all right?” Keir inquired with a slight frown, his watchful gaze sweeping over her features, as though once more digging to unearth her secrets. “Ye seemed concerned just now. Has something upset ye, lass?”
Sarah shook her head and then beckoned him across the threshold. As he stepped into her chamber, she closed the door. “No, I’m perfectly fine. I simply thought that perhaps something was wrong with the children, that Kate…” She trailed off as she saw understanding come to his eyes.
“Have they settled in?” Keir asked with a look over his shoulder toward the door and the corridor beyond. “I know that this place—and its people—differs greatly from what ye were used to, but I hope that ye will feel at home here soon.”
Keir’s words made Sarah’s heart sing… and hope once more. As much as she tried not to, she simply could not help it. “Your family seems very kind, and Mrs. Murray is a true treasure.”
Keir chuckled, reaching for Sarah’s hands and gently tugging her closer. “Aye, she is. She’s a wonderful storyteller, too. Her ghost stories are legendary.”
Sarah intertwined her fingers with Keir’s, savoring this small touch, this closeness after a day filled with unknowns and new experiences. “Yes, she told the girls not to be afraid and to come speak to her should a spook dare frighten them.” She smiled deeply, and an answering expression came to Keir’s face. “The girls adore her, and so does Kate. She’s one of those people who make you feel completely safe, is she not? At first, I thought her stern and cold.” She shrugged, shaking her head. “But I was wrong. Indeed, first impressions are nothing more than a mere glimpse at a story.”
Keir nodded. “Aye, I’ve always found that to be true.” His eyes shone as they looked down into hers, and Sarah held her breath as Keir tucked a stray curl behind her ear. The tips of his fingers brushed against her temple and then traced along the curve of her ear. It was only a fleeting touch, and yet Sarah felt it in every fiber of her being. It made her want to sink into his arms and stay there forever.
Still, her mind would not allow her to give in to this longing just yet. “How did it go with your family?” Once the question was spoken, Sarah felt her insides tense. As much as she wanted to believe that Keir’s family were the kind of people who easily opened their hearts to others, had they not just spoken about first impressions being misleading?
Keir grinned, and that teasing look upon his face eased some of Sarah’s doubts. “Ye’re doing it again, lass.” There was a chiding tone in his voice. “Ye’re overthinking everything. ’Twill only give ye a headache. Ye know that.” He pinched her chin affectionately, his blue eyes looking deep into hers.
Sarah nodded. “I know,” she whispered, leaning into his touch as he reached out to cup her cheek. “I haven’t been able to sleep because of it. I keep thinking and thinking. The thoughts are going round and round in my head. No matter what I do, they simply won’t stop.” She shrugged, her hands reaching out to slink around his neck, pulling herself closer. “What am I to do? How can I make it stop?”
Something almost wicked flashed in Keir’s eyes a second before his arms closed around her, all but lifting her off her feet. Then he inclined his head, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss that, at least for the moment, made the rest of the world disappear.
Sarah sighed against his lips, and before she knew it, her hands were in his hair, tugging him closer. Longing made her bold, and she returned his kiss with a fierceness that would have made her blush had her mind not been silenced.
Keir smiled against her lips, then deepened their kiss. Sarah could feel his longing for her grow in tandem with her own. They had kissed like this before, been in each other’s arms before, and yet suddenly, it no longer seemed enough.Is this love?Sarah wondered. Or was she confusing this heady feeling with one that had nothing to do with the heart?
All Sarah knew for sure was that she had never felt like this before.
Breaking their kiss, Keir set her back down, her feet sinking into the lush rug in front of the fireplace. “Ye have a way of making me forget everything, little wisp,” Keir whispered, then brushed his mouth against hers once more. He trailed the backs of his fingers down her chin, then gave it a teasing pinch. “I missed this. Only the two of us, with no one around.” His gaze locked upon hers, and for a moment, he remained as still as a statue, as though debating something within. Then he suddenly dipped his head and kissed her once more.
Sarah’s heart soared, and she felt almost weightless. Shivers teased her skin, and every touch—even a fleeting brush of Keir’s fingertips against her skin—made her heart trip and stumble and rejoice. Never had Sarah felt like this.
Only ever with Keir.
“I… I…” Sarah bit her lip, willing the words to leave her tongue, to fly out into the world and make themselves heard.I love you!That thought rang loud and clear in her heart, and yet… she could not seem to speak those three little words.
Closing her eyes, Sarah heaved a deep sigh. “Have you already had a chance to speak to your family?”Oh, I’m such a coward!
“Aye.” He smiled at her, still holding on tightly, not letting go, giving Sarah’s heart yet another reason to trip, stumble, and rejoice. “Of course, they insisted upon knowing everything.” He chuckled. “As I knew they would.”
Sarah tensed. “And? How did they…?”
