Heart of the Druid Laird (13 page)

Now
would be the time to tell her there would be no
after the curse is ended.
Now was the time to do right by her. Dermot pulled out a chair and gestured for her to sit. She rolled her eyes and sat down.

“Okay, so what do I have to do? I remember you said something about returning to the scene of the crime on the date it happened.”

“I spoke to your brother before I came after you. He and I reached a settlement—”

“A
settlement?
This isn’t the Middle Ages. My brother doesn’t have a say in my life just because he’s the only man in the family.”

“I know.” He reached into his pocket for his wallet. “You were no’ speaking to me at the time if you’ll recall. You should be compensated for your help. We’re scheduled to leave on Saturday, and you’ll be away for slightly under a week.” He reached into his wallet, pulled out the certified check and slid it across the table toward her. “It’s time away from work.”

Sidney picked up the check, and her mouth fell open. “There are six zeroes in this figure. You have this kind of money?”

“We were a wealthy clan in the fifth century. Our wealth has done nothing but accumulate since.” Dermot gestured toward the check. “We will no’ feel the loss.” He watched her process the information. When she lifted her eyes to his, her expression was one of hurt and anger. “Lass, you told me yourself you have more debt than assets. This will eliminate all the debt. You can cease worrying about the future.”

She stared out the window and refused to look at him. “Once I knew your story was true…and after what happened between us…” She shook her head. “You’re paying me off.” She took a shuddering breath. “I suppose this check covers last night, as well.”

“Do no’ say such a thing. Do no’ speak of yourself in that manner. I will no’ have it.” He reached for her hands.

“No?” She shot up from her place and took a few steps out of his reach. “Wasn’t seducing me part of the plan? Get her into bed, toy with her emotions, and she won’t be able to refuse you. Isn’t that what you thought?”

“Nay.” Swamped with guilt, he rose from his place and took a step toward her.

She turned her back to him and stomped out of the kitchen.

“Where are you going?”

“For a walk.”

Desperate to put distance between them, Sidney snatched her parka from its peg and rushed out the back door. She seethed, and hot tears stung her eyes. Love is for fools and the weak, wasn’t that what he’d said? She was nothing but a means to an end to him. Last night had been a calculated assault on her own stupid vulnerabilities. What had he said about vulnerability? Ah, yes, it’s a liability.

She found herself on a favorite trail connecting privately owned land with the surrounding state park. She inhaled the cold pine-scented air and glanced at the dark gray sky. The promise of snow hung in the air. Being in a place so well known and holding so many good memories calmed her wounded ego. Here in the forest she could admit to herself that she had fantasized about a future with Dermot MacKay. She had let her guard down, and he’d gotten under her skin. A mistake she would
not
repeat.

What could she do with five million dollars? Such a staggering amount of money would set her up for life debt free. If he was willing to pay her so much for her help, ending the curse must mean everything to him.

Fat flakes of snow drifted down, settling in her hair. Sidney brushed them off and hiked on. The exertion cleared her mind. It was a relief after the confusion she felt around Dermot.

Had she overreacted? No. The insult had been real enough. She would’ve helped him for nothing. She cared about him, even if he didn’t care back.

Her heart ached. Did some part of her still grieve for the life with Dermot cut short so many centuries ago? One way or the other, Sidney needed answers. She’d go to Scotland. At the very least, her financial worries would be over.

Snow fell in earnest now, obscuring the path before her. Time to head back. Sidney stared toward the sky and took a step forward—into nothing. Her toe caught on a jutting root inside the hole. Her ankle twisted, something tore as she fell face-first into the wet snow and pine needles. A burning sensation ripped through her. Pushing herself up to sitting sent nausea roiling in her stomach. She couldn’t catch her breath for several seconds. “Shit.”

The wind picked up, stirring the large flakes into swirls, confusing her sense of direction. Was it only because she’d neglected to bring gloves, scarf and hat that it suddenly felt a whole lot colder? Her jeans were wet from the facer she’d taken, increasing the chill.

She studied her surroundings. Moss on the boulder next to the path indicated the direction north. If she managed to stay on the trail heading south, she’d be fine. One thing for certain, she couldn’t remain on the ground. She used a sapling to pull herself up and tried taking a step. Searing pain brought her up fast. Sweat beaded on her forehead, and stars danced before her eyes. She sat down on the boulder and put her head between her knees, taking deep breaths through her nose. Fainting out here could be fatal.

Gritting her teeth against the pain, she pulled herself up to standing again and hopped from one tree to the next until exhaustion forced her to stop. Her hands had gone numb with cold. She blew warm breath into them and tucked them into her pockets.

It would be impossible to stay warm in the dropping temperature in her present condition. She had to get moving. She shivered and scanned the area, clamping her jaw tight to keep her teeth from chattering. All sense of direction had deserted her. The path had disappeared in the blinding snow.

Her racing heart beat against her ribcage like a trapped bird. Not good. Panic was the enemy in the wilderness. She hobbled to a felled tree and sank down. Her head spun, and she felt faint again. A twig snapped nearby. She held her breath to listen. The wolf population flourished in the state parks in Northern Minnesota, and she was in a weakened state. She shook her head at her own foolishness. Unlike her, wolves were intelligent. They’d be holed up in their snug dens during a blizzard.

Dizzy, hurting and frightened, she put her elbows on her knees, and her face into her hands, fighting like hell to remain conscious. Another twig snapped, closer this time. Sidney sat up too quickly and listened to the muffled sounds of something large approaching through the brush. She couldn’t get enough air into her lungs, and stars danced with the falling snow in front of her face. Blackness closed in all around her.

Strong arms lifted her, and Dermot’s scent filled her senses. His warmth seeped past the fear. She put her arms around his neck, buried her face in his jacket and burst into tears.

“You’re safe,
mo cridhe.
Hush now. I have you,” Dermot murmured. He kissed her forehead and cradled her close to his body.

“Am I hallucinating?” she asked through her tears. She felt his chest rumble against her.

“Nay. Rest now, little one.”

“Now I know I’m hallucinating.” She hiccupped against his neck. “No one ever calls me little. Do you have any idea how much I weigh?”

Dermot grunted. “I’ve a fair notion, aye.”

“I was so afraid.”

“Do ye no’ ken, Sidney? I willna allow any harm tae come tae ye.” His brogue had thickened, and his voice held the hoarseness of strong emotion. “Ever.”

“How did you find me? How did you know I needed help?”

“A part of me went with you on your walk. I never left ye.”

Dermot lowered her into a chair, helped her out of her parka and tossed it over the couch. He took a seat on the ottoman in front of her and removed the boot from her uninjured foot. When he reached for the other, she winced and inhaled sharply. He started working on the laces. “Do you think anything is broken, lass?”

Sidney bit her lip and shook her head. Dermot didn’t like her pallor or the beads of sweat on her forehead. He couldn’t tolerate seeing her hurt. His own helplessness to make it better twisted his gut.

“We need to get you out of these wet trousers.” Dermot started to unsnap her jeans.

She batted his hands away. “I can do it,” she gritted out.

“Fine.” Dermot snatched a blanket from one of the chairs and laid it over her lap. “I’ll make a tea to help with the pain and swelling.” He left her to undress while he fetched his packets of medicinal herbs. Stubborn woman. She had not reacted the way he’d expected when presented with the check. She should have been pleased that her financial worries were over. Instead of gratitude, she’d given him anger.

Once he was in the kitchen, he set a kettle of water on the gas range, then pulled his mobile phone from his pocket and hit speed dial. After arranging things with Lachlan, Dermot made the tea, snatched a bag of frozen vegetables from the freezer and returned to tend Sidney’s ankle.

“I heard you talking to someone.” Sidney scooted herself up in the chair.

“Aye. My men. Lachlan and Niall are driving up. One of them will drive your Jeep back to St. Paul.”

“In this blizzard? It’s not safe. Call them back and tell them not to come. They’ll never find the turn off.” She lifted her chin and glared at him. “It’s my left ankle that’s sprained. There’s no reason why I can’t drive myself back. We’ll leave early tomorrow morning. The snow will have stopped by then.”

“We’ll leave this evening, and you’ll ride with me.” He returned her glare with one of his own. “Do no’ worry about the weather. I’ll take care of it once I’ve seen to your injury.”

“How can you take care of the weather?”

“I’ll divert the storm and send it elsewhere.”

Her brow rose. “You can do that?”

“I can exert my will over the natural world, but magic has never been my area of expertise.” He shrugged. “I know a few spells. I can do the basics, but I was always more healer than mage.” Dermot sat on the ottoman and placed the tea beside her. “Drink this.” He lifted her swollen ankle into his lap and removed her sock. The feel of her soft skin brought memories of the night before rushing back to him. Taking a deep breath, he concentrated on his task. “Can you move your foot?”

Nodding, Sidney grimaced and wiggled her foot against his lap, sending his pulse rate soaring. Gods, what kind of an arse would become aroused in a situation like this?

“I think it’s just a sprain. There are a few walking casts in the closet over there.” She pointed. “One of them should fit. This isn’t the first sprained ankle we’ve had here.”

“Is there a hospital nearby?” His hands skimmed her calf as if they had a mind of their own.

“I’m not going to a hospital for a sprained ankle.”

“It should be x-rayed.”

“No.”

“You’re being unreasonable.” He probed her ankle for breaks and placed the frozen vegetables over the swelling.

“I don’t have health insurance.”

“I’m sure the check I
tried
to give you would more than cover the cost.” His irritation got the better of him. “Why are you angry? It’s no’ logical.”

“You’re paying me off like I’m some kind of whore.” Sidney removed her foot from his lap and covered her leg with the blanket. “What’s not to understand?”

“You said yourself you have more debt than assets. You should be pleased. I’ve resolved the problem for you. The check was drafted before I arrived. I didn’t plan what happened last night. I didn’t want…” He shook his head. “I never meant for it to happen.”

She blinked several times. “If you didn’t
want
to have sex with me, then why
did
you?”

Frustration twisted his gut. “Och, lass. You’re being irrational. The money will help you. The check had nothing to do with last night.”

“You know what? You’re annoying. Quit telling me I’m irrational, unreasonable and illogical. Who are you anyway, Mr. Spock? Go
live long and prosper
somewhere the hell else.” She clamped her mouth shut and turned away.

He wanted to shake her, or hold her close. Maybe both.
Ballocks!
Dermot stood up to leave. “Drink the sodding tea.”

How could this one woman cause everything in his perfectly ordered world to spiral out of control? He needed to get a grip, and sending the blizzard away would provide him with the perfect focus. He almost looked forward to the headache to come. Flinging the front door open, Dermot stormed out into the maelstrom, welcoming the biting cold and swirling snow against his overheated body. Gods, she made him want to tear his hair…or mount her like a rutting stag.

He was so caught up with emotion he almost missed it. A trace of magic tainted the air surrounding the lodge. The storm had been sent, and he recognized the energy imprint. Had Áine
meant
to harm Sidney? The thought turned his blood as cold as the blizzard swirling around him. It was against
Tuatha
law to harm a human. Not even Áine, as arrogant as she was, would risk such a thing. Still, he wove a spell of protection over the lodge before turning to the weather.

Nay, not even Áine could have foreseen Sidney’s walk through the woods. She probably intended to trap them there until the anniversary of Mairéad’s murder had passed. Either way, she’d violated her father’s terms more than once, and this time she’d put a mortal’s life in danger. If Dagda Mór found out, he would not tolerate such an infraction, not even from his daughter.

Standing still as stone in the middle of the yard, Dermot gathered his energy. He channeled all the churning emotions to his center, feeding the power until he felt he’d burst. Raising his arms, he took a deep breath and released the energy in a steady flow into the sky. Dermot pushed with all his magical might until the front moved farther north and east away from the route his men must travel. Spent, Dermot fell to his knees and sucked in the frigid air in gulps. Though he’d depleted his energy, the turmoil inside him continued to rage.

Sidney twisted around in the leather chair to watch Dermot as he raised his arms toward the sky. Her breath caught in her throat, and the tears she’d been holding back spilled down her cheeks. As much as he exasperated her, she found him so damned attractive it hurt to look at him.

When he fell to his knees, the urge to rush to his aid almost overwhelmed her. She had to fight to remain inside. Leaning her head back against the chair, she closed her eyes and breathed deep until the tears stopped. No matter what she felt for him, she needed to protect herself, guard her heart and keep her distance.

Glancing at the tea beside her, she lifted the mug and gave the contents a tentative sniff. It had a pleasant, herbal smell laced with honey. She took a sip just as Dermot staggered through the front door. Sidney set the mug on the table and swung her good leg off the ottoman to push herself up from the chair.

“Stay where you are.” Dermot’s voice came out a hoarse command.

“You look as if you need help.” Sidney frowned at him.

“I’ll be fine.” He rubbed his temples and moved toward the kitchen.

The snow had stopped, and the clouds were breaking in patches. All of her nerves were on full alert. She leaned to her left so she could watch him in the kitchen while he poured himself a mug of the same tea he’d given her.

He’d done it. Dermot MacKay controlled the weather. She should have been frightened. Instead, his display of strength and raw power sent a flush of heat thrumming through her. “Damn, damn and double damn.” She reached for the tea.

“Did you say something?” He sank onto the couch across from her and leaned his head back, closing his eyes.

“Yes,” she snapped. “I said damn.”

He opened one eye to peer at her in question.

“You don’t look so good. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I will be. Using magic takes a toll. I end up with a raging headache.” He sipped his tea. “This helps. Once the throbbing subsides, I’ll fix us something to eat.”

“If you’d just get me one of the walking casts like I asked, I’d be fine. You don’t have to wait on me like I’m some kind of invalid.”

“Gods, woman.” He lifted his head to glare at her. “Are you always so impossible to please? I’ve done nothing but try to please you since first we met, and it’s all come to naught.”

“I only meant you’re in no shape to wait on anybody.” Sidney blinked back the tears stinging her eyes. She took a shuddering breath. “I will travel to Scotland with you, and I’ll take your damn money. That should make you happy. Once the curse is ended, we’ll go our separate ways. In the meantime, I’ll ride back to St. Paul with one of the other men or drive myself.”

“You’ll ride with me.” His tone carried an edge.

“We have one more thing to settle.” Sidney ignored his tone and his decree. “What happened last night will
not
happen again. Like you said, you never
wanted
to sleep with me, so this arrangement should please you to no end.”

“Wheesht, ye wee glaikit besom
.” He leaped from the couch. “I swear ye put me in a
fankle
o’ purpose.” Dermot stomped up the stairs, taking them three at a time.

“Gee. Too bad I don’t speak gibberish,” she called after him, “or I might be really offended.” And if it hadn’t been for her own hurt feelings, she might’ve felt a bit of satisfaction at his reaction. She might’ve even found his immature exit amusing. Instead, an empty, hollow sensation lodged in her chest, and a lump formed in her throat. Snatching the frozen vegetables from her ankle, she hurled the bag toward the stairs.

Approaching headlights illuminated the wall. Dermot had been sitting for hours watching Sidney sleep. Her injured foot, now encased in a plastic-and-nylon boot, lay propped on a pillow. A cane rested against the coffee table within easy reach next to a plate holding the remnants of a sandwich and an orange peel. She’d been forced to take care of herself while he’d pouted upstairs like a child. He rose and shook her shoulder. “Wake up. They’re here.”

She groaned and stretched, blinking up at him.

“It’s time to go.” He tried to help her sit up, only to have her brush him away.

“How long have I been sleeping?” Her hands went to her hair. “God, I must be a mess. Why didn’t you wake me sooner?” She wrapped the blanket around her waist and struggled to stand. “I’ve got to freshen up.”

“It’s only Lachlan and Niall. You look fine.”

“I’m not wearing any pants. How is that looking fine?” She spied her duffel and backpack on the floor next to his. “You packed my stuff?”

“To expedite matters, aye.” He thrust his hands into his pockets, widened his stance and braced himself for an argument.

“Which bag holds my toiletries?”

“You’re no’ angry because I went through your things?” Gods, would he ever figure her out?

“No. It’s not like I travel with deep, dark secrets hidden in my duffel.”

“The wee bag is in the backpack.”

Rifling through her things, she pulled out a dry pair of jeans and her toiletries. “I can appreciate help when it’s offered.” Turning her back on him, she hobbled up the stairs.

He walked through the first floor, making sure all the appliances and lights were turned off. Lachlan and Niall entered the lodge at the same time Sidney started down the stairs. His men exchanged glances and then gazed at her. It meant nothing. They were only curious. Still, his jaw clenched and he had to fight the wave of possessiveness sweeping through him. She approached with a bright smile that made his teeth itch.

“Hi, I’m Sidney.” She held out her hand.

They glanced at each other then at him. He gave them a nod, and they took turns shaking her hand.

“I’m Lachlan, and this is Niall.” Lachlan pointed at Niall with his thumb.

“Which one of you is driving the Jeep back to the Twin Cities?” Sidney opened her purse and fished around in its depths.

“Lachlan will,” Dermot replied.

“Oh, good.” She passed her keys to Lachlan and turned toward him. “I noticed you made the bed and tidied up.” Giving him a syrupy smile, she pressed a twenty dollar bill into his palm. “This is for you.” She snatched her parka from the back of the couch and put it on, tucked the cane under her arm and grabbed her bags.

“I’ll carry your bags.”

“I have them.” She limped to the door without sparing him a glance, working her way around his men and out the front door.

“What the hell did you do to the lass?” Lachlan asked.

“Nothing. She sprained her ankle when she went for a walk.”

“Hmm, a walk to get away from you, I’ll wager.” Lachlan raised an eyebrow.

Niall nodded. “You’d better apologize.”

“For what?”

“It does no’ matter what it’s for.” Lachlan placed a hand on Dermot’s shoulder, and gave him a shake. “In all the years you’ve lived, have you learned nothing about women?”

“Who would’ve taught me?” He shrugged. “The Druid priests, or the uncles who trained me to fight?”

“Mairéad,” Lachlan murmured.

“You and the rest of the men saw more of Mairéad’s true self than I ever did. You know it’s true. She walked on eggshells around me, as did I around her. My wife never raised her voice, much less shared her thoughts with me. How was I to learn?” He scooped up his overnight bag from the floor.

“Mairéad was in awe of you,” Lachlan said. “You were the center of her world. Had she lived longer, I’m certain the two of you would’ve found your way with one another.”

“A lot of good that does me now. Let’s be off.”

“Where women are concerned, it’s always best to apologize, even if you believe you’ve done nothing to offend.” Niall grinned. “It’s a long flight home on a very small jet.”

Dermot held out the keys to his rental. “Give me the keys to the Jeep, Lachlan.”