Enough to realize something else.
Desperation and power weren't the only things she saw and felt in Gabe MacGowan. After the friar interrupted their kiss and Gabe had stepped back, he'd not broken his stare. But Allie recognized something immediately in the depths of those green eyes.
Fear.
Fear of what, she had no idea. Gabe MacGowan was not the type of man who feared much of anything. His entire being radiated confidence, strength, power. She'd noticed it right away, from the second she'd met him at Odin's.
No, scratch that. To be perfectly honest, she'd sensed that during their short phone conversation.
The briny scent of the sea washed over her as the breeze slipped over the loch, and through the tiny beam of light cast by the moon, the ebb and flow of the tide lapped against the pebbly shores and rocks of Sealladh na Mara. She could see the outlines of the boats anchored close, and across the loch and to the right, the craggy cliff and Gabe's ancestor's old castle. She and Jake hadn't made it up there.
Allie suspected they just might never get to.
Leaning her head against the cool wood of the jamb, Allie continued to stare out. What was she doing here? As soon as she had arrived, she knew Gabe was fighting a losing battle with the Odin's lot. They had their mind set to keep the ones they loved close byâand that meant doing whatever it took to keep Gabe and Jake from selling Odin's and leaving the village. She'd been here less than seven days and was pretty sure nothing had changed. So much had happened in the short time she'd been around that there hadn't been much of an opportunity to have everyone sit down and talk things overâGabe included.
She highly suspected it wouldn't happen any time soon. But it certainly needed to. And she'd make it a point to call that meeting to order that next night.
Again, memories hit her of that kiss, of that man, and worse than any of those things, the way he'd made her
feel
. It wasn't loveâthey'd known each other way too little for that. But it was
something
. A
connection
.
A connection that went far above attraction.
Allie's eyes drifted shut, and the last thing on her mind before consciousness shut down was Gabe's mouth against hers, the way his body trembled so slightly she nearly missed it, and the urgency in his kiss . . .
Chapter 12
T
he alarm went off and Allie awoke, strangely enough, in the bed. She didn't remember leaving the alcove, but subconsciously, she must have started to get too cold and moved to the warmth of the duvet.
As she gathered her bearings, her gaze traveled to the fireplace. A nice blaze crackled there, making the room warm and toasty.
She certainly hadn't done that in her sleep.
Climbing out of bed, Allie gathered clean under-stuff, jeans, her favorite black
Raiders of the Lost Ark
T-shirt and her toiletries, and crossed the hall to the bathroom. After a quick shower and a fast towel-drying of hair, she pulled a comb through several times, put on her boots, grabbed her peacoat, and headed downstairs. She'd go to Leona's first, as had been her habit after that first day, and then head back to Odin's to start on the lunch meal.
She'd already made her mind up to smile, laugh, and do her best to put Gabe at ease about last night. The last thing she wanted was for him to feel obligated. They'd shared a kiss. Okayâit was way more than a kiss. It was something more and Allie couldn't put her finger on it, yet she was pretty sure Gabe didn't recognize it. Either way, she'd had enough experience with guys to know Gabe probably would avoid her like the plague this morning. If she laughed and pretended nothing bothered her, maybe he'd loosen up.
Or not.
Butterflies of nerves hit her stomach as she slipped downstairs. She knew it was always weird, the initial encounter with a person with whom something had happened for the first time. She hadn't experienced the feeling in quite a long while, but was positive it'd never been as bad as now.
But when she reached the first floor, the very first person she laid eyes on was Laina, Gabe's mom.
Laina, dressed in a pair of khakis, a dark blue sweater, and sneakers, gave her a big smile.
“Ciamar a tha sibh?”
Allie blinked.
With a laugh, Laina patted her arm. “ 'Tis Gaelic, lass. It means
How are you
?”
Allie smiled in return. “Oh, that's lovely. And I'm fine, thank you.” She tried to repeat the question in Gaelic but failed miserably.
Laina, though, took it in stride. “Nice try, love, and I'm fine, as well.” She heaved a sigh. “Looks like 'tis me and you for the next couple of days, then, lass. Are ye up to it?”
Allie glanced around. “Where's Gabe?”
“Oh, he has business to tend in Inverness. He'll be back by Saturday.”
Wow. She'd expected Gabe to avoid her, but not to the extent of leaving Sealladh na Mara. She forced a smile. “Oh, okay.”
Laina studied Allie. “You've really helped him out of a bind, you know. Usually 'tis Wee Mary and Katey runnin' Odin's meals. Without you here Gabe would be in a terrible mess, aye?”
Allie smiled. “I'm glad to be of some help.” She inclined her head. “Do you want something from Leona's? I'm headed there now.”
Laina shook her head. “Och, no, I had me porridge early this morn. Thanks, though.”
With a wave, Allie set off. No sooner had she paid Leona for her pie and coffee and had started off to the wharf than she picked up company.
“I like a woman who can eat. Shows her confidence, methinks. And from what I've seen, you've loads of it.”
Allie jumped, only because she wasn't expecting a voice so close. She looked up into the ghostly dark eyes of Captain Catesby.
He gave her a wicked grin and a slight nod. “Have you missed me, lass?”
Allie grinned. “You mean since yesterday? Well, Captain Catesby, yes, actually, I have. Where'd you go off to the other day, anyway?”
“Please. Call me by my Christian name.”
With a nod, Allie made the correction. “Justin. Where'd you go?”
A slow smile spread across the handsome spirit's face. “Much better. And to answer your question, off to the North of England to see a friend.”
Allie looked at him. “What sort of friend?”
Justin clasped his hands behind his back as they walked. “Och, a fierce lad with an ornery mortal for a curator.” He leaned his head toward her. “Methinks the sweet old woman is tryin' to be a matchmaker.”
Allie blinked. “A match between who?”
Justin shrugged. “Well, 'tis just my observation, but the sweet old wily woman who watches over the castle ruins has a bonny niece from the Colonies on her way for a wee visit.” He winked. “I've no' seen a more cunning woman than that old curator.”
Allie stopped. “A match between your friend, who I am suspecting is a spritied soul, and the niece?”
He grinned. “Stranger things have occurred, lass.”
She supposed he was right. The thought intrigued her, though.
They passed the last few establishments and then made their way to the wharf. While Allie picked her way over the rocks and pebbles, Justin seemed to glide.
“Glorious day, aye?” he asked as Allie settled onto her usual bench. He inhaled, but shook his head. “I do indeed miss the salty air. 'Twas one of my most favorite scents, the sea.”
She smiled. “Mine, too. Sit with me?” she asked, nodding to the space beside her.
“There'd be no greater pleasure,” he said. “Well, I could think o' one, or mayhap two.”
“No doubt.” Allie rolled her eyes, sat down, and glanced out over the loch. The sun peeked through a cluster of clouds, making the water sparkle. The air was still crisp and cold and the breeze wasn't quite so fierce. “It is a beautiful day.”
Justin Catesby did sit then, leaving a decent amount of space between them. Allie studied him closelyâenough to make him cock his head and grin.
“Why do you inspect me so, lass?” he asked.
Allie shrugged and opened the heavy wax paper sealing her pie. “You're not very old, are you?”
Justin barked out a laugh. “A good bit older than you, I'd warrant.”
Taking a bite, Allie chewed, swallowed, and wiped her mouth. “No, I don't mean how old you are
now
. I mean how old you were when you passed.” She looked at him. “You seem so much more . . . experienced than what you should be.”
Justin leaned forward, elbows resting on knees spread wide in the fashion that guys do. “I was thirty-one to answer your question.” He gave her a grin that was surely meant to flirt. “Experience? Aye, I've plenty o' that, love.”
Allie glanced at him while she ate. “You big flirt. I knew you were naughty from the first moment I laid eyes on you. I bet the girls in your day didn't have a chance.”
“Not even a smidge of one, I'm afraid.” He turned to her, wavy brown hair brushing the tops of his shoulders. The leather tricorn hat that made him appear all the more roguish. Although a bit transparent, his brown eyes gleamed of mischief, danger, and something else Allie couldn't place. His large hands were clasped, thick veins crossing the tops, and he wore a ring on his left forefinger.
Allie bent close to study it. It had a half-moon and what appeared to be a . . . tooth? A large, pointed fang of a tooth.
“Interesting ring, Catesby,” she said, rising and looking him in the eye. “What's it mean?”
Justin smiled, flexed his hand, and glanced at it. “Och, nothin', lass. Just some trinket I won in a game of bones.”
Sipping her coffee, she lifted a brow. “Looks ferocious if you ask me.”
He laughed, and shook his head. “I've heard you've made a bit of progress with young Gabe.”
Allie's thoughts turned to the kiss they'd shared, and she nearly choked on her coffee. She wondered if the friar had ratted them out. She wiped her mouth and crumpled the wax wrapper. “Er, not reallyâ”
Justin's eyes narrowed as he studied her face. “You've no' a poker face, lass, 'tis a certainty.” He lifted a brow. “If I didna know any better I'd say you were guilty of something.”
Allie frowned. “I'm not guilty of anything.”
With an intense stare that all but made Allie squirm, Justin searched her face, from her chin, to her lips, nose, and then eyes. “Hmm. I'm no' sure about that, lassie, but 'twill be immensely enjoyable to wrench the information from you.”
“My granny would call you a perv-o.”
After a moment more of studying her, Justin threw back his head and laughed. “Aye, no doubt she would.” He rose, glancing out to sea. “Are you plannin' on goin' to the ceilidh Saturday?”
Allie blinked. “Yes. Why?”
A slow smile with much anticipation spread across his handsome face.
And with that he faded into the sunlight.
Over the next two days, Allie and Laina saw Jake off to school, opened Odin's for lunch and dinner, and everything went off without a hitch or glitch. As she and Gabe's mom prepared the food, Lords Ramsey and Killigrew sat close by on whatever empty countertop they could find and flirted with gusto. Laina giggled and would scold them, but Allie could tell she thoroughly enjoyed it. Mademoiselle would stay close by, taking great interest in how to prepare the meals, and the friar would sit quietly in the corner with Dauber, discussing only God knows what.
And then there was suave Captain Justin Catesby, who always seemed to be going the very same direction Allie was going. He was full of charm and Allie fully believed the women in his day had no chance whatsoever of repelling him.
Allie sat back and closely regarded the souls of Sealladh na Mara. She quickly decided the MacGowan case was by far the strangest case she'd accepted. Employed to quiet the determined spirits so Gabe MacGowan could properly sell his establishment, she hadn't needed very long at all to see that the problem didn't lie with the spirits, but with Gabe MacGowan himself.
She'd told him as much, too.
She'd fought hard not to question little Jake. But she withheld, hoping Gabe would tell her just what it was making him run from his family and friends.
And Sealladh na Mara.
Each night, after the last patron had left Odin's, Allie would sit in the pub with Justin, Drew, the lords, Dauber, and Elise. Story after story was told, and before long, Allie felt as though she'd known them all her life. She also realized Odin's Thumb's spirits were the most contented souls she'd ever encountered. They weren't haunting the pub and inn. They weren't haunting Sealladh na Mara. They looked at the quiet little seaside village as their home.
Their home in the afterlife, so to speak.
They loved it, and they loved Gabe and Jake MacGowan.
And didn't want them to leave.
So, it seemed, while Allie was hired to do one thing, the task at hand had turned into something else altogether.
She had to get to the bottom of Gabe's distress and change his mind.
Jake was adorable, full of energy and questions and really, a continuous sponge. He'd ask all sorts of things about America, life in general, and was especially interested in scienceâAllie's specialty was astronomy, and Jake was more than enthusiastsic about sitting outside to stare at the sky once it grew dark. After school, though, she'd walk to the wharf with him, the Odin's crew plus Dauber in tow, and in the wade pool they'd discover new creatures with each fresh tide. The nobles, being younger, she supposed, had loads of personal experience from their own childhood to offer on how to capture a small fish, or any other urchins lying just below the surface of the water.