If You Dare - Cole Kresley - Страница 68

"Oh." Her face fell, but then brightened. "You said it needs work." She asked hopefully, "Does that include draining swamps?"

He put his hands on her shoulders and stroked the sides of her neck. "I'm teasing you, mo cridhe. It means Hill of the Rowan Tree."

She cuffed him with the back of her hand, then returned it to his chest. "Hill of the Rowan Tree. Pendant del Roure," she said, rolling the r's in that voice he'd longed to hear, making his home's name her own. As she should.

"I do think you could like it there, but if you doona, then I'll take you wherever you can be happy."

She went to her toes to nuzzle her face against his neck, again stunning him. "I'm happy where you are."

His eyes closed from the tenderness in the gesture. She wants to be with me, he thought in amazement. Damn, if she doesn't want to.

She drew back and said, "But on the way there, we'll need to stop in Paris."

He swallowed and nodded. "Anna, I'll deny you nothing." If money was the only obstacle between them, he'd bloody well rob trains.

She tilted her head. "Oh, you think I want to go shopping."

He made his expression stoic.

But sadness flashed in her eyes. "Thank you for the offer, but I'll have to decline. This stop is of an entirely different nature." When his brows drew together, she said, "I'll tell you on the way. But if we're going to Scotland, then you have to get me over the mountain before I get too big to fit through the pass." She glanced around and added conspiratorially, "Trust me, you do not want to be stuck here for the winter with Aleix and Olivia mooning over each other."

He grinned and leaned down to put his forehead against hers. "Anna, I'll take you away whenever you please. I still canna believe that you…that we…I thought I'd lost you."

She twined her arms around his neck. "I don't suppose you can lose the woman fate decided was to be yours. You only needed to find her."

"I have found her. And I'll no' be lettin' her go." He laid his hands on her cheeks and gently kissed her.

"Actually," she murmured against his lips, "I found you."

Epilogue

Not to marry, know love, or bind, their fate;

Your line to die for never seed shall take.

Death and torment to those caught in their wake,

Unless each dark one finds his forechosen mate.

For his true lady alone his life and heart can save….