MacLarens of Balmorie 05 - Once Upon A Time In Scotland by Kam McKellar Page A
Authors: Kam McKellar
Tags: Highlanders
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small lanterns hanging from hooks stuck into the ground.
It was such a beautiful sight it made her pause and take it all in. It was a magical, plain and simple. And in a weird way, it made her feel even more lonely than before.
What would it be like to have what Riley and Jamie had? She'd thought she'd had that with Jake, but looking back now, it was clear what she'd felt and hoped for with Jake hadn't even come close.
Lucy and Ian had married in the chapel at night in the snowy winter. How lovely that must have been. Though a nighttime wedding in the summer time would be just as incredible. She could see it clearly. Lights strung in the trees. The chapel lit up and decorated. The flowers and vines blooming.
On her walk back, she saw a small path leading deeper into the woods. Feeling adventurous, she followed it, eventually emerging from the woods to find a quaint pebble beach by the shores of the loch. A rope swing hung from a large tree branch. There were two Adirondacks and two canoes pulled onto the shore. The area was lit with lanterns and lights in the trees, and Abbie felt like she'd just found a wonderful little secret.
Next time she'd bring her notebook.
Careful over the rocks, she made her way to the swing and sat on the wooden plank, grabbing both sides of the thick rope and pushing off.
CHAPTER 7
Liam looked everywhere for Abbie . Her bike was still leaning against the side of the castle and the last time anyone had seen her was over an hour ago on the patio. Upon Mia's suggestion, he was now making his way to the chapel. If Abbie wasn't there, he might start worrying.
She wasn't in the chapel.
Bloody hell.
As he exited the small building, his concern mounted. He put his hands on his hips and listened. She could be anywhere. As he walked back through the woods, the path to the secluded pebble beach had him turning. As he drew closer, the sounds of a constant wooden creak told him someone was there, swinging.
Relief filled him at the sight of Abbie swinging gently, her legs straight, her ankles crossed, the hem of her dress riding up her thighs. She leaned to one side, her head resting on the rope as though lost in a daydream.
He knew he should leave her to her solitude, but even as he had the thought he was walking forward, his boots crunching loudly over the small rocks. At the sound, she jerked, spinning the swing around. When she saw it was him, relief relaxed her shoulders, but her eyes narrowed to fine points.
The soft lights cast everything in an otherworldly glow and made Abbie's skin golden. It was hard not to stare as he sat on the Adirondack's armrest to face her, his outward movements deceptive while inside he was . . . Good, Lord. Nervous.
“Party is still going strong...” he began quietly, able to hear the faint sounds of music and the occasional burst of laughter.
She didn't answer, just pushed the swing back and forth with her toe.
“Planning on coming back anytime soon?” Conflict flowed through him. He was glad he'd kissed her and yet he was kicking himself for making a move that obviously had alienate her. Why else had she avoided him all night?
“Why do you care, Liam?” A frown lined her forehead. “I'm sorry, I don't mean that in a rude way.”
His heart skipped a beat and he blinked, surprised she'd be so blunt. He knew exactly what she meant, but he needed a minute to gather his thoughts, so he asked, “How do you mean it then, Abbie ?”
“Your family is back there, your date... the last thing you should be worrying about is me.”
His brow raised. He didn't know where to start. The mysterious date he supposedly had or why he'd come looking for her. Why the hell had he? She repeatedly made it known she wasn't interested and here he was making an ass out of himself, following her around like some pathetic lovesick fool. Aye, he'd worried about her. But obviously she didn't want him to or need him to.
Regretting his decision to come find
It was such a beautiful sight it made her pause and take it all in. It was a magical, plain and simple. And in a weird way, it made her feel even more lonely than before.
What would it be like to have what Riley and Jamie had? She'd thought she'd had that with Jake, but looking back now, it was clear what she'd felt and hoped for with Jake hadn't even come close.
Lucy and Ian had married in the chapel at night in the snowy winter. How lovely that must have been. Though a nighttime wedding in the summer time would be just as incredible. She could see it clearly. Lights strung in the trees. The chapel lit up and decorated. The flowers and vines blooming.
On her walk back, she saw a small path leading deeper into the woods. Feeling adventurous, she followed it, eventually emerging from the woods to find a quaint pebble beach by the shores of the loch. A rope swing hung from a large tree branch. There were two Adirondacks and two canoes pulled onto the shore. The area was lit with lanterns and lights in the trees, and Abbie felt like she'd just found a wonderful little secret.
Next time she'd bring her notebook.
Careful over the rocks, she made her way to the swing and sat on the wooden plank, grabbing both sides of the thick rope and pushing off.
CHAPTER 7
Liam looked everywhere for Abbie . Her bike was still leaning against the side of the castle and the last time anyone had seen her was over an hour ago on the patio. Upon Mia's suggestion, he was now making his way to the chapel. If Abbie wasn't there, he might start worrying.
She wasn't in the chapel.
Bloody hell.
As he exited the small building, his concern mounted. He put his hands on his hips and listened. She could be anywhere. As he walked back through the woods, the path to the secluded pebble beach had him turning. As he drew closer, the sounds of a constant wooden creak told him someone was there, swinging.
Relief filled him at the sight of Abbie swinging gently, her legs straight, her ankles crossed, the hem of her dress riding up her thighs. She leaned to one side, her head resting on the rope as though lost in a daydream.
He knew he should leave her to her solitude, but even as he had the thought he was walking forward, his boots crunching loudly over the small rocks. At the sound, she jerked, spinning the swing around. When she saw it was him, relief relaxed her shoulders, but her eyes narrowed to fine points.
The soft lights cast everything in an otherworldly glow and made Abbie's skin golden. It was hard not to stare as he sat on the Adirondack's armrest to face her, his outward movements deceptive while inside he was . . . Good, Lord. Nervous.
“Party is still going strong...” he began quietly, able to hear the faint sounds of music and the occasional burst of laughter.
She didn't answer, just pushed the swing back and forth with her toe.
“Planning on coming back anytime soon?” Conflict flowed through him. He was glad he'd kissed her and yet he was kicking himself for making a move that obviously had alienate her. Why else had she avoided him all night?
“Why do you care, Liam?” A frown lined her forehead. “I'm sorry, I don't mean that in a rude way.”
His heart skipped a beat and he blinked, surprised she'd be so blunt. He knew exactly what she meant, but he needed a minute to gather his thoughts, so he asked, “How do you mean it then, Abbie ?”
“Your family is back there, your date... the last thing you should be worrying about is me.”
His brow raised. He didn't know where to start. The mysterious date he supposedly had or why he'd come looking for her. Why the hell had he? She repeatedly made it known she wasn't interested and here he was making an ass out of himself, following her around like some pathetic lovesick fool. Aye, he'd worried about her. But obviously she didn't want him to or need him to.
Regretting his decision to come find
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