The Chieftain's Yule Bride - a Highland Christmas novella (Clan MacKrannan's Secret Traditions #10) by Jonnet Carmichael Page A
Authors: Jonnet Carmichael
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beseech the spirits for her abilities to be gone from her, to let her be normal. Auntie had been awfully disappointed and hurt, but Freya was determined and the spirits had complied.
No more psychic stuff. She'd swapped courses from History to Business and got a job in hotel design, a career that was far removed from anything esoteric. Such things were fine if you stayed in the Highlands. Freya would rather have travel and adventure... and now with the bees thing and that Celtic room, she almost wished she'd accepted a Las Vegas wedding.
And the portrait? Uncanny – just as Callum had described it, but far easier to deal with.
He seemed to be in a hurry as they left the Brewery. Only fair, when she'd monopolized him all morning. The estate was a big place to run and the hotel seemed to be rather busy for early December when most places like it were half-empty. Her own booking for a suite had been accepted only after her call had been transferred to the Events Manager because of wanting her wedding there so soon – the same man who'd just disappeared to Glasgow with the bridegroom.
"You've been so kind, Callum. Thank you. I should let you get back to work."
"Is that London code for you wanting away now?"
"Not at all! No... I really should sit down and plan out everything I want before Robbie gets back from Glasgow, but my head's too full of that portrait to concentrate today."
"It would be. What are your plans, then?"
"I'll go to the Spa. Think I need a good long thorough massage after everything this morning."
He turned his head away sharply. She'd meant it innocently, yet the second she'd said it her mind was whipped back to lying on that bed with him watching her. Groggy though she'd been at first, she'd definitely seen something more than concern in him. He wasn't alone in thinking about more than the portrait and her immediate health. What girl wouldn't spare a passing daydream for a man that looked like Callum?
Change the subject. Say something else quick.
"...Or I might go up to Monlachan instead. Have a look at Auntie Harper's landscapes and find out what she knows. The suspense is killing me. Would that be alright? I give you my word not to tell out anything about the Celtic room or..."
That got his attention. "Hope you're no' thinking on driving. You were passed out no' an hour ago."
"Honestly, I have never fainted before in my life. It must have been the shock. Can't imagine many people would still be standing if they saw that. And it's not as if I banged my head or anything."
"I'll take you to Monlachan."
He was looking away over the mountains as he took long strides. With anyone else on the planet Freya would have trotted ahead and faced him, asked him why he'd want to make a five-hour drive each way for this and why he assumed he was welcome to join her. With this chieftain she simply said, "Thank you. We can be there and back in a day if we leave early. What day's best for you?"
"We'll go now. My car."
Zavier never minded where she was or who she was with. Now she wasn't quite so sure. Suddenly that comment about a naughty weekend with a caber-tossing lover came back to hit her and it was her turn to look away. Her face must be a very bright pink.
Now was the time to tell Callum she'd be taking the rental car. Alone. And she may have done that if she hadn't justified it all to herself with how many questions Auntie Harper would have about the portrait, and how much better it would be if he was there to answer them.
"Okay," she said. "Meet you back at Reception? I'd better call Auntie first, tell her we'll be there for dinner."
Half an hour later, Freya had her first sight of Callum MacKrannan in denims and a sweater. His legs went on forever, same as the jumping of her heartbeat. He towered over her all the more now that she'd ditched her heels for sensible hiking boots, and her heart thumped even harder
No more psychic stuff. She'd swapped courses from History to Business and got a job in hotel design, a career that was far removed from anything esoteric. Such things were fine if you stayed in the Highlands. Freya would rather have travel and adventure... and now with the bees thing and that Celtic room, she almost wished she'd accepted a Las Vegas wedding.
And the portrait? Uncanny – just as Callum had described it, but far easier to deal with.
He seemed to be in a hurry as they left the Brewery. Only fair, when she'd monopolized him all morning. The estate was a big place to run and the hotel seemed to be rather busy for early December when most places like it were half-empty. Her own booking for a suite had been accepted only after her call had been transferred to the Events Manager because of wanting her wedding there so soon – the same man who'd just disappeared to Glasgow with the bridegroom.
"You've been so kind, Callum. Thank you. I should let you get back to work."
"Is that London code for you wanting away now?"
"Not at all! No... I really should sit down and plan out everything I want before Robbie gets back from Glasgow, but my head's too full of that portrait to concentrate today."
"It would be. What are your plans, then?"
"I'll go to the Spa. Think I need a good long thorough massage after everything this morning."
He turned his head away sharply. She'd meant it innocently, yet the second she'd said it her mind was whipped back to lying on that bed with him watching her. Groggy though she'd been at first, she'd definitely seen something more than concern in him. He wasn't alone in thinking about more than the portrait and her immediate health. What girl wouldn't spare a passing daydream for a man that looked like Callum?
Change the subject. Say something else quick.
"...Or I might go up to Monlachan instead. Have a look at Auntie Harper's landscapes and find out what she knows. The suspense is killing me. Would that be alright? I give you my word not to tell out anything about the Celtic room or..."
That got his attention. "Hope you're no' thinking on driving. You were passed out no' an hour ago."
"Honestly, I have never fainted before in my life. It must have been the shock. Can't imagine many people would still be standing if they saw that. And it's not as if I banged my head or anything."
"I'll take you to Monlachan."
He was looking away over the mountains as he took long strides. With anyone else on the planet Freya would have trotted ahead and faced him, asked him why he'd want to make a five-hour drive each way for this and why he assumed he was welcome to join her. With this chieftain she simply said, "Thank you. We can be there and back in a day if we leave early. What day's best for you?"
"We'll go now. My car."
Zavier never minded where she was or who she was with. Now she wasn't quite so sure. Suddenly that comment about a naughty weekend with a caber-tossing lover came back to hit her and it was her turn to look away. Her face must be a very bright pink.
Now was the time to tell Callum she'd be taking the rental car. Alone. And she may have done that if she hadn't justified it all to herself with how many questions Auntie Harper would have about the portrait, and how much better it would be if he was there to answer them.
"Okay," she said. "Meet you back at Reception? I'd better call Auntie first, tell her we'll be there for dinner."
Half an hour later, Freya had her first sight of Callum MacKrannan in denims and a sweater. His legs went on forever, same as the jumping of her heartbeat. He towered over her all the more now that she'd ditched her heels for sensible hiking boots, and her heart thumped even harder
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