The Ruby Brooch (The Celtic Brooch Trilogy) by Katherine Logan

alien thought.
    The maitre d’hôtel seated her in the busy dining room’s front corner between a drafty window, and a fire blazing up the chimney. She looked about. From her vantage point, she could see most of the diners in the room and the crowded sidewalk outside. He handed her a menu and lit the candle in the center of the table. After a quick glance at the Bill of Fare, she decided to pass on the pig head, buffalo tongue, boned chicken a-la-happy-family, and settled for roasted venison and a bottle of Mumm’s Cabinet Champagne.
    With a glass of wine and dinner on the way, she opened her journal to jot down a few notes and rein in her distressed thoughts. Instead, she drew caricatures of the people she’d met.
    An hour later with an empty plate, a full stomach, and another glass of wine, she returned to her drawing of Cullen, draping him in a Montgomery plaid.
    “Did you enjoy your supper?”
    She jerked her head back, settling her gaze on a distinguished-looking man standing beside the table. Amusement played across his face. “Mr. Montgomery?” She blinked once then twice. Then finding a measure of composure, closed her journal, hiding the caricature that exaggerated his shoulder-length hair and scruffy beard. The drawing no longer seemed apropos since he’d obviously been to the barber. Not only was his hair shorter, but the sexy, three-day-whiskers were gone as well as the flannel shirt and work trousers. A black, double-breasted frock coat and gray wool trousers hugged his body as if the tailor had stitched the garments on him.
    How will he ever get them off?
    Her eyes remained fixed on him, and she scrambled for words. After a beat or two of silence, she pointed to the empty chair on the other side of the table. “Would you care to join me for a glass of wine?”
    He studied her for a moment. Had she committed a faux pas? When he gave her an approving smile, she relaxed a smidgeon.
    “I’d be pleased.” He eased his long, muscular frame into the chair and signaled the waiter. “Mrs. MacKlenna has offered to share a glass of wine.”
    The scent of bay rum wafted across the table and settled in her lungs. The smell would later wrap her in thoughts of the man and his doppelganger. “I didn’t realize you were in the dining room.”
    He glanced across the room. “From where you’re sitting, you would only have seen my back. I didn’t notice you until I got up to leave.”
    The waiter set a glass on the table and poured. Cullen picked up the crystal stemware and leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. He sipped, rolled the wine in his mouth, swallowed, and saluted her with the glass. “My compliments.” The wine appeared golden in the candle’s flickering flame. “The Barretts are fine folks. You’ll get on well.”
    She folded her arms on the table and leaned forward. “I can’t thank you enough for the introduction.”
    “I’ve known for some time they needed help. Your coming to town was providential.”
    Another liar’s blush spread warmth across her face, and she glanced away. When she turned back, she found him watching her intently. “I’ll have to find a way to repay you.”
    He scrunched his brows in mock thought and lifted his glass. “This is repayment.”
    A young waiter cleared their table. When he turned to leave, he accidently bumped into a tall, redheaded army captain. Cullen jumped up in time to steady the waiter’s tray. The soldier brushed his jacket as if he’d been shot at and wasn’t sure whether or not he had been injured.
    “Quick action, Montgomery.”
    “I’d hate to see your uniform sullied by the remains of Mrs. MacKlenna’s lemon pie.” A smile ticked at the corner of Cullen’s lip.
    The soldier relaxed his rigid stance and said in a lighter tone, “It appears I survived unscathed.”
    Cullen stepped aside, and Kit saw the captain’s sharp, angular face. Piercing dark eyes rested on her, sending an involuntary shiver to her fingers,