Read Love Across Time for Free Online Page B

and that he’d taken part in the elaborate hoax.
    “It be the closest room to bring ye when Aunt Eleanor found ye splattered at the bottom of the stairs.”
    She stared at his serious expression and thought what a consummate actor Abby had selected for his role. He not only dressed the part, but the brogue sounded original, and the stage setting was fantastic.
    “And just where is Castle Menzies?” she demanded. Although she’d searched through several tourist brochures during the long hours at the center, she’d never seen any advertisements for a castle.
    One dark eyebrow lifted. “Castle Menzies be in Scotland, just outside Weem.”
    This had gone far enough: the accent, the room, the eighteenth century garb. Out of patience, she made a swift inspection of the room for an escape route. She had to get away from this lunatic and find Abby before she did him some bodily harm. As big as he was though, she doubted she could hurt him.
    A heavy door on her side of the room looked promising. She whipped back the covers and got out on the opposite side of the bed to elude the madman with the deep Scottish brogue and the sweet kisses she could still taste.
    The minute she stood, her weak legs crumbled.
    He lunged to his feet so fast the chair behind him tipped over as he rushed around the bed, scooped her up off the floor, and held her against his chest.
    “Margaret, lass ye nae got yer strength back. Besides, ye cannae go galloping about the castle in yer nightdress.”
    Lips nuzzled her hair. The arms around her tightened for a fraction of a second before he laid her gently back on the bed. He smoothed her gown down over her exposed thighs and pulled the covers up to tuck under her chin.
    “There, do ye feel better now.” He caressed her shoulder. The bed sagged when he sat down beside her hips. Strong arms propped on each side of her trapped her in his embrace. His nearness left her breathless. Parts of her body she’d only been previously aware of, now tingled, throbbed, and yearned for some mysterious fulfillment.
    “I ken ye be confused, gaol . We still be more or less strangers, and ye said ye dinnae remember me, but that will change now that ye be awake.”
    He leaned close as if to kiss her again. Hands braced on his shoulder, she shoved him back.
    “No. I do not know ye.”
    Agitated, her newfound ability to speak properly slipped with each word. With the edge of the covers held tight, she scooted back further upon the pillows, away from him. It was hard to think coherently with him so close. With one deep breath, she gathered her jumbled thoughts.
    “Who do ye think I be?”
    “I thought you were Colin?”
    Anger whipped across his face at the speed of light, and he lunged to his feet. “Who be this Colin ye speak of?” His brogue became so thick she barely understood him. She ran the words over in her mind twice before she grasped their meaning.
    “You know. Travis’s brother.” If Liam was one of Abby’s acquaintances, surely he knew Colin and Travis. If he realized she was on to Abby’s little game he might admit the truth and get Abby for her.
    “Travis. Colin. Ye seem to ken a lot of men of late.”
    The vein in his temple throbbed. His scar turned dark purple. The straight line of his jaw clenched. Three sure signs the man had worked himself into a towering rage.
    If all that anger broke loose of his rigid control what would happen? Not wanting to scream at one of Abby’s friends like a fishwife, she hunkered back against the headboard.
    “If you let me go, I will not tell the police about this.” Her voice held a silky thread of challenge. “No harm, no foul. I will just go back to the center and forget this ever happened.” Man, would she ever forget. This is one incident she’d rather not have as a memory. What could Abby have been thinking?
    “Go home,” he yelled. “Ye be home.” Fists at his sides clenched and unclenched.
    “What?” Her mind refused to register the