can’t help you come from a family of runners.”
Jane closed her eyes and willed him to disappear. No such luck.
“She didn’t blame you for never contacting us. After your father died, you were grieving.” Sean placed a hand on her shoulder and nodded in understanding. “Mother was thoughtful like that.”
Jane knew there were polite things she should say, things she should probably ask, but the shock of seeing him after so long had caused social etiquette to leave her.
“I’m sorry you lost her,” Jane managed, the condolence coming a little later than it should have.
“ We lost her.” Sean’s eyes narrowed and hardened. It was a subtle change most people wouldn’t notice, but she knew this man. “We are still family.”
“Sean, I…” What could she say?
“It’s okay, Janey. You must be in shock. But we have each other. It’s what she would have wanted,” he assured her. Turning around to look at the nursery, he nodded. “You live here alone?”
“Yes.”
“It’s quaint.”
“It suits me,” she said, not sure if he’d meant it as a compliment or not.
“I’ll be in town for at least a couple of weeks.”
Jane knew he wanted her to invite him to stay with her, but she couldn’t bring herself to extend the offer. The two-minute family reunion they’d just had would last her another five years, if not longer. She just wanted him gone. “Are you staying at the Dorchester House or one of the motels by the highway?”
“Dorchester. It will be nice catching up with my little sister. We’ll have plenty of time to spend together.” Sean touched her cheek. “It will be just like old times.”
Jane really hoped not. Before she could answer, she realized they were being watched. Iain MacGregor stood next to the building, still wearing the kilt from the earlier parade. He wasn’t exactly who she wanted to see at the moment, but considering it was either Iain or Sean, the choice was clear.
“Sean, I have to help a customer. Maybe we can catch up later over dinner?”
Sean glanced at Iain and frowned. “Sure, Janey. I’d like that very much.” He moved to leave but paused to give Iain a once over. The men’s eyes locked, and their expressions hardened as they stared at each other. It might have only been for a few seconds, but it was enough.
----
W hen Iain had finally stopped wandering , he stood before the small nursery they had marched past during their parade. He remembered being compelled to return. Apparently, his magick thought now was a good time.
The front of the building resembled a two-story cottage. By the curtains on the second story, he imagined the owner lived upstairs. He’d watched the windows for movement but didn’t detect any. It was the sound of voices that urged him to go around back.
Irritation burned inside of him as he watched the man touch his mystery woman’s cheek. The gesture was intimate, but Jane’s expression didn’t seem to encourage the attention.
Ex-boyfriend? Unwanted admirer? Luckily, Sean excused himself before Iain had to summon a tree limb to reach out and drag the guy away. The little staring contest the man had tried to initiate had been laughable. With one flick of his hand, Iain could have directed enough energy at Sean to send him flying. His hand flexed now as he watched the man walk away. It was tempting. The sound of Jane’s voice stopped him.
“Mr. MacGregor, how can I help you?”
Iain smiled, instantly forgetting all about Sean. Traces of dirt marred her skin and strands of her curly hair framed her face. There was an earthy appeal to her jeans and work shirt. Jane looked nothing like the women he normally dated. Considering Iain quickly lost interest in the women he dated, he’d say that was one thing in Jane’s favor.
He didn’t answer right away. She remained standing by her garden, eyeing him from the depths of her brown gaze with a kind of wariness that caused any attempts he would make at pleasantness to
Jane closed her eyes and willed him to disappear. No such luck.
“She didn’t blame you for never contacting us. After your father died, you were grieving.” Sean placed a hand on her shoulder and nodded in understanding. “Mother was thoughtful like that.”
Jane knew there were polite things she should say, things she should probably ask, but the shock of seeing him after so long had caused social etiquette to leave her.
“I’m sorry you lost her,” Jane managed, the condolence coming a little later than it should have.
“ We lost her.” Sean’s eyes narrowed and hardened. It was a subtle change most people wouldn’t notice, but she knew this man. “We are still family.”
“Sean, I…” What could she say?
“It’s okay, Janey. You must be in shock. But we have each other. It’s what she would have wanted,” he assured her. Turning around to look at the nursery, he nodded. “You live here alone?”
“Yes.”
“It’s quaint.”
“It suits me,” she said, not sure if he’d meant it as a compliment or not.
“I’ll be in town for at least a couple of weeks.”
Jane knew he wanted her to invite him to stay with her, but she couldn’t bring herself to extend the offer. The two-minute family reunion they’d just had would last her another five years, if not longer. She just wanted him gone. “Are you staying at the Dorchester House or one of the motels by the highway?”
“Dorchester. It will be nice catching up with my little sister. We’ll have plenty of time to spend together.” Sean touched her cheek. “It will be just like old times.”
Jane really hoped not. Before she could answer, she realized they were being watched. Iain MacGregor stood next to the building, still wearing the kilt from the earlier parade. He wasn’t exactly who she wanted to see at the moment, but considering it was either Iain or Sean, the choice was clear.
“Sean, I have to help a customer. Maybe we can catch up later over dinner?”
Sean glanced at Iain and frowned. “Sure, Janey. I’d like that very much.” He moved to leave but paused to give Iain a once over. The men’s eyes locked, and their expressions hardened as they stared at each other. It might have only been for a few seconds, but it was enough.
----
W hen Iain had finally stopped wandering , he stood before the small nursery they had marched past during their parade. He remembered being compelled to return. Apparently, his magick thought now was a good time.
The front of the building resembled a two-story cottage. By the curtains on the second story, he imagined the owner lived upstairs. He’d watched the windows for movement but didn’t detect any. It was the sound of voices that urged him to go around back.
Irritation burned inside of him as he watched the man touch his mystery woman’s cheek. The gesture was intimate, but Jane’s expression didn’t seem to encourage the attention.
Ex-boyfriend? Unwanted admirer? Luckily, Sean excused himself before Iain had to summon a tree limb to reach out and drag the guy away. The little staring contest the man had tried to initiate had been laughable. With one flick of his hand, Iain could have directed enough energy at Sean to send him flying. His hand flexed now as he watched the man walk away. It was tempting. The sound of Jane’s voice stopped him.
“Mr. MacGregor, how can I help you?”
Iain smiled, instantly forgetting all about Sean. Traces of dirt marred her skin and strands of her curly hair framed her face. There was an earthy appeal to her jeans and work shirt. Jane looked nothing like the women he normally dated. Considering Iain quickly lost interest in the women he dated, he’d say that was one thing in Jane’s favor.
He didn’t answer right away. She remained standing by her garden, eyeing him from the depths of her brown gaze with a kind of wariness that caused any attempts he would make at pleasantness to
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