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such things, and only wanted to live peacefully on her aunt’s farm seemed quite the same dilemma to her.
    When they were done eating, they watched a program that moved her to tears it was so dramatic, then he took her back to the castle. A perfect gentleman, or at least as much as he could be with the lax rules of the day. In fact, as she thought about it, she decided he was more of a gentleman, because he acted properly on his own, with no chaperone to berate him if he did wrong.
    Between exploring the village with Mellie and wandering the castle grounds with Shane, the week flew past, and she only worried about Lachlan for the few minutes each night before she fell into an exhausted sleep.
    On the day he and the witch were to arrive home, Mellie asked her if she was nervous about seeing her brother again and she realized she’d been deep in denial, her stomach plummeting at the thought. She could barely make conversation, and begged off taking a drive in the golf cart with Shane. When she wasn’t helping Mel clean, she spent the day pacing and wringing her hands.
    “I’m sure everything will be fine,” Mel said. It was late and they were due any time. Catie wore her long dress, thinking it would be difficult enough for Lachlan to adjust to her being there. If he saw her in jeans and a t-shirt, his head might explode. “He won’t be angry,” Mel assured her.
    “Have we even been speaking of the same person this last week?” she asked, unable to understand why no one seemed afraid or even the least bit intimidated by her brother.
    Mellie only laughed, then tilted her head to the side. “I hear the car,” she said. “They’re going to be so shocked.”
    Which was it? Was everything going to be fine or were they going to be shocked? Mellie’s eyes were glued to the door, and unable to stand the suspense, Catie ran and hid in the pantry. Not entirely sure it was the right decision, she was stuck there for the moment. She pressed her ear against the door and listened to Mellie greet them, her voice sounding overly loud and jovial.
    The witch sensed something was off right away and asked her what was wrong. Catie’s vision started fading and she clung to the door handle. What would she see when she came out? She prayed she wouldn’t be blinded by a spell, finally hearing Mel call to her to come out. Swallowing hard, she edged around the door. Mellie squeezed Piper’s hand and took off. Catie was on her own.
    Lachlan swore and looked like he might faint, but Catie only had eyes for the tiny dark-haired woman beside him. She didn’t seem dangerous at all. In fact, she had a kind, though somewhat confused and nervous, expression on her pretty face. Catie blinked a few times, but the woman didn’t change or waver, grow horns or fangs or sprout a tail. Catie pinched herself to make sure she still had her wits about her. She had no point of reference, but felt fairly certain she wasn’t being enchanted.
    Lachlan advanced and wrapped her in a hug before shaking her and dragging her to meet the woman. Piper Sinclair’s eyes welled up with tears as she hugged her as well. The twenty-first century certainly was huggy. Catie stiffened, but no agonizing pain or creeping shivers came from Piper’s touch. What was going on? She shoved away and started to cry, feeling foolish, but unable to stop.
    The fact that Lachlan was alive and well, and not mentally or physically shackled to a witch overwhelmed her with relief until that same fact fired up the anger she’d almost forgotten in the past week.
    He was not in danger. At all. She had ruined her chances for a good marriage in her own time, risked her life to come here, stolen poor Miss Burnet’s ability to get home, and for nothing.
    “Catie, lass, what is it?” he asked, leading her to the bench to sit.
    She shook with rage and took several steps away from him.
    “Let me get you a little something to drink,” Piper offered, hurrying to open a bottle of whiskey.