Page 12 of Wind and Water
“Do women always gape at you?” I’m stupidly jealous, and I don’t like it one bit.
“No.” He crosses his leg over his knee and makes a growling sound. “Why didn’t you marry?”
My attention is still on the three women who unabashedly stare over their shoulders long after they’ve passed us. I’m shocked by the change of subject. “What? Why are we talking about my broken engagement?”
“We’re not. I just wondered why, if you were betrothed, you did not marry.” He has his arms crossed, and his muscles bulge like the best arm candy I’ve ever seen.
“Cam couldn’t keep it in his pants.” I roll my eyes at myself. Why can’t I say anything gently?
Liam’s eyes narrow, and he cocks his head. I can practically see him translating what I’ve said into something he understands. “This Cam was unfaithful? Unfaithful to you?”
“You say that as if it’s impossible.” I can’t help laughing at how incredulous he sounds.
He mumbles something.
“What?”
“For any man lucky enough to secure your hand, it should be impossible.”
I would swear he’s blushing, but I must be losing my mind. After all, it’s ten in the morning and Momma has talked me into a scotch whiskey tour. “Thank you.” What else can I say? It’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.
After an uncomfortable moment, he asks, “This whiskey they make here is famous, I gather?”
“Yes. Honestly, I’ve never really liked scotch as much as our American bourbon, but Momma said we can’t come to Scotland and not have a tour.” Despite the strangeness of having an elf want me to go to his world, I’ve had a wonderful time on this vacation, and I’m not at all sorry to know Liam. He’s perfect in many ways. “You don’t have to come along. I mean, you’re welcome, but we’re not going to run off while on the tour.”
“I’d find you.” The matter-of-fact way he says it should be creepy, but instead, it’s comforting.
“This is a big world. How would you find me?” I fuss with the little hem of my pink t-shirt. It’s sunny but cooler today, so I’m back in my jeans.
“I can hear the song of your soul. The oracle gave it to me before I left so that the portal would track to you.” He closes his eyes, and his expression softens.
“What is that? Are you listening to it now?” Great-grandma always said there are more things in heaven and earth than one woman can learn in a lifetime. I guess this is what she meant.
“Do you want to hear it?” He opens his hand, palm up.
I stare for a long moment before sliding my hand into his. “Why am I nervous?”
He draws a deep breath. “There’s no need. Close your eyes and trust me, Wren.”
I look around the park. No one is paying us any mind. Doing as he says, I close my eyes and try to trust him, but I’m not certain what that means. Then I feel the nudge of his thoughts at the base of my skull. It’s a gentle prod to gain entry.
“Relax. I’ll never harm you.” His voice is soft and full of warmth and promise.
Swallowing down the moan that tries to eke out, I take a long, slow, deep breath and relax. Like a breeze, the soft hum begins inside my head. A moment later, I feel it everywhere; the hum mingles with a higher sound that weaves and dips. It’s beautiful, filled with joy, and intricacies. “This is me?”
“This is you. It’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard.”
Connected as we are, and with my ability to sense feelings, I know he didn’t mean to tell me that. “What does your soul sound like?”
Our internal link opens even more, and I feel his heart beating as if I were listening through a stethoscope. It’s fast and strong, but then it evens out. A deep bass hum with a tenor melody mixing with my song.
“Oh my.” Our songs together are like a dream of what heaven would sound like. We’re in perfect harmony. “Liam.”
He lets out a shuddering breath and releases my hand.
Without our songs, there is silence for a few heartbeats before the noise of Edinburgh fills the gap. I turn toward him. “That was amazing.”
“It was.” He pushes a wayward curl out of my eyes and tucks it behind my ear.
