Page 38 of Highland Yule
He closed his lips over hers and kissed her with all the passion he felt. With his very heart. Desperate to finally have her, and sink into her welcoming heat, he kept his lips with hers and tossed aside their cloaks. Then he cupped her backside and squeezed her against him, letting her know what to expect. How much he desired her. When she groaned in return, he grew desperate.
He had to see her.
Touch her.
Taste everything she had to offer.
Unfortunately, a knock at the door interrupted his intentions.
“’Tis time for the first-footing,” she murmured against his lips.
After the stroke of midnight, it was considered good luck for the New Year if the first person who crossed one’s threshold—preferably a neighbor, a family member or friend—offered a symbolic gift such as salt, bread, coal or whisky.
In their case, it was Adlin with a wee dram or two of whisky.
“’Tis lucky for us ye are a tall, handsome dark-haired fellow and not red-headed,” Rona grinned, “or our New Year might look verra bleak.”
“Aye,” Adlin exclaimed, chuckling at the old superstition. “Worse yet, a red-headed lass!”
The theory held that the Norse had ignited such beliefs. As it were, some swore Viking raiders first brought fair hair to Scotland. And if a Viking woman were first to enter, she would surely be followed by an angry Viking man.
Adlin embraced and congratulated them both, then urged them to sit at a small table where a variety of tasty morsels and sweets had been left for their enjoyment. “I willnae keep ye long, but I promised ye I would explain everything.”
“Aye, then.” Colmac poured them all whisky, curious. “About how the last letter got here? Mayhap who was behind it all from the beginning?”
“’Twas yer brother behind it.” Adlin sighed and took a sip. “But ‘twas me and yer good ma who saw through his wishes.”
“Ma?” He frowned. “She knows about all this then?”
“Aye.” Adlin looked from Rona to Colmac. “And verra much approves of the union.”
“She knew, aye?” Colmac said softly, sinking into a chair. He saw things so clearly now. “She knew how I felt about Rona all those years ago?”
“From what I hear ‘tis safe to say most knew.” Adlin looked between them. “The love that blossomed betwixt ye that eve at MacLauchlin Castle was much talked about.” He winked. “Albeit in hushed tones.”
“Och.” Rona looked at Colmac. “I didnae know we were so obvious.”
“True love is impossible not to see,” Adlin informed. “Suffice it to say, things happened as they did. Bróccín grew ill, and he summoned me to help see through his final wishes. Yer ma was on the mend at that point, so we were together by his bedside in those final hours.”
“’Tis all so happenstance,” Rona said. “How could he have foreseen this going as he planned? I wasnae even intending to stop at MacLauchlin Castle.”
“I agree things were left to chance,” Adlin said. “He knew that but ‘twas his fondest hope ye would find yer way back to the castle when ye did, Rona.” A twinkle lit his eye. “Mayhap ‘twas the magic of the holiday that saw things through?”
“Or Fate.” Colmac slipped his hand into hers. “Either way, despite the attack, I am glad ye ended up where ye did, Rona. That we were given a second chance.”
Her gaze warmed. “Me too.”
“Bróccín really was verra sorry in the end,” Adlin said softly. “But at peace in a way that was soothing to his soul. At peace believing the two people he loved most would find their way to each other once more.”
Colmac bit back emotion and squeezed Rona’s hand. He could tell by the look in her eyes, that like him, she had released all anger and was at ease now. The past was in the past.
“So ma hid the letters?” Colmac asked. “She even placed the first one by Rona’s bedside?”
“I cannae speak to how she saw things through,” Adlin said. “But aye, she saw to the first three letters. I saw to the fourth and the ring.”
“That is what she meant when she told me, Brighid and Aaron that Hogmanay would be a final farewell.” Rona's eyes met Colmac’s. “Because of the letters and what Bróccín hoped would happen betwixt ye and I, she knew we would be saying goodbye to yer brother in a way we never anticipated.”
“Aye,” he replied. “So it seems.”
