Highlander's Magical Love Page 9

  “Are you sure you can work?” Lila asked.

  Dawn nodded and gestured again, letting her know she didn’t want to take the chance of losing future work with Event & Hospitality Servers and hurried to pick up the tray, wincing as she did, but not letting Lila see it.

  “Let me know if you need help,” Lila said ready to do whatever she could for her best friend.

  Dawn nodded and the two went in opposite directions, Dawn entering the kitchen to find Flanna and the others there staring as two of the supposedly sick servers were carted off in handcuffs by two security guards.

  Flanna blanched and looked ready to drop.

  Dawn knew exactly what she was thinking… Elite Catering would never hire Event and Hospitality Servers again. Wait until she found out that Colum, her boss, was the one who had instigated the robbery.

  “Come on, people, we have work to do. This event is far from over,” Flanna ordered, clapping her hands to get everyone moving.

  Dawn grabbed another tray of wine with a soundless wince and headed to the gallery. The guests were having a wonderful time, oblivious to the robbery that had been taking place. She wondered if Colum and Lady Ann had been caught, she hoped they had.

  She couldn’t help but call to mind what Cree had said about them talking later. He might seem familiar to her, but he was still a man she had only recently met. And according to the tabloids he had dated extensively, never staying with one woman very long.

  It would be different with her.

  She almost laughed. What woman didn’t think that when she met a man whose reputation preceded him. She would be the one who changed him, got rid of his bad habits, have him settle down… until his true nature reared its head and he returned to his old ways.

  Still, she found herself thinking it wouldn’t be that way with Cree. They were meant for each other and she almost laughed again, but a slim, elegant woman swiped a glass of red wine off her tray, returning Dawn to reality.

  The woman hadn’t even glanced at her. It was as if she was invisible to most of the people there, reminding her this was Lord Cree’s world, not hers. The stark truth of that had reality sinking in. She had to be sensible. How could she be sensible around Cree? All sane reason seemed to vanish around him. Nothing made sense. Nothing at all. A couple of kisses a lifetime did not make. She could see that now, but not when Cree was close. Not when he touched her gently, held her close, kissed her.

  She hadn’t given thought to what might happen when he discovered her working. After all she was there to work, fulfill her obligation for the night. So when she saw Cree speaking with a man just inside the gallery, she hurried away from the door. Unfortunately, two women slowed her down when one reached for a glass of white wine and the other debated on whether she should have another glass or not. It was just enough time for Cree to catch her out of the corner of his eye.

  His scowl told her that he wasn’t happy.

  Dawn didn’t run, she couldn’t. There was something about his rapid approach that kept her frozen to the spot. She had seen him like that before, a Highlander of old, his strides strong, and the glare unable to mar his handsome features.

  The woman who had been indecisive on whether to have the wine or not, hurried off with her friend seeing Cree bearing down on them, though not before snatching a glass off the serving tray.

  “What are you doing?” he took the tray from her hand, looked around, and seeing Lila signaled her.

  Lila hurried over, her face once again betraying her worry.

  “Take this tray and tell whoever is in charge that Dawn will not be available for the remainder of the night,” he ordered.

  Dawn was quick to shake her head and Lila waited beside her friend when Dawn began to sign with some difficulty and a grimace of pain.

  “Don’t use that injured wrist,” Cree ordered.

  If Dawn was able to speak, a sigh of frustration would have been heard.

  Lila rested her hand on Dawn’s shoulder while her other hand continued to balance the serving tray with empty wine glasses on it. “Dawn can’t afford to lose this job and if she doesn’t finish out the night, chances are she’ll never work for the serving company again and they’re the best paying company in this business.”

  “I’ll see that doesn’t happen,” Cree said and reached out and took Dawn by the arm. “Tell, I believe her name is Flanna, that Dawn will not be working the remainder of the night by my order.”

  “I’ll deliver the message, Lord Cree,” Lila assured him with a nod.

  Dawn appeared ready to protest and it was Lila who held up her hand. “Think about your artwork. If you make your injury worse, it will be that much longer before you’re able to paint again. And what about the children and adults in the community center you teach art to? Or even your bookshop job. Don’t take a chance, do as Lord Cree says.”

  “You have a sensible and good friend,” Cree said.

  “Since we’ve been young,” Lila said proudly. “I best get back to work.” She looked to Dawn. “I’ll see you later.”

  Dr. Elsa joined Cree and Dawn. “If you don’t want to keep your wrist in a sling, though I would advise it, at least put ice on it. I left an ice pack in the library for you.”

  “She’ll be doing both,” Cree said, as though the decision was his to make.

  “Dr. Elsa,” someone called out eager to have spotted her.

  “Go and enjoy the evening, I’ll see to Dawn,” Cree said.

  “I’m here if needed,” Dr. Elsa reminded and, with a smile, walked off to meet the young woman hurrying toward her.

  Cree remained silent as he placed his hand on Dawn’s lower back and guided her along to the library. He didn’t say a word until he seated Dawn in an overstuffed chair, that wrapped her in comfort, and placed the ice pack, sitting on the sofa table in front of the chair, on her wrist.

  “The two idiot robbers who got lost in the passageway have been apprehended without any fuss. Colum should be found shortly as should Lady Ann.”

  Dawn pointed to the bookcase, now closed, that led to the secret passageway.

  “Security has thoroughly checked the passageway. No one lingers there. Though, the kitchen staff saw the two servers cuffed and taken away, they don’t know what the two are accused of. My family and security are the only ones aware of what’s taken place. I don’t want the attempted robbery usurping news headlines from the fundraiser.”

  Dawn nodded her understanding.

  Cree leaned over the chair, bracing his hands on each cloth arm, forcing Dawn to lean back, not that it mattered anyway since he brought his face close to hers.

  “Next time stay where I tell you to.” Instead of clarifying that he worried over her safety, he kissed her. A deep, intimate kiss that said more than words could.

  “Taking advantage of a servant, Lord Cree?”

  Cree straightened to his full height, though not before Dawn heard the curse that fell in an irate whisper from his lips as he moved to stand protectively in front of her.

  Colum stood by the open, secret passageway door, gun in hand.

  Chapter 9

  “Do you honestly believe you’ll get away with this?” Cree asked, glaring at Colum while taking note of the beads of sweat on his brow and the way his eyes kept darting nervously to the door, though more importantly that there was a silencer on the gun.

  “I’ve survived more difficult situations. Now send that voiceless lass over here to me,” Colum said with a quick snap of his hand. “She’s my ticket out of here.”

  “Dawn isn’t going anywhere.” Cree’s words were meant for Dawn as well as Colum, letting her know to stay put.

  “I’m not going to tell you again to send her over here,” Colum warned, brandishing the gun in the air as a reminder of what would happen if Cree didn’t do as he said.

  Anger stabbed at Cree like a sharp knife, prodding him, urging him to lunge at the irritating man and he went to do just that when a hand latched onto his arm. He tu
rned to Dawn, her head shaking frantically at him. She patted her chest and pointed to Colum, and Cree felt his anger ready to explode that she would surrender herself to the crazed man.

  “Someone who has some sense,” Colum said, “since it’s obvious she thinks you should heed my warning.”

  Cree ignored Colum, his eyes on Dawn. He saw the worry, raging like a storm in her dark eyes, and knew it was for him. She wanted to protect him as much as he did her. What was it with this bond he felt with her? It was uncanny. He couldn’t explain it. Didn’t know if he wanted to. He simply wanted to pursue it, and he certainly wasn’t going to let Colum stop that from happening.

  Time.

  He needed time. The longer he could delay Colum, the better chance he had of someone entering the room.

  “What was Goddard Enterprises looking for?” Cree asked as he turned to glare at the man.

  Colum didn’t seem to mind providing him with the info, though it was more a boast about his talents. “Future projects that you intend to bid on and the plans for the surrounding area. Goddard was aware of my talent and reputation and that I could get him what he wanted. He was particularly interested in the land beyond the village and the village buildings that had recently gone up for sale and that you acquired.” He looked to Dawn. “You won’t have a job soon or be teaching at that community center when Lord Cree starts bulldozing those buildings. He’s going to change everything.”

  Dawn tilted her head and stared at Cree with questioning eyes.

  “That costume he’s wearing tells it all. Like his ancestor who laid claim to this land, he’s going to rule over it as he sees fit,” Colum said, his eyes daring Cree to say differently.

  Dawn shook her head, patted her chest, and patted Cree’s chest.

  Cree understood. She believed him a good man who would do good for the area. She trusted him, believed in him, and he almost smiled, pleased by her response, pleased that she seemed to know him. Keeping his smile at bay, he looked to Colum. “She knows you lie. It’s Goddard Enterprises who has such plans. A poorly constructed apartment building and a rash of shops that would destroy local businesses were Goddard’s intentions. They sent you to uncover whatever you could find to help them destroy any chances of my seeing this project succeed, just as they’ve done to other legitimate enterprises, most likely with your help of course.”

  “Goddard and I work well together.”

  “Greed does attract greed,” Cree said.

  “My patience grows thin, send the woman over here,” Colum ordered.

  Cree ignored his demand. “What of Lady Ann? Didn’t she hire you, as well, to help find my family’s brooch.”

  Colum let out an irritated groan. “I knew from the beginning that batty woman would be trouble, but since she was the only one with clear knowledge of the secret passageway and with her refusal to instruct me in how to find it, I had no choice but to have her be part of the heist.” He shook his head. “She had an easy task… keep you and your family occupied with the theft of her ring. I made it easy for her to use Dawn, making certain she would serve in the gallery. A voiceless woman was an easy mark and would help delay things even more. She was also a good target to have people think I was interested in her, so they would be more concerned in keeping an eye on her and not what I was doing. I had it all set. All Lady Ann had to do was follow the plan. But no, she had to make sure I was searching for that brooch that no doubt was removed from this castle, centuries ago. If it ever truly existed at all.” He shook his head again. “Crazy old bird messed everything up. We would have been in and out of here with those documents without anyone knowing about it if it weren’t for her.”

  “Not likely,” Cree said. “The safe you attempted to break into has high-tech security on it. One try without the proper code to open it or proper code to correct it if a wrong code was entered, would lock it down tight. You never had a chance of breaking into my safe. Your heist was doomed from the start. Sloppy work, Colum, very sloppy work.”

  Colum gritted his teeth and took such a quick step forward that he appeared to lunge. “I am not sloppy at anything. If I had been, I would have been caught a long time ago. I’m not even on the police radar that’s how good I am.”

  Cree had always been a good judge of character and he had sized Colum up upon meeting him. He was a man who thought highly of himself and believed he was worthy of much more in life than what he had and was prepared to do what was necessary to gain what he felt he deserved, regardless of the cost to anyone.

  “You mean that’s how good you were,” Cree corrected.

  A quick jerky step brought Colum closer to the couple. “Enough! No more delays, come here to me now, Dawn.”

  “No!” Cree said, his arm shooting out from his side, stiff and strong, to prevent Dawn from walking past him.

  Cree’s bravado frightened Dawn. Colum’s anger was mounting and that was not a good sign for a man holding a gun.

  Cree had counted on Colum’s anger. Anger always caused people to make mistakes and while Colum might have thought of himself as a highly respected thief, he was nothing more than a small time hood used by those with money to do their dirty work. And there was no way he would let the man get his hands on Dawn.

  There was no way he would allow anyone—not a single soul—to take Dawn from him. He would protect her with his life.

  The thought rose up strong in him and when Colum stepped forward to threaten him once again, it was what he had been waiting for… Cree lunged at him.

  The soft ping of the silencer sounded like a canon going off to Dawn and she was never so relieved to see a vase on the mantel shatter to pieces.

  Chaos broke loose. Lamps flew off tables, books fell off shelves, chairs were toppled over as Cree and Colum stumbled around the room exchanging blows. It didn’t take long for Cree to get the better of Colum, delivering a final blow that knocked the man out cold, and sent him to collapse against a bookshelf where a waterfall of books rained down on top of him.

  When Cree stood, not a mark on his handsome face, but his hair and plaid a bit disheveled, he pointed to Dawn. “You are not to leave my side.”

  She was reminded of what he had said earlier.

  Stuck together permanently.

  Cree moved her to a chair tucked in the corner of the room after alerting the security guard outside the library door, and she was glad he did.

  The room suddenly filled with more security personal along with Torr and Sloan, the amount of large men shrinking the comfortable room considerably.

  “I don’t want my guests disturbed and the evening disrupted by this. Take him out through the secret passageway,” Cree instructed security and turned to Sloan.

  “No, Lady Ann hasn’t been found yet,” Sloan said, aware of what his friend was about to ask. “Everything else is going well. No one is aware of the attempted theft or Lady Ann’s involvement. Everyone is thoroughly enjoying themselves far too much to be distracted by some minor issues. Besides not one of them want anything to interfere with tonight’s dessert extravaganza. Some are trying to get a peek in the ballroom where Turbett’s staff have been busy setting up but no one can get near it, Turbett having two of his own security guards posted at the doors.”

  “I don’t want to take any chance of Lady Ann ruining the rest of the evening. Have the security staff especially those in costume keep a good watch for her. She’s to be escorted quietly out of the castle and straight to the constable. He’s been notified of Lady Ann’s involvement. A car has been dispatched to her estate in case she somehow slips away from here.”

  “Oh my God! What happened in here?” Cree’s mum cried out as she stepped into the library and her eyes popped with worry when they landed on Cree. “Have you been hurt? Torr, hurry and get Dr. Elsa.”

  Cree shook his head at Torr as he and Sloan slipped out of the room, leaving Cree with his mum and Dawn. “I’m fine, Mum. There’s no need for worry.”

  “Nonsense, you look like you’ve
been in more than a scuffle, and you have yet to make your speech, thanking everyone for their attendance and their generous support of the Carrick Foundation. They will be so pleased to hear the news that a new, larger community center is going to be built as well as other much needed facilities that will benefit the area due to their generosity and your tireless work to see it become a reality. You do the Carrick name proud.” She kissed his cheek. “Now let’s get you cleaned up,” —she gave a quick glance around— “and this room as well, so you can give your speech. Then we all can enjoy the dessert extravaganza.”

  Cree looked past his mum to where Dawn sat tucked in the corner and stretched his hand out to her. “Dawn will be joining the party as my guest.”

  His mum turned as Dawn stood and approached. She glanced at her son and hesitated only a moment, seeing the way he looked at the young woman. “That’s lovely, but it might be a bit difficult with her dressed in the same costume as the other servants. You don’t want to make her feel uncomfortable or confuse the guests.”

  Dawn nodded, pointing to his mum, agreeing with her. She held her hand up as if she carried a serving tray and pointed to the door.

  “You are not returning to work. I forbid it!” Cree snapped.

  “Cree! Whatever is the matter with you?” his mum scolded. “Whether Dawn is a server here tonight or a guest, either way, you have no right speaking to her in such a rude manner.”

  Dawn stared at him. Why did his outrageous command sound so familiar to her and why did it not disturb her in the least? He might bark commands at her, yet she would do as she pleased as she always did and perhaps that was what sparked his temper. She almost shook her head. She felt as if she’d been through something like this before with him.

  She suddenly got the urge to speak with the fortune-teller. Somehow she felt the old woman held the key to this strange connection between her and Cree.

  “I’m waiting,” his mum said, glaring at her son, her arms crossed over her chest.