Fighting Fate: Book 2 of the Warrior Chronicles (34 page)

“And how can you be so sure my heart is true, Seamus?”

“It’s shinin’ in your eyes, lass. Hard to be hidin’ the truth in your soul.”

Taryn blew him a kiss and headed back to Jesse as fast as her breakfast laden arms would allow. Jesse was sitting up in bed, an unreadable expression on his face, long mahogany hair curling at his shoulders, perfectly mussed and twice as appealing as she’d ever seen him. The covers at his hips barely concealed the rest of him. He looked like he’d been sitting like that for quite some time, waiting for her. Taryn felt her face flame and her smile falter under his uncertain stare.

“I thought you’d left, again.” He said in a flat voice.

“Only to get you something to eat. Actually Seamus made the breakfast. And the tea. He even brought you flowers.” Taryn was aiming for a joke, but her levity feel flat. Whatever was eating Jesse wasn’t going to be easily dismissed or glossed over. Taryn approached the bed much more cautiously than she’d taken the stairs to get here. Jesse watched her every move. Not helping or hindering the process.

Taryn set the tray on the large table in the middle of the room, poured Jesse a mug of tea and delivered it to him, leaving the rest of the tray. He took the mug and then set it aside without trying it.

“And you, what have you brought?” His voice said her answer didn’t matter one way or the other. The pulsing vein at the side of his neck, his flared nostrils and the slight narrowing of his navy eyes told a different story.

“The only thing of value I have. Me.”

He swallowed, the vein in his neck swelling with more blood as his heart forced it to flow faster through his body.

“For how long?”

Taryn paused. Her hands, shaking not with fear but anticipation, went to the belt of her robe. She untied it, eased her shoulders up, allowing it to fall from her body and pool at her feet, never once taking her eyes from his.

“For as long as we both draw breath.”

The resting dragon was upon her before she could blink. His voice and his grip no longer calm. “Not long enough.”

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

The drive to Lake Geneva from Potter’s Woods was over almost before it began. It seemed to take longer to load the various hybrids and the diesel SUV that Jordon insisted on driving. Jordon spent the twenty minute drive detailing the latest program he was funding, apparently with Jesse’s extra monthly cash-flow. They were set to make the first car engine that would run on sunlight and methane gas. Every landfill in existence produces methane around the clock and Jordon was working on a system of collection and delivery of that gas, as well as an engine designed to efficiently operate on it.

By the time they pulled into the town of Lake Geneva, Taryn learned that not only was Jordon
not
slow witted, he was scary brilliant. He also cared deeply about the causes he personally funded and those he oversaw as a member of the Reed Mohr Foundation. His uncle, William Bennett, created the foundation in Reed’s honor, because he thought she cared so selflessly for others. People who care and are willing to act to create the world as they envision it can make a difference, no matter how small, William had said. Then he put his money where his mouth was and put Reed in charge of a foundation meant to change the world. William was a big thinker and an even bigger doer.

Taryn hadn’t looked at the world as if it held only possibility until she came to Potter’s Woods. She was stronger now. Happier too. And with the help of her father, she now knew her purpose.

Since no one had tried to shoot her in weeks, life was good. So why Jordon was talking non-stop about family history while Reed was unusually quiet, Henry was even more vigilant than normal and Jesse’s usual calm was replaced with tense hovering, wasn’t making a whole lot of sense to Taryn.

Just this morning, after the most erotic encounter of her life, he’d slipped a ring on her finger that, for a low key man, was unabashedly romantic. It also weighed enough that she couldn’t forget it was there. The center diamond was a three carat cushion cut vivid yellow diamond housed in eighteen carat yellow gold. On each side of the hand carved platinum shank sat a carat and a half heart-shaped ruby set in rose gold. She would have told him it was a bit much, but then he told her why he chose it, weeks ago.

The yellow is the color of the sun and the rubies are the color of my heart. You are my heart and my sun.

Taryn looked down at the ring. She was never taking the over-the-top bling off. His sun and heart metaphor gave her an idea to talk to Mari about. After Jesse shocked her senseless with his gift, he gave her a complete set of plans for the James Campbell Center. He’d ensured that it wouldn’t be a wing added on the Celtic Studies Building, but an entire center devoted to myth and its application for everyday life.

Taryn didn’t think he was trying to bind her to him. He’d done that already with his mind, his body, his heart and most importantly with his spirit. That part of him she’d loved instantly. The rest took time, proximity and courage to achieve. Jesse wasn’t above using everything at his disposal to keep her. He’d said so. She believed him. How was she ever going to convince him that it wasn’t necessary? She’d love him for being who he was, an organic gardener, and not the heroic-black-motorcycle-riding-knight-with-the-romantic-soul who just happened to garden. Was it necessary that she convince him of anything?

Yes. Jesse needs to know he’s worth loving for who he is, not for the things he’s able to give.

Taryn had no clue how she was going to do that after demanding, and receiving, a building with her father’s name on it and a ring worth more than her house. She certainly couldn’t give back the ring without breaking his heart. Perhaps she could start by holding his hand.

Taryn reached out and placed her right hand in Jesse’s left, entwining her fingers with his. He was startled at the gesture but then relaxed when she smiled and said, “It’s going to be alright.”

When they turned onto the driveway, Jordon pushed the security code buttons at the gate. The iron doors opened and they began their descent to the cottage. It might as well have been a descent into hell for the look of dread that came over Jesse’s features before he banished it. When he looked at her again there was a controlled wariness about him that made her stomach turn.

“Remember you said that.”

When he opened the door to the SUV and held out his hand for her, the romantic lover was gone. In his place stood a lethal black warrior knight who slew dragons with impunity and no remorse.

It was going to be a long weekend.

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Things were oddly formal at ‘the cottage’. Cocktails were served at six, sharp. Dinner was at seven, prepared and served by a full-time staff. To Taryn, it all seemed weird and more than a little creepy. Jordon seemed to feel right at home and Reed knew everyone by name. It didn’t need to be so damned uncomfortable, but it felt like everyone around her knew a secret she didn’t. Worse yet, they were all actively trying to keep it from her.

Taryn readied herself to go downstairs for cocktails when she heard a knock at her door. She crossed the bright yellow bedroom, traversing a carved wool carpet. Her ridiculously high heels caught in the carpet and she fell into the door at the same time it opened, propping her up.

Lauren entered and eased her back into a standing position.

“Don’t you dare laugh.”

He straightened his perfectly tied tie. “I wouldn’t dream of it.” Then he looked her over, from the hair she tried to pile sedately on top of her head, past the expanse of chest popping out of the too-low-cut-too-tight-too-short mango colored tank dress Finn picked out for her. His gaze made it all the way down to her three and a half inch bright orange pumps, clearly designed by some man who never had to wear them. Then, even more slowly, his gaze took in all of her from toe back to the tail she wound on top of her head. The side of his mouth quirked, but he didn’t laugh.

As he approached her, she got a whiff of his subtle cologne. With Lauren, it was certain to be exclusive and expensive. “You smell good.”

He laughed, a rich, deep sound, reminding her of how much she really liked him. “You’re still saying whatever pops into your head, aren’t you? You’ll have to watch that or your husband will be inviting me to visit his dojo.”

“I hear that the cottage gazebo has been used as a sparring ring.”

“Great. Keep telling me how great I am and I just may risk it.”

“I said you smell good. I was not telling you how great you are, although you do look particularly dapper this evening.”

“And you look like a skinny sherbet cone. Step out of those ridiculous shoes before you break your neck.” Taryn stepped out of Finn’s idea of foot fashion and instantly felt more herself. She was no longer eye to eye with Lauren, which he seemed to enjoy.

Lauren reached up and unpinned her hair, running his fingers through it, settling it over her shoulders. It felt so good not to have that tight mass on top of her head that she moaned, rotating her head. Lauren chuckled, making her smile.

“You’re a magician.”

Jesse’s voice came from the doorway where he was lounging like he hadn’t a care in the world. “One who’d better get his hands out of my wife’s hair before I make him disappear.”

Lauren’s hands slowly lowered, fingers combing through to the ends. “Better,” he said, under his breath before he turned to face Jesse. “If she didn’t love you, I’d give you something to worry about. But, alas, she does.” He turned and looked at her with friendship, real caring, and something deeper in his eyes. His voice was low and rough when he said, “Tell him.”

Taryn looked from Lauren’s amber eyes to Jesse’s navy ones. “I love you. I’m not going anywhere you’re not. Not willingly, anyway.”

Jesse pushed away from the door and went to her, stopping just short of running over Lauren. He was still holding her gaze when Jesse told Lauren, “Go away.”

Lauren chuckled again. “No chance, Romeo. I’ve got a job to do, and until it’s over, Taryn and I are joined at the hip.”

Jesse took Taryn by the arm, pulling her out of the room. She barely had time to grab her flats and her gifts on the way out the door. “Be attached an arm’s length away. And for the record, you are not sleeping in my bed.” Jesse said, brushing past Lauren.

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Jesse didn’t enjoy the ritual Bennett cocktail hour the way the other occupants of the room were enjoying it. He’d been too worried about Taryn for that. So worried, in fact, he hadn’t even been able to muster the amount of ire he should have felt for MacBain and his gratuitous pawing. Jesse coughed, inclining his head at the man in question, who stood across the room, getting his ear bent by Taryn’s Aunt Olive. The old woman was so short that MacBain literally had to bend to hear her. He had to hand it to the man, though, he managed to meet Jesse’s eyes, nod in return, scan the room as well as what could be seen of the exterior through the windows, all while bending to answer an old woman.

Taryn’s shoes were flat brown, better suited to mountain hiking than cocktails. Her hair was a mess and what little lipstick she’d had on she’d managed to bite off. To Jesse, she never looked lovelier. And, she only had eyes for him. Another reason he hadn’t blackened MacBain’s eye. Jesse harrumphed and took another sip of his ginger ale. That man was too pretty by half. “Pansy.”

“I have it on good authority MacBain is ex-SAS. I don’t think
pansy
does him justice.” Reed arrived cloaking him in her light scent of lavender and honey. She went up on tip-toe and kissed his cheek, her eyes sparkling at him, teasing him out of his doom-and-gloom funk.

“What about a snapdragon?”

His mother cocked her head at him, seeming to consider the fitness of the flower he’d just assigned to a trained assassin. “Yes, I think snapdragon is more apt.”

“Snapdragons are for protection.”

“Exactly. That is what he’s here for isn’t it?”

“Yes. And he’s her friend. I know that. I’m not jealous of MacBain, mom, so you can relax.”

He couldn’t tell if his mother believed him or not, but she changed the subject anyway. “I should never have trusted Finn to pack dinner dresses for Taryn. She thinks everyone with large breasts should display them to the world. I’ll get her something in town tomorrow she’ll find more comfortable. I like the shoes though. At least those reflect who Taryn is.”

“Taryn is more than her shoes, Mom.”

Reed put her hand on his arm, drawing his attention away from Taryn and her shoes. “She’s going to be fine. You both are, so long as you don’t give yourself a heart attack before the weekend’s over.”

“Do you know what they’re planning?”

“I know the basic outline, but like you, my reactions need to be real, so I haven’t been given the details.”

“This is dangerous.”

“Yes it is. So was the incident at the well. She’s not running now, Jesse. That will make protecting her easier. Look at her.”

Jesse looked.

“She’s stronger than she appears.” Reed seemed to swell with pride and grow to about five foot three. “My daughter is no pansy either.”

Jesse laughed, picked Reed up and twirled her around. “Ah, but she does ease the heart.”

Taryn watched Jesse laughing with his mother and something deep inside her melted. He was a good man, a good son, a good brother, and he was doing his best to be a good husband. In that moment she knew with absolute certainty that he would be an exceptional father. She was thirty-three years old, and until that very moment, she hadn’t given motherhood much thought.

Daisy came up to her and took her hand. Taryn looked down into her shining freckled face and sincere blue-green eyes. “He’s wonderful. Isn’t he?”

Taryn smiled at her sister. “He certainly is. I guess we’ll have to start a new list.”

Daisy frowned. “Better not.”