Knight Moves: Merriweather Sisters Time Travel (Merriweather Sisters Time Travel Romance Book 2) (17 page)

As Melinda turned to soak her stockings in the water with a little sliver of the soap, the woman gasped.

“You don’t have hair on your legs like a wee girl. But lady, the mark on your back…” The innkeeper’s wife crossed herself. “I’ve seen similar strange markings on pagans. Are you a pagan, lady?”

“No, I’m not pagan. Where I come from, everyone has a mark. And all the ladies remove the hair from their bodies.”

The innkeeper’s wife looked dubious, and Melinda bet she’d be the next topic of gossip. The woman gave a short nod and backed out of the room as quickly as she could. Melinda had forgotten about her tattoo. When she graduated from college, she did it to mark the occasion.

It was on her shoulder blade. The simple shape of the sun. To remind her no matter how far she went from home, she would always remember where she came from. The funny thing was, she never left Holden Beach. She’d always thought she would travel the world, but ended up staying in the town where she was born and raised. She had no regrets.

Though be careful what you wish for. Now it looked like she was getting her wish to see other parts of the world. Even if she did have to travel over seven hundred years to the past to do it.

Melinda wrinkled her nose. Her chemise needed a good wash, but then she wouldn’t have anything to wear. The innkeeper’s wife had done a good job of getting the mud and stains out of the cloak and dress. Both were damp and steaming next to the fire. She’d put the cloak back to dry before she went to bed. Right now she wrapped it around herself and sat down in a chair next to the fire. There was a knock at the door and the serving wench rushed in, looking a bit disheveled.

“Yer husband bid me bring wine. He’s an ugly one.”

The girl put the jug and cups on the table and left the room with a flounce, hips swaying.

Melinda wanted to slap the tart. James was not ugly. He couldn’t help what had been done to him. She noticed the innkeeper and his wife also assumed they were married. It was probably best to let them go on thinking so, as they were sharing a room.

She pulled a comb out of her satchel to run through her hair. What did they use for conditioner? A couple of swearwords left her mouth just as the door opened and James strode in.

“Crap on toast.”

He stood there, a smile on his face, letting her know he’d heard every word.

“Let me.” He took the comb from her, pulled up the stool, and sat down behind her.

“It’s all tangled. The innkeeper’s wife got the leaves and twigs out, but I don’t think I’ll ever get the knots out. Maybe I should cut it all off.”

“Patience.”

Melinda snorted. “You’re a fine one to talk. Before you work on my hair, let me get you a glass of wine. You’re going to need it.”

She stood and poured them both a glass. It was a red wine with a hint of blackberries. Melinda was becoming a fan of wine.

“You were gone a long time. Is everything all right?”

“Renly and the men will keep watch.” James went to work on her hair.

The fire crackled. Voices and the clinking of crockery, the sounds of horses outside in the stable, and the warmth of the room lulled her into a state of deep relaxation. James was gentle. As he worked out each knot, he didn’t tug or pull. The man had more patience in his finger than she possessed in her entire body. His fingers skimmed the back of her neck and shoulders as he brushed out each tangle.

“The innkeeper’s wife also had a dress in her possession. The same French lady who left the soap left a new gown. I believe it will fit. I’m sorry there wasn’t time to have a few more dresses made for you before we left.”

She felt his breath on her skin, making goosebumps break out on her flesh as he spoke. A heaviness settled over the room.

“A new dress? Thank you. As much as I would like to wear something clean, I think I’ll save it until we get to Blackford. I want to look nice when we arrive.”

He grunted and went back to combing her hair. They sat together in companionable silence, James rhythmically brushing her hair, the curls crackling with static as they dried before the fire. Melinda caught herself jerking awake.

He put the comb down on the table and stood, reaching out a hand. She placed her hand in his, feeling the calluses on his fingers. Mere inches separated them. So close she could feel his breath on her face, smell a hint of wine. The flames from the fire reflected in his emerald eyes.

Ever so slowly, he leaned in, the tension in the room so real it was like another person standing next to her taking up all the space. A loud bang and the sound of booted feet running down the stairs made him jerk back. Melinda put her palms to her face.

He’d almost kissed her.

And she’d wanted him to.

Melinda woke in the morning to find herself curled up to James, his arm wrapped around her. She didn’t move, simply looked at him. In his arms she felt safe and secure. Cherished.

She whispered, “Boy oh boy, you’re in big trouble. You’re falling for him. Hard.”

At home everything moved faster. Dating happened at a much faster pace. Here, though, everything was slower. It was a nice change. To really get to know someone before taking things to the next level. Happiness bloomed within her. He’d almost kissed her last night. Did he feel the same?

She sat up in bed, the covers slipping from her shoulders. The chemise was modest enough. James slept in his shirt. And nothing else. She’d tried not to think about that as she’d fallen asleep last night. Maybe just a tiny peek. As she lifted the covers, he spoke. He startled her so badly, she almost fell out of bed.

“Is that a pagan mark on your shoulder?” The blasted man was looking at her as if he knew exactly what she’d been about to do.

“The innkeeper’s wife asked me the same thing last night. It’s not a pagan mark. It’s called a tattoo. In my time, lots of people have them. Of all kinds of different things. Whatever is important to them, I guess. I have two.”

When he sat up, his shirt gaped open. Melinda caught a glimpse of numerous scars running across his chest. How many other marks did he have on his body? When he climbed into bed last night, she’d sucked in a breath at all the old and new scars on his legs. The man was a warrior and had the marks to show for it.

He looked intrigued. “’Tis the sun.” He reached out, tracing the tattoo, his touch like the warmth of the sun against her skin.

“What is the other mark? Where is it?”

She turned to face him, placing a hand on her left hipbone.

“The other one is here. It’s a quote from one of my favorite childhood books,
Through the Looking Glass
. It says, ‘Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.’”

“You have writing on your body? Why?”

Melinda had never explained the tattoo to anyone. No one blinked an eye at the beach when she wore a bikini and the writing showed. They’d become commonplace enough that no one really paid attention. And in her experience, most people were too self-absorbed to notice.

“My parents died in a boating accident when I was twelve. My aunt raised us. Losing your parents at a young age changes you.”

She looked at him. “You know this. When I turned eighteen and was going off to college, I wanted something that said to me I could go on no matter what. No matter how hard things were, I would keep going. The quote from my favorite book stayed with me. I think that’s why I chose it. Because if you believe in the impossible, it makes you think you can do anything.” She grinned. “Like travel through time.”

James touched her shoulder then ran his hands through her hair.

“Your hair is like fire.” He picked up the pouch he wore around his waist and dug into it. “Hold out your hand.”

He dropped a lock of hair into her palm.

“How did you get this?”

“The day you arrived on my lands and almost lost your pretty head.”

“The sword cut that close?”

“Aye. I picked it up off the ground and have been carrying it around ever since as a knight treasures a token from his lady.”

Her hand went to her hair. It was so thick she’d never noticed.

He grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled her to him. Melinda didn’t know why she expected the kiss to be gentle. It wasn’t. It was a warrior’s kiss, and she felt it all the way to her toes. When he pulled away, she felt adrift at sea.

With one kiss he’d obliterated every other kiss she’d ever had. It was like a new beginning, a first kiss. She put a finger to her lips. A look of pure male satisfaction filled James’ face.

And then…the spell surrounding them broke. Melinda didn’t know what had changed, only that James turned away, frowning. He yanked his clothes on, angry for no reason.

She made a show of gathering her clothes. When she turned around, he was dressed.

“I’ll send someone to help you dress, lady.”

Oh. So they were back to lady again. What on earth had she done? Truth rocked her to the core. He believed himself to be a beast. That no one could care for him. He was like one of those women who wouldn’t accept getting older and had so much plastic surgery they ended up looking like an alien. The stubborn idiot wouldn’t believe she cared for him.

Melinda couldn’t make him see himself through her eyes. He would have to get past his injuries or hide in the shadows for the rest of his life. She was done with trying to change a man. If he wouldn’t let her in, she would let go, find Lucy, and go back home to the life she’d left behind. And forget all about her grumpy knight…

James cursed. Why had he kissed Melinda? The man he was before his injuries would’ve kissed her without a second thought. But now—she was polite not to pull away in disgust. Did she regret the kiss?

For he knew—he’d visited every eligible noble maiden in the realm, and all ran screaming from him or fainted. Women no longer found him pleasing. All his gold would not entice a woman to gaze upon his visage for the rest of her life. James was kissing her, letting her know with one kiss how much he cared. How afraid he was he’d lose her. And then he knew…he cared for this woman claiming to be from the future. Then he caught his reflection in the basin of water. Saw the beast.
 

He pulled away, shattering the moment between them. Ever since he woke, he’d been in a foul humor. Grunted at his men and ignored Melinda. How dare the sun shine? Rain would agree with his black mood. They traveled a good distance before stopping for lunch. He’d purchased food from the innkeeper to bring with them on the journey. As they ate and the horses grazed, Melinda brushed her hands off on her dress. She spoke to Renly, not meeting his gaze. She could not bear to look at him.

“I saw a stream nearby. I want to wash the mud off the bottom of my clothes.”

His captain looked to him. James nodded grimly.

“As you wish, lady.”

During their travel they had not encountered any other travelers. James did not send a guard with her. He sat on a flat rock in the sun and brooded. Feeling sorry for himself.

Melinda wanted to smack James. He’d been cranky all morning. If he regretted the kiss, he should just say so instead of stomping around. She wanted to ask him, but didn’t want the men to hear. She’d wait until tonight, find a moment to pull him aside and ask him what his problem was.