Page 33 of Whiskey & Witches

He watched her, doing a slow sweep of her face, eyes dipping to her lips as if he suspected they spouted lies. “Convenient that he showed up when he did.”

“Isn’t it, though?”

His distrust rankled. She’d given him no reason for it. Well, not that he was aware of. She hadn’t told him the full details of the accident. True, she’d confessed someone had been in the road, but no more than that, because she hadn’t known anything else. Back then, she certainly hadn’t told him she suspected the incident was on purpose. And because she’d been sleeping since her recent abduction, she hadn’t had time to tell him she now believed it was Seamus who orchestrated the accident. She just wished she could recall all the details of that day. Who was their rescuer?

“What happened tonight, Roisin? You were gone for hours.”

Lying down made her feel vulnerable, so she eased into a sitting position. Knowing his head would explode if she confessed to putting herself in Seamus’s path to gain answers, she lied. “I couldn’t sleep and went outside to clear my head. Seamus McLeary came round to the back garden and grabbed me. I’d no idea he had the ability to teleport.”

Carrick jerked, his eyes flaring wide in his surprise. “He can?”

“Aye. Took me to…” The memory wasn’t clear. She had the vague impression of a large hearth and being tied, but she didn’t recollect much more than that. “I don’t know where he took me. It’s gone.” Panicked, she gripped his wrist. “Why can’t I remember, Carrick?”

“I don’t know, love.” His suspicion of earlier was gone and in its place was concern for her. “We’ll find out, though. Never you worry.”

“I hate that I’m unable to account for the time!”

“And I hate that Seamus can teleport,” he replied grimly. “We have to let the others know.”

Roisin rubbed her temples, wishing the evening wasn’t fuzzy. There was something about Ronan. An elusive thought. Could be she really had met him when he’d come to fetch an elixir, but it was doubtful. Why, she couldn’t say, but something was definitely off. “Please take me home, Carrick.”

Carrick’s heartfilled to hear Roisin say those words. Had she meant them as they sounded? It remained to be seen, but still, he was elated. The feeling lasted for the span of a breath but disappeared in the face of his unease about Ronan. The man was too everything; too big, too powerful—too handsome by far. And Carrick didn’t care for the way the fecker watched his wife, as if he were invested in her welfare. The timing was far too suspect, but if the guy did have a soft spot for Roisin, he’d see she didn’t come to harm. For now, Carrick would shove aside his pride and take whatever help the man offered if it protected Roisin and Aeden.

Cian and Piper returned as Roisin rose to her feet. His brother’s warm, appreciative smile wasn’t feigned. Cian had always adored Roisin.

“Ah, Ro!” he said. “Sure, and it does my heart good to see you alive and well.”

“You didn’t think that when you believed I was Meg,” she said archly.

He winced, then flushed. “Well, aye. I believed you were out to snare Carrick with your wiles. I was only looking out for your man.”

Roisin’s mock indignation disappeared, and she opened her arms in invitation.

Cian hugged her tight, and Carrick’s envy snapped and snarled underneath the surface like an untamed wolf. But there was no room for that jealousy here, not for his brother, who was crazy for his new mate. Roisin’s disappearance only served to make Carrick more determined than ever to rebuild what they’d lost.

“Ro, you met Piper a few months back, but I’d like to properly introduce you to my fiancée.” Cian drew his love forward and stood beside Carrick while the two women summed each other up.

Roisin lifted her chin, but her instinctive desire to cover the damaged half of her face was evident in the way her hand started toward her cheek then dropped. Lacing her fingers together, she smiled but didn’t quite meet Piper’s direct gaze.

Again, Carrick’s heart hurt for her. There was no reason for her embarrassment or shame. Her scars were a badge of courage and resilience; a testament to how tough and determined she was to survive. She should be proud, not ashamed.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Roisin,” Piper said with a sweet smile. “I’ve heard wonderful things about you from your family.” With a teasing grin and a thumb toward Cian’s direction, she said, “I think this one has been secretly in love with you for a while.”

“Sure, and he did try to get me to rid myself of Carrick so we could run away together,” Roisin said with a wink and a twist of her lips. The smile never reached her eyes, though, and her sadness sat on her shoulders like a cloak.

Piper’s melodious laugh eased the tension in the room. “Sounds like him.” With a glance in their direction, she nodded toward the door. “I’d like to talk to Roisin in private, fellas. Mind taking a hike?”

Carrick approached Roisin, and cupping her neck to lift her face to his, he dropped a light kiss on her soft, pillowy lips. “I’ll not be far, Ro. Call out if you need me.”

“It’s doubtful I’ll be fighting with Piper unless it’s over Cian, but she’s welcome to him. The man gads about too much for my likin’.” Her soft smile warmed his insides. “You’ve been the one for me since I’d first set eyes on you, Carrick. You know that.”

“Aye, but I’ve a need to earn your trust and love again.” His tone was gruffer than he’d intended, likely due to the overabundance of strong emotions swirling about in his chest. Only his Ro was able to call them up. “When Seamus took you tonight, I about went mad. I don’t know that my wits have returned.”

She stroked the exposed skin at his throat. “He did us a favor, all the same. He showed us we’re what matters. This.” She gestured between them.

Carrick’s heart began to pound at what he believed was her way of saying she wanted to try again. “You’ll always matter.”

“Go on with you now,” she ordered.

---