Page 56 of The Love Leap

With a sudden burst of adrenaline, I lunge at Malcom, and he grabs my rolling pin. But I don’t back down. I lift my right leg as high as possible so my boot connects forcefully with his midsection, and he flies backward. He trips over an exposed tree root and tumbles clumsily off the cliff—my rolling pin in hand—like he’s been sacked in a football game.

Seconds later, Cal seizes his chance when Gregor idiotically leans over the cliff edge to see what happened to his brother. With one swift shove from his strong arms, Gregor topples over the precipice. His surprised yelp echoes around us before being swallowed by the crashing waves of River Ness below.

We peer over the edge just in time to see Gregor’s head break the river’s surface, his arms flailing as he sputters in the cold depths. The wind carries away his shouts of frustration.

“Well done, Kitchen Crusader!” Cal winks at me, a hint of satisfaction on his lips. “That should buy us some time.” He grabs my hand, and we sprint away from the cliff’s edge.

“Almost there,”Cal pants, his breath warm against my ear. “Just a bit farther.”

I nod, too out of breath to form words, and keepmy eyes trained on the path ahead. The loch is within reach now, its ancient magic practically tingling on my tongue.

Something else feels within reach now, too. Lasting love was never something I believed in—not after witnessing the destruction of my parents’ marriage or experiencing Brady’s deceitful betrayal. But with Cal... it’s different. It feels right.

We break through the tree line, our feet sinking into the soft sand of the loch’s shore. Stretching out before us like a mirror reflecting the star-speckled sky above is the Loch Ness.

“We made it,” I whisper, exhaustion and awe making my voice tremble.

Cal turns to me, wearing an emotion I can’t quite put a finger on.

“Aye, we did. Together.”

As if on cue, clouds part, and the moon emerges, casting a silver glow over everything. Loch Ness shimmers and dances as if alive, and whispers of the Portal Legend echo in my mind.

As I roll up my trousers and we slip off our boots and stand, toes dipped in the loch, there’s an electric charge between us that has nothing to do with tonight’s mythical magic.

“You know,” I tease, “For a man who’s been challenging me since we first met, you aren’t half bad.”

A chuckle rumbles from deep within Cal’s chest. “Aye, and for a wee lass who’s been driving me mad with her stubborn ways, you’re not so terrible yourself.”

“Watch it, Captain. I may have fallen for you, but I can still kick your ass.”

His eyes soften as he reaches up to tuck a stray lock of hair behind my ear. “I dinnae doubt that for a second. Come on. Time to leap.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

My toes burythemselves in the soft sand as an unspoken question hangs heavy in the air—will the mystical portal show up for an encore? The alternative options aren’t exactly appealing; we land in Gregor’s not-so-loving arms or face something far worse.

As I stand on the precipice of something new, memories yank me backward. Back to Toronto with its Lila-shaped comforts, parental drama, a smattering of friends, and one very spoiled cat.

But that isn’t enough now. Hemingway nailed it when he said: “In order to write about life, first you must live it.”

Until Cal swaggered into my world with his sailing prowess, barefoot charm, captivating stories, and those irresistible, sexy dimples, dating was just anothershade of gray. What I craved was color. Depth and authenticity.

These weeks spent adventuring with Cal have been like a breath of fresh air after being underwater for far too long. No more aimless wandering through days that blend into each other; now every moment pulses with life.

My old self feels like a ghost from another timeline. Can I really go back to that drab existence after feasting on this vibrant buffet of experiences alongside Cal? The answer is elusive as thoughts of my cramped apartment are shooed away by visions of an unknown future sparkling on the horizon.

“So… this is it,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady but failing miserably. “We just... wade in and hope the magic portal zaps us back to the 21st century?”

Cal chuckles, a sound I associate with comfort, and my nerves ease up a bit. He’s holding his handcrafted boots—a clear winner over the modern boat shoes he used to sport.

“Aye, lass. Though maybe ye need a pair of ruby slippers instead. Click yer heels three times and say there’s no place like home.” His grin tilts off-center and sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Still, I snort at his silliness.

“And are you my wizard?”

“Nae, more like time-travelin’ tour guide, withbenefits.” He casts a sultry wink in my direction. I feel heat creep up my cheeks as memories of that shared bed, that intoxicating kiss flood my mind.

The loch stares back at me, daring me to make the first move. It’s a now-or-never situation—dip our toes in or forever be stuck in 17th-century Scotland. I gulp a lungful of air, trying to stir up that audacious spirit that landed me in this predicament.

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