Page 51 of Edinburgh Escape
Maggie wrapped her arms around her middle. “I didn’t understand. Now, I do. I don’t want someone else,” she repeated.
He spun, started to reach for her, caught himself and let his arms fall to his sides. “Go back to bed, Maggie. What we did was a mistake. I should never?—”
“It wasn’t a mistake.” She took a step toward him. “You didn’t hurt me.”
He backed away, shaking his head. “I did hurt you. I could’ve killed you. I can’t let that happen again.”
The defeat in his eyes gutted her. She knew nothing she could say would make him feel better. Not at that moment. “Okay. I’ll step back now. But Callum, you might have given up on yourself, but I haven’t.”
“I need some air.” Callum pulled on his shoes and strode across the room. “I’ll be back.” He left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Maggie gathered her night clothes, slipped into them and climbed back into the bed.
She’d gone from the best sex she’d ever experienced, to almost being choked to death by the man she might be falling in love with, to sitting in the very bed where they’d made love. Alone.
Add to that the threat of Russian loan sharks coming after her and her newfound family, the last twenty-four hours had been unforgettable.
Maggie’s eyes filled with tears.
She blinked them away, squared her shoulders and tightened her resolve. Her mother hadn’t raised a quitter. She sure as hell wasn’t quitting now.
Chapter 11
Callum didn’t go far for his fresh air, just outside the room he’d shared with Maggie. He paced the length of the hallway, walking quietly so as not to disturb anyone else. He was the one with the problem. They didn’t have to suffer because of him.
Maggie didn’t have to suffer because of his nightmares.
God, he’d been a fool. He’d thought sleeping on the settee would keep him far enough away from Maggie that he couldn’t hurt her. He hadn’t counted on her coming to him. Nor had he counted on his nightmare manifesting into a sleepwalking horror movie where he’d almost choked to death the woman he was growing to care about.
After several quiet passes back and forth across the upper landing, he settled on the floor outside her door, crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. He didn’t seem to have the dreams when he slept sitting up. Hopefully, he could catch an hour of sleep before the rest of the manor woke.
He felt like he’d barely drifted off when he was startled awake by a small giggle.
Callum’s eyes flew open to find Bryce standing a few feet away, wearing the pajamas he’d worn to bed the night before.
The boy tilted his head to one side. “Why are you sleeping in the hall and not your bed?”
Callum grimaced and lied. “The bed was too soft.” Actually, he couldn’t remember anything about the bed but the woman in it.
The boy’s brow twisted as he thought over what Callum had said. “The floor is harder. I’m hungry.”
Callum pushed to his feet, noticing the hallway and landing were brighter than they’d been when he’d paced not long before. Sunlight shone into the foyer from the windows across the front of the house. “Is it time for breakfast?”
Bryce shrugged. “No one else is awake.”
“If you take me to the kitchen, I might find you something to eat.”
The door to the bedroom behind Callum opened. Maggie stood in the doorframe, dressed in jeans and a long-sleeve, moss-green turtleneck sweater that clung beautifully to her breasts, waist and hips.
Callum’s pulse quickened, and his stomach lurched. He wondered if she was bruised beneath the neckline of the sweater. He hated himself for having nearly choked the life out of this lovely woman. “Maggie,” he said with a dip of his head. “Would you care to join us in the kitchen?” He wouldn’t blame her if she told him to go jump in a lake or called the police and filed charges against him.
“I’d love to join you.” She met and held his gaze until he looked away before turning her attention to the little boy, bestowing one of her beautiful smiles on the child. “Good morning, Master Bryce. Do you know the way to the kitchen?”
“Of course, I do.” Bryce held out his hand to Maggie. “Come. I’ll show you. And you don’t have to call me Master Bryce or Lord Bryce. You’re my sister.”
She took his hand in hers.
Bryce turned to Callum and slipped his fingers into Callum’s big hand. “After breakfast, can we go see my horse?”
