Page 62 of Priceless
The other two joined us, interrupting what would have been another heated kiss.
“We’ve discussed it,” Banner announced, “and the prize goes to the women. Laira obviously hooked the biggest fish.”
“But I didn’t land anything.”
“No matter. The catch was what counted.”
“I can’t take your money. I already stole your afternoon. Let’s call it a draw.”
The Wallace home was a beauty,and to Jacob’s delight, Laira was suitably impressed.
“I think your house is older than my country,” she told Jessica, when he handed her out of the car.
“Oh, not that old,” Jess said. “Wasn’t built until 1786.”
After a brief tour through the lower level of the Georgian manor, we went out to the room lovingly referred to asthe hoogah. Jacob explained to Laira that it was a Danish term for coziness and a sense of well-being.
“Naff, crabbit, feartie, greetin’, loo, and hoogah. My sister will think I’ve learned a completely different language. And I definitely want to build a hoogah when I get home.”
Jacob took an invisible punch to the gut, though she hadn’t realized she’d dealt it. The thought of her going home was tearing at his insides, and he could only imagine how much worse the pain would be in nine days.
The hoogah was attached to the house on the far east end that faced a pine-covered hillside. Stepping into it, one faced a stone fireplace with a massive oak log for a mantlepiece. All three walls that were not attached to the house consisted of glass windows from floor to ceiling, with heavy gold panels made of velvet that pulled together to block out the light, or the cold, or curious eyes.
The furniture was equally cozy. Sofas, overstuffed armchairs, and lounges, along with a dozen soft pillows. Tapestry, velvet, and silk in assorted colors and patterns. Well-worn or tasseled and new, it all went together beautifully with the gold tartan carpet.
Since Banner didn’t appreciate gas fires, there was a pile of pine logs at the ready, and always a fire laid on the grate and waiting for a light. The sap and sawdust from the logs made it smell as if one stood in the middle of a forest. They would smell even better once they began to burn, but at the moment, the midday sun made the hoogah warm enough.
“Yeah,” Laira said. “I think I can relax here.” Then she laughed and sank onto a sofa, leaving room for Jacob. He tried not to seem too eager, but wandered around, admiring the view for a whole ten seconds before ending up beside her.
Jessica disappeared to get their lunch from the cooler. Banner hurried off to help her. And it took Jacob far too long to lean over and kiss his lass, because the others returned before he got in more than a peck or two.
Laira laughed softly. “I’m starting to remember why we had to carry ChapStick around in high school.”
If their hosts overheard, they pretended they hadn’t. Jess set a platter down on the ottoman. Banner handed out bottles of fizzy juices. And they all tucked in.
“I’m starving,” Laira said, surprised.
Jess nodded. “It’s the sea air that always does it for me. We never go out without food.”
“Well, when you’ve caught your breath, I would really like to hear the rest of the story, about how you saved Banner’s life.”
Jacob choked and fizzy juice shot out of his nose. He jumped to his feet and headed to the loo, but not before he shot Jess a warning look and a quick shake of his head. When she didn’t seem to understand, he nodded for her to follow him.
“Aye,” Jess said. “I’ll be right back. Forgot napkins, didn’t I?” She followed him down the hall.
He pulled her into the loo and closed the door.
“Ye cannae tell her yer story.”
She snorted. “Well, I wasnae going to tell her the part about Banner rising from the dead, was I?”
He shook his head. “It’s not that. She asked Jocko for the most romantic Celtic story he could find…and he told her yers. I changed the names, but the story is the same. He even told her yer husband was recently a ghostie.”
“Jacob!”
“I know. I know. But at the time, it was just a story. I never imagined she’d ever hear it repeated.”
She thought for a moment while he cleaned the juice from his face. Finally, she shrugged her shoulders. “Ye ken what this means, then. This is yer sign that it’s time to come clean, yeah?”
