Page 41 of A Thistle Beyond Time
The film ended to a standing ovation and when they were done, people started moving around from table to table to visit with friends and business acquaintances. Jenna turned her head to find Cormac examining her with an expression on his face she couldn’t quite decipher. She squirmed just a little under his intense scrutiny.
“What?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, lass, I dinnae know what yer asking,” he responded.
“What’s so interesting? You’re examining me as if I’m some sort of rare specimen.”
“I enjoy watching ye, when yer not aware that I am. Yer expression changed from happy to sad – to something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.”
“Oh, I guess I was just thinking about my parents.”
“What about them?” Cormac asked.
“Why I can’t seem to justify the time they spend away from me. I know they’re doing a good thing, but most of the time, I don’t feel as if I’m their daughter. I could just as easily have been any one of the neighborhood kids when I was growing up.”
Cormac appeared sympathetic as he listened to her vent.
“Mayhap they just dinnae ken what it means to ye. Have ye ever told them how ye feel?”
“I used to tell them all the time when I was a child, but they would tell me not to be selfish. They’d tell me I was lucky to have grown up not wanting for anything, that there were many children going to bed hungry, or sick, and kids who had no schools to attend.”
“I imagine that would be enough to make ye keep yer thoughts to yerself on the matter,” Cormac sympathized.
“It did. I learned early on that no matter what I was thinking or feeling on the subject I should just keep it to myself. And I have, still do, even now.”
They were alone at the table now; the others who’d been seated with them were moving about the room and socializing. Cormac reached out and caressed Jenna’s cheek with the back of his hand, and Jenna leaned into his comforting touch. There was something about him that put her at ease, even when she was feeling out of sorts. His very presence grounded her and she knew that if she let him, Cormac would be there for her, through any struggle she may have. He’d protect her and care for her and it was very seductive to see him in that light.
Music began to play and Jenna suddenly wanted to be closer to Cormac, to have him hold her in his arms and to feel his warmth shield her from the rest of the world. She held out her hand to him. “Dance with me,” she said.
He stood and took her hand, guiding her to the dance floor.
“I’m afraid I’m not familiar with yer music or dances, lass,” he apologized.
“Nothing to it. You just need to put your arms around me and move around the floor. It’s not rocket science,” she laughed.
Cormac lifted an eyebrow. “Rocket science?”
Jenna tipped her head and pursed her lips. She wouldn’t ruin this moment with a snarky comment. Instead she moved closer to him. The anticipation of touching him sent zinging sensations across her skin, and from the satisfied look on his face, she knew he was pleased.
“I’d be more than happy to hold ye in me arms, Jenna.” Cormac pulled her into his embrace and they swayed around the dance floor, oblivious to the others dancing around them. She rested her head under his chin as she had imagined doing earlier, and let his presence comfort her.
The music was slow, an Etta James song, handled masterfully by the woman singing with the band. Jenna looked up at Cormac and their eyes locked together. She was falling under his spell. She knew she shouldn’t, but didn’t seem to be able to stop herself. This man, whoever he was and wherever he was from, had worked his way into her heart and she was helpless to stop it. The fact that he was leaving in a few days was distressing, but Jenna wasn’t about to go with him. Besides, she wasn’t so certain he was going anywhere. There was no such thing as time travel and in her world, witches didn’t send people clear across the ocean to collect a wife. How was she going to deal with that aspect of Cormac? Maybe she could get someone to help him with his delusions, if he stayed. She needed to figure this all out. Dylan hadn’t been any help at all. He just continued to feed the flame of this unbelievable story Cormac kept spinning. The song ended and Jenna was loathing the need to pull herself away from Cormac – and he didn’t seem too eager to let her go, either.
“It’s warm in here,” Jenna observed. “Let’s go outside for some fresh air.”
Cormac took her hand and led her to the doors leading outside. As they exited the building and stood on the sidewalk, he turned her to face him and much to her surprise, leaned down and kissed her, quite thoroughly. His lips were soft, his breath warm and his arms wrapped around her, holding her in place. She felt her knees go weak and her heart began to pound. With shaking hands she ran her fingers through his gloriously soft hair and wrapped her arms around his neck. The kiss seemed to go on forever, and she would have loved it if it were true, but all too soon it ended and they stood face to face, unable to look away from each other.
“Well, well, well, who do we have here,” a familiar voice chanted.
Jenna started at the sound and released her grip on Cormac. “Jonathan! Oh, my God! Are you following me?”
“Of course not, baby. I just happened to be in the neighborhood, walking down the street, just as anyone has a right to do, and I saw the two of you over here doing the kissy-face thing. You really ought to get a room. You are at a hotel, you know,” he laughed, even as he sneered at Cormac.
“I suggest ye just continue on yer way.” Cormac glared at him and stood to his full height, dwarfing Jonathan in the process.
“You do, do you?” Jonathan asked, with a hint of a challenge to his voice.
“Aye. This is not the place to cause a scene. I’d be happy to meet you elsewhere, if ye like.”
