Page 8 of A Thistle Beyond Time
“Yeah. They both belong to Jenna’s parents, but they’ve more or less given them to her.”
“Where do they reside?”
“They have homes all over the world. They never stay in one place very long and they haven’t been back to San Francisco in years. The bathroom’s in here.” He led Cormac to his own private en-suite.
“Dylan, ye may need to explain things to me. We dinna have rooms like this where I come from.”
“Right. I almost forgot.” Dylan showed Cormac how everything worked in the bathroom. He showed him how to turn the lights on and off in both rooms and where he could find towels and soap. “You look like you’re about my size, so if you need any clothes, you can borrow mine.”
“Aye. Ye are most generous, Dylan. Thank ye.”
“No problem. Tonight we’re going to a karaoke bar in Hayes Valley. You should be okay wearing what you have on. It’s been a winner for you today. Why mess with success?”
Cormac just shook his head. This was almost too much for him. He could barely understand what was being said around him. Why had he let Edna convince him to come here in search of a wife? Jenna had not been verra happy to see him and she had tried to get rid of him, almost immediately. She had, however, given him quite the once over when he came back with Dylan. She was attracted to him. Cormac knew that look. Many a lass had looked at him the verra same way. As she examined him from head to toe, Jenna looked like she was planning to devour him for dinner. That thought alone had the blood rushing through his aroused body. She was a comely lass and he wondered what it would be like to hold her in his arms, to feel her hands on his body, her lips on his lips. He groaned aloud at the thoughts wreaking havoc with his brain.
Dylan cleared his throat, “I’ll leave you to it, then. You might want to rest a bit. I’ll bet time travel really takes it out of you.”
“Aye. I believe yer correct. I should rest.” Cormac was feeling a bit drained, but it was unusual for him to lay abed during the day. He would never do that back at Breaghacraig, as there was always so much that needed doing.
Dylan closed the door behind him and Cormac lay down and closed his eyes. He had no sooner done so than he heard Edna’s voice.
“Cormac. Can ye hear me?”
“Aye, Edna. ’Tis ye?”
“Who else would it be? How many people talk to ye in yer head, dear?”
Cormac smirked, despite knowing Edna couldn’t see the reaction. “Only ye, Edna.”
“Yes, well, how is everything? Have ye met Jenna?”
“Aye. She is quite a lovely lass, but she doesnae care for me I’m afeared.”
“Don’t ye worry, dear. She’ll come around. Remember ye only have a week to get her to agree to return with ye. Then, at that time, ye need to go back to the exact same spot so I can bring ye back.”
“Her cousin, Dylan, has been helping me, else I’d be staying at something she called the homeless shelter.”
“Oh, my. Thank goodness that didn’t happen. Be patient with her. She is not a happy young lady. She has had a life lesson at the school of hard knocks and it will take her time to trust ye.”
“Are ye sure she is the one for me?”
“I would not have sent ye otherwise, now would I?”
“Nay. I would hope not.”
“As I told you, try to fit in. Don’t act surprised by anything you might see.”
“’Tis been difficult, but I dinnae believe anyone has noticed. I told Jenna’s cousin about Ashley. He willnae tell a soul.”
“Good. I’m glad you have someone to confide in. If ye need me, just call to me.”
“I will.”
And then she was gone and Cormac decided it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to sleep for a while.
* * *
Jenna was perplexed beyond reason. She had been puttering around the house for the last hour, cursing Dylan. She didn’t think she was going to be able to deal with having Cormac under her roof. The last thing she wanted was to find herself attracted to him. She wasn’t ready for that. She was still reeling from the deception she had been living with during her marriage to Jonathan. Romance was not high on her ‘to do’ list. As a matter of fact, it wasn’t on there at all.
