Anna looked at the grinning man beside her and motioned towards the chair. Edward was of average height and build and appeared to be somewhere in his early forties. She could tell he was very friendly and looking to talk. However, nature was calling.
Carefully sliding out of the bed, Anna made her way to the bathroom. Although she was all but healed, she knew she wouldn’t be running any marathons any time soon. She quickly took care of her most basic needs before returning back to the bedroom.
“A girl could really get used to this,” she said, pleasantly, as Edward stood and assisted her back into the bed. A moment later a tray of food slid across her lap. Her stomach rumbled as she breathed in the tantalizing smell.
After eating for a few minutes, she decided to make some small talk. Looking at Edward, she asked, “Are we at Shayne’s home?”
“Yes,” he said, with a smile. He returned to the chair, a cup of coffee in his hand. “You don’t remember arriving?” he casually asked.
She looked back at the events from the night they'd arrived, her brow wrinkling in puzzlement. “Not all of it but enough,” she replied. “Just some brief flashes after the airport.”
Edward nodded. “That’s not surprising when someone has experienced a serious concussion. The doctor was already waiting when you arrived. He examined you and said that you’d be fine with rest.” He took a sip of his coffee. “Shayne stayed with you day and night until just a few moments ago. In fact, he insisted. He wouldn't allow anyone else to relieve him, although we all offered. Playing nursemaid is not the normal behavior for him. Not for Shayne. He's the type of man who likes to be active not stagnant.”
Anna was holding the fork. At his words, she froze. She felt like there was some kind of meaning to Edward's words. She just didn't know what. “So why'd he do it for me and not someone else?” she prodded him, as she laid the fork down on the tray.
Edward grinned broadly at her as he shrugged his shoulders. “Who knows,” he replied. “You're the first woman he's ever brought home.”
He sat back with a pleased expression on his face, leaving Anna to brew in her thoughts.
ANNA SPENT THE MAJORITY of her time sleeping the following two days. She'd had a few visitors, including Edward and another endurer named Ian. The doctor had been back to see her, and he felt Anna was healing as expected. A few more days of rest, and she would be back to normal.
Shayne had stopped by—briefly—a few times. He was always cordial and polite, but he never stayed long. She hated to admit it, but she missed him. The heat of their previous argument had passed her by, and she was realizing just how much she enjoyed his companionship.
A knock sounded on her door. “Come in,” she called out. After a day of boredom, she was definitely ready for company.
Shayne pushed the door open, smiling at her as he wheeled a cart in. “Hungry?” he asked.
She looked him over wistfully. Yeah, she was hungry all right, but not only for food. He looked good in his expensive jeans that fit him like a glove. The button-down shirt accentuated his broad shoulders, and he had the sleeves rolled up, revealing his muscled forearms.
“Yes, definitely,” Anna replied, standing up. He pushed the cart over to the table and put the dishes and cutlery on it. To Anna, it felt cozy and domesticated. After seating her, he handed her a glass of white wine. Then he walked over to his own seat and sat down.
They started to eat, as he made mundane conversation. Her eyes slid shut in ecstasy with the first bite. His cook was outstanding.
Anna opened her eyes to see Shayne staring at her with a rapt expression on his face. A long moment of silence passed before he cleared his throat and asked, “Enjoying the meal?”
She nodded enthusiastically, with a big grin. Blushing, she added softly, “In case you haven’t noticed, I enjoy good food.”
“There’s nothing wrong with that,” Shayne declared. “Personally, I like to see a woman enjoying her food.” They continued eating in companionable silence.
“How old are you, Anna?” he suddenly asked.
“I'm twenty-four. What about you?”
Shayne took a sip of his wine. “I'm a little over five hundred years old, and I’ve been an endurer for hundreds of years,” he declared, his blue eyes looking past her as if he had to think long and hard. “I was born in the year 1436 in Ireland. McLoughlin was, and is, my surname.”
She gaped at him in dumbfounded silence, her meal forgotten as the atmosphere suddenly changed. Shayne had her complete attention.
“I had a wonderful family, and growing up we were very close. My family was rich and highly respected by those around us. We lived in a castle that had been passed down from generation to generation. It was surrounded by a small village, and our people were very loyal.” He paused, as if he were considering his next words.
“I had several brothers and I wasn’t the heir, so it was decided that my fate was to be in the monastery.” Shayne grimaced at the thought. “It wasn’t the life I would have chosen for myself, but in the end, being a monk saved my life.”
Anna sat in silence, captivated by his story. It was hard to believe she was sitting across the table from a man who had lived for over five hundred years. Had it been anyone else, she wouldn't have believed they were as old as he said he was. But with Shayne, there was no reason to doubt him.
“What do you mean?” she asked, wanting to hear more. “How did it save your life?”
He smiled, but his eyes
