“No. I’ve been hearing this one all day.” She frowned. “You don’t hear another voice? A woman?”
“What’s the woman saying?”
“There you are,” Jennifer answered. “Over and over. There you are. It’s like she’s been looking for me but…I sound insane.”
“You’re not insane.” Rory put his arm over her shoulders. “Let’s go inside.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure. I swear, I saw your uncle’s hands glow.” Jennifer resisted going into the house with him. “I think maybe I hit my head the night you found me in the woods, and I should have gone to a doctor. That’s the only explanation.”
Rory furrowed his brow. “Well, not the only.”
“The most likely, then,” Jennifer insisted. “Audible hallucinations, lack of focus, trouble remembering people’s orders, emotional distress.”
“Emotional distress?” Rory found himself wanting to pull her closer. “What do ya mean by that?”
“When I’m near you, I…” She refused to meet his gaze.
“I feel the same way.” Rory cupped her cheeks and pulled her in for a kiss. Pleasure and anticipation erupted inside of him.
“What?” Jennifer swatted at his hands. “I didn’t mean I want to make out with you. I meant that when I’m near you, I want to hit you over the head with a bat.”
“Ya don’t want to…?” He pulled back.
Wow. He’d read that signal wrong.
“I mean, yeah, of course, I want to kiss you. You’re handsome and nice and wear a kilt like some kind of romance movie hero. It’s hard not to see the fantasy there.” She took a step back. “But I also have this undeniably strong urge to run you over with a car.”
“Sounds like marriage.”
Rory stiffened to hear his father’s voice coming from the front door.
“My Cait threatens to run me over all the time, though she usually says she wants to trample me with wild horses,” Murdoch said. “Can’t say I don’t sometimes deserve it. Take my word for it, son. Apologize. It doesn’t matter what for. Always assume when it comes to your woman’s anger, you’re in the wrong.”
Rory flinched. Referring to Jennifer as his “woman” after she pulled away from his kiss probably wasn’t the best flow of conversation.
“Da, I’d like ya to meet Jennifer,” Rory introduced. “She’s a friend.”
“Mr. MacGregor.” Jennifer gave a small wave but didn’t go closer to the house.
“Murdoch,” his father corrected. “Listen, son, your ma and aunt Margareta are waiting for ya in the dining room. They look serious. There’s cheese and wine.” He switched his language so Jennifer couldn’t understand and added, “Plus, they are discussing binding spells, just in case.”
“No, Da,” Rory said, keeping to English so Jennifer wouldn’t be uncomfortable. “This was probably a mistake. I’m going to take her to the motel. Maura will love the company.”
“Too late. Euann, Cora, and Raibeart already told them you’re coming, and they saw your car pull up. Ya might as well come and get it over with.” Murdoch smiled at Jennifer. “I promise it’s not as painful as it sounds.”
Jennifer smiled politely. “I’m sure everyone is very nice. I’m not worried.”
“Then it’s settled.” Murdoch gestured for Jennifer to join them in the house. “Jennifer, do ya like wine?”
“Not as much as I like cheese,” she answered.
“Perfect.” Murdoch led the way into the house. “We have an assortment from all over the world.”
“Ya don’t have to,” Rory said. “Everyone will understand if you’re too tired after your double shift.”
“I don’t want to be rude to your family,” Jennifer said.
“I don’t want them to overwhelm ya,” he answered. What had he been thinking to bring Jennifer here? Did he think his family would just let him waltz her up to a guest room?
Well, in truth, he hadn’t been thinking about that. He’d been too busy trying to make sure she came with him someplace away from the public to talk to him. He couldn’t exactly tell her what she needed to know while she was working. “Oh, hey, by the way, I’m a warlock, magick is real, you’re possessed, and table five needs beer when ya get a chance. Try not to freak out.”
“We haven’t had a chance to talk about the forest,” he said.
“Yes, we did. You said you found me on the ground. Did you lie? Was there more?” she asked.
Lie was such a harsh word, and yet…
“I’m not sure we completely understand what is happening,” he said. “I think we should compare notes.
There. That wasn’t a lie. It was an avoidance, but not a lie.
“Compare notes?” Jennifer chuckled. This time she walked up the front steps with Rory to go inside. “What is this? Math class?”
“I’m sorry for whatever is about to happen,” Rory whispered.
“Why? What’s about to happen? Wine and cheese and a chance to see inside the infamous MacGregor mansion?” Jennifer softly laughed. “This will give me something to talk about to entertain customers for the next couple of weeks, at the very least.”
“I…” Rory wanted to tell her everything. “I know how overwhelming my family can be.”
“You are worried about me being here, aren’t you?” Jennifer touched his arm briefly before pulling her hand away and balling it into a fist. “Perhaps you’re right to be. I don’t exactly trust myself when I’m next to you. We can say hello to be polite, and then you can take me to the motel.”
Chapter Eleven
“This recipe is from right here in Wisconsin. It’s an enchanting blend.” Cait MacGregor held out a silver tray containing a cheese ball with a shaved almond crust surrounded by crackers. It looked like something served at a football party, not at an international cheese and wine tasting. If they brought out a box of wine next, Jennifer would know she was on a prank show.
“Looks great, Ma.” Rory reached to take a cracker, but Cait slapped his hand. “Ladies first.”
“Think of me as the royal taster,” Rory answered.
“I raised ya with better manners than that,” Cait warned.
Jennifer wasn’t sure if Cait was serious or not, but Rory looked properly scolded and withdrew his attempt.
Jennifer glanced at the
