“Better than gourmet,” Anjuli said from the doorway.
Her hair was wet, and she was dressed only in his shirt, sleeves rolled up and collar enticingly open. The temperature had cooled, but shirtless, he didn’t feel the chill. A wrap of his hand around Anjuli’s waist was all he needed to know she was naked underneath. His hand slid to her bottom. “I’m hungry, and you’re no’ helping me concentrate on food.”
She drew his head down to hers. “I’m ravenous...and sore.”
What kind of man felt pleased to hear that? “I’m a brute.”
Anjuli shook her head. “Sore because I need you so very much.”
A thrill rippled through him and then he caught a waft of burning salmon. Anjuli laughed and joined him at the cooker. “I can’t fry fish or steaks either.”
“You’ll have to get your wife to do that for you,” she teased.
He took her left hand and put it on his heart, then stroked her slender fingers, remembering them tapping on his back while he shuddered inside her. “Where’s the piano?”
She didn’t meet his eyes. “I sold it. But that’s okay, it doesn’t matter.”
He lightly kissed her fingers. “Matters to me.”
Her eyes sparkled and she reached down and cupped him. “I’ll have to make do with playing something else.”
Rob lengthened under her strokes and walked her to the table. “Insatiable wench.” His head went back as she unzipped him, circled and stroked until he was hard-pressed not to forego dinner and drink for the delight of losing himself inside her. She grasped him, manoeuvring him to her heated, wet pussy. God, she was slick, ready for him, but... “Wait, lass,” he said, mustering his thoughts.
He reached into his pocket and took out a small black jewellery bag. “I wanted to give you this before we got sidetracked.”
Her voice came out in a seductive purr as she opened it. “If it’s a key to the other tower, I’m not carrying you up.”
He pressed into her and stopped, poised and throbbing, but much as he wanted to dive into her tight heat, he watched her face as she drew out his gift. A ring in a Victorian setting, dark gold, two small diamonds either side a pale aquamarine. The ring he had given her when he’d first asked her to marry him.
Anjuli’s eyes filled with unshed tears. “You kept it?”
She had sent it to him with her letter, all those years ago, and though he’d come to Heaverlock Castle, walked over the bridge and felt like throwing it into the River Redes he hadn’t been able to. So he had kept it. Because it was beautiful and he’d had it made for Anjuli and couldn’t seem to get rid of it. No matter how many times he’d thought of giving it to Mac to sell for one of her charity fundraisers, he’d never been able to let it go.
“Never take it off again.”
She nodded, tears running down her cheeks. “I promise, just never let me go.”
Slowly, Rob slid the ring onto Anjuli’s finger as he slid his cock into her body. Anjuli’s legs rose around his hips and then they were laughing...crying...panting...She screamed his name as he sealed their deal in the best way he knew how.
Epilogue
September
Rob scanned the airport waiting room, trying to dampen his rising worry. Anjuli would be here just as she had promised. Why would she not? They had nothing pending in Heaverlock. The restoration was finished and he had sold his house to Ben, the paperwork progressing smoothly. The manor would remain closed until they returned from America and Mac and Ben would check on it periodically. His twin was also going to take care of Reiver until they got back. Everything was settled.
Rob smiled at his fiancée’s proud, adamant insistence that she pay him back every pound she owed him. He preferred to barter for repayment in another coin entirely.
“I’m sorry Mr. Douglas, but we’re almost ready to shut the doors,” the flight dispatcher said. “I have to ask you to board.”
Where the hell was she?
If this were one of the rom-com films she liked watching she would be waiting for him on board, a smile on her face and a kiss to erase his fears.
The seat next to his was empty.
Unease threatened to subvert his confidence. He trusted Anjuli. Of course he did. Yet a vestige of remembered pain reared its head and reminded him of the day she’d left him at the altar. He stared at his mobile but it was as silent as it had been two minutes before. Her phone was switched off.
Rob had overnighted in Edinburgh and Anjuli had stayed with Ash, a sisterly goodbye before they flew out to their new life in Boston. Had she changed her mind and decided to stay? Or had she been filled with doubts and avoided speaking of them? Maybe she didn’t want live in America and hadn’t told him. She could sing if she wanted to, perform or not depending on her desires. He wouldn’t stand in her way, much as he ached to kiss her to sleep every night and wake up next to her every morning.