“Aye, love. We’ll find it before long.” His voice trailed off towards uncertainty, and she knew it was because she’d be leaving once they found the Hope.
Though she couldn’t tell him she’d stay, she gave his a hand a squeeze and then leaned into him, her lips lingering on his in a slow, sweet kiss. Knowing it’d be too easy to keep kissing him, she forced herself to put some distance between them.
“I should take some pictures for my research paper.” She pulled her pack off and gently lowered it to the ground so she could dig out her camera. There was a decent flash on it, so hopefully it’d do. “Let me know when you’re ready, Angus.”
“Look at that, would you?” Angus stepped back out of the way, wiping an arm across his forehead. The hole was a foot and a half wide and close to three feet long.
“Here, let me get you a bit of light.” Iain stepped to the side so the beam would fall where Cat needed it, but he wouldn’t get in her way while she took her pictures.
Cat pulled off the lens cap and immediately started clicking away, taking only enough time to make sure her pictures were focused. She stepped closer, her heart racing as adrenaline pumped through veins.
“The bars are just beyond the clay wall and look rusted in places.” Cat reached in and gave them a shake. “They’re still holding though. Give me a flashlight?”
“Here ye are, lass.” Angus handed her his.
She shone it into the hole, her pulse tripping over itself. A dozen or so large wooden boxes lay piled one on top of the other, filling the small space. “Well, I’ll be damned.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Unless you know how to pick a lock, we’ll have to come back tomorrow with some bolt cutters. It’s too late to do it tonight.” Iain saw the disappointment in Cat’s eyes, but there was little he could do. “We’ll come back first thing, since we’d not make it to the house and back before dark.”
“What about the other branch of the tunnel?” There’d been yet another fork. “I’d still like to see where it leads.”
“Tomorrow, love. We’ll not manage the difficult terrain once the sun sets.”
Angus came to his aid. “He’s right, lass. A hike in the dark would only result in sprained or broken limbs, and despite my Tardis-like rucksack, I have no camping equipment with me.”
Cat let out a weary sigh and managed a smile. “I know. It’s just that we’re so close, even if this ends up being nothing more than provisions or someone’s secret stash of chocolate-covered Hobnobs.”
“Given my sister’s predilection for the treats, you may very well have uncovered her hiding spot.” Iain ran a hand down her arm. “We’ll be back at sun-up. We got a lot accomplished, and we’re one step closer, love.”
She nodded, and with a final glance over her shoulder at what could be the find of a lifetime, they headed home.
***
With Angus offering to host dinner for the night, Iain drove over with Cat nestled in the seat beside him. “It’s just up ahead. I think you’ll like his place. He’s been renovating it for the last few years now.”
As they turned down a long drive, the house came into view, the lights left on for them. “It was once a hunting lodge that had fallen into disrepair, and before that, a small manor. Angus has had a wee bit of help, but surprisingly enough, he’s done a fair amount of the work himself.”
“It’s gorgeous, Iain. I adore the stone walls and the way the wooden beams jut out from under the roofline.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “So many windows too. Must be nice on a sunny day.”
“Aye, it is. And you can’t tell since it’s dark, but the sea lies just beyond. The view’s incredible.” He parked the car before shifting in his seat to face her.
Brushing the hair from her face, he let his touch linger. What the hell had happened to him? Why was it that he couldn’t bear to let her go—and why didn’t she see how much she meant to him? It got him thinking. Perhaps that was exactly what he needed to do—let her go. Maybe if she realized it would soon be over, she’d think twice about actually going. “I just wanted to tell you that I’ve enjoyed our time together. I know you’ve got to get back once we find the Hope, but I do hope you’ll not sever all ties.”
“No… of course not.” She looked away, unease and worry tainting her voice.
Though Iain wanted to reassure her, he couldn’t. It was her decision to make, but if she was going to walk away, then he wasn’t going to make it easy for her. He’d just have to make her realize what it would be like if they weren’t in each other’s lives.