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A s the priest droned in Latin, Aidan stood at the head of the chapel, wondering if he had made a strategic error.

He thought he could make her fall in love with him.

Her face, though she tried to shield it, showed otherwise.

When I go back…

He tried to catch her eye, but she was having none of it. She steadfastly watched the priest and kept her hands folded tightly in front of her.

The priest cleared his throat, then gave Aidan a pointed look.

“Oh. Aye,” Aidan said quickly.

The priest turned to Emma, who gave a soft “Aye,” then he blessed them. A moment later they were announced as man and wife, and Aidan gave Emma a chaste kiss on her lips.

Which were ice cold.

Afterward, they faced the people in the chapel, and Laird Monaghan appeared pleased. Shane and Brigit were giving each other heated looks .

At least one thing was going according to plan , Aidan thought wryly.

Aidan and Emma led them out of the chapel toward the great hall, where the wedding feast waited.

“Are you all right, Emma?” he heard Bri whisper as they strolled across the courtyard. The chapel began to empty, and clansmen began cheering.

“Later,” Emma whispered back, then pasted on a false smile.

Reilly joined them at the raised dais and clapped a hand on Aidan’s back. He said, in Gaelic so that Emma would not understand, “Why does she look so miserable?”

Aidan glanced at Emma, who was in deep discussion with Brianagh. “I informed her before the ceremony that this marriage is in name only, and that she was free of it once she returned to the future.”

Nick smacked him on the head. Clansmen cheered, but Aidan glared at him.

“You are a horse’s arse,” Nioclas said succinctly.

“My exact sentiments,” Reilly agreed.

“Why?” Aidan demanded. “She wants to leave. And before we left, I ensured the lass has a life when she leaves here. She’s free and clear to live her life on her own terms. In the future.”

Without me.

Reilly grabbed a hunk of bread from a tray as a kitchen maid passed by. “Och, you are the biggest kind of dolt.”

“There is truth in his words,” Nioclas agreed.

“Look at her,” Reilly demanded. “Does she look like a lass who’s relieved? Or like one who’s had her heart broken?”

Aidan rolled his eyes, but he felt his stomach churn. “Lay off, O’Malley.”

“Did you ask her if she would be willing to stay here with you?” Nioclas asked .

“I didn’t have to,” Aidan admitted grimly. “She said she wished to return.”

“By herself?” Reilly asked skeptically.

“I see naught but confusion and perhaps a goodly amount of sadness,” Nioclas replied in a low voice. “Perhaps you should ask her directly if she wishes to stay with you, here.”

“She made her wishes known already. She wants to return to her time.”

Nioclas sighed heavily. “Good luck to you, brother. You have, perhaps, more work to do than time available in which to fix it.”

Aidan met Emma’s sad eyes and realized that his brother had it right. He didn’t know how much longer Emma had in his time, but he needed to fix things between them, starting immediately. He wanted her to have good memories of him, if nothing else.

As Brianagh reassuringly patted her hand and Aidan served her the best bits from the trencher in front of them, Emma thought she might be sick.

She was a fool, and it hurt.

He never declared love, or any sort of feeling, really. He kissed her like he meant it, but that was just lust. Maybe when he kissed her, it was the same for him as when he kissed a different woman. Maybe he kissed different women all the time.

Maybe she really and truly couldn’t read men.

She was so weak. She mentally kicked herself. She should’ve walked away from Aidan back in New York. She could’ve paid off Ben, given enough time. She would’ve figured out how to escape him, somehow.

Should’ve, could’ve, would’ve. The three words she had vowed, the day Ben went to jail, to never say again .

“Perhaps we might have speech after we dine?” Aidan murmured. He refilled her wine cup. “I fear I may have misled you.”

Emma ground her jaw to avoid replying in haste.

She managed a nod. Misled her? That was an understatement.

But he had clarified his intentions mere hours earlier.

She had no idea why he wanted to rehash that conversation, but if she could survive a marriage ceremony, she could survive another round of business talk with her husband.

Emma needed a quick distraction to avoid tears, so she focused on Brianagh. “I was thinking about the publicity plan for Celtic Connections. I love what you’ve done here with the ball and tournament…maybe we can incorporate a modern version of those in the company, and tie it back to these roots?”

Aidan stiffened next to her.

Bri nodded. “Oh, that’s brilliant. A ball would be easy enough. But the tournament…let’s see.”

As Bri brainstormed, Emma tried to focus on her future. How soon could Reilly bring her back? Would she really be stuck with Aidan, so close yet so far from him, for weeks or months or possibly even years, watching helplessly as he held the broken pieces of her heart in his rough, strong hands?

Her future, no matter which way it turned out, seemed bleak indeed.

Aidan closed the chamber door and slid the bolt home. He paused a moment, hoping that he could right his wrongs, then walked toward Emma.

She stood by the window, her arms wrapped around herself as the breeze teased the golden tendrils of hair that escaped her pins.

She gazed to the ocean, the moonlight reflecting clearly on the deep waters.

The sounds of their boisterous, happy clan drifted through the window as the main castle door opened, then closed.

He started to speak, but she beat him to it.

“It’s a beautiful land, isn’t it?” Her voice was wistful, far away.

“These people…they celebrate life unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

With all of the wars and famines, it’s easy to see why they live openly and joyously.

” She rubbed her arms, the silk that covered them rustling.

“There’s a simple beauty in it, but there’s such hardness as well.

I’m grateful I’m not experiencing the terrible side of the Middle Ages. ”

He remained silent, unsure as to how to respond.

Emma returned her eyes to the sea. “You once told me that if I were to cast my wish into the ocean, it would remain safe until my soul mate could return it. Do you still believe that to be true?”

He took another step, captivated by the longing in her words. He was next to her now. “Aye.”

Emma pressed a kiss into her palm, then gently blew her wish into the night.

Aidan pulled her into his arms. “I’ve been a fool, Emma.”

Her eyes swam with unshed tears. “No, Aidan. I’ve been a fool.

I understand how you feel now. You were trying to show the Monaghans that I was an unsuitable choice, to save Brianagh’s reputation.

And I allowed myself to believe you cared about me, even though I’m certain I knew deep down that it wasn’t real.

You’re right—we can’t have a relationship.

Who knows when Reilly will return me to the future? We can’t—”

He reeled back, shocked at her words. “What? Nay, Emma, I do care about you. More than I’ve ever cared about anything—”

“Aidan, please. Stop. I can’t do this anymore.” She pulled away. “One minute I’m thinking that we are something more than two people bound by a business contract. I don’t want that. ”

Her words lightened his heart, but she stopped him with her next ones.

“Then next I think we’re just two lonely adults who see an opportunity to be less lonely, if only for a little while. But that’s not what I want, either.”

“What do you want?” he asked, stepping towards her.

Before she could answer, he grasped her face gently with both his hands and threaded his fingers into her soft hair.

Her sweet smell, her voice, her beauty and wit and everything in between called out to him, and he needed to kiss her.

More than he needed to eat, or sleep, or breathe.

He lowered his lips to hers, his entire being centered on their mouths. He traced her lips with his tongue, silently asking her to open for him, and when she finally sighed and granted him access, his body celebrated.

Home.

He deepened the kiss, tasting every inch of her mouth. Emma’s arms wrapped around his waist, and she melted into him, her body fitting against his. He removed her hair pins, his mouth never leaving hers, and their tongues tangled in a sweet, lilting melody only they knew.

Because she’s the one , his soul whispered.

Aidan pulled back momentarily, searching the depths of her eyes. Her face, softened with wonder, rested in his hands, and he knew he could never let her go.

But her expression changed swiftly and she staggered back. She shook her head vehemently. “No, Aidan. This isn’t what I want. I’m—you’re—this is business only.”

He stood frozen, unable to move in the face of her declaration.

“What did you wish for when you sent your kiss to the sea?” Aidan demanded, his voice hoarse.

Say me.

She looked at him with wet eyes. “To go home.”