Page 4 of Desiring the Highland Laird (Highland Destiny #1)

The image of the rugged castle was so strong in her mind, it was as though she stood right in front of it. The magnificent structure with its stone walls and imposing turrets was perched on the shores of a loch surrounded by cliffs.

“Let me package it for you.”

“Thank you,” Evie said.

She tore her gaze away from the stone and handed it back to Moira, who took it and headed to the register at the back of the store. She followed, her mind still in a haze and the image of the castle still burning through it.

She didn’t understand.

Behind the register, she noticed a picture hanging on the wall. Gooseflesh erupted along her arms. It was the exact castle she’d seen in her mind.

“What is that place?” she nodded to the picture.

Moira turned to glance at it then said, “Och, that’s Dundale Castle. Once the home of Clan MacLeod. It’s all but ruins now.” Then she gave her a look that pierced through her. “But it doesn’t have to be.”

She didn’t understand. It seemed as though the woman was full of cryptic messages.

“Where is it?”

“The Isle of Skye. You’ll visit there soon, in your proper time. Here you go, lass.” She handed her a blue velvet drawstring bag.

She didn’t know what the woman meant by her proper time and wasn’t sure how to ask her. Instead, she said, “I have no plans to visit.”

“Och, but you will.” She gave her a knowing grin.

It was difficult to stifle the sense of unease throughout her. “Are you sure I can’t pay for it?”

“Free of charge, Sinclair. And here. Take my card.”

She took the bag and the business card, a numbness skittering through her. So stunned was she by the woman calling her Sinclair, she didn’t think to ask how she knew.

The card was simple with gold letters embossed across the front reading Mystic Treasures. Below was the line where the past meets the present and then her name. Moira. No surname. No phone number. No address.

She placed the bag and card in her pocket and then headed out of the shop. The eerie sensation lingered with her as she headed to meet Chloe and Bruce. It seemed as though seeing the castle and the stone were pieces of a puzzle she needed to put together.

She couldn’t wait to examine the stone closer but that would have to wait until she was alone. Now, she headed to meet her sister and her boyfriend for lunch.

*

Chloe and Bruce kept her busy the rest of the day.

She didn’t have a chance to look at the stone she carried around in her pocket.

Since Chloe’s first big gala was that evening, she knew she wouldn’t have a chance to look at it then either.

She’d brought one cocktail dress to wear for the event—a sleek black number that hit her right above the knees and a scooped neckline that pushed up her bosom, giving her a hint of cleavage.

Much to her dismay, she left her matching bolero jacket at home.

Chloe had pulled out all the stops for this event and hired a car to take them to the museum.

Bruce had a gig at the pub and was unable to attend, so it would be the two of them.

Evie had to admit, she was looking forward to spending some time alone with her sister.

Her sister was so excited, she was about to vibrate out of her skin.

She chatted nonstop—one of her nervous habits—while Evie was distracted by the stone.

She had tucked it in her tiny handbag and found she could not stop thinking about it.

“Are you even listening?” Chloe huffed out a breath.

Evie pulled her thoughts back together and blinked, focusing on her sister’s furious face.

“You did it again,” she said. “It’s like you go somewhere else. You’ve been doing it all day.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, the guilt washing through her. “I’m a bit distracted.”

“You’ve been that way since you arrived. What is it?”

How to tell her sister about the erotic dream with the hot guy? She couldn’t. Nor could she tell her about the flash of the castle she had in her mind when she talked to the shopkeeper. She bit her lip.

“You used to tell me everything,” Chloe said, her voice low as though she might be hurt.

“I still do,” she said, trying not to sound defensive. Instead, she came up with an excuse for her off-putting behavior. “This is all a bit overwhelming.”

Realization seemed to pass over her features. She scooted closer to her in the backseat of the car and wrapped her arms around her shoulders, giving her a tight squeeze.

“That’s my fault. You landed and I immediately dragged you to a pub, then all over Edinburgh today. I should have thought you might want to rest more. I was excited to see you again and I wanted to share this amazing city with you.”

She patted her arm and gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s all right, Chlo. I know how you feel. I was excited to see you, too. And I’m glad to be here. Truly. I can’t wait to see your museum.”

Her sister chuckled. “Well, it’s not my museum.”

“It is as far as I’m concerned.”

They shared a grin and for a moment, everything was as it should be.

The car pulled to a stop outside the museum.

The driver got out to open the back door for them.

Evie followed Chloe through the gathering crowd to the entrance of the museum where she flashed her badge at security, then told them Evie was her guest. They handed her a visitor badge and waved them through.

As soon as they were past security, Evie watched her sister’s eyes light with wonder and excitement.

There were no patrons inside yet, and the set-up crew rushed around in a flurry of activity preparing for the evening in the main gallery.

Tables of ten were scattered around the room covered in black tablecloths.

Workers placed silver chargers at every setting while another group positioned elaborate centerpieces that included pillar candles in glass hurricane candleholders and sparkly floral arrangements.

Chloe instantly went into business mode, bustling around the museum to make sure everything was in order.

That left Evie alone for a moment. She found a quiet corner and took the opportunity to open her small handbag and peer inside.

The blue velvet drawstring bag rested there along with her ID and her cell phone.

The stone called to her, pulling her in a way she could not explain.

As she was about to reach for the bag, she heard the clack of her sister’s heels.

“There you are! I want you to meet some people.”

Chloe hooked her arm in hers and away they went. The stone would have to wait.