Page 17 of The Valiant Knight (The Ravensmire Chronicles #2)

“Thank you, Tony. You’re a good egg. A scrambled one that rolled under the heater and sat there a while, but a good one nonetheless.”

He laughed.

“Oddly, I hear that a lot.”

She hopped down off the counter.

“Now, what did you need to tell me?” she asked.

He was to the point, and excited again, so it was clear this was about work.

“Like I said I found something. There’s paper inside the occupied crypt, and when I moved the remains, I saw it. The remains are out. Do you want to see them?”

She actually did.

The paper intrigued her.

“Meet you there. Give me ten minutes.”

He stopped her.

“Oh, Honey. If you’re only taking ten minutes with that man, we have to talk. Let him tie you to the bed. That takes ten minutes if he does it right. If he does it wrong, give me ten minutes to talk to him.”

Gabby snorted.

Tony was too much.

But always in a good way. She was so grateful she’d gotten to know the man, and made a family with the FBI.

But was it enough?

In DC, she hadn’t met one person who made her feel like Finn did. He was her white knight.

Her valiant knight.

“Go, nut.”

He did just that, and when she followed him out, Finn was in the chair by the fireplace.

Waiting.

“I hope everything is okay,” he said. “He sounded excited.”

Not as excited as him, but that was on the back burner now.

Apparently.

Without saying anything at first. Instead, she headed for the closet. Inside, her suitcase was on the floor.

Gabby explained.

“Tony found something in the one crypt, so I need to go see what has him all bouncy. If anything, he’s predictable when it comes to bones.”

That worked for him, AFTER she was checked out. By now, the doctor would be downstairs, and he was worried about her.

Then, he’d be following her around.

Finn was thinking about the dream, and the incidents that had happened, so he was sticking close.

REAL.

CLOSE.

On top of that, he was in charge of monitoring the bones, so that was exactly what he planned on doing.

And monitoring her.

When she came out of the massive closet, she was wearing a flannel shirt and a snug pair of jeans.

Good God.

It was going to be a long day for him.

Her ass in those jeans…

How she didn’t think her body was absolutely perfect befuddled him.

Just staring at her made his mouth water.

“Want to come with me?” she asked, hearing a scratch at her door.

When she opened it, Bark Twain came in, ran at, not her, but the detective, and jumped into his lap. Well, he was smart. She wanted to be in his lap too.

“Oh, hey,” he said, as the dog got comfortable.

Gabby watched him, and she firmly believed dogs were the best judge of character.

Bark loved him, and had no fear whatsoever of the man. In fact, he was curling up and cuddling.

“I think I’m trapped. Give me some time to get out from under him, and I’ll meet you there. Don’t forget the doctor,” he warned.

Oh, she was going to stop and get checked first. The last thing she wanted was some chest infection from when she inhaled lake water.

As for Finn, he needed advice.

From Graham.

Oh, and his gun and badge back. He was feeling naked without them.

“Absolutely, Detective,” she said.

He stopped her.

“Finn. Please call me Finn. Detective sounds like we didn’t just see each other naked. I think we’re beyond that, Gabriella.”

Oh, she hoped so.

Already, she felt calm and relaxed around him.

“I am a little disappointed,” she admitted, catching him off guard.

“About?”

Gabby teased him.

“I thought I was going to call you daddy,” she joked.

The second she said it, Gabby watched him swallow, and the bob of his Adam’s apple and the way his eyes dilated told her all she needed to know.

Someone was definitely interested.

She could bet on that.

Finn didn’t know what to say, but he absolutely was intrigued.

“I never said you couldn’t call me that in private. In public, Finn works. Tony will have questions.”

She laughed.

He was right.

“See you later, Finn. In private.”

And with that, she escaped, her heart pounding in her chest with how forward she was being. Apparently, what happened in Scotland was staying in Scotland.

As she headed out of the room, she jogged down the stairs and into the kitchen.

Once there, she saw the doctor.

“Ready for a checkup, Lass?” Graham asked.

Not the fun she wanted to have, but she understood. Gabby needed a clean bill of health.

Because later, she was going to keep flirting with a sexy man. While she was here, she was going to make memories.

To last a lifetime.

In case whatever this was between them didn’t.

* * *The Ravensmire Castle* * *

The Kitchen

Five Minutes Later

As soon as the doctor looked her over, she was given a clean bill of health, and for that, she was grateful.

Apparently, Finn had pulled her out just in time, and gave her some air to get her lungs clear. The doctor, a sweet little old man who still made house calls, gave her a prescription for an antibiotic if she felt like she needed it.

Gabby doubted she did.

When he was escorted out, Graham stopped her before she could run off to find Tony.

“Hey, the workmen found me.”

She wasn’t sure what this was about, but she listened to what he had to say.

“They found some letters. They were tucked behind a wall, and when they opened the door to the tower, they saw them peeking out.”

That made her curious.

“They did?”

He nodded.

“When Gryphen and Ian were here, they found a bunch. I know you asked about the book, so I thought I’d tell you what they found. You know, in case you wanted to get a detective to help you…detect.”

She lifted a brow.

“Trying to find us busy work together?” she asked.

He was amused.

“Maybe. He is attracted to you, and I’m trying to help his dumbass out. He always manages to find the worst women. It’s like the universe didn’t want him to ever have peace. His last three girlfriends were terrible. The last one the worst.”

This was interesting.

Should he be telling her this?

Probably not, but she was listening regardless. Anything she could find out would help her navigate this.

“He mentioned that he was interested,” she said. “I know I said I’m not a good bet, but he makes me feel like I am.”

Graham made her a cup of tea, and put it on the table. When she took it, he could already see that she was changing here. Earlier, she’d been scared, but now, she was happier.

“You absolutely are. He and I competed for a lady once. Okay, she was twelve, and a kid, but so were we,” he joked.

She sipped the tea and listened.

“He eventually won, because I didn’t care enough to keep fighting for her. Ladies aren’t my thing.”

She understood.

Someone was gay, and she appreciated him being Finn’s wingman.

“I don’t have much time here,” she admitted.

He reached for her, putting his hand over hers on the island, and when she looked into his eyes, he was blunt.

“If you’re going to leave, don’t start anything with him. Finn loves with his whole heart. He gives himself, and when the person leaves, he’s damaged even more. We’re all damaged, Gabby, but he takes it so hard.”

She patted his hand.

“I understand, Graham. I won’t start if I can’t stay. That was already in the back of my head. You’re a good friend to love him that much that you’d help him.”

He was glad to see she understood.

Pulling two plastic bags out of the island, he handed her the first one.

“Here you go,” he said.

Taking the plastic, she read over the letter, and it was beyond fascinating.

‘My dearest Duncan,

My heart beats whenever I see you, my Lord. It’s that look in your eyes, or that truly wicked grin of yours. It makes me weak.

And I’m not ashamed of that either.

When you arrived in this area, trying to fight for us, that was the moment that I lost my heart. That was the beginning of me, and there can be no me without you, my Lord.

With your tartan trew and the colors of your family, I was ensnared in that magic. You look magnificent in red, blue, and gold, my love.

Truly magnificent, but you look better naked above me.

Whether it be because of the situation, or the fact that when you touch me, I can’t think, all I know is that my Lord, I love thee.

And I forever will.

I love thee so much, that I can’t imagine not being by your side for the rest of my life.

It is my fondest wish to always serve you, and to make you as happy as I can.

I feel remorse for the mess my desires and love have caused you.

I meant Ceit no ill. Fate just had other plans for you than her. That is the bottom line. I was born for you, and I cannot be without you.

I swear upon my breast that it is circumstances beyond my control. We are here now, together, and she is not.

If I saw you truly happy with her, I would quietly back away, but I know your heart.

You don’t love her.

You never have.

That arranged marriage was of convenience, not passion and love. I know because when I come to your bed, I see exactly what you crave and need. I am yours, and you are mine for that reason.

That Passion is me, my Lord.

I am what you need.

So, if you want me to leave, and never to return so you may go back to your wife and unborn child, just give me the order.

I will obey.

I’ll always obey you.

I know that my family is beneath yours, and I shouldn’t dare to even gaze upon you with my desires, but they are there, and this letter is to declare them.

Decide, my Lord.

I will abide by your decision, and hold fast to it. I know deep down we were meant to be, and had the circumstances been different, nothing else would matter. Tell me what it is that you want.

You only have to ask me to do it. I would give you my heart upon a platter if you asked for it.

Who do you want, and then, I can have peace either in your arms, or as far from you as I can be?

I know there can’t be two loves of your life, and I know you have to make that decision. I love you enough to let you go if that is your wish, but...

There can only be one.

And I pray that it’s me.

Forever yours, no matter what you decide.

C.’