Page 24 of The Valiant Knight (The Ravensmire Chronicles #2)

“I’ll forward her the holographic measurements, and see what she can come up with,” he offered. “It’s the least I can do. Thank you for handling this, Tony.”

He didn’t mind.

That would be perfect.

“Let’s give Ceit her face back. Maybe if we figure out what is going on, she’ll calm down, and so will the malevolent spirits.”

When the light flickered above him, even Chris noticed it.

“Did that light just…?”

He laughed.

“Nah, it’s the rats,” he said, busting his ass. “Or the wind. I’m sure it’s just that,” he offered. “It couldn’t be when I said malevolent.”

They flickered again in time with the word.

Oh, boy.

Chris knew he was a dead man.

Call it a hunch.

“Don’t say shit to Elizabeth, Tony, or I swear to God, Jaxon is getting a little message from a Fijian Firewalker’s daughter about how you’re married in Fiji. I’ll play dirty to keep from being murdered by my wife.”

He stared at him.

“You’d do me dirty like that? You’re good old buddy, Tony?”

He nodded.

“Absolutely. Do you know my wife? She’ll eviscerate me with sharply pointed words.”

Tony just laughed.

That sounded about right.

“Don’t worry. I won’t say shit. I promise. Pinky swear, bestie.”

Chris hoped not.

“Call if something else happens,” he said, and then lowered his voice. “Say it again,” he whispered.

“Malevolent.”

The lights flickered again.

“We’re so dead,” he muttered.

Yes, yes, they were.

They wouldn’t be able to hide this for long. That was for damn sure.

“Okay, well, peace out. I’ll see you at work on Monday,” he said, signing off.

Then, he focused on the deceased Lord of the castle. It was time to put Duncan back. With gentle fingers, he carried Duncan’s leg bone back to his crypt.

Then, he’d think this all through.

With two scientists, a detective, and Graham, they had to be able to figure this out.

Right?

* * *The Ravensmire Castle* * *

The Tower

Same Time

Construction was done for the day, and Gabby was curious. She’d yet to see what the upper floors of the tower looked like, and now seemed like a good time to check it out.

Tony was working on the bones, and that freed her up to wander around the castle.

Not wanting to go alone, especially after they had that creepy-ass experience in the trees, she went to the detective’s door and knocked.

It was time to see if he’d be her partner in crime, so to speak.

“Come in,” he said.

When she opened the door, he was lying on the bed, ankles crossed, and his arms behind his head.

He appeared to be thinking.

“Am I bothering you?” she asked, willing to do this alone if he was.

Glancing over, he’d been thinking about her.

Was he busy?

Honestly, no.

Finn had been hoping and praying that she’d come to his room. They were done working on the bones for today, and he hadn’t had an excuse to hang around her.

Truth be told, he’d been willing her to come find him by praying his ass off.

Finn would be lying if he said he didn’t like being around her, and didn’t want to see if everything she’d said when Graham had been quizzing her was the truth.

Curiosity killed the Detective Inspector.

“No,” he said, sitting up. “I was contemplating a nap,” he said, lying. “Want to join me?” he asked, patting the bed beside him to see if she was still going to be flirty or that ship had sailed.

At his suggestion, she laughed.

“You want me to get into bed with you to take a nap? I think you just insulted me, but I’m not quite sure.”

He grinned.

Well, at least she hadn’t said no.

There was that.

Finn was attracted to her. She was funny, and he liked her personality. He also loved her face and body. This woman was a catch, and he knew it.

Now, he just had to figure out how to work all of this out, and it was making him twitchy.

He was running out of time.

Technically, they’d finished what they set out to do. Ceit was being put back, after Tony analyzed the bones, and their work here would be done.

“I mean, we can arm wrestle too,” he offered, not sure what to say to her.

Why was it so goddamn hard to just tell her what he was feeling?

Instead of laughing, she closed the door.

It appeared they were having a serious conversation.

Oh, boy.

“I want to ask you something,” she said, heading his way. “I want to do something, and it’s more fun with a partner.”

He lifted a brow.

What?

Oh, well, tell him about it. He was thinking about what he wanted to do, and it definitely needed two people.

It was NO fun without a partner.

“Oh, well, Lass, consider me intrigued,” he said, grinning wickedly. “Do share.”

She moved closer.

“I was talking about going upstairs and looking around. The construction crews opened everything up, and I found a letter in the crypt. I want to see what else I can find, but I’m a little scared of doing it alone, seeing I nearly fell into a crypt and drowned.”

Oh, well, he could see why.

What they saw in the woods by Ceit’s grave was unnerving. The voices they both heard, while she was going deeper into the water, and the creepy vibe now in the castle…

He wouldn’t do it alone either.

Hell!

Finn wasn’t sure he wanted to do it even if he had a battalion of soldiers with him, but if she was asking, and it would give him time with her…

Sign.

Him.

Up.

“And you want me? Not Tony?”

She shrugged.

“I mean, if you don’t want to do it and think it’s silly, I can handle it alone,” she said. “I just wanted your company.”

At her explanation, immediately, Finn saw her demeanor change.

She began building a wall, and he was losing ground from the shower. Gone was the easygoing woman, and now was a fearful one.

He had to stop this immediately.

“Lass, I didn’t say that. I just didn’t know if it was work related, or you were on a side mission. I don’t think curiosity is silly. Curiosity is my day-to-day life.”

She said nothing.

Finn knew he needed to face this head-on. He was fighting an uphill battle.

“He really did a number on you.”

Gabby hadn’t told him everything, and that was for the best. The last thing she wanted was a pity party. She’d made the mistake of jumping into a relationship that was wrong, and she paid the price.

That’s why she was more careful.

“Every single day,” she admitted.

Moving toward her, he took a chance and placed his hand on her cheek. When she looked up into his eyes, he went for it.

It was now or never.

He found her mouth with his, and kissed her. It was tender, gentle, and it was a promise that he wasn’t that man. He knew that he’d regret not doing this.

Even if she walked away.

What he wanted her to know was that he wasn’t cruel, bitter, or vicious.

Not as a rule.

When she wrapped her arms around his neck, he backed her up, trapping her against the wall. There, he deepened the kiss, and enjoyed every single second of it.

How could he not?

The way she felt against him, and with her mouth against his, it was like Heaven.

Finn hadn’t felt like this in a long time, and for the first time, in three years, he was willing to give it a try.

His needs superseded his fears.

All he had to hope for was that Gabby would understand what was broken in him, and she’s not let him get hurt either.

Relationships were two-way streets.

Deep down, he prayed that she’d see his scars and know that he would break if she left.

Slowly, he set her mouth free, and when he opened his eyes, he was honest.

“I have never felt anything like that before in my whole life. That was a defining moment for me, Gabriella.”

Honestly, neither had she.

His mouth…

God.

It felt so good.

Now, she knew they were in dangerous territory, so she gave him a warning.

“Don’t hurt me, Finn,” she warned. “I can’t forgive that ever again. I won’t forgive it. If you’re jumping in, make it count.”

Oh, he would.

Staring into her hazel eyes, he made a promise to her.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you, Gabby. I promise. I’m a man of my word.”

Well, then, that was all she had to hear. It looked like she was jumping in with both feet too.

Going up on her toes, she found his mouth with hers, and Gabby did something she hadn’t done for a long time.

She shared herself with a potential partner. In that moment, she had hope.

She had to.

As of late, she hid, and now, going forward, she didn’t want to hide. Gabby had to believe she found someone who would understand and love her.

And if he didn’t, and she was wrong...

May God have mercy on her soul.