Page 18 of Utterly Dauntless (Return to Culloden Moor #3)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

T he hotel's rooftop terrace offered a stunning view of Glasgow at sunset. Aries' body had been spoiled by the warmer climate of southern France, so summer in Scotland felt like anything but, especially at night.

She sat in one of the cushioned chairs near the fire pit, watching flames dance behind glass walls that blocked the wind. The day's swimming had left her muscles pleasantly tired, but her mind still raced.

Nothing like a hot kiss to scramble the brain.

Movement made her look up. She'd hoped it was Grey coming to join her, but it was Carson.

He hesitated. "Mind if I have a word?"

"Sure."

He settled on a chair and clasped his hands between his knees. The firelight caught hints of grey in his hair and made him look as old as she was, but she would probably always see him as a little boy, now that she knew.

"Ye're a generous woman, forgivin' me so easily, when what I did was truly unforgiveable."

"I'm not?—"

"Please." He took a deep breath. "Now, that it's just the pair of us, I want to say I'm sorry for bein' a right bastard. Terrorizin' ye like I did. I spent so many years wonderin' if I was mad, ye ken? Then when I saw ye..." He shook his head. "I just had to prove that I wasnae the disturbed child my parents believed I was."

"I understand." She truly did. "And I'm sorry too. Not just for what I did that day, but for staying away. But you should know that wasn't the only reason I fled. I was running from...from a curse that was taking my family from me, one by one. I thought if I left, maybe I could save my brother at least."

He blinked. "Aye, Leo? Didn't he...?"

"Yes. Boating accident. Turns out my running away hadn't changed a thing."

They listened to the hiss of the fire for a long while before Carson shifted uncomfortably. "About the hotel and the plane. I must repay ye?—"

"Don't even think about it. The Muir sisters have more money than God's dog." She rolled her eyes. "And they love playing fairy godmother."

He chuckled. "Craig's weans want to adopt them, see what magic they can get out of 'em."

She was tempted to warn him, but the sisters wouldn't be sticking around long. They said they had to get back to Wickham. Something major was going on, but Aries wasn't foolish enough to ask what. She couldn't afford to get sucked back into the world of Muir witches and Culloden's 79 again. Her heart couldn't take it.

"Speaking of planes," she said, "you're welcome to a ride back to Inverness in the morning. Taxis at ten, they said."

He stood and shook his head. "Think I'll stay a few days. Get to know my brother again. Catch the train later."

"Good. That is just what I needed to hear. From now on, when I think of you, I'll remember you and Craig here, together and happy."

"Goodnight then. And goodbye." He started to walk away, then turned back. "I hope...I hope whatever still troubles ye, that keeps ye away from home…” He shrugged. “I hope yer many friends can help. They seem willin' to do anythin' for ye." He wrinkled his nose. "Specially that Wallace."

Aries' throat tightened. "Friendship can only do so much, but thanks for the kind words. Some things must be endured alone."

Around the corner, Duncan Houser stood with his back to the tall hedges and listened. He'd drawn the short straw for shadow duty, though truthfully, he didn't mind. Better than letting Shug do it—that man didn't trust Campbell as far as he could throw him, and he wasn't opposed to throwing him off the roof for daring the put his hands on Aries in the first place.

The conversation was quiet but clear enough. Duncan was heartsore for Aries, when she spoke of things she couldn't control. It surely had something to do with why she kept running from Grey, but he couldn't guess what.

He'd relay it all to Grey, and maybe the poor man could make heads or tails of it. His friend needed to know that whatever drove Aries to run wasn't just about the past. But first, he'd make sure she got safely back to her room.

Carson's footsteps approached. Houser melted into the shadows until the man passed, then resumed his post. From the terrace, he heard Aries sniffling.

Whatever ate at her, he hoped she would confess and have done. If the folks currently under that roof couldn't help her, no one could.

The sniffing grew closer. Duncan stepped back again.

Aries came through and stopped right in front of him. “Hey.”

“Hey.” He stepped out so she could see him clearly.

“Do you know which room Grey is in?”

“I do.”