Fire Maidens Scotland (Billionaires & Bodyguards #6) - Anna Lowe Page 0,48
minutes away.
The closer the clock on the dashboard ticked to that time, the more she swiveled her head. Even Mungo picked up on the sense of anticipation, looking around.
When seven minutes and thirty seconds passed — give or take — they turned a corner. A long, sweeping viaduct came into view, cutting across a beautiful glen. Holly couldn’t help smiling. “Hogwarts Express!”
Every time she saw the iconic viaduct, she thought of Harry Potter. Who wouldn’t? A pity she’d never been there in time to see a steam engine rattle past.
Lachlan’s shoulders tensed, and his fingers tapped on the wheel. A countdown, she sensed.
Ten…nine…eight…
She counted down too, in spite of herself.
Three…two…one…
Lachlan’s eyes darted to the left, and she followed them. A moment later, his brow furrowed, and he checked his watch. “Come on…” he murmured.
Whatever he was on about, she decided to count the arches in the viaduct. “One, two three…” She moved her finger.
“Twenty-one,” Lachlan murmured.
She glanced over. He had that memorized? Then she sighed. Of course he did.
A moment later, a whistle tooted, and they both looked left.
A black locomotive chugged into view, releasing a long plume of smoke. Burgundy passenger cars swung along behind the old-fashioned engine, emphasizing the graceful curve of the viaduct.
“Oh my gosh. That’s it!” Holly called out. “Hogwarts Express.”
Even Mungo watched as the train chugged across the landscape.
Lachlan grinned. “Jacobite Steam Train.”
His words were more an addition than a correction, and his smile was as big as hers. Maybe even bigger. Satisfied, somehow.
Then it hit her. Had Lachlan timed the drive to be there at exactly the right time? She didn’t doubt that he was capable of that feat — just shocked that he’d bothered to. He’d even made a detour to be there.
For you, his eyes said before he focused back on the road.
The train tooted once more then steamed out of sight.
“You… You…” She searched for words. “You did that on purpose?”
He shrugged. “I might have.”
She snorted. Of course he had.
And, damn. Never had she been so tempted to squeeze his hand.
No regrets, her dragon reminded her.
She wove her fingers through his, giving him a little squeeze of thanks. And wonder of wonders, Lachlan squeezed back. He didn’t let go either — not until a sharp turn called for two hands on the wheel. Afterward, he took her hand again, and her heart swelled with hope.
“Do you want to record a note to describe it to your friend?” he asked.
As if her heart weren’t already twice its usual size.
“Not right now. But I will later.”
“You won’t forget the details? The sounds, the scents?”
She shook her head. “I’ll remember. Believe me, I’ll remember.”
Forever, her dragon said.
She bit her lip, trying not to fantasize about a future road trip with Lachlan. One without the uncertainty…the danger…
The regrets, her dragon sighed.
Yes, that would be nice. A nice, happy road trip to a beautiful private island. Just her and her mate.
Her face fell. Unfortunately, this trip was none of those things.
“So, what’s with Gleninnis?” she asked after a while.
Lachlan’s eyes clouded. “You’ve heard of Elba? Saint Helena?”
She frowned. Did he have to speak in riddles? Well, fine. She could do a little deducing of her own. Elba… Saint Helena. Not Helena, Montana, but Saint Helena. Why did they sound familiar?
Finally, it clicked. “An island prison?”
Lachlan nodded, and she would have done a fist pump if his expression weren’t so dour.
“Who’s our Napoleon?” she went on.
“The biggest shifter threat to Europe in generations. A man I should have killed when I had the chance.”
Her eyebrows shot up, and it was all she could do to wait for more.
Finally, Lachlan went on. “We intercepted him in Northern Ireland not long ago. Unfortunately, we abide by an honor code, and our prisoner took advantage of that. He surrendered peacefully rather than fighting to the death.” The coward, his tone dripped. “Now, while Guardians around Europe bicker over a better solution, we keep watch over the island at all times.”
“We?”
He touched his chest then jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Me. Tony. A few other former comrades, and many others. Ten on the island at all times, with twenty more on standby on the mainland.” He let out an angry huff. “All those men and women… All those resources for a criminal who never showed the mercy we did.”
The hair on her arms stood. A criminal that bad? Who?
When she asked, Lachlan clenched his jaw, thinking a long time before answering. “I’ll tell you if you want. Everything. You have