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CHAPTER 49

Author: Shile
last update Last Updated: 2023-12-13 23:59:26

Keeley’s eyebrows went up again. “The laird has been acting as your healer?”

“He stitched my wound when an arrow struck me,” Mary said. “He did a fine job.”

“Tell us what you need,” Maddie urged. “I’ll make sure you have it as soon as possible.”

Keeley thought a moment as she surveyed the sleeping warrior. She’d need a whole host of herbs and roots, but she preferred to find those herself. She didn’t trust others to recognize the plants she used.

Instead she asked Maddie for water and bandages and broth so Alan would have some sustenance. It was important for him to keep up his strength. A weakened man didn’t fight off illness as well as a strong and fit warrior.

She instructed the older woman on what she wanted done for Alan in her absence.

“But where are you going?” Mary asked with a frown.

“I must go forage for the roots and herbs I need for my medicines. If I don’t go now, I’ll have to wait until the morrow and that might be too late.”

“Edward won’t like that,” Mary murmured. “He’
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    “McDonald,” she whispered. “I used to be, but no more. Now I just call myself Keeley.”“McDonald?” Mary echoed. “Oh dear. I wonder, does Edward know he’s stolen the healer from the clan Alan was to be laird over?”Keeley’s head snapped up. “Laird? But the McDonalds have a laird.” She should know. The bastard was directly responsible for her banishment. If something had happened to the worm, shouldn’t she know? Was she forever doomed to live on the outside of her family? Never welcomed to their hearth and into their fold?Tears burned her lids and she’d be damned before she’d let a single one fall. The lot of them could rot, Gregor McDonald included. Especially Gregor McDonald.“ ’Tis a long story,” Mary said with a sigh. “Alan’s marriage to Rachael McDonald has been arranged. He was traveling to McDonald keep to make it official and formally ask for her hand. Laird McDonald has no male heir and he wants the man Rachael marries to take the mantle of leadership.”Married to Rachael. Her

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    Her eyes ate him, and she wasn’t being entirely discreet about it. She hoped that his fever and pain kept him from noticing her avid attention.“I must look at your wound,” she said, damning the husky catch to her voice.He glanced down and then slowly rolled onto his good side so that his injury was outward.“I must thank you, Keeley. I don’t remember much about the day I was injured, only that I knew I would die if I didn’t seek aid immediately. When I opened my eyes and saw you, I knew that God had sent me an angel.”“Sorry to disappoint you,” she said lightly. “Angel I’m not. I’m merely an ordinary woman who is skilled in the healing arts. ’Tis nothing more than knowledge gleaned from other women who’ve come before me.”“Nay,” he denied. He reached up and caught her hand when she moved closer, bringing her fingers to his lips.Tingles shot up her arm and her chest tightened in pleasure. It was hard not to smile at the handsome warrior who wielded pretty words as surely as he did a

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    “ ’Tis his duty to remain outside my chamber in case I have need of anything. I knew he wouldn’t be far.”“Was this merely a test?” Gannon grumbled.“Nay, I require water and didn’t want Keeley to have to fetch it herself. She’s tired and has galloped up the stairs more than enough already.”“I’ll return in a moment,” Gannon said as he withdrew.“Think you that you can down some of the broth now? If you’re finished bellowing at your men?”Alan grinned at the sour note in her voice. “I might have need of you to help me. I’m feeling rather weak.”Keeley rolled her eyes, but she turned into him, balancing the trencher in her palm as she guided it to his mouth. “Sip at it,” she directed. “Not too fast. Let it settle in your stomach before you take more.”Alan sucked some of the liquid into his mouth and savored the soothing warmth as it slipped down his throat. More than the comfort of the broth, Keeley’s tender regard brushed over his senses and soothed the incessant ache at his side.He

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    “Lie with me, Keeley. We both have need of rest. I’ll sleep better with you by my side.”Her eyes glowed and her cheeks pinkened, but she slipped her hand into his and allowed him to pull her down to the mattress.“ ’Tis the truth I’m tired,” she whispered.“Aye, you have every reason to be.”He slid his hand up and down her back and rested his chin on the top of her head. Gradually she relaxed until she was limp and soft against him.“Keeley?”“Aye?” she asked sleepily.“Thank you for giving me aid and for returning with my brothers to tend me.”She was silent for a moment, and then she slipped her hand into his. “You’re welcome, warrior.”***********Keeley sighed and burrowed closer to the source of heat. She gave a lazy yawn and nearly purred at the large hand rubbing up and down her back. ’Twas a wondrous way to awaken.Then she remembered that she was in bed with Alan and it could only be his hand wandering aimlessly across her back.She lifted her head and found him staring dow

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  • Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies   CHAPTER 54

    She was almost to the keep when a strong hand clamped down on her shoulder and turned her around. She balled her fist and swung. Caleb’s eyes widened in shock just before he dodged his head to the side and popped up his hand to block her blow.“God’s teeth, woman. Stand down.”“Remove your hand from my person,” she snapped.“Keeley, I would speak to you,” Edward said in a grim voice.She looked beyond Caleb to see Edward standing a foot behind his brother. She wrenched her hand from Caleb’s grasp and took a step backward.“I think you’ve said enough, Laird.”“Nay, I don’t think so. Come inside. We’ll speak in the hall while I break my fast. Have you eaten yet? It’s my practice to eat with my wife. She sleeps longer now that she’s heavy with child.”Keeley issued a short nod and waited for the laird to precede her into the keep. Caleb backed away and with a last glance in Keeley’s direction returned to where the men were training.When they entered the hall, the places were being set a

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    Keeley returned fiercely to Alan. “Are you trying to kill yourself? Have you no care for your well being?” She poked him in the chest and rose up on tiptoe so she could look him more squarely in the eye. “If you tear my stitches, I’ll not repair them. You’ll have to bleed to death. The wound will fester and your flesh will rot away, but don’t expect any help from my quarter. Stubborn, infuriating man.”Alan placed both hands on her shoulders and squeezed gently. “Keeley, lass, please. Calm down. I’m feeling quite well. My side still pains me. I know I’m not fully recovered, but if I spent one more moment behind the closed door of my chamber, I’d go mad. I needed but a bit of fresh air.”“Well you’ve had your fresh air,” Edward grumbled. “Now get your arse back to your chamber so that we can restore peace around here.” He pinned Mary and Keeley both with the full force of his glare. “And the both of you will return indoors immediately. When I agreed to a tour, I didn’t mean the whole o

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  • Satisfying Her Darkest Fantasies   CHAPTER 56

    Alan blinked and then glared at Caleb for intruding so rudely on his thoughts.“What the hell do you want?”“For you to pay attention. ’Tis important matters we discuss and you’re busy mooning over the lass.”Alan curled his fingers into a fist but didn’t respond to Caleb’s ribbing.Edward frowned as he stared between the brothers. “I was saying that I received a missive from Laird McDonald. He sorely regrets that your travel was interrupted. He sought to seal our alliance as quickly as possible. He grows more uneasy over the idea of Cameron taking over his borders. There is much unrest among our neighbors. They all fear Cameron’s might and are looking to us for aid and support.”Alan glanced at his brother, unease growing in his chest.“He doesn’t want to wait until spring to join our clans through marriage. He also knows I refuse to leave the keep with Mary’s time so close nor will I leave thereafter. He has offered to travel with Rachael after Mary’s babe is born and have the weddi

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    Christina’s mouth dropped open and her eyes widened with shock. “Oh I couldn’t! Why, that would be brazen. He’d think me … He’d think me …” she sputtered to a halt, clearly unable to voice the word floating through her mind.“I wager he’d be too knocked off his feet to have such thoughts,” Maddie muttered. “Some men need a shove every now and again. A stolen kiss does not a harlot make. No matter what your mother might preach.”“I agree with Maddie,” Keeley said.“You do?” Christina turned to look at Keeley just as they stepped into the keep and were greeted by much warmer air. “Have you ever … kissed a man?” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she looked around to make certain they weren’t overheard. “I mean did you do the kissing?”“Aye,” Keeley said softly. “I’ve kissed and I’ve been kissed. ’Tis not a shameful thing, Christina. If it doesn’t go too far. Cormac is a good man. He won’t take advantage, and if he does, you scream loudly and I’ll kick him betwixt the legs.”Maddie dissol

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    “Me.”“And who are you?”Gavin took a deep breath. “I believe I’m your son.”****The crowd roared behind him, ready to party at the PBR on a Saturday night.Chase braced himself. The PBR’s newest female reporter, a fiery redhead named Lissa, stuck the microphone in his face as soon as he cleared the contestant gate. He’d been expecting it since he’d avoided an on camera interview last night. To ensure his cooperation, the cameraman blocked him in. Bastard.“We’re here with Chase McKay after that amazing ninety-one point ride on Devil’s Due. Congratulations, Chase, that’s gotta feel good to be back on top.”He focused on the woman and not the camera. “It does. Especially after an extended break and such a poor showing in Dallas.”“Tell us about the ride.”“Well, Devil’s Due is an ornery little cuss and highly unpredictable, so I wasn’t sure if he’d go into spin mode tonight or hopscotch around. Luckily I was able to stay with him no matter what he did.”“So the past few weeks you’ve b

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    “Okay. Thanks.”“And if that doesn’t work? Go with plan B.”Her mother, businesswoman extraordinaire, always had a backup plan. “And what is that?”“Track him down, tie him up and force him to listen to reason. It helps if you’re naked. And holding beer.”“Ah, Mom. I don’t think that will work.”“It sure did with your dad. Good luck, sweetie, keep in touch.”Ava packed her bag and booked a commercial flight to LA.“Why am I so nervous?” Ava asked Hannah, two days later.“I’ll tell you what I think after the audition.” Hannah straightened Ava’s miniskirt for the third time.“That’s not helping my nerves.” She tried not to think that Chase would know exactly what to say to her to calm her down. The door to the conference room opened and a long-legged blond strolled out. “We’re ready for you, Miss Cooper.”Ava squeezed Hannah’s hand and followed Corporate Casting Barbie into the conference room. Well, at least this production company didn’t have the clichéd casting couch. Ava chose the c

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    “No. And here’s fair warning: that is not a topic of discussion. With you. Or anyone else.”“Never thought I’d be happy to hear you say ‘no comment’ and mean it. Warms the cockles of my cold PR heart, McKay.”“You’re a riot. What else?”“The PBR is picking up your transportation expenses. You’re in New York now?”“Yeah.”“I can’t get you to Wichita directly—”“Book me into Omaha. I left my truck there. I’ll drive to Wichita.”“Done. What day you wanna leave?”“Today. As soon as possible.”Ava stared at him with shock.“The event isn’t for another couple days.”“I’m aware of that. But there are other things I need to take care of first.”Elroy sighed. “Fine. Contact me when you get to Kansas. And I don’t gotta remind you no press unless you’re escorted by a PBR media liaison.”“I get it. I’ll keep in touch.”“Good.” Elroy hung up.Chase returned to the bedroom and picked up his bag.“You’re leaving? Just like that?”“Yep.”“No discussion. No yelling, no hashing it out?”“What is there

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    Evidently he hadn’t realized she’d set up a goddamn camera in their room either.He hit the pause button, his head spinning, his gut churning, his thoughts focused on one awful thing.Betrayal.Yes, he knew she’d been taping all the fucking time, but he had no idea she’d been making a goddamned movie. The whole time they were together. To think he’d invited her to share his experiences on the road. He froze. Wait a second. He hadn’t invited her. She’d invited herself. Offering a convincing argument about wanting to see real life outside her poor, privileged upbringing.But Chase sure as hell hadn’t encouraged her to creep around, sticking that camera in everyone’s face. Capturing their private moments. Having no shame in using them for her own gain. For a woman who claimed to hate the intrusion of paparazzi, she’d become damn good at acting like one of them. She’d promised him she wouldn’t show her home movies to anyone.A new thought chilled his blood. Did Ava have footage of Ryan’s

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    “So I’ll think of you whenever I wear it.” Like I’ll ever stop thinking of you. Ava tried really hard not to cry, but a couple of tears slipped free. The last man who’d given her jewelry had been her grandfather.“Ava?” Chase tipped her face up. “Ah, hell. Don’t cry. I told you that you can take it back.”She made a sound half-laugh, half-sob. “No way am I taking it back, McKay. It’s beautiful. Perfect. I love it. Thank you.”The guardedness in his eyes vanished. “You’re welcome.”Chase paced in the hotel room, glaring at his phone. He hadn’t minded that the fucker hadn’t worked at all yesterday, since he and Ava had spent the whole day in their room, most of it in bed after they’d returned early in the morning from the penthouse.Dammit. He needed to access his email. Nothing was showing up on his phone. And he’d been in such a hurry to get away from the sorrow in Nebraska he’d accidentally left his laptop in his truck at the Omaha airport.His gaze landed on Ava’s computer on the de

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