My Seductive Highlander by Maeve Greyson Page B

woman’s heart.
Perhaps if I speak of her family. Aye—that be it.
    “Yer wee niece Chloe bade me tell ye that Masters Jamie, Caeden, and wee Rabbie dinna deserve any presents from ye this year. She said the lot of them are wicked little beasties that deserve nothin’ more than havin’ their arses tanned.” Graham’s heart warmed at Lilia’s quick bubbling giggle.
Lore, the sound of the woman’s laugh is sweeter than a Highland spring tricklin’ down the mountain.
    “Need their arses tanned?” Lilia chuckled even more before easing in another sip of coffee. “Did Chloe really use that term or are you embellishing?”
    Graham placed his right hand over his heart. “I swear to ye the wee minx used those verra words. She’s none too fond of her little brother, Rabbie, nor her two cousins since the day they made off with her favorite doll and tossed it down the garderobe.”
    “They’re not even three years old yet. Wasn’t Coira watching them?” Lilia went to the cabinet and pulled out a yellow box. She slid her finger around the edge, pulled back the lid, and slid it to the table. “Shortbread cookies. Perfect with coffee.”
    Graham chuckled. “I think poor Coira is stretched a wee bit thin of late managing that herd of lively bairns.” He pulled free one of the cookies, studied it for a moment, then popped it in his mouth.
Not bad
. He pointed back to the box. “Ye’ve a fine cook able to bake such treats.”
    “Store bought.” Lilia waved a hand across the opened box of cookies. “I don’t cook and neither does Vivienne—obviously.” She leaned her chin against her fist and smiled. “Tell me more about everyone back at the keep. I miss them. I haven’t been able to hop back in quite a while and the fire portal just isn’t the same as being there.” She quickly looked down into her cup but not before Graham noticed the sheen of unshed tears glistening in her eyes.
    “Why do ye stay here…in this time?” Graham had always wondered what had kept the last Sinclair woman from joining her family in the past.
    Lilia frowned down at the table, one finger lightly tracing the rim of her cup. “Have you ever just
known
something was supposed to be a certain way? I mean…just felt it in your heart without really knowing why?” Lilia looked up at him with a troubled look, brow furrowed and eyes pleading for him to understand.
    “Aye.” Graham reached over and smoothed a forefinger lightly across the back of her knuckles, silently wishing he could brush away her troubles just as easily. “I have. Much like our being together.” He kent damn good and well she’d felt that same energy the first time they’d touched. That energy that said both their souls had been matched long ago and were destined to be reunited.
    Lilia took in a deep breath, staring down at his finger lightly stroking her hand. “I’m not talking about us. I think I’m meant to stay in this time. Granny even said she felt it.” She ducked her head and pulled her hand away, taking a quick sip of her coffee then shrugging as she lowered the cup back to the table. “And anyway, I know for certain I can’t leave here until Eliza moves on.”
    “Tell me of this Eliza.” Graham scooted his chair closer, reclaimed her hand, and brought the cool softness of her fingers to his lips. His heart soared then pounded harder when she didn’t pull away this time. The tingling jolt of their earlier touch was gone but the warm soothing connection—the deep knowing in his soul—still held strong.
Aye.
This woman was meant to be his. He’d ne’er felt anything like this before.
    A sad smile pulled at Lilia’s mouth as her gaze dropped and seemed fixed on something only she could see. “Eliza MacTavish has been my guardian angel, my confidante, and my source of sanity for a long time now.” Lilia’s voice broke and she hitched in a shaking breath as she closed her eyes. “And I can’t imagine life without her. I don’t know what