The Sapphire Brooch Katherine Logan (best beach reads TXT) 📖

let him know about Braham. Something might come of this later, and I want him in the loop. Let him know about yer investigation, too. His legal skills will come in handy when yer cyber snooping and questionable contacts get ye into trouble.”

“What do ye want to do now?” David asked.

“Get Braham geared up. He’ll need a uniform, weapons, greenbacks, a wee bit of gold. I want him to go back with everything he needs. After three and a half years of war, I’m sure Sean the first is pressed for funds. How long will it take ye to gather supplies?”

“Four or five hours, and I’ll probably need the plane.”

“Kevin can fly the prop plane or you can take the jet. The Mallorys won’t notice Braham’s absence before seven or eight o’clock. Unless Charlotte flies in a private plane, she won’t get a flight out tonight. My bet is she and her brother will be here first thing in the morning. Braham needs to be gone by then.”

“I’ll be in my office at the stallion complex if ye need me. If I have to go out, I’ll let ye know.” David gathered up his laptops in one arm. With his free hand, he tossed his empty bottle of water into the trash can, then turned and left the house through the French doors.

Elliott moved to the window behind his desk and stared out over the paddocks. The office door opened behind him. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled as his wife came up beside him. He pulled her into his arms.

“Have I told ye today how much I love ye?”

She shook her head. “Not since I woke up.”

He put his hands to her cheeks, eased her head back for the kiss he planned to give her, but paused to gaze into her eyes. “I love ye, and I’ll always be grateful to Cullen Montgomery for saving yer life.”

“Did you tell Braham about Cullen’s ghost?”

“No, and I don’t intend to. Some stories don’t need to be retold.”

He gave her a tender, lingering kiss, caressing her lips lightly with his tongue. The pads of his fingertips glided down her neck. Her hands threaded through his hair, now longer just for her. For moments like this.

“Are you giving Braham the brooch?”

“Oh, aye. I only needed to verify a few things.”

She pulled away slightly and looked up at him. “Did you find the answers you wanted?”

He gathered her close, holding her tightly to his chest, his cheek pressed against her hair, relishing the sweet scent of her shampoo. “Most of them, but something doesn’t seem right. I can’t put my finger on it.”

“Trust your intuition. Are you going to talk to Charlotte?”

He pushed Meredith’s hair behind her ear and nibbled on her lobe, murmuring, “If it weren’t for Braham, Kit and Cullen never would have found each other again. She would want me to do whatever he asks of me.” He blew lightly on Meredith’s neck, knowing it would tickle.

She giggled softly, and her laughter enchanted him.

“Even if you have reservations?” she asked.

He blew again, and she pressed her body firmly against his growing erection. Every time Meredith was in his arms, desire burned through him, and he wanted her now as much as he had the first night he met her in Scotland.

“I understand Charlotte not wanting to return for fear of being stuck there, but why would she object if he found another way?”

“Maybe she’s already in love with him and doesn’t want him to leave.”

Elliott skimmed his hands down Meredith’s hips. “He’s leaving his love behind to honor his commitment to Lincoln. Honor I understand. But there’s more.”

Meredith held his look with a faint, sultry smile. “If he sees her, maybe it will be harder for him to say good-bye again. David told me she’s an excellent surgeon, beautiful, and wealthy. What’s not to love?”

“Maybe her wealth is the problem, since he would have nothing to offer her. Not even a name or family,” Elliott said.

“Well, Braham has us.”

The last rays of the dying sun fell softly through the window, crisscrossing Meredith’s face with light and shadow. Perfect light to paint her chin and cheek and lips with his finger. “Yes, he does.”

“I look forward to meeting Charlotte. I’ll know right away if she’s in love with him.”

“And if she’s not?”

Meredith rubbed against him. “It could get complicated.”

Elliott chuckled against her lips. “From personal experience, I know ye can’t fight love.” He kissed her again, even more thoroughly. “When did we become such romantics?”

Her eyes sparkled with laughter. “When you decided you couldn’t live without me.”

21

MacKlenna Farm, Lexington, Kentucky, Present Day

Elliott’s voice blared from a box on the kitchen wall. “Braham.”

Braham jumped to his feet then groaned, grabbing his side. Glancing at Mrs. Collins, he said, “What the hell was that?”

“If ye’re still in the kitchen,” Elliott continued, “please return to the office. Mrs. Collins, if ye’re there, buzz me back.”

Mrs. Collins pressed a button on the box. “We’re both here, Doctor Fraser. I ’spect he’s tired of listening to me blather on. He’ll be right there.” She picked up a plate of cookies. “Take these with you. David loves ’em.”

Braham hoped Elliott was going to help him go home, because Braham didn’t think he could tolerate more fancy cars or talking boxes. He took the cookies, walked down the stately mansion’s long hall, and stopped at the foot of the center sweep of stairs, remembering the day Kit went into labor. Her water broke almost exactly where he was standing. It had been a day mixed with joy, fear, and a very long wait.

Cullen had passed out cigars, his face bright with exhilaration. At the time Braham had been elated for them both. Now, though, as a flood of recollections burst through the dam constructed to keep them in a hidden corner of his brain, a jumble of sorrow and loneliness overwhelmed him. He shook off the feeling, or tried to. Shoved the memories back