Spellbound Falls [5] For the Love of Magic (9 page)

Rana pressed the button to lower her window. “Is there a reason I’m seeing more of you than I did when we were living together?”

That got rid of his grin. “I need a ride back to my car.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, gesturing out the windshield, “but our errands are in the opposite direction.”

He reached for the back door handle. “I don’t mind accompanying you.”

“No, wait. You can’t . . . I don’t . . .” Rana released a heavy sigh. “Very well,” she said, opening her door to get out. “I’ll ride in back.”

Titus caught her door and slowly closed it. “I wouldn’t dream of interrupting your test drive. I’ll ride in back with young Murdoc.”

“Good heavens, no,” Peg said, unfastening her seat belt and opening her door. “There’s barely enough room for my kids back there. You ride up front.”

Rana grabbed Peg’s arm the moment Titus headed around the rear of the truck. “You drive, Peg, and I’ll ride in back with Charlie.”

“I’m not putting you in the backseat, either.” Peg patted Rana’s hand on her arm. “Hey now, you’re driving like you were born holding a steering wheel. And this is your chance to wear a proud-of-yourself grin of your own.”

Glancing in her side mirror to see Titus had stopped and was studying the rear fender of the truck, Rana scowled at Peg and let go of her arm. “Well fine then, I’ll drive the friggin’ truck.”

Peg spun back with a gasp, her hands going to her mouth.

“What?” Rana asked, looking around for more two-legged trees or protestors.

“I’ve corrupted you, too!” Peg splayed her hands over her face and shook her head. “I’m going to hell for my contagious cussing.”

“There is no hell,” Rana snapped, twisting the key to start the truck, “unless you count being married to a friggin’ magic-maker for forty years.”

Titus couldn’t remember the last time he’d spent a more enjoyable afternoon, although some of that may have had to do with the fact that he couldn’t remember the last time he had seen his wife so flustered. In truth, she reminded him of a beautiful young maiden he’d known long ago who had found herself the sole focus of a man determined to make her his queen. At present, however, he was more interested in wooing the even more beautiful woman back into his bed.

Rana had left it to Peg to carry most of the day’s conversations, although that hadn’t appeared to be a problem for Duncan’s wife, who had more questions than a three-year-old about the magic in general and how a new god was called forth in particular. Titus had remained vague in his answers, often suggesting she ask her husband, even as he’d worried he might develop a permanent crick in his neck from constantly smiling into the backseat as Peg had excitedly told him about the colonists running around dressed like trees. And the protestors. And the giant
real
tree with a face that had slammed into their truck—the latter relieving Titus of the worry that Rana was responsible for the dented rear fender.

Not really being dressed to appear in public, he’d offered to stay with Murdoc while the women did their shopping, assuring them he was fully prepared to entertain the young highlander when he woke up and help him drown a tree if need be. And if Peg had been excited before, she had become downright exuberant on the return trip when Titus had directed her attention away from the magic by asking what names she and Duncan were considering for their new twin sons.

Confirming their genders had gotten him a grateful smile from Rana.

But despite the pleasantly relaxing afternoon, Titus found himself yawning as he got out of the truck in Rana’s driveway. He was surprised he was tired, since he’d taken a nap with Mur after he and the boy had wolfed down a large takeout meal at one of their many errand stops. Not that Rana had ever returned carrying any packages, whereas Peg was in danger of sinking her pontoon boat with all her purchases—including several bags of grain—when she crossed the fiord to go home.

He hadn’t been aware the MacKeages owned a veritable zoo of farm animals, which had Titus worried that he
had
been too self-absorbed lately to notice the simple, everyday happenings around him.

“Let me go get my clothes,” he said as Peg climbed behind the wheel of her truck, “and I will follow you to the marina and help transfer your purchases to your boat.”

“Oh, thank you,” she said, waving away his offer as she reached for her seat belt, “but I have a whole tribe of heathens getting off the bus who can help me.” She stopped from closing the door, her eyes lighting with mischief as she shot Rana what appeared to be a conspirator’s smile. “I hope our little ride today helped you decide which vehicle you want to drive.”

His wife darted a quick glance across the road, and Titus stifled a groan when he saw the tired-looking pickup parked beside the garage.

“Yes, I will definitely consider getting one like yours,” Rana said, her own eyes sparkling in the low-hanging sun. “Especially if it’s smart enough to lock its own doors.”

“Well, if I don’t catch you in town before then, I’ll see you Wednesday morning when we start fixing up the church basement. Wave good-bye, Charlie,” Peg said as she also waved before starting the truck and backing out of the driveway.

“Why does she object to the noble name of Murdoc?” Titus asked as he stood beside Rana, watching the large SUV head out the camp road much faster than it had come in. “Murdoc is Celtic for ‘protector of the sea,’ which is fitting for Duncan’s son.”

“I don’t believe she objected until all you men started calling the boy ‘Mur the Magnificent.’” Rana eyed his car parked in her driveway. “Does your newest toy have an automatic transmission?”

“No, it’s a five speed.”

She looked up at him, her big brown eyes unreadable. “Is it very hard to shift through five speeds while paying attention to all the dials as well as the road?”

“It quickly becomes second nature,” he said, eyeing the old pickup across the road and disguising a shudder by turning away. “I’ll go get my clothes off your beachfront,” he added, stifling another yawn as he headed toward the side of the house, only to be surprised when Rana fell into step beside him.

He was even more surprised when her hand slipped into his. “Thank you,” she said, giving him a squeeze.

“For what?”

“For many things, not the least of which was your restraint from commenting on my driving. Especially when I stopped a little too quickly backing up to the grain store loading dock and I heard your head bump your headrest.”

He gave her hand a return squeeze. “The first time I got behind the wheel of a modern vehicle, I’m afraid I scared several years off Henry’s and Sophie’s young lives when I drove down to the turnoff to pick them up from the school bus. In fact, they both got out and walked most of the length of the Inglenook road.” He gave her a wink. “But then, I hadn’t even driven one of the electric carts, but went straight to a vehicle with the power of hundreds of horses.” He stopped and turned to face her, lifting her hand to hold it against his chest. “What else do you wish to thank me for?”

She stared at her captured hand. “For rescuing us from the protestors, for entertaining Char—Murdoc all afternoon, for calming Peg’s worries about the new god, and . . .” She looked up, gracing him with a beautiful smile. “And for not taking an unguided tour of my home while I was away.”

He arched a brow. “What makes you think I didn’t let myself in and—”

“Are you two going to spend what’s left of the afternoon smiling at each other?”

Titus turned to see Maximilian standing with his hands on his hips next to a small campfire on the beach, Kitalanta standing beside him.

“Or are you going to come tell me all about today’s little adventure?”

Titus gave Rana’s hand another squeeze, then tucked her arm through his and continued down the lawn. “Did Peg not say she called Maximilian and explained in detail what happened?”

“Yes, but
your
son told her there was nothing he could do about it.”

“He damn well could have gone down and calmed your fears.”

“I wasn’t afraid. Well, not of some silly new tree god.” Rana pulled him to a stop. “The protestors did worry me though, because I truly didn’t want to run over any of them.”

“Why didn’t you call me instead of rushing down there alone?” Mac asked as he strode up to them, his glare aimed at Titus.

“Odd that I don’t recall,” Titus said dryly. “When exactly did I die and leave you in charge of protecting the world? Or is it your belief that I’ve simply become too feeble of mind to do
my
job?”

Rana stepped away with a laugh, giving her now-scowling son a pat on the arm before continuing down to the beach. “Ah, Kit, how nice to see you again,” she said when the wolf ran forward and fell into step beside her. She gave his broad head a pat. “Is this an impromptu visit, or did your king press you into service guarding my home from that scary new god?”

Titus returned his attention to his son. “Get lost.”

“Excuse me?”

“Go back up your mountain. If you couldn’t be bothered to make sure your mother and your friend’s wife were not in danger this morning, then you have no right to question my not calling you.”

“But I did check on them. I only acted unconcerned for Peg’s sake, then rushed there the moment I ended the call.” His son crossed his arms over his chest, making a point of running his gaze over Titus’s borrowed clothes. “In fact, I arrived just in time to see you climbing into the passenger seat of Peg’s truck. So,” he continued before Titus could say anything, “having
made sure
they were not in danger, I followed the storm.”

“And what did you discover?”

Mac suddenly grinned. “It appears the colonists can’t form a consensus on what attributes their new deity should embody. The poor entity was half god, half goddess, part tree, and some tender plant.” He shrugged. “There was even an unidentifiable animal thrown into the mix.”

Titus ran a hand over his face to hide his urge to yawn again, lest his son have him retired and lounging on some beach sipping coconut milk.

“My guess is,” Mac continued, “the male colonists are trying to call forth a god as big and strong as an oak, but the women believe the new
goddess
should personify the docile side of nature and have pictured it possessing the essence of flowers.” He dropped his arms and shook his head. “The confused wretch was already dying when I caught up with it. But hearing several of the colonists searching the woods, I put it out of its misery and sent it back from whence it came.”

“And just where would that be?”

His son grinned. “Surely you’re not too feeble of mind to remember your own origins.”

“Go home,” Titus repeated as he headed for the beach, “and enjoy the company of your children before they grow too big for
their
britches. Kitalanta, come,” he said as he approached the campfire, not having to look back to know Maximilian had silently disappeared. He crouched down and cupped the wolf’s head. “You and your pod are relieved of service, warrior, but you have my blessing to spend time as Rana’s companion if you wish. Only you must travel to the secluded point of land guarding the fiord whenever you come and go from the sea to feed.” He stood, then nudged the wolf with his knee. “Go fill your belly, orca.”

Kit glanced toward Rana picking up clothes on the beach, then tore off up the lawn toward the camp road. Titus walked to the campfire their son had built while waiting for them to return just as Rana walked over with her arms full of clothes.

“Thank you,” he said, taking them from her. “I think I’ll change before I head up the mountain,” he added, turning toward the boathouse to hide his smile. His wife was back to being flustered, if he’d read those beautiful brown eyes correctly. He stopped and pulled his jacket from the pile, then turned and spread it on the ground. “We could sit together and enjoy this lovely campfire for a while,” he said, gesturing for her to sit on the jacket. He gave her a wink when she eyed him suspiciously. “Since I’m fairly certain watching the sky turn magnificent colors with the sunset is one of life’s simple, everyday pleasures.”

He strode to the small shed without waiting to see if she would sit, only to sigh when he heard footsteps racing toward the house. He turned upon entering the shed and closed the door on the sight of Rana rushing onto her porch and disappearing through the door—which she apparently hadn’t bothered to lock.

He took his time changing, wondering what in Poseidon’s name the woman had to be flustered about. It was almost as if she expected him to— Titus stilled with the borrowed shirt halfway off. By the gods, she wanted him. Queen Rana Oceanus, the embodiment of grace and a lady to the core of her being, was lusting after her husband.

Apparently she didn’t care to be crawling into an empty bed any more than he did. In fact, she likely hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since leaving him, considering she always spent several minutes trying to find a comfortable position and never settled down until he bundled her tightly up against him with her nose buried in his chest. And that was why she hadn’t dared enjoy the sunset with him; obviously afraid her resolve would weaken and she would ask him to stay for dinner.

And then ask him to spend the night.

Titus grinned the whole time he finished dressing, pleased that Rana was no happier than he was for them to be living apart. And that interesting little piece of knowledge, he decided as he sat on a dusty old trunk and put on his socks and boots, just might be the key that let him back into the castle.

He stilled again, then dropped his head onto his hands with a groan. Sweet Zeus, he was no better than Nicholas for comparing a romantic pursuit to mounting a war campaign. But then he smiled, realizing how successful that approach had proven to be for the mythical warrior, as Julia did appear quite happily captured. As to whether the woman remained happy when she finally realized she was never having a daughter . . . well, only time would tell that tale.

Titus tiredly scrubbed his face, then lowered his hands to his knees and pushed to his feet. He stretched, glad to be back in pants that fit, and snagged the borrowed clothes off the floor and rolled them into a ball. He left the shed, intending to toss the clothes into the sea so Leviathan could deposit them on the beach near the colony’s clothesline, only to stop in mid-step—his fatigue vanishing when he spotted Rana sitting on a blanket spread out next to the campfire, pulling what appeared to be food out of a half-crushed cardboard box.

“Did Kit leave?” she asked as he approached. “I brought him a can of tuna.”

“He’s gone to sea to feed,” Titus said, making sure not to let his own lust show as he walked to the edge of the water. Damn, his wife was a fine-looking woman. She’d obviously taken time to run a brush through her hair, she’d exchanged her jacket for a thick pink fleece that nicely matched her blush, and she no longer appeared to be wearing one of those accursed modern brassieres. “I told Kitalanta he’s welcome to continue visiting with you,” he said as he tossed the clothes into the water before turning to her. “If that is okay with you.”