Reunited (Book 2 of Lost Highlander series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

shoulder.
    If he ever got too close, though, she shied away like a skittish pony at the first sight of a saddle. Someone, some time had definitely broken her heart. He didn’t know if it was worth risking a nice friendship and a fantastic job to see if he could unbreak it.
    As he made his way off the estate to head to his little cottage on the outskirts of the village, he saw that Mellie’s car was parked out in the front roundabout and his stomach growled. He eased off the gas pedal, wondering if he should go for it. Nah. Best head home where it was safe.

Chapter 5

    Piper watched Lachlan savor the baked chicken Mellie had thrown together. Everything mundane like this dinner at the big wooden table drove it home that Lachlan was really and truly back with her. She still couldn’t completely believe it wasn’t just a perfect dream.
    While she helped Mellie set the table, she had asked her if she’d consider living in while continuing to work around her school schedule.
    The lanky teen had gone saucer-eyed and quickly accepted, gushing about what a dream come true it was for her to get to live at the castle.
    Piper was happy to finally have it settled and glad she wouldn’t be all alone in the ramshackle behemoth anymore. She touched Lachlan’s arm for the thousandth time, reminding herself he was real and that he would be with her now, too.
    After he pushed his plate away and thanked Mellie profusely for the meal, Piper cleared her throat. It was time for answers. Mellie looked afraid she would be sent away, and Piper turned to Lachlan to see if he wanted privacy.
    “It’s all right with me if the lass stays,” he said.
    Mellie let out an audible sigh of relief, then her eyes widened.
    “Piper, what about the amulet?” she asked. “Did you not have your protection pendant on you when you left?” she said to Lachlan.
    “She’s right.” Piper stood up, ready to run to the library, wanting to kick herself for having forgotten something so important.
    Lachlan reached over and placed his hand on her arm. “Ye needn’t worry. I dinna need it anymore.”
    “But how?” she asked, scooting closer to him so that their legs touched under the table.
    Mellie sat across from them, leaning over the table as if to get the story out faster.
    “It’s a long story, my love, and I feel a bit of a twinge in my side. Might we sit somewhere else?”
    Piper sprang up from her seat, nearly falling backwards over the bench in her haste to help him up. Mellie also ran around to ease under his other shoulder. He laughed at their distress.
    “Ye’re clucking about me like wee mother hens. It makes my heart glad, I’ll no’ lie.”
    “We’re happy you’re back, Lachlan,” Piper said as they made their way to one of the sitting rooms.
    Mellie vigorously bobbed her head up and down in agreement.
    They helped him onto the velvet settee and he looked around the room. Piper hadn’t changed it much since the first time he’d been here and she hoped it didn’t cause him bad memories.
    The first time he’d been here he’d been accused of murdering a villager and had already begun suffering from the time travel illness.
    “Is this okay?” she asked worriedly, plumping a pillow by his uninjured side and pushing an ottoman over so he could put up his feet if he liked.
    “It’s good, aye. Thank ye, both.”
    They both clasped their hands in front of them and gazed at him with silly grins on their faces and he laughed at them some more.
    “Ye must stop treating me like I’m some kind of king,” he said. “My head will grow too big even for this place.”
    Mellie pulled over an armchair and Piper squeezed onto the couch with Lachlan and he finally started his tale.
    He pressed his knuckles into his closed eyes and then with a long breath, he nodded.
    “When I first returned, I was knocked out, and wasna in the barn at all, but behind it. Duncan’s body tumbled off in the bushes and I had to go looking for the