Page 36 of A Promise Through Time

Tess brought their food and ale. Tina once again poked through it before deciding to eat. The ale didn’t seem to be to her liking either, so Donal drank it. As they ate, his leg brushed up against hers beneath the table. He was pleased when she didn’t move it away, but he was surprised by his own reaction. Every nerve ending tingled with those brief touches as both his pulse and desire quickened. Tina was different. He had to take his time with her. She wasn’t just a quick roll in the hay. This would take patience on his part. He tamped down the desire that was causing him to shift uncomfortably in his seat and cleared his throat. “We should get back. Doreen will wonder where I’ve been.” He got to his feet and held out his hand to Tina, who tookit as she rose. He was in uncharted territory with this lass. He only hoped he was up to the challenge.

***

As they approached the castle, Tina saw Ashley, Cailin, Jenna and Cormac standing together with another man she hadn’t met.

“Tina,” Ashley called to her.

“I’m sorry. I should go see what she wants. Thank you again for a fun day.”

“Yer welcome, lass. We’ll do it again soon.” Donal took her hand and placed a lingering kiss upon it.

Her legs felt weak beneath her. No one had ever kissed her hand before. She liked it. She watched as Donal walked away, enjoying the sight of his strong back and legs as he made his way to the castle doors.

“Tina,” Ashley called again.

“I’m coming,” Tina hurried over to the group. “Sorry about that.”

“I wanted to introduce you to someone. Tina, this is, Tam.”

“I’m enchanted to meet ye,” he said with a bow of his head.

“It’s nice to meet you, too,” she answered. Darned if they hadn’t gone ahead with their matchmaking scheme. She should have shut them down this morning, but she hadn’t. Now, she didn’t feel she had much choice but to go along with it. They were her hosts after all. It would probably be a good thing. A chance to confirm that she had made the right choice. Yes, that was it. She wouldn’t feel anything for this man and then she’d know for sure that Donal was the man for her.

“Tam is one of me best men,” Cailin said, glancing from one to the other. “He’ll be joining us for the evening meal.”

“That’s nice,” Tina said. This had to rank right up there as one of the most incredibly awkward moments of her life. She reallywanted to bolt, but that wouldn’t have been very polite. She’d behave and stay put, no matter how much her feet insisted that she run away.

“How are you enjoying your stay at Breaghacraig?” Tam asked.

Well, she had been having a lovely day with a different man until now. She couldn’t say that. She didn’t really know what to say since most of her time had been spent with Donal and Elena. She wondered how Elena was doing this afternoon, and whether her tummy ache had returned. She looked around and realized she hadn’t answered his very polite question. To make matters worse, Tam hadn’t taken his eyes off of her and she couldn’t seem to look at him. She needed to say something. Maybe that would help. Having a conversation would make things less awkward.

“It’s a beautiful day.” She couldn’t believe she’d come all the way to the year 1518 to discuss the weather, but that’s exactly what she was doing.

Tam chuckled. “I believe we’ve made ye wish ye were elsewhere.”

A relieved laugh escaped Tina’s lips. “No. Not at all.”

“There’s nae need to spare my feelings,” he teased.

Okay. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad. He seemed nice enough and he understood she wasn’t on board all the way with this matchmaking. She glanced around and noticed that while she’d been busy looking down at the ground, the others had all snuck away. “I think I’m going to go rest. It’s been a busy day for me and the last thing I want to do is fall asleep while I’m eating.” She was babbling and Tam seemed to get it.

“Until tonight,” he bowed to her slightly before turning and walking away.

Closing her eyes, she shook her head and let out a big breath.You can do this, Tina. You can do this.

***

Donal entered the great hall, hoping to convince Tina to sit with him, but much to his dismay he saw that she was already seated with Tam who had been invited to sit with the Mackenzies. Tina was laughing at something he’d said and he placed an arm around the back of her chair as he gazed into her face. Donal felt his blood boiling. They had spent half the day together, and half the night, too. Why was she with Tam? He felt betrayed by his friend, by the Mackenzies, and by Tina. Was no one on his side? He thought he’d made progress today. Thought she would be the woman for him. The one who would save him from himself and care for his daughter. His plans were truly ruined, but there was something else. A new emotion he’d never felt before. Could he be jealous? He’d never cared enough about the women he’d known to feel it and he wasn’t sure that was what it was. It welled up in him from the pit of his stomach, invading his brain and knocking any good sense he had out of the way. He clenched his fists and stalked to a table occupied by his friends. How was he to sit here and watch this? In his mind Tina was already his. He was going to have to have a little talk with Tam.

“Yer looking quite angry,” Jock said as Donal plunked himself down on the bench next to him.

“Aye.”

“Did the kitchen maid turn ye down again?” Marcas asked, turning to laugh with the other men.

It was the wrong question and it was all Donal needed to lunge at his friend, grabbing him by the throat and lifting him to his feet. “Watch what ye say!” he growled, tossing him backwards onto the floor.

The room grew silent around them. Donal realized he’d made a mistake when he glanced up to see Tina with a look of horroron her face, her hand covering her mouth. Marcas wanted to retaliate and struggled to get to his feet, but was restrained by the others around him. With one last angry look at the Mackenzie table, he strode from the hall and out into the courtyard. It wasn’t often that Donal lost his temper. Until a couple of days ago, he was a very relaxed kind of guy, friendly with everyone and quick with a joke. But his life was a mess and just when he thought he was getting it back on track, he attacked a friend. This had to have been the worst time for him to do so. Tina would never look at him the same way again. He’d ruined everything. Not knowing what to do or where to go, Donal stood motionless, arms at his side, head and shoulders slumped in shame and defeat.