SBC Fighter: Tails Of Love Part 33

"I can't do that." Kieran shook his head. "I believe she changed her mind. If you'l give me five minutes"-he steeled himself, expecting a rebuff-"I think you'l agree."

Her eyes flashed. "How could you know what she wanted?"

"Because"-he took a breath-"I saw her ghost last night."

Her jaw slipped but she didn't argue.

Kieran smiled, encouraged. "Five minutes is al I ask."

She glanced through the trees to the loch, then back to him. "Five minutes where?"

Kieran swiped a raindrop off his brow. "I'd like to show you something in my grandfather's studio. You'l understand when you see it."

"I don't know . . ."

The hesitation in her voice made Kieran's heart flip.

Hope tightened his chest and he reached out a hand, wil ing her to take it.

Sharing his excitement, Haggis barked and ran to the churchyard gate, clearly certain they'd fol ow.

"You'd no' let him down would you?" Kieran seized his chance, not missing how her gaze fol owed the dog.

"Besides"-he glanced at the darkening sky-"this drizzle is about to worsen."

Already rain splattered the path. Whether for that reason or because of the chil wind sweeping off the loch, she took his hand and let him lead her back to the promenade.

Haggis shook himself and trotted beside them for the short walk to Kieran's cottage.

But she hung back when they entered his garden and approached the studio. "I'm not sure-"

"It's just a portrait." Kieran opened the door. "My grandfather painted it of Margo Clare on Ben Lomond.

She's wearing your locket and when I saw her last night she held it out to me. I'm sure she meant-"

Jil y stopped on the threshold with a gasp.

She wasn't staring at the painting of Margo Clare, but at a self-portrait of his grandfather and his favorite dog, a Jack Russel named Argyl .

"That's the man I saw at the inn!" She stepped into the studio, one hand to her breast. "He was in the road, too, with that same dog. I'd know them anywhere."

"Looks like he knew you, too." Kieran joined her at the portrait. "You know who he is, don't you?"

Jil y nodded, her mouth too dry for words.

"I suspected it was him. And Argyl ." He slid an arm around her. "They were inseparable. As I believe he and Margo Clare would have been if she hadn't left him."

"She didn't." Jil y jerked free. He had it wrong. "Your grandfather ended the relations.h.i.+p. He broke my grandmother's heart. See"-she pul ed the faded letter from her purse-"it's al here."

She thrust it at him, watching as he read. He blanched and then two bright spots of red colored his cheeks.

"b.l.o.o.d.y hel !" He looked up. "My grandmother wrote this.

Her handwriting is unmistakable."

"Your grandmother?"

He nodded. "She loved my grandfather since childhood.

But he thought of her as a sister. Until-"

"He didn't hear from my grandmother again," Jil y finished. "He never knew she believed he'd written to say it was over."

"It doesn't make sense." Kieran frowned. "Grandfather sent letters begging Margo Clare to return."

"Perhaps your grandmother intercepted them?" It seemed a possibility.

He frowned, ran a hand through his hair. "I sure hate to think so, but we'l never know." He reached for her, drawing her close just as Haggis nosed between them, tail wagging.

"Jil y . . ." He looked down at his dog, then at her. "Whatever happened, we do know they brought us together. They want us to have the future they were denied. Maybe-"

"But . . ." Jil y glanced aside, not wanting him to see the brightness in her eyes.

"La.s.s." His voice said he saw anyway. "Does this mean you feel it, too?"

Jil y swal owed the tightness in her throat. "Feel what?"

He laughed and caught her chin, turning her face back to him. "That our grandparents are together again? And that they're happy?"

She nodded, believing.

"And do you feel this, too?" He lowered his head and kissed her. "The attraction that's been crackling between us since we first met."

Jil y blinked. She did feel it. But the swirling mist and rain and the studio's thick whitewashed wal s reminded her of how far from home she was, how impossible their chances.

Somehow, though, she'd slung her arms around Kieran's neck and despite Haggis stil wriggling between them, he'd pul ed her even closer.

"I was going to fly back tomorrow . . ." She trailed off when he kissed her again. "I-"

"You can stay here, Jil y." He smiled down at her. "There's a holiday cottage at the rear of the garden. You can have it for starters. After that-"

Haggis thrust his beaming black and white face up at them, his eyes saying what they both knew. They were meant to be together and if this wasn't a cla.s.sic happy ending, it was a wonderful beginning.

COPYRIGHT NOTICES.

"Man's Best Friend" by Lori Foster copyright 2009 Lori Foster.

"A Knotty Tail" by Stel a Cameron copyright 2009 Stel a Cameron.

"Norah's Arc" by Kate Angel copyright 2009 Roberta Brown.

"The Pursuit of Happiness" by Dianne Castel copyright 2009 Dianne Castel .

"Atticus Saves Lisa" by Ann Christopher copyright 2009 Ann Christopher.

"Rescue Me" by Marcia James copyright 2009 Marcia Anderson.

"Lord Hairy" by Donna MacMeans copyright 2009 Donna MacMeans.

"Danny's Dog" by Sarah McCarty copyright 2009 Sarah McCarty.

"Scaredy Cat" by Patricia Sargeant copyright 2009 Patricia Sargeant-Matthews.

"A Man, a Woman, and Haggis" by Sue-El en Welfonder copyright 2009 Sue-El en Welfonder.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS.

Lori Foster is a Waldenbooks, Borders, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and New York Times bestsel ing author. Romantic Times honored her success twice with Career Achievement Awards in 2001 for series romantic fantasy, and in 2004 for contemporary romance. Lori's Too Much Temptation became Amazon's #1 sel ing romance t.i.tle in 2002, and Servant: The Acceptance, written as L. L.

Foster, was a #1 Editor's Pick in romance.

Lori is pa.s.sionate about giving back to the community and has been pivotal in raising money and awareness for causes including battered women, animal adoption, and children with special needs. For more information, visit www.LoriFoster.com.

Stel a Cameron is the New York Times, USA Today, Booklist, and Was.h.i.+ngton Post bestsel ing author of many contemporary and historical novels. She and her husband live in Was.h.i.+ngton State.

"My first fictional characters were cats, dogs, horses, mice, hedge-hogs, frogs-creatures I've always loved. In the beginning, I drew them. In years to fol ow I stil drew them, but they 'spoke' in cartoon-like bal oons floating over their heads. At last came people, also in cartoon form, but eventual y I put them al together into little stories, then longer stories, short books, and then longer books. I'm stil writing about the trials and love people share and in every story there is at least one animal with an important part to play.

"I have shared my whole life with animals, too. I've dedicated the story in this book to a few of them. Doing my best for the ones who have done their best for me is one of my pa.s.sions and I hope that with A Knotty Tail, I showed you a little of how special animals are to me."

Kate Angel resides in Naples, Florida. She's an avid reader, a sports enthusiast, and an animal lover. She has a household ful of dogs and cats. Her terrarium holds two green frogs. She believes feeding one pet is as easy as feeding a dozen.

USA Today bestsel ing author Dianne Castell has won Romantic Times' Reviewers' Choice Award, been on the cover of Romantic Times magazine, and has made the Waldenbooks bestsel er list. Dianne lives in Cincinnati, where she cooks chicken biscuits and gravy for her two cats and writes fun, s.e.xy, Southern stories with a touch of mystery and a ton of romance.

Ann Christopher is a ful -time chauffeur for her two overscheduled children. She is also a wife, former lawyer, and decent cook. In between trips to Target and the grocery store, she writes the occasional romance novel featuring a devastating alpha male. She lives in Cincinnati with her family, which includes two spoiled rescue cats, and she loves to hear from readers via her site, www.AnnChristopher.com.

Marcia James writes hot, humorous romances and was a finalist in eleven Romance Writers of America chapter contests before sel ing her first comic romantic suspense, At Her Command, to Cerridwen Press. An advertising copywriter and marketing consultant, Marcia presents author promotion workshops and writes PR articles. In her eclectic career, she has shot submarine training videos, organized celebrity-fil ed nonprofit events, and had her wedding covered by People magazine. After years of dealing with such s.e.xy topics as how to safely instal traffic lights, Marcia is enjoying "researching" her novels' steamy love scenes with her husband and hero of many years.

Please visit her on the web at www.MarciaJames.net.

Donna MacMeans made a wrong turn many years ago when she majored in accounting in col ege. What was she thinking? Balancing books just can't compete with crafting plots and inventing memorable characters. She final y broke free of her life as a CPA to write witty and seductive historical novels for Berkley Sensation in what can only be described as her dream job.

When not at her keyboard, Donna enjoys painting, traveling, and creating luscious desserts. She lives in central Ohio with her husband of thirty-five years, her two adult children, and her constant canine companion, Oreo- an Australian shepherd-terrier mix. Donna loves to hear from her fans. Please contact her at www.DonnaMacMeans.com.

Sarah McCarty has been active in animal rescue for more than twenty years. She specializes in critical care medical rescue, working with shelters around the country, taking in and rehabbing those dogs, cats, and birds that through neglect and/or abuse are in too critical condition for the strained resources of a shelter. Sarah's belief that animals enrich our lives is reflected in her stories. Whether she's writing a fast-paced western historical or a pulse-pounding paranormal, Sarah's tales of love always contain a four- legged character who, right along with the hero and heroine, make us laugh, cry, and believe.

Award-winning author Patricia Sargeant writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance. In addition to her love of reading and writing, Patricia enjoys jogging, movies, coffee, and cookies. Raised in New York City, Patricia lives in Ohio with her husband. Find out more about Patricia on her website, w w w.PatriciaSargeant .com.

Former flight attendant Sue-Ellen Welfonder has three grand pa.s.sions: Scotland, the paranormal, and dogs. Al can be found in her medieval romances and the paranormals she writes as Al ie Mackay. She is proud of her Scottish descent, spent fifteen years in Europe, and now just tries to live quietly-although she never misses a chance to visit Scotland. She's devoted to her Jack Russel terrier and wishes dogs everywhere were equal y loved.

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