Chapter Forty-Six
“I missed you so much!” Laynie knocked the breath out of Emma with a bone-cracking hug as she launched into Emma’s widespread arms. “Geez, you’re getting boney. Have you been sick?” Laynie took a step back and squeezed inquisitive fingers up and down Emma’s arms. Her blue eyes narrowed into suspicious slits as she gave Emma a playful shake.
“I’m fine. Don’t start.” Emma pulled her sister against her chest again, closed her eyes and inhaled the familiar sweetness of the floral perfume that always surrounded Laynie in a refreshing cloud. She’d missed Laynie so much. The gnawing homesickness of life without Laynie had nearly eaten her alive.
“I can’t breathe.” Laynie squirmed against Emma’s crushing embrace. “You know I missed you too but I’d really hoped to see more of the Isle of Lewis than just the lobby of the airport over your shoulder.”
With a heart-wrenching sigh, Emma relinquished her grip and took a step back, keeping one hand latched on Laynie’s arm. She couldn’t help it. Giddy relief addled her senses at the sight of baby sister. Laynie was finally here.
“Fine.” Adopting the most aloof demeanor she could manage, Emma stuck her chin in the air. “You seem to have survived life on your own pretty well. Apparently, you don’t need your big sister anymore.” Emma’s heart skipped a beat as she uttered the playful jibe, silently praying it wasn’t the truth. She’d always been the one to take care of Laynie and keep her out of trouble. What if this self-assured young woman didn’t need her guidance anymore?
Rolling her eyes, Laynie bent to scoop up her bags. “You know better than that, you old hen.” With a hopping shrug, she hitched the straps of the luggage higher over her shoulder, then polarized Emma with a stern glare. “And by the way, I wasn’t kidding when I asked if you’d been sick. You really do look like crap. You could nearly pass for a raccoon with those dark circles under your eyes, and how much weight have you lost? Are your nightmares keeping you from sleeping again? Are you so engrossed in this project that you’re forgetting to eat?”
“Geez, Laynie! Lighten up. At least give me a chance to enjoy your company before you start the cross examination.” Emma pulled Laynie’s bags from her shoulder and slung them across her own. How could she explain the past seven months to baby sister? How could she tell her she’d discovered a disturbing destiny that haunted every waking hour and chased her down in her dreams? “I’ve just been pulling some long shifts at the clinic. Stop your incessant fussing. I’m just a little tired.”
“A little tired, my ass. You look like you’ve been rode hard and put up wet.”
Emma almost choked, steering Laynie toward the double glass doors leading to the parking lot. If only baby sister really knew how close that statement was to the truth. “Stop fretting. You know how I get when I’m obsessed with a project.”
Laynie rolled her eyes again. “You might as well tell me the truth. You know you always sucked at lying. You never keep your fibs straight.” Grabbing Emma’s arm, she yanked the strap of the largest hot-pink bag draped across her body, forcing Emma to come to an abrupt halt. “Who is that?”
From the salivating interest shining across her sister’s face, Emma didn’t have to look across the parking lot to see who waited. Damn him. She’d told Torin she wanted some time alone with Laynie. Time to ease her sister into all the revelations she’d been smacked with over the past few months. Why couldn’t Torin ever listen to what she said?
“No wonder you look so exhausted.” An evil grin inched across Laynie’s face. “You didn’t tell me about him.”
“I’d hoped to have you to myself for at least thirty minutes before springing him on you.” Emma gritted her teeth until her jaws ached. It’d be a cold wet day in the center of Hell before she let Torin back in the bedroom tonight. If he couldn’t respect her one small request of alone time with Laynie, he’d better get comfortable sleeping on the floor in front of the hearth…or maybe even outside.
“Got any more like him you could spring on me? He’s hot.” Laynie dug an elbow into Emma’s ribs while bumping them closer to the truck.
“No.” Emma blew out a disgruntled breath between tightly pursed lips. “He’s pretty much one of a kind.”
Torin leaned back against the side of the truck, powerful arms rested across his chest and his shining boots leisurely crossed at the ankles. The clothing he’d manifested fit him like a second skin and accentuated every battle-hardened muscle from the squared width of his bulging shoulders to the well-sculpted swell of his thighs.
Emma swallowed hard, her traitorous body flushed hot and ready. Keeping Torin out of her bedroom might prove more difficult than she thought. Shoving memories of exquisite hours spent in Torin’s expert hands to the back of her mind, Emma gulped at the chilling breeze. Maybe if she inhaled enough cold air, the aching burn smoldering from her waist down wouldn’t burst into a raging inferno. Torin hadn’t listened to her. Tonight she’d sleep alone—after an ice cold shower—or two.
“‘Tis an honor to meet the lovely sister Emma’s spoken of so many times. Welcome to Lewis. I am Torin.” Torin straightened from his relaxed position, lowering his chin in a respectful nod.
Laynie flashed a blinding smile as she proffered an outstretched hand. “The pleasure is all mine, Torin. I just wished she’d spoken more about you.”
Torin shifted a knowing glance toward Emma then pressed his lips to the back of Laynie’s extended hand. Raising his head, a feigned expression of disappointment flickered across his face. “Ah, I’m afraid little Emma has trouble explaining me at times. Perhaps, she felt ’twould be much better if the two most important people in her life met and formed their own alliance.”
“Important people, huh?” Laynie turned to Emma with an uplifted brow, the demand for an explanation transmitted clearly in ALL CAPS and BOLD lettering with just the tilt of her head.
“Yes, Laynie.” Emma shot Torin a warning look. If he made anymore comments like that, she would throttle him on the spot.
Torin grinned and stood taller, releasing a satisfied sigh.
“I’ll tell you more about Torin later. When we’re alone.” Nudging Laynie toward the vehicle, Emma yanked open the door. “How about we get you settled first?”