“Nae. I dinnae.”

  “Don’t worry, Braeden. We’ll figure this out. The watch has special properties, lad. My understanding is that it was only to be used in times of danger. If the person who gave the watch to your Grannie was my old friend, he must have instructed her to give you the watch and tell you to wish to go to the meadows. You were apparently in danger, so she gave it to you and here you are.” He smiled triumphantly at Braeden.

  “I dinnae ken.” This John McTavish must think him quite thick.

  “You’ve travelled through time. You’re in the future, lad. The year 2016 to be exact. I imagine you must be full of questions.”

  Braeden clamped his mouth shut in an effort to appear unaffected by what he was hearing. He felt as if the ground had been yanked from beneath his feet for the second time this day. He never liked to appear vulnerable, so it was vitally important that he keep the shock he felt from showing on his face, replacing it with one he used to frighten his enemies. John was still speaking excitedly to him, not seeming at all affected by his fierce glare.

  “This is amazing. Don’t worry. I’ll be sure you’re well taken care of and in return ye’ll look after Tessa.”

  He had more questions this one day than he’d had his entire life. “Ye said she was in danger. Is someone trying to harm her?”

  “I believe her fiancé, Danny Madden, is using her to get to me. As a matter of fact, I’m quite sure he cast a spell on her to get her to say yes to his marriage proposal. I don’t believe she would have agreed otherwise. There is another involved who would love nothing more than to see me fail and he wants that pocket watch most of all. He tried to steal it from my friend many years ago.”

  “Why would he want this if he’s already here?” Braeden had always thought himself quite clever, but at this moment he felt the exact opposite. He felt like a daft idjit, barely able to understand what was taking place around him.

  “Good point, but you see the watch has the ability to not only transport you through time—any time, past, present or future—but it also has the ability to make time stand still. There is evil magic afoot here and the watch, in the wrong hands, would be a disaster. May I?” John pointed to the watch in Braeden’s hands.

  Handing the watch to John, he felt a twinge of concern. What if he didn’t give it back? What would he do then?

  John examined the watch, handling it with obvious care. “Do you believe in magic, Braeden?”

  Braeden remained silent, not sure how to respond to John’s question. He certainly couldn’t argue that there was no such thing as magic. He’d seen first hand that there was. Why would he question any of this?

  John didn’t wait for an answer. He held the watch up in front of him. “The problem for us, Braeden, is that just as I knew you had arrived, or more precisely that the watch had arrived, my enemies knew you were here as well. You see, the watch announced its presence as soon as it entered this century.”

  “How do they know me?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m not doing a very good job of explaining this to you. It’s not that they know you, but they do know that the watch is here and that someone brought it back and has it in their possession. They know because the watch has been here before. My friend Ian left with it, and knowing the legend of the watch, they also know that he would have either brought it back himself or given it to his firstborn son. The fact that they don’t know who you are works in our favor for now.”

  John handed the watch back to a startled Braeden who glanced down at it as it lay in his hands. “You knew my father? He was here?”

  “I did and he was.”

  So many questions popped into his head, but it seemed all he could do was look at the watch. He hadn’t taken the time to examine it too closely when his Grannie had given it to him. There’d been no time. Now he could see that it was a very beautiful timepiece. The case was made of gold and silver and encrusted with precious gems set in the pattern of a beautiful bird. It was quite solid and had weight to it. Braeden moved to open the case, but John held up a hand.

  “Don’t, please. The watch has great power as I’ve said and opening the case could not only unleash it but it would stop time and possibly give more information to my enemies about where to find it.” John moved to hover over Braeden’s shoulder. “It is best kept with you at all times. Never let it out of your sight.”

  “Who is this man who wishes to have possession of my watch?” Braeden was curious to know more, after all it was his watch and he was not willing to give it up to anyone, especially now that he knew it had come to him from his father. He wondered why his Grannie had kept this information from him. His father had been back and yet he hadn’t seen him. Why? His thoughts were interrupted as John began speaking.

  “There is a group here in Las Vegas. They are known as The Las Vegas Society of Magick and Sorcery. They are led by a man named Niall Campbell, and are a group of very dangerous men who are proficient in the dark arts. Niall Campbell wishes to possess the watch because if he has it and opens it, the Society will have the ability to make time stand still, which would then give them access to all the money and power they could ever want.”

  “Campbell!” The name had Braeden seeing red. “No Campbell shall ever possess this watch. Show me where he is and I’ll gladly kill him for ye.” Thoughts of his clansmen came to mind. Their dead bodies strewn across MacDonald lands. No Campbell would ever be safe from Braeden. He would avenge the MacDonald deaths, no matter what it took.

  “I can see you’re quite angry. The Glencoe Massacre, as it is called in today’s history books, happened in 1692, and while it’s still fresh in your mind, it occurred over 300 years ago. In today’s world you can’t simply go around killing Campbells.”

  Braeden narrowed his eyes and stared menacingly at John. “If I’m not here to avenge the deaths of my clan, then why am I here?” He asked this with a low, dangerous growl.

  “Your Grannie knew you needed to be saved to carry on the family line. Your arrival here was a blessing, because you’re needed, lad. I need you. Tessa needs you and the city of Las Vegas needs you.” John patted his shoulder, leaving his hand there for a moment as Braeden’s breathing returned to normal and his posture became less rigid.

  “My coming here is a good thing?” Back to normal once again, or as close to normal as anyone could be under these circumstances, he awaited John’s answer.

  “Yes. I’d say it is. It’s good because you needed to escape the Campbells or you would otherwise be dead. It’s also good because I need your help and I believe you to be a man I can trust. I can see by the look on your face you wonder how I can be so sure. You must remember, I knew your father and he was a most honorable man. As they say, the apple never falls far from the tree.”

  “My father was here in this time?” Would the questions ever stop? Every time he got the answer to one, it simply created more.

  “He was, and before you ask me why, I’ll tell you what I know. He was in some danger back in your time. I don’t know the specific details, but his life was on the line, much as yours was. He had the watch in his possession because it had been handed down to him by his father. He understood the workings of it and that it had been created hundreds of years prior to his receiving it. It was created by a great and powerful sorcerer and given to your ancestor with the intent that it only be used as a way to save the bearer from danger that could possibly wipe out the family line. So in order to save himself and the generations to come, he used it. The original owner had it crafted to his specifications and as you can see, it’s quite beautiful. His intent was to keep the family line from dying out. It would be passed down from father to son and if for any reason the man found himself in peril he could traverse time to escape that danger. That is what your father did, but he realized that he had to bring it back to you, because if he didn’t, you wouldn’t have it in your moment of need. You are the last of that line Braeden.” He waited a moment for Braeden to digest what he’d just been told. “Now there is one bad thing about you being here with the watch and that is that if Niall Campbell gets his hands on the watch, we’ll not be able to stop him from using it and from wreaking havoc in our world.”

  “And how do you know I won’t use the watch?”

  “I don’t. But as I’ve said, I know you to be honorable by virtue of the fact that you are your father’s son and he was a good man, Braeden. I trust that if you do use the watch, it will only be because you absolutely must.”

  “There is much I dinnae ken about this world.” Braeden placed the watch back in his sporran and gazed at John, hoping to find something in his face that would put him at ease.

  “Don’t worry, lad. You’ll catch on. I can see that you’re smart and canny. Observe everything and watch what you say. You will live here at the castle. You will have your own room, right next to Tessa’s. We have a secret wing here that we call home. None of the guests to the hotel know where it is, let alone how to access it. There are only a chosen few who are allowed to enter. You will be one of them.” John unlocked a drawer in his desk and removed an ornate key and a rigid piece of paper, rectangular in shape. “You will need both of these to enter, so be sure to bring them with you when you leave our residence.” He handed them to Braeden who examined them and then placed them in his sporran.

  “Will Tessa nae mind that I’ll be following her?”

  “She’ll have no choice, but I’m not going to tell her of my misgivings about Danny. She’ll believe that it is the gentlemen of The Society that I am concerned about.” John poked at something on his desk.

  “Yes, sir,” a female voice said. “Kelly, send Tessa back in please.”

  “We’ll speak again on a regular basis, Braeden. I’m counting on you. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. And if you have any concerns about Danny or the Society, come to me immediately.”

  The doors swung open and Tessa walked in. Once again, Braeden found himself mesmerized by her very presence.

  “Well, did you hire him?” She stood, hand on hip, head cocked, gazing at Braeden. “I did. He’s to be your new bodyguard.”

  “What? I don’t need a bodyguard, Dad.” Tessa’s casual stance turned to immediate anger as she was now glaring at her father.

  “You may not think so, but I do. I have enemies here in Las Vegas and they know that the only thing I care about more than The Albannach, is you. I wouldn’t put it past them to try to harm you or kidnap you in an effort to get to me.”

  Tessa wrinkled her brow and made a most unhappy face. Braeden was fascinated by her facial expressions. Her full lips were pouting now and he noted that she was clenching her fists at her sides. She was not happy about this and it was plain for all to see.

  “Dad, I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I certainly don’t need this, this…” she stammered and stuttered, at a loss for words, but then found them. “This costumed Highlander following me around where ever I go.”

  “Braeden is a good man and one who is equipped to keep you safe. I expect to see him at your side when you leave the building, no matter where you are going and I won’t hear another word about it.”

  Tessa harrumphed and looked away from John. Braeden sat waiting to see what would happen next. He was expecting a tantrum from the blonde beauty, but was surprised by what happened next.

  “Okay, I guess.” Tessa’s final act of rebellion was to stomp her foot. “But I won’t like it.” She sent an icy glare Braeden’s way and he looked away so she wouldn’t see his amused reaction.

  “Good. I knew you’d see it my way. And by the way, Braeden will be staying with us, so there’s no chance you will be able to sneak away without him.” John nodded at Braeden, who stood waiting for further instructions. “And Tessa.”

  “Yes, Dad,” she said through gritted teeth.

  “I love you.” John held out his arms, calling her in for a hug.

  “I love you too, Dad.” Tessa softened her face and posture as she let her father envelop her in his arms.

  “Show Braeden to his room, it will be the one right next door to yours. I’ve given him the keys and once he’s gotten settled, you can show him around. And get him a McTavish kilt, please.”

  Tessa rolled her eyes at her father. Braeden was surprised at her small act of rebellion, but he’d seen his younger female cousins behave in a similar manner when their mothers and fathers had been stern with them about something they disagreed on. She next turned her disdain on him. “Come on then. I guess I’m stuck with you for the foreseeable future.” She marched towards the doors and Braeden turned to look at John.

  “Go on then. She’s not going to make this easy for either one of us, but don’t let her out of your sight. She may have agreed with me about this, but I know my daughter and she’ll take the first opportunity she can to lose you.”

  “Aye.” He was at her side before she had a chance to get to the doors that led down the long passageway.

  “See you later, Kelly,” Tessa called to her Dad’s assistant.

  “Bye.” Kelly smiled sweetly at Braeden as he passed. “I’ll be seeing you around.” Braeden waved a hand in her direction, thinking he was going to have his hands full with Tessa McTavish.

  “Pay attention to where we’re going,” Tessa instructed. “It’s easy to get lost if you don’t know your way around.

  “I’ll nae get lost, lass. I’ll always have ye to show me the way.”

  Chapter 4

  Tessa was quite peeved that her father had saddled her with this Scottish bodyguard. She wondered if it was really all about the Las Vegas Society of Magick and Sorcery, or if it had something to do with her engagement to Danny. She was very aware of the fact that he didn’t like Danny, but this would be taking things to a whole new level for her father. If Braeden was going to be tagging along with her wherever she went, she’d never get to be alone with Danny and he wasn’t going to like that. Even more importantly, she needed to be alone with Danny so she could try to understand why she’d suddenly decided she wanted to marry him. It was a conversation they needed to have, but one that required one-on-one time. So far every time she’d seen him with the intention of discussing it, she somehow ended up in what she referred to as a love haze. She didn’t believe Danny would feel threatened by Braeden, especially since he had a huge female fan base, was a really good looking guy and a celebrity. However, Braeden was by far the more handsome of the two. He had smoldering good looks and that bad boy appeal that she loved. Apparently so did all the other women at The Albannach who’d been practically falling all over themselves to get a better look at him, and Kelly had barely been able to hide her appreciation as she bid them good-bye.

  That gave Tessa an idea. If she could fix Braeden up with Kelly, perhaps she could manage to sneak away while he was occupied with her. She wasn’t seeing Danny tonight, but she did have a date with him the next night, after his show. It was Valentine’s Day and they’d planned a romantic night out on the town. It wouldn’t be quite as romantic, but she couldn’t help that. She’d call Kelly and invite her to join them. It was a perfect plan. She assumed Kelly was currently unattached as she hadn’t heard her mentioning anything about a new boyfriend and since Kelly was always ready for a good time, this would be fun.

  She guided Braeden through the maze of corridors that led them to a door where she waved a key card in front of the lock and it opened on its own. Braeden stared at it as if it had opened by some strange magic. Tessa loved the way the new keys worked. They’d used the same technology for the guest rooms as well.

  They walked through into a secret garden filled with trees and flowers, which looked completely out of place in the Las Vegas desert. At the far end stood a beautiful arched wooden door surrounded by panes of glass that mimicked the Celtic Tree of Life and led to a two-story cottage reminiscent of the kind you’d find in the Scottish countryside, thatched roof and all. The Tree of Life was carved into the door and the branches extended to be etched into the glass. It was a masterpiece. Just like the gate to the cashier’s booth had been her creation, so had this magnificent door. The tree design was a perfect symbol for the hotel and had been used freely throughout the property. Braeden appeared suitably impressed as he took in his surroundings.

  “The card opens the doors into the garden and the key is for this door.” She took out her key and unlocked the door. It opened into an interior that was grand and yet cozy. She held the door for Braeden to enter and then closed it after him. “I’ll show you to your room.”

  Tessa climbed an elaborately carved staircase up to the second floor, which consisted of her apartments. Her father’s room was on the first floor, so they each had their own privacy. Or at least she’d had her privacy. She was now being forced to share it with Braeden MacDonald. She’d make the best of it though. Tessa wasn’t one to dwell on the negatives of any situation, choosing to see things in a positive light whenever possible. She couldn’t believe her father had hired this stranger to be her bodyguard. She was baffled as to what he was thinking. “This is your room.” She opened the door and he followed her in. “Make yourself at home. The kitchen is downstairs, although we rarely cook. The restaurants in the casino are really good and all you have to do is pick up the phone to order anything you’d like.”

  Braeden appeared confused by that, but he nodded his head in acknowledgement. “Are you hungry now? I don’t know when you ate last, but it is past lunch time.”

  “Aye. I am hungry. I havenae eaten since yesterday.” He had an almost wistful expression on his face.

  “Okay. It doesn’t look like you have any belongings to leave here, so let’s go get you some food. What would you like to eat? We’ve got several world class restaurants on the property.” She waited for his answer, but he didn’t seem to have one. “We’ve got Italian, Asian, American, French, Mexican and Scottish, of course. What will it be?”

  “I dinnae ken.”

 

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