Chapter 16: He Who Sees the Pain Behind Her Eyes
"She has the same haunted eyes as me, Duncan."
I was the one to break the silence between us. We were on our way back to The Belle after almost buying the whole bakery out.
Duncan practically paid for everything ~ on display and the one that was being baked ~ and gave it to the people who were outside the shop.
The owner of the shop, and her two helpers, were shocked ~ they were not the only ones. The amount of money he spent was...no. I will not be thinking about how much money he spent.
It was his money.
*One hour ago*
["This will be my token for the townspeople. You have been here for more than five years, and I have never welcomed you." He grinned down at me. We were outside the shop, making sure that Fall did not cause any trouble.
Fall did not like being stuck inside the car, so we decided to let him run around before we returned to The Belle.
"So, this is like a welcome party for me and the new baker in town?" I asked in a dry voice.
Riley, the owner of "Riley's Confectioneries" was not expecting the Laird to buy everything in sight and the ones that were still baking. She was so grateful that we would be taking home the Green tea cake.
I told him he should keep it. Take it to his house ~ the castle ~ but he would rather I keep it. What the hell am I going to do with three cakes?
Oh, yeah, I asked him to buy everything.
"No, lass," he replied, "this is for Riley. My welcome to you..."
There was a sudden flare of desire in his eyes that made me remember what happened in the woods.
I felt a sudden rush of heat and wetness between my legs that was pretty hard for me to ignore. He must have seen my reaction because his eyes became darker.
"Ah, my Julie," he said in a husky voice. "I can see what is running in your mind. No, I have not greeted any other woman the same way that we shared." He leaned down and brushed his lips against mine. "No', this is not a line."
I can only nod in response. I don't really know what to say.
And that was unsettling.]
*Present time*
I snapped out of my memories when his hand reached mine and gave it a slight squeeze.
"Same eyes huh?" He asked.
I nodded.
How could I forget those eyes? Riley has the same haunting look about her that I had. The same one I wore before finding my freedom.
Pain.
No matter what the cause, it would always leave a mark on our soul. It doesn't really matter how we get hurt. With each pain and suffering given to us, each mark grows.
"Can we help her?"
As soon as the words were out of my mouth I stopped. "We?" There was no "we"... is there?
Duncan nodded, not commenting on my slip-up. "Yes, you and I can help her." He let my hand go to reach for his phone and started calling someone.
I leaned my head on the glass window of the car and closed my eyes.
It was a good thing that my kids were not with us. They opted to stay with Jane and eat the cookies sent along with them. Fall, ever the loyal dog to the kids, rode with them.
I sigh. Who was this man? Why was he so focused on me? I mean, there were a lot of beautiful women in the village, so why me? I am not even
from the same country. So why?
"You are thinking again, lass, aren't you?"
That was creepy.
"How did -?" was all I could say.
"I can hear your brain working, lass," he teasingly said.
"Do you have telepathy or something?" I replied, not bothering to open my eyes. I mean, I wasn't even looking at him, and he can still read my mind?
What the fuck?
He gave a chuckled response before picking up my hand and kissing my knuckles.
Why does he do this to me?!
Duncan was always throwing a curb ball. How the hell will I sort my emotions when he keeps me up to my toes?
"The place she used as home and shop is now hers. She doesn't need to pay a single cent," Duncan quietly said.
Wow. Talk about power. I never imagined that one phone call can change everything. I have always thought those things were only possible in the books I read.
I guess I was wrong.
Both of us were silent after his news. We were lost in our thoughts.
Riley.
Looking at her brings back those memories. Once I promised not to think about it. Gah! I'm breaking my own promise.
"Lass, you are thinking about those past events again."
He was irritated, and it was the first time I heard it. I looked at him then, the hands on the steering wheel were tightly clenched, and I could see his veins.
Going on instinct, I reached out and touched his arm. I felt how tense his muscles were.
"Duncan," I whispered.
"There is a look about you when you are lost in the past, Julie," Duncan said. His voice had this frustrated tone in it that was hard to hide. "No matter how much you hide it, I can see it. I can feel that pain," the muscles underneath my hand became a lot harder. "And I cannot do anything each time you remember your goddamned past."
I don't know what to say. The confession, his frustration over something that he cannot fix, the pain I could hear. I can hear his annoyance that he cannot do anything.
Why? Why now?
Was fate that cruel to me? Was fate this vindictive about the choices I have made?
Why do I have to cross paths with a man who values me so much, when I know I have nothing to give?
Why?
In the end, I told him to pull over, which he did. Then I asked him to push his seat further back. When everything was done. I did something Ducan never expected.
I sat on his lap, and kissed him.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone