Free Remembered (Erotic Romance) (Bound By Time) by Victoria Jade Page B

Pierce --
or Mac.
    "Those are the
sweetest words I've heard all day. And night. What's up?"I asked breezily.
 I wasn't expecting a call because Mac called once a week to check in on me. He'd
called three days ago.
    "I miss you,
Penny."
    Mac's words were
soft, yet held such a depth of feeling that it took my breath away.
    I'm sure there was a
minute of dead air while I sorted through my brain for a translation of his
words. When I couldn't think of anything beyond the literal, I then sorted through
my brain for a suitable response.
    "I miss
talking to you, too," I said.
    Mac laughed. God!
Even his gravely laugh was sexy. I tried to swallow the lump in my suddenly dry
throat.
    "That's not
exactly what I was hopin' for, but it's a start," he said. "I'd like
ye to come to Wales."
    I wasn't expecting
those words, even though I'd fantasized about it plenty of times.
    "I'd like me
to come to Wales, too," I said, my voice quivering just the tiniest bit. I
hoped he didn't notice. He'd probably wonder what had gotten into his proper,
capable Penelope Money.
    Yes, Penny Money. My
real name is Penelope Money, but no one calls me Penelope. Not even my mom and
dad. They named me that in a sort of dyslexic homage to  Moneypenny of 007
fame.  Shock of shocks, one of my brothers is named Edward (Eddie) Money. So I
guess I got the better name. But just barely.
    The more I thought
about it, the more I realized I really did want to go to Wales. To see
Mac. And more than see him, if I was honest with myself. It didn't matter if
Mac was 130 years old and I was 18. We had a connection. We really did.
    "I'd swim across
the pond this very second if I could," I told Mac. "But right now I
can't afford to travel." Which was a silly thing to say. The way I was
going, I'd never be able to afford it. I was paying rent on my little house
outside of town, eating, maintaining my car, and not a whole lot else.
    "And it would
be improper for me to pay for the trip?" Mac asked, in a voice that didn't
hold a trace of irritation. It was like he knew I was going to say it ahead of
time, so he decided to get it out of the way before I voiced it.
    "Something
like that," I said, hearing the smile in my voice.
    There was a pause
again. Not uncomfortable. Just thoughtful.
    "What if I
brought you here to do research for me? All expenses paid, of course."
    So tempting. But I
knew he most likely couldn't afford it right now. He had a bunch of legal stuff
going. People across the pond were just as nasty when it came to trying to 
weasel money away from someone if they thought they could.
    Macsen was
embroiled in a family affair that left me feeling angry and incredulous. His
adopted son was now trying to say Mac was incompetent and was trying to take
over his estate.
    Not a good idea to
visit him right now, I thought. If his son caught wind that Mac was trying to
bring a much younger woman overseas to stay with him, Mac would undoubtedly have
even more troubles heaped on his plate.
    "There's
nothing I'd like more, Mac," I told him. "You know that."
    "I'm waiting
for the but," he said, again the twinkling smile in his voice. "I
know it's coming."
    "But," I
said, unable to bite back a grin. "I just can't get away right at the
moment."
    "Ahh," he
said.
    The way he said ahh made me want to melt. It was gravelly and soft at the same time.
    "We'll meet in
person one day soon," I said, as much to placate him as myself. Suddenly I
couldn't think of one thing I wanted more than to meet him in person. I wanted
to feel his arms around me in a welcome hug.
    I could feel it
now: Mac holding me at arm's length, devouring me with his hungry gaze, before slowly
leaning in to give me a kiss.
    Except his kiss
didn't say, "I'm so glad to finally meet ye." It was a kiss that said I've waited for ye for what seems like an eternity. This is the beginning,
Penny. Not the middle. Not the end.
    I had an odd
feeling that all Mac's kisses would be like that.
    I blinked away my
reverie and realized