Highland Pull (Highland Destiny 2) Read Online Free Page A

and deliberately thickening his brogue, Gav asked, “Fancy a game, then? Mind I doona play with whiners, so if you’re afraid I might kick your arse, best let someone else take that seat.”
    The group roared approval and the game began. He held his own in a close match, but finally conceded defeat, and shook his partner’s hand. Magnanimous in victory, his partner invited Gabhran to call him Myron and offered introductions all around.
    Alfred bought hot roast beef po’boys. The gravy dripped from the freshly baked, crusty French roll, and the taste of garlic permeated every bite of beef. Good God, this is delicious. They ate on the porch and Gabhran listened to a story of New Orleans as could only be told by these men.
    After lunch they played one more match, another closely fought battle that Gabhran won. They promised to meet again soon for a rematch, and then Alfred drove back to the French Quarter. Gabhran had a hard time hiding his smile. It was the most normal day he could ever remember.
    “Why did you test me, old man?” he asked, still grinning.
    “My granddaughter has her way of reading and I have mine.”
    It was such an unexpected response, apropos of nothing, that Gabhran’s smile faded and he just stared. Alfred failed to elaborate. Gav blew out a frustrated breath. “What exactly is that supposed to mean? And where are we, why did you not drive me to my house?” he asked, belatedly looking around.
    *
    They were deep in the French Quarter, outside a black painted storefront, plastered with hand-lettered signs that advertised readings, spells, and charms. The window display featured voodoo dolls, amulets, and potions. Slightly obscured by the signs and trinkets was the woman he’d spoken with the previous night. She held something like rosary beads in her hands and her lips were moving fast.
    “Why are we here, Alfred? What are you up to?” Gav asked with deceptive quiet.  
    “I will tell you my story another time, right now you must go see Marie. She is my granddaughter, and the great-great-granddaughter of Marie Laveau, the original Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. She has some things to tell you.
    “You listen to me awhile, young man, I will tell you now that I read your intentions that very first day at the airport. I know you could read my intentions if you tried. You just didn’t know you needed to try down here in New Orleans. Don’t make that mistake again, you hear me? Always read intentions, you have that ability for a reason. Here in New Orleans there is a deep magick. Not the same as yours, but you would be a fool to ignore it.
    “Now, I read you that afternoon in my cab before I decided you could meet my Marion or I would have taken you to a hotel. I confirmed what I knew at the store today, otherwise I wouldn’t let you see my little Marie, no matter how she insists. So go listen to her. She says you need to hear, and I believe her. I will be here when you are finished.”
    Gabhran tested his senses a bit and realized there were no bad intentions coming from this man. Why didna I think to use my senses before? To use them on purpose, because I can and because I should. I willna make that mistake again.
    He stepped from the cab, moved toward the door, and the darkness within him swelled. It had done its own sensing, and found something it liked, it could trust. What the hell is that about?
    As soon as he entered the store, the darkness curled up and lay dormant. The young woman flipped the sign to indicate the store was closed and bade him to follow her into a back room. The room looked like a bad movie set complete with fortuneteller’s tent, round table, crystal ball, and candles on every surface. Tarot cards were already laid out on the table as well as a small bag and incense.
    “Come in here now and sit,” the woman said in a deep Jamaican accent.
    Gabhran snorted . “Since I have already heard you speak, met your mother and grandfather, I find it highly suspicious that you