Table of Contents
Out of Time
Copyright 2021 by Krista Badola
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by
any means, including photocopying, recording, or other
electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written
permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other
noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places
and incidents are products of the authors imagination or
are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or
locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-6678068-9-1
Penguin Publishing (Minnetonka, Minnesota)
First Edition
Editing by Sabina Rose Badola
Printed in the United States of America
For Sanjeev, Sabina and Kiran
Out of Time
Contents
Inverness, Scotland
May 10, Present Day
There are good hair days and bad hair days. Abby looked at the lopsided pile of curls on her head and almost laughed. This just wouldnt do. No way. Not for seducing her own fianc. Abby needed some come-hither hair, some come-and-sweep-me-off-my-feet hair. Not the rats nest sitting on her head just now.
She sighed and glanced outside her hotel window and frowned at the mist he saw hovering in thick blankets. She could barely make out the buildings across the street, for heavens sake! This Scottish mist did nothing for her hairor her mood. Abby took a deep breath and turned back to the mirror. With renewed determination, she picked up her brush again.
I mean, really. Its not as if he is going to notice if all my hair is in place. Maybe she should just arrive at the worksite with this massive bedhead, Abby mused. He would at least notice me then, she thought, grinning to herself.
Abby yanked the brush through her hair with a vengeance. She couldnt believe she was in romantic Scotland with her fianc, and all he seemed to think about was his work. Every single day of this three-week trip, hed dragged her again and again to his worksite. This was not what she had imagined when Anthony invited her to Scotland. She imagined long walks through misty knolls, picnic lunches by shimmering lochs, and all rightif she was going to be honest with herself, steamy, toe-curling sex.
There, she announced, placing the brush down. Not exactly come-hither hair, but thatll at least do for a day of digging at the worksite. Abby quickly glanced around the room for the keys to her tiny rental car, grabbed them from atop the dresser, and ran out the door.
She didnt even bother knocking on the hotel door across from her own, knowing darn well that Anthony had left hours earlier in his own rental car to start digging in the dawns early light. Dawns early mist, more like it.
Uncomfortably ensconced in her minuscule, brown rental car, Abby drove the 35 miles of winding, misty road necessary to reach the medieval relics digging site. It was located somewhat north of the medieval village of Lairn. She had to admit, she loved the drive to the worksite, even if she had to drive on the wrong side of the road.
The worksite itself was in the middle of a large meadow, about ten miles from the cute hamlet of Lairn, if Abby had to guess. Lairn was right in the middle of nowhere, it seemed. She glanced at the time on her phone and shoved it back into her jeggings pocket. If she hurried, she just might make it there in time.
Sigh. Was she ever going to get Anthony to agree to go into the village of Lairn with her? Just for a picnic or even a stroll maybe. Hell, Id even settle for one kiss.
She couldnt believe shed been in Scotland for just over two weeks now, and they had done nothing more romantic than grabbing a quick bite between digging holes in the ground. Ugh. Not very romantic.
She now had less than a week to seduce her fianc: Professor Anthony Phillip, medieval historian extraordinaire, formerly of Scotland himself, but now of Smithton University on the east coast of North America.
She really respected the manloved the man. She shook her head, amending her thoughts. Hed actually clawed his way from a nobody professors assistant to the most highly sought after medieval historian in the western world. Jeez. And Im going to marry him. Abby smiled, feeling pleased. Okay, so maybe she should cut him some romantic slack. After all, Anthony was truly a very busy man.
But not even one kiss, a tucked away corner of her brain shouted. Hell make a great husband, be a good provider, and earn good money for our future children, Abby argued with herself for the umpteenth time this trip. I am one lucky woman, thats for sure!
She swerved, narrowly missing a tiny, fluffy lamb and its mama crossing the road. She must be careful not to get lost in her thoughts, she reminded herself. After all, Anthony would not approve. Mind to task, Abby! Mind to task. Must you always dream when you should be concentrating? he had said to her more than once while helping her study for her Abstracts in Medieval Thought class at Smithton University.
Yep, I am one lucky lady. He definitely cares for me and my safety.
Anthony, not Professor Phillip for her anymore, was handsome, smart, and respected. Abby would just have to make peace with the occasional peck on the cheek for now, and work on his romantic enthusiasm later.
Wasnt that later supposed to be on this trip to Scotland? That nagging voice reared its head again. It was true. She had expected the whole nine yards of romance with her fianc this trip. In fact, she had expected to finally lose her virginity. She had not expected to be digging holes in the middle of a large meadow to find some 600-year-old relics.
The plane flight over had been fun. She had even been able to snuggle up close to Anthony for most of the way. It was when theyd finally reached Scotland, that shed got the shock.
Shed realized that Anthony didnt intend to sleep with her. In fact, hed even booked two separate hotel rooms. Sure, hed given her a few reasons. He said he needed his rest. He said he didnt want to disturb her. He said he had to get up early every morning to go to the worksite. Blah, blah, blah.
What worksite? Abby had asked, panicked. Suddenly her dreams of romantic Scotland looked just a bit dimmer. Hey, nobody told me this was a working vacation!
Oh, did I fail to mention it? Im so sorry, darling. This will be a working trip. I am working on a very important dig site some 30 miles away. But, donna worry, you will be right with me - helping me out even.
Abby narrowed her eyes at him. What do you exactly mean by helping you out?
You know. Just the usual digging and cleaning. One of the lads couldna make it at the last minute and I thought that you might like to help out, seeing that youll be with me anyway and all. She loved his half Scots/half American accent.
Now in the car driving to the Lairn worksite, she exhaled. Abby shook her head, bringing herself back to the reality of the winding road. Shed only agreed then because she thought there would be plenty of time for some soon-to-be-married romantic pursuits. Abby felt silly. Anthony never seemed to have the time for her - or any romantic inclinations at all, in fact. She knew he wasnt gay, so was it her?
