Beyond Time: A Knights Through Time Travel Romance (Knights Through Time Travel #1)(9)

SIX





Talk about unprofessional. Mellie’s coworker stared at her, eyes traveling up and down her body. “The way you are dressed is passing strange.”

Mellie snorted. “Look who’s talking. Don’t see many guys walking around in kilts, not even in Scotland.” She looked at her phone, mentally swearing when she saw it was dead. “Sorry, I’m being rude. My name’s Melissa Evers.”

Heat licked its way up her arm when he took her hand, and she snatched her palm away, the sensation making her scowl.

“Connor McTavish at your service, lass.”

“Lovely to meet you, Connor. And let me say, killer accent.” With another look at him, she pursed her lips, deciding to forgive him for making elevator eyes at her earlier. “You going to pass out on me?”

He looked offended. “Nay, lass.”

“Good. Come on, then. I need to call Jacob and tell him what happened. We can’t open up with all this mess.”

The crunching under her feet made Mellie wince. Almost to the door, she noticed he wasn’t with her. Turning, she saw him standing in the entranceway to another gallery, a look of confusion on his face before he fell to his knees.

“No, no, no. I can’t carry you, you big lug.”

He grunted, falling flat on his back. Looking up at her, he said, “Is this museum hell, then? ’Twould be fitting for all the wrongs I have done.”

“Again. Place of learning, not hell. Maybe a step down from heaven, in my humble opinion.”

The man’s eyes fluttered and he went still, his chest moving up and down, the only indication he was still alive. Nibbling her lip, Mellie pictured him dying. She’d never seen anyone die, not even a grandparent. Summoning her courage, she knelt beside him and pressed her ear to his chest, listening. His heart thumped, air from his nose tickled her cheek, and she sat up, relieved.

“Hello, Connor.” She prodded him but he didn’t move, so, engaging her core muscles, she took hold of his arms and pulled, managing to drag him about half an inch. “Come on, big boy, let’s get you up.”

Connor opened his eyes and reached out for her, and then his arm dropped, his eyes rolling back.

“Please get up. There’s no way I can carry you, and it’s a long way to drag you to the doors.”

But he didn’t answer; instead she saw the trail of blood from the medieval gallery leading to him. Not wanting to leave him alone, she patted his arm and, after thinking it over, stood.

“I’m going for a phone to get you help.”

Talk about a horrible first day. The guy would quit once he was stitched up—not that she’d blame him. She would too. Sprinting down the corridor to the front desk, she was grateful the phones were working. The museum still had landlines, refused to go to cordless and digital. It was annoying until today. Now she was thankful as she dialed her manager’s number.

“Come on, Jacob. Pick up.”

“Hello?”

“It’s Melissa.” She quickly explained that somehow she hadn’t heard Will making his rounds when the power went out and found herself locked in, then told him about the storm and all the damage. She was about to tell him about Connor, but he cut her off.

“Get in touch with the IT guy—have him put a notice up on social media that the museum is closed for the day. I’ll be there within the hour.”

“That new guy you hired? The one to do the history talks with the kids? He showed up early and he’s hurt. I don’t know if it was from the storm or what, but I’m calling an ambulance. He needs stitches, a lot of them.”

“Henry? He wasn’t supposed to start until next week. I hope he doesn’t try to sue us. Thanks, Melissa, I appreciate it. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. A couple of scratches.”

“I know you weren’t scheduled to work today, but I’ll see you’re paid for the day. Get some rest and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Jacob, it’s Connor, not Henry. Who’s Henry? And what do I do about—”

But he’d already disconnected.

Somewhere in the distance, a clock chimed and she clenched her fist, dialing 911, explaining she needed an ambulance.

The calm voice on the other end told her to stay with him and they would be there in a few minutes. Mellie sent up thanks the hospital was only a few blocks away.

At the front doors, she peered out, looking for the ambulance, hearing the sirens long before they arrived. Everything turned to chaos as they tried to get in.

“The doors locked automatically. I can’t open them.” But at that moment, a clicking noise sounded, the power came back on, and the doors unlocked.

“Hurry, this way,” she called as the EMTs filed in. One of the emergency workers looked startled when he caught sight of Connor. “Oh, don’t mind the way he’s dressed. He was hired to do the history talks with the kids.”

“Good thing. For a moment I thought that movie Highlander had come to life.” One of the guys laughed, his eyes darting left and right.

Why had Jacob called him Henry? Did he go by his middle name or use a stage name?

It took four of them to get Connor on the gurney. As they wheeled him down the corridor to the waiting ambulance, a small dirk fell off the gurney, and one of the guys grinned at her.