Oh, damn. Kate didn’t need a mirror to know her skin had turned a bright red. She had thought that little fact would remain a secret, but apparently Angus had other ideas. He sounded positively thrilled to tell his ex about their relationship. What was she going to do if he insisted on telling everyone?
“Mistress?” Luna was eyeing her up and down. “She’s not your usual type.”
“She is now.”
“I see. Well, looks like I’ll have to find another date.” She glided across the study to join them. “Kate, it’s a pleasure, if something of a surprise. I wasn’t aware that Angus was considering a mistress.”
“There’s a lot ye dinna know, Luna.”
Hastily, Kate intervened. “Can I get you something to drink?”
“Wine, please. Whatever is handy.” Luna deposited her purse on a chair before accepting her glass and sipping. “I hope you have better luck with him than I did. He can be a real sweetheart until you interfere with his writing. Then he’s a regular bear.”
Kate was fascinated. “Is that why the two of you got a divorce?”
“No.” The blonde smiled sweetly at Angus. “We got the divorce because we had radically different ideas about what a marriage should be. I’m afraid Angus wanted more from me than I was willing or able to give.”
“Things like fidelity, honesty, and love.” Angus wasn’t hiding the sarcasm. “All ye wanted from me was money.” He was sounding more annoyed by the minute.
“Which you provided quite nicely.” Luna lifted her glass in a salute. “I still thank you for it.”
She glanced back at Kate. “Have you met his mother yet?”
“No, I haven’t.”
“That should be interesting. Maggie is a little old fashioned about some things. I wonder how she’ll take her son bringing his mistress to a public party?” A mischievous smile curved her lips. “I hope you wait until I get there to introduce yourself.”
“Mother will love her.”
Luna’s gaze skimmed over Kate again. “You may be right, Darling. Maggie can surprise you sometimes.” She glanced at her watch, put her drink down, and picked up her purse. “I have an engagement I don’t want to be late for. Kate, will you walk me to the door?”
“Of course.” She disengaged herself from Angus but not before he gave her bottom a secretive caress. He only smiled innocently when she shot a glare over her shoulder.
Luna stopped at the door and turned to her. “Angus looks more satisfied and relaxed than I’ve seen him in a long time. I’m assuming that’s your doing.”
“Do you really care?”
The blonde studied her. “Yes, I do. Our marriage was a disaster, but that doesn’t mean I’m not aware of what a wonderful man Angus is. Maybe he’ll find what he’s looking for with you.”
A tingle of uneasiness ran over Kate. “What is he looking for?”
One elegant shoulder lifted in a shrug. “The real thing, I suppose. I only know I couldn’t give it to him.” She reached for the door then paused. “Don’t let what I said about his mother worry you. Maggie really is a dear. It’s his cousin you’ll have to watch out for. They aren’t related by blood and I’ve always gotten the impression she’d love to get her hooks into Angus. Watch your back when she’s around, Kate.”
“Thank you. I will.” Mentally, she filed the information away. A thwarted lover want-to-be could be dangerous to Angus.
Luna stepped outside. “I’ll see you at the party Saturday night. Bye.”
Kate closed the door behind her and locked it. When she turned it was to find Angus leaning insolently against the wall, drink in hand.
“Watch yer back?” He arched an eyebrow.
“She seems to think your cousin has designs on your virtue.” Kate grinned at him.
“Deanna?” He thought about it for a second. “That might explain why she always tried tae get me tae play doctor when we were kids. But ‘tis nothing for ye to worry about. Ye’ll be with me when ye meet her.”
He reached out an arm and drew her against him. “Ye will come to New York with me for the party, won’t ye? I’ll have tae leave Friday and won’t be back until Sunday. I dinna relish bein’ without ye for all that time.”
“I’d love to.” And she had no intention of telling him she would have gone whether he wanted her there or not. At least this way he wouldn’t question her presence constantly at his side. Well, constantly except for one brief time, and she could make sure Marc stayed with him during that period. “Maybe while we’re there I can drop by to see my sister and niece.”
“Aye. I’ll go with ye.”
Kate swallowed so hard she nearly choked. “You’ll go with me?”
“Aye. I’d like tae meet yer family, see where ye live.”
Oh, lord. She was in so much trouble. What if Crystal let it slip that she’d worked for the F.B.I.? Worse yet, what if Angus proudly proclaimed she was his mistress? Crystal would kill her for lying about this job.
There was only one thing to do. Sometime between now and Friday she’d have to call Crystal and fess up, then throw herself on her sister’s mercy. God, she was never going to live this down.
“What?” She suddenly realized that Angus was still talking.
“I said, if ye need a new dress ye can go into Bangor. I’ll give ye the money.”
“Oh, no, but thanks. I have a dress.”
“Good. Let’s go for a swim.”
“I didn’t bring a suit.”
“Ye dinna need one.” He gave her a mock leer. “I’ve the urge tae see what it’s like to make love in the water.”
“What about your writing?”
“I’m done for the day. ‘Tis time to play now.”
“Well, in that case, I’d hate to stand in your way. Give me a second to make sure the gates locked behind Luna.”
His eyes narrowed as he stared at her, and Kate forced herself to smile. “I want to make sure we aren’t interrupted again.”
“Hurry, then. I’ll be waitin’.” His expression had cleared to one of anticipation and Kate said a small prayer of gratitude. She had to be very careful what she said around him. Many more slip-ups like that and he’d be on to her. The man was no slouch in the brains department.
* * * * *
Angus flipped on the pool lights, then stripped off his clothes and left them on the tile. A frown furrowed his brow as things began to click in his mind. Kate sitting in front of the monitors. Her checking the gate when Luna left. The way she’d closed and locked them so carefully the day she’d arrived.
A low curse earned him a mouthful of water as he dove into the deep end of the pool. Coughing, he surfaced and pushed his hair back.
She was a damn bodyguard.
Why hadn’t he realized the stunt his agent was pulling? Probably because it was ridiculous to think someone as small as her would be protecting someone his size. Or maybe it was because when she’d pulled off her shirt all the blood had left his head and gone straight to his cock.
With a sigh he began to swim the length of the pool. He couldn’t fool himself. He hadn’t realized what she was because he didn’t want to know. And he wished to hell he hadn’t figured it out now.
Marc must have paid her a small fortune to get her to agree to pose as his mistress. At least she’d been honest about that. She’d told him right away she doing it for the money.
Vaguely, he wondered where she’d hidden her weapon. There had to be one, and more than likely there were two. He tried to picture Kate holding a gun and failed miserably.
His only problem now was deciding what to do with his knowledge. Should he confront her with it? He stopped swimming and floated on his back, his gaze on the ceiling while a sick feeling curled in his stomach.
What if he confronted her and she dropped the mistress routine? After all, there would be no use in keeping it up if he knew the truth. She would probably feel obligated to insist on a regular client-based relationship.
Or worse yet, what
if she left? The sick feeling turned to a cold knot of dread. He couldn’t let her leave. Not yet. He still needed her too badly, and his need had nothing to do with protection. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so alive, so happy. And it had all started the day Kate drove through his gate.
There was only one option left. He couldn’t let her know he knew. As long as he kept his mouth shut he’d have Kate all to himself. They could continue to make love the way they had last night.
The sound of Kate descending the stairs drew him to the edge of the pool and he watched as she stripped off her top. No wonder her body was so tight and trim. She probably worked hard to keep it that way. A professional bodyguard had to be in good shape if they wanted to protect their clients.
“Why are you looking at me that way?” She gave a slight wiggle as she pushed her shorts down. She’d been telling the truth when she said she hated underwear. Beneath her outer garments, she was as naked as the day she’d been born, and his body reacted with enthusiasm, his dick swelling to painful proportions. He reached down and cradled the head in his palm. No, he couldn’t give her up yet.
“Just wonderin’ what took ye so long.”
“Oh. The phone rang as I was heading down here.”
“Who was it?”
“Marc. He said he was coming up tomorrow afternoon to check on things.”
She smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. Whatever Marc had really wanted, it hadn’t made her happy. A surge of protectiveness swept over him. He wanted her smile to be real again. And he wanted it to be for him alone.
He lifted his hand and curled a finger. “Come here. I’ve got something for ye.”
This time her eyes sparkled. “Do I have to guess?”
“Nay. All ye have to do is feel.”
The oddity of the emotions rolling in his chest hit him suddenly. She wasn’t his type at all, and yet even her pointy little chin turned him on. He must be losing his mind. But when she knelt on the side of the pool in front of him, he didn’t care. He only knew he couldn’t keep his hands off this woman and wasn’t about to try.
She was his.
For now.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Kate was stuffed. Angus had put a pot roast in the crock pot early that morning and by the time they’d gotten out of the pool, it was done. Between the two of them, all that had been left was a dirty pot.
“You’re going to make me get fat,” she commented. They had adjourned to the den after dinner, where Angus uncovered a large screen TV that had been hidden in the wall. He put on a movie then joined her on the over-sized couch, pulling her back against his chest and wrapping his arms around her.
“Feel free tae use the gym whenever ye want.”
“I have been,” she murmured, distracted. Angus’s possessive gestures bothered her. Not that there was anything she could do about it at this point. He was a natural toucher, and she kept telling herself that was all his constant attention meant. Even when there was nothing sexual about it, he was always caressing her, holding her. And she had to admit, there were times when she found herself liking it. A bit too much.
Her sense of unease increased. Love wasn’t something she was interested in. The very thought of it sent her teetering on the edge of panic. She’d seen too clearly what love had done to her mother. Each new bruise, every wound inflicted, had been delivered accompanied by words of love. She wasn’t about to let it happen to her. And it really hadn’t been a problem before. She had never let a man hang around long enough for it to become one. At the first sign of any emotional involvement, she had rushed them out the door.
Maybe that was why Angus made her uneasy. She wasn’t used to being in such close contact with a man for a prolonged period of time, or this constant invasion of her personal space. But she would have to put up with it while she worked for him.
Deliberately, she forced her mind to other things. Like Marc’s call. Her eyes narrowed as she thought about it. A section of the fence in the remotest area of the estate had been severed with wire cutters and rolled back. While she certainly wasn’t happy about it, Marc had been terrified. Not only was he having motion detectors installed, he was having the fence electrified.
It had to have been done before she arrived. After all, the deer had been there her first day in Angus’s castle. She’d seen no other sign of danger since her arrival, and it was unusual for a stalker to stay hidden for long. Stalking wasn’t that kind of crime. So, what was this person after if not Angus’s attention? Did they only want to frighten him somehow? And to what purpose?
Marc had sworn there was no one with a grudge against Angus who might be out for revenge. No scorned, disgruntled lovers, no one he’d hurt in a business deal. The agent was convinced it was a fan who’d gone off the deep end, and it was possible he was right. The letters he’d shown her had certainly been a little off. The woman sounded like she was madly in love with Angus, and yet-she paused trying to put her finger on what bothered her about the letters. This person obviously thought Angus belonged to her, but that wasn’t it. It was something about the wording, about the handwritten calligraphy. She gave her head a slight shake and abruptly the TV went off.
She twisted to see Angus’s face. “What did you turn it off for?”
“I’ve already seen it and ye were no’ watchin’ it.”
“Sorry.” She smiled apologetically. “It is sort of a guy movie.”
He frowned. “What makes it a guy movie?”
“All the car chases, the explosions, and the fights. You know, blood, guts and glory.”
“Like my books?” He shifted her until she was sitting facing him, his expression intent.
“Well, yes. Now that you mention it.”
“Women really hate that kind of thing?”
Kate shrugged. “I wouldn’t say we hate it, it’s just that we want more mixed in with it. Non-stop action grates on your nerves real fast. There needs to be spaces in between that let you breathe.”
“That’s all women want?” He looked distinctly puzzled.
“No, of course not. Women focus more on relationships than men do. They want to see and feel emotions other than fear and excitement.” She studied him for a second. “Why all the questions?”
He sighed. “Linda keeps tellin’ me that women make up the largest part of the readin’ public and that I need tae get them interested in my books. But I dinna know how tae do it.”
“Do you want my opinion?”
“Aye.”
“Okay. Jack Connor, your hero, never gets involved with women except for a fast roll in the hay with whoever happens to be handy.”
“Hoochie girls.” He eyed her.
“Exactly.” Kate smiled at him. “Why don’t you try giving him a real woman to interact with, one who won’t lie down and spread her legs the second he walks into a room? One who’s as smart and strong as he is? Then let the sparks fly between them.”
“Sparks,” he murmured.
“Sure. You could drag out a relationship between them for a whole series of books.”
“But Connor isna the type tae get soft on a woman.”
“No, he’s not. And that’s exactly what will have women flocking to your books in droves. There’s nothing we like better than seeing a strong man fighting his feelings and acting like an idiot over a woman who’s brought him to his knees.”
“This woman, she could be a cop or an F.B.I. agent, I suppose,” he mused thoughtfully.
Kate shifted nervously on the couch. “Not necessarily. She could be anything you wanted her to be, from a waitress to an executive. I’m sure you can figure out a way to work her into the plot.”
“An F.B.I. agent,” he stated conclusively. “But I’ll need research into the bureau. You can help me with that.”
“Me?” Kate nearly bit her tongue when she yelped the word.
“Aye.” His smile was full of satisfaction. “Ye did say ye were a research assistant. If I’m goin’ tae write this woma
n, I need tae know what makes her tick. Goin’ through the bureau training must be extra hard for a woman. What would make her take it on?”
“Lots of things,” Kate commented dryly. “A belief in the law and a need to see justice done, a determination to make sure the vultures in this society stop preying on the weak, patriotism, honor—there are hundreds of reasons.”
He was watching her closely. “So, there would need tae be something in her past that drove her, that made her want tae protect and serve. Maybe even tae the point where she put her job above a social life.”
This was hitting too close to home to suit Kate. She had to get him off this line in a hurry. “Whatever you do, don’t give her a hoochie name like Bubbles or Taffy.”
Angus laughed. “Or Luna?”
“Believe it or not, I liked Luna, although I have to admit, her name wouldn’t be suitable either.”
“Aye, I believe it. Most people do like Luna.” He put his arm around Kate’s shoulder and pulled her back against his side.
“Was she telling the truth about why you got a divorce?”
He thought about it for a minute, his hand gently stroking the skin on her upper arm. “I suppose she was, although I’ve no’ taken much time tae analyze it. My parents had a great marriage. They did everything together and ‘twas easy tae see the love they shared. ‘Tis the way a marriage should be. But ‘twas no’ what I got with Luna. There was little love involved, and I couldna write when she was around. ‘Twas like she demanded all my attention, even when she wasna in the room.”
“How long were you married?”
“Eight months.” He smiled. “Believe me, we were both ready tae call it quits by then. We simply didna mix right. The only one upset about the breakup was my mother. She was hopin’ for grandchildren tae spoil.”
“I take it your mother will be at the party Saturday night. What’s she like?”
He didn’t have to think about this answer. “She’s sweet and a little naive. A very loving woman who tends tae speak before she thinks. And she was the best thing that ever happened tae my father and me.”
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