He nodded, then lifted the bottle he’d brought into the office, and filled his glass. When he offered it to her, she shook her head. One of these days he was going to find out why she so adamantly refused to touch anything containing alcohol.
Stretching his legs out, he studied her as he took a drink. Her hands were twisted in her lap and she looked like she’d swallowed something that tasted bad.
“Ye might as well spit it out, Katie. ‘Tis not going tae get easier the longer ye wait.”
Her chest lifted as she took a deep breath. “Okay. I thought you should know that I’ve asked Marc to have his private investigators try to locate your mother.”
Angus’s brow furrowed. “Why? Ye know where she is. Ye had lunch with her yesterday.”
“No, I mean your real mother, your birth mother.”
He thought about that for a second and decided it didn’t affect him one way or the other. “Why?”
“Because of the letters. We need to know—”
“Nay. Why did ye think it would upset me?”
She rose and paced restlessly to the window, looking down on the rocks above the beach. “Maybe because it would upset me if I were in your shoes. We could be opening a real can of worms by finding her, Angus.” Sticking her hands in her back pockets, she turned to face him. “Before we do, I need to know how you feel about this.”
“What kind of worms?”
“You’re a famous author. You’re not exactly poor. She may want to reestablish a relationship with you for those reasons alone. We have no idea what she’s like. Do you know anything about her at all?”
He shrugged. “Her name was Ellen.”
“That’s it?”
“Aye.”
She looked at him with a puzzled expression. “Didn’t you ever ask your father about her?”
“Once. He told me she packed up and left. My father made it clear he didna want to talk about her, and I had Maggie. I didna need another mother.”
“You weren’t at all curious?”
He sighed. “Aye. There were times I wondered. Other than size, I didna look the least bit like my father. Sometimes I thought it would be nice tae have someone I could point tae and think, ‘that’s why my hair is dark, or my eyes blue.’ But I’ve always been realistic. We lived in the same house until we came tae America, and I’ve not been hiding since. If she had wanted tae see me, she could have found me easily enough.”
“Okay, I get your point.” She took her hands out of her pockets and crossed her arms. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like to ask Maggie about her. She might know something you don’t.”
“I dinna mind. Just dinna be disappointed if she canna help ye.”
“I’ll call her this evening.” She glanced back at the window. “Right now, I’m going to check out the path to the beach.” Her gaze landed on him and she gave him a fierce scowl. “Whatever you do, don’t let anyone through the gate and don’t answer the door. I won’t be long.”
He felt like saluting, but grinned instead. “Yes, Ma’am.”
* * * * *
She heard the clatter of his keyboard resume before she was halfway across the study. Good. As long as he was writing he wouldn’t get into any trouble. She could check the rocks and beach thoroughly, and at the same time, put a little distance between them. Distance she badly needed.
Damn him for being so sexy, so sweet, so…so…She sighed. So Angus. Every time she was within ten feet of him, her resolve to keep him at arms length started to crumble. Her body reacted to each look he gave her, those blue eyes turning her insides to liquid metal. His scent alone was enough to make her tingle from head to toe.
She wanted him desperately. With a frown, she made her way through the kitchen and out the back door, locking it behind her. And why the hell shouldn’t she have him? Her toe connected with a pebble, sent it sailing through the air. It didn’t have to mean she loved him.
The path leading to the rocks was faint but visible and she followed it slowly, drawing in deep breaths of the salty air. She had never backed away from a job in her life, once she accepted it. Why should this time be any different?
A spurt of anger shot up from her stomach as the wind tugged her shirt. The bonus he’d paid her was for being his mistress. She was going to earn it, by golly, whether he liked it or not. Where did he get off telling her it was up to her whether they made love or not? He’d paid for it, he was damn well going to get it.
Feeling a little better, she paused on the edge of the rocks and peered over the side. To her surprise, it wasn’t nearly as far down to the beach as it had seemed when she’d been looking out Angus’s window. A bit steep, maybe, but anyone falling from the top would probably survive with only a few scrapes and bruises, or a couple of broken bones.
Ignoring the path for a moment, she looked around. The beach was really a small cove, with rocky arms extending into the water to form a U shape. Lifting her gaze to the water she watched as breakers crashed into the arms of the U, sending spray high into the air. Further out, just below the surface, she could see the darker shapes of more rocks. A boat of any size would have a hard time winding its way through to the beach, but it might be possible for a smaller craft to accomplish the feat.
She didn’t like it. Not a bit. It left them too vulnerable. Her only hope was the path. Turning slightly to her right, she started down. By the time she reached the sandy floor she was cursing under her breath. Yes, it was very steep and crooked, with huge boulders blocking her view of the beach at every turn, but anyone in reasonably good health would have no trouble reaching the top.
Above her, gulls hovered and dived, their cries filling the air. The sky was the deep endless blue that only happened in August, and way out on the water she could see the white tip of a sail. It was a gloriously beautiful location. And potentially deadly for Angus.
Shifting, she looked back up the cliff face, absently noting the way the house towered over her. The path was virtually invisible from here, looking like no more than slick gray boulders. But whoever had sent those letters had been on the property. She couldn’t be sure they hadn’t discovered the trail up.
Rubbing her forehead, she started back to the top. There had to be a way to close off the beach. She supposed the fence crew could drill far enough into the rock to set posts, but it would take them a while. Maybe too long. From the way the last letter was worded, Angus’s stalker wasn’t the patient sort.
Stopping at the back door, she took one more look at the cliff. At least there were motion detectors and cameras in place. Those and her vigilance would have to do. It was small comfort but she’d take what she could get right now.
“Katie?” Angus’s bellow rang through the house as she walked into the kitchen.
“Yeah, I’m back.”
“Yer sister is on the phone.”
“Okay. I’ll get it in here.”
She lifted the receiver to her ear, waiting until she heard the click when Angus hung up before speaking. “Crystal?”
“Kate. I had to call and see how you were doing after that mess last night.”
“I’m fine, Sis. Really. Did Marc make sure you got home?”
“Better than that.” She waited a dramatic pause. “He’s still here.”
There was a loud thud in the background then the sound of male cursing. Crystal laughed. “Sammy just made her thoughts very clear on the menu items for lunch. Marc looks pretty good in carrots, though.”
In spite of herself, Kate grinned. “So, how many times did he propose before the night was over?”
“Twice. Isn’t that sweet?”
Kate rolled her eyes. It figured. “What did you tell him?”
“That I’d think about it.”
“Well, give me at least a week’s notice when you set the date so I can rearrange my schedule.”
Her sister sobered. “Seriously, Kate. I’ve been worried about you. You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to. We can figure out a way
to pay Angus back.” Her voice dropped a notch. “I know how upset you were last night and I feel like it’s my fault. You only agreed to do this for my sake.”
“No, I didn’t.” She closed her eyes. “Let’s be honest here, Sis. The money was only part of it. I did it because I wanted too. I wanted a chance to live out my fantasy. It’s not your fault that Angus doesn’t know the difference between love and lust.”
“What are you going to do?”
She opened her eyes and straightened her back. “I’m going to give him his money’s worth, and when this is over I’m coming home and forgetting it ever happened.”
“Be careful, Kate. I couldn’t stand it if anything happened to hurt you again.”
“It won’t. I won’t let it.”
Now it was time to get a few things straight with His Lordship. Dropping the phone into the cradle, she marched though the dinning room, the hall, and the study, straight into Angus’s office. He looked up quickly, his expression rather like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. But it wasn’t his expression she was concerned with.
She didn’t stop until she was right in front of his chair, then she put both hands on the arms and leaned toward him. “You paid for a mistress, damn it, and I’ve never been a quitter. Now do something about it,” she commanded.
He was staring at her as though she’d lost her mind. Slowly, a grin spread across his face, his blue eyes sparkling up at her. “Yes, Ma’am.”
What he did was skin her out of her clothes so fast she couldn’t breathe. Putting both hands around her waist, he lifted her onto his lap facing him, draping her legs over the chair arms. The position exposed her folds to his view, making her aroused, swollen clit very obvious. Damn him. The man had no right to be so sexy, so hot, and so capable of making her burn just by looking at her.
And he was doing a lot of looking at the moment, staring down at the apex of her legs as though entranced. “Look at yerself, Kate. See how beautiful ye are?” One of his big fingers touched the very tip of her clit. “Yer so small and delicate, so damn responsive.”
He parted her even more, until her clit protruded, ached under his hungry gaze. “‘Tis like a flower, a miracle of construction. See?” Gripping the tiny nodule between his thumb and forefinger, he pulled the foreskin back and used his index finger to gently stroke the area he’d uncovered.
Involuntarily, Kate’s legs tensed, and she wiggled, forcing his hand more tightly against her clit. Her breath caught in her throat, and moisture flooded from her.
“Like that, do ye?” He smiled. “Then ye’ll like this even better.”
Using his free hand, he dipped two fingers inside her, gathering the evidence of her lust. When his fingers were coated, he smoothed the dampness over her clit.
They both watched as he massaged her to new heights of passion, his fingers sliding slickly over her wet flesh, pausing only to enter her body every few beats to gather more of her essence.
Kate had never felt freer in her life. Abandoning all attempts to hide her emotions, she mewled in pleasure. She arched her body and leaned back to allow him greater access, bracing herself by putting her palms on his knees. Her head fell back, eyes closing at the intensity of pleasure he was providing, while her hips lifted for more.
It seemed to go on forever, until her body was quivering on the heated edge of a volcano, ready to tumble over into the flames. Before she could fall, she sat up and pushed his hands away. “No. I want you inside me when I come.”
“Then take my cock out, Kate, and put it where ye want it.”
“Shouldn’t we go upstairs?” Her fingers fumbled eagerly with his zipper until she freed him, then ran her hand down his thick, massive cock. God she loved the way it felt, so hard and big, and yet with skin like velvet. Loved knowing that she was the one who kept him constantly aroused. Already the head wept his essence like tears, and she used it to tease the opening on the tip, thrilling to the way his muscles tensed under her ministrations.
“And give ye time tae back out? Not a chance in hell.” His breath was coming in short, desperate puffs as he pulled a condom from his pocket and handed it to her. “Ye can do the honors.”
He moaned low in his throat as she slid the latex down his erection. “Katie, love, I’ve been dying for ye.”
“It hasn’t been that long,” she lied. The rough fabric of his jeans felt strange against her bottom, creating a friction that was both warm and stimulating as she lowered herself onto his cock, eyes half-lidded as he filled her.
“It’s been more than twenty-four hours.”
His breathing increased as she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips brushing his, her nipples rasping against the fabric of his shirt. Twenty-four hours? It felt more like two years. No wonder she was so hot, so needy.
“Just remember one thing.” Her tongue teased his. “It’s only sex.” His scent surrounded her like a warm blanket and involuntarily she clenched her inner muscles.
One of his hands cupped her bottom and the other moved between them, thumb and forefinger grasping her clit with enough pressure that she nearly cried out. But then they moved, stroking in short up and down motions until she was whimpering with the need for release.
“You have tae remember something tae.”
“What?” She was barely coherent. Frantically, she pulled his shirt up, then leaned forward again to press her aching breasts against the hot, hard planes of his chest. When that offered no relief, she lifted her hands to her own breasts and saw his eyes glaze as he watched her tease and tweak the nipples. Each touch streaked down her stomach to increase the throbbing his fingers encouraged.
“Ye dinna have tae make up reasons or work yerself into a froth, Katie. If ye want me, all ye have tae do is let me know.”
“I didn’t do that.” She buried her face in his neck and touched his skin with her tongue.
“Katie.”
“Alright,” she grumbled. “Maybe I did.” A shiver ran over her as he toyed with her clit, plucking it before his fingers moved in a slow torturous circle.
“Promise me from now on ye’ll come tae me when ye want me.”
“I promise.”
“Look at me and say it again. All of it.”
She lifted her head and gazed into his eyes, her stomach doing a slow roll at what she saw there. “From now on, when I want you, I’ll come to you. I promise.” Her voice was a husky moan.
“Even if it’s ten years from now.”
“Angus…”
He increased the pressure of his fingers, squeezing her clit until she couldn’t think anymore. “Say it.”
“Yes,” she sobbed, her hips pushing forward, seeking more, always more. “Oh, God. Even if it’s ten years from now.”
“Then let yerself go, Sweet Katie. Explode for me.”
“I don’t want it to end yet.”
He smiled before his mouth covered hers, and his hips rose from the seat to push even deeper inside her. “Next time we’ll slow down.”
* * * * *
Kate rested against him, her head on his chest. He was still snug inside her and she wanted to keep him there a while longer, wanted to maintain this link between them. She didn’t have to look to know his eyes were closed, or that he still wore a smile. His hands traveled gently over her bare back creating a field of static electricity, and she shivered.
“Are ye cold?”
She could feel his voice rumble beneath her ear and she soaked the sensation in, snuggling closer. “No.”
“I meant what I said earlier, ye know.”
“I know.” She hadn’t doubted it the first time. She just didn’t think he realized what he was offering her. The chance to have him anytime she wanted with no strings attached. It was a tempting thought. So tempting in fact, that she couldn’t let herself dwell on it now.
“Marc and Crystal are going to get married.”
“What?” He pushed her back and stared down at her.
&nb
sp; “It’s true. He spent the night with her last night and proposed twice. She hasn’t said yes yet, but she will.”
“Why are ye so sure?”
“Because lots of guys have asked her out since Danny died and she turned them all down. Marc got her in bed the first night. The only other time that’s happened was with Danny.”
“Did she share all the details with ye, like ye did her?”
“No, but she will.” Kate grinned at him. “Curious?”
“Aye. I’d like tae know the lucky bastard’s secrets so I can use them on ye.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Angus climbed out of bed and reached for his jeans. It was ten p.m., but he was wide-awake and ready to continue his search. He’d made it through the first two years of newspaper articles before Kate had returned from the beach and distracted him. Not that he was complaining. Whether she realized it or not, Kate was starting to become aware that she loved him.
What her reaction to that revelation would be worried him. He needed to keep going, find out what terrified her so much, needed to know how to fight it. And yet, he’d promised to let her know when he decided to work at night and he didn’t like breaking promises.
Fastening his jeans, he glanced at Kate. She was curled on her side sound asleep, a tiny smile lifting the corners of her lips. For a second he was tempted to crawl back in bed and wake her by making love to her again. He shook his head. No. They had already made love three times since she’d confronted him in his office. He couldn’t let her divert him a second time. Not if he wanted to discover the truth.
Gently, he leaned over the bed and kissed her. “Katie,” he whispered. “I’m going downstairs tae work.”
“Umm.” She snuggled down tighter, then abruptly opened her eyes and sat up. “I’m going with you.”
“Why dinna ye stay and get some sleep?”
“Because if something happened I’d be too far away to stop it.”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll only agree if ye stretch out on the couch in the study. ‘Twill be close enough, and ye can still sleep.”
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