by MacKay, Cali
He pursed his lips in response, wondering how someone so mild-looking could be so incredibly annoying. Pulling back the cloth, he cringed at the long gash running across her finger. Luckily, it didn’t look too deep, though after just a heartbeat, it was bleeding again. He covered it back up and applied pressure once more.
“It doesn’t look like ye’ll need stitches, but it’s yet to stop gushing.” With her hand still in his, he pressed down hard. He worried he was hurting her, her face looking more pale than before. “Are ye all right?”
She nodded. “Your potatoes. They’re going to burn.”
He took her other hand and placed it over her cut. “Apply pressure. If we can’t get it to stop bleeding, I’ll have to get Angus back over here to stitch it closed.”
“Lovely.”
He pulled the potatoes and onions from the oil, draining them on paper towels, and then grabbed another pan and got the rest of the ingredients going. There wasn’t any blood to clean, but he cleared her board, and tossed it into the sink along with her knife. He felt guilty that she’d gotten hurt—especially since he was the one who’d been antagonizing her. The least he could do is keep her from starving.
Whisking a dozen eggs, he combined all the ingredients, topped it with some crumbled cheese and threw it into the oven. To keep Duncan from drooling onto the floor, he tossed the pup a chunk of sausage, finished cleaning up and then turned back to Cat.
“I’ll be right back. I need to get you a bandage.” He wandered down the hall and headed for the bathroom, when he thought he heard something in the library. Duncan was still in the kitchen, but maybe… “Da? Are ye back?”
Nothing. He changed direction, and went to investigate. It all looked the way they’d left it—or so he thought, since he hadn’t exactly been paying attention to the exact placement of things. He went to the large casement windows that overlooked the stone patio and flicked on the outdoor lights. It all seemed normal, and yet… something seemed off.
The flower box in front of the window—it was no longer hanging where it should, but rather knocked to the ground, the soil and plants scattered. And there—wet footprints tracked across the pavers from the damp grass. The window had been locked though, so they hadn’t made it in.
Or had they? The doors and windows—were they all locked?
Cat.
He raced to the kitchen, bursting into the room and quickly taking it all in, his heart thundering in his ears. “Are ye all right?”
“I’m fine. What’s happened?” Her eyes went wide with alarm, as she got to her feet and came to his side.
“Someone was at the library window. They may have tried to get in, though I don’t know for sure. Stay here. I’ve got to check the doors and windows. Make sure everything’s locked.” By the gods, it’d be close to impossible to check every window and door, especially in the older parts of the manor.
“I want to come with you.”
He wanted to groan and tell her to stay put, but knowing how long he might stand there arguing with her, he gave in. “Come on then.”
They started with the first floor, in the portion of the home they were still living in. It all seemed secure, though once more, they found footprints outside several more of the windows.
“I think they were just snooping around, and the main part of the house is locked up.” Iain nodded towards her hand. “Let’s get that finger seen to. I can check out the older parts of the home once we get that settled.”
He thought she looked shaken, and if he had any doubt, her silence was enough to tell him he wasn’t wrong. He grabbed the box of bandages and ointment, and sat her down, taking her hand in his. “Let’s take a look.”
The bleeding looked like it’d stopped. He gently squeezed some antibiotic ointment onto her cut, and then carefully bandaged it, making sure there was enough pressure applied to the wound to keep the cut from reopening while still allowing for proper circulation.
“Looks like you’ve done this before.”
“Aye, well, I usually took care of my brother’s scrapes when he didn’t want my parents finding out he’d gotten himself into trouble.” Clearly, not much had changed. “I’m going to take care of the rest of the house. I think whoever it was is long gone, but if you could draw the curtains in the library and get settled there, I’ll not be long.”
He took off and headed to the kitchen, pulling out his frittata just in the nick of time. With the oven off, he then locked down the rest of the home. The feeling of being watched made him angry, and left him feeling violated. Truth was, he was worried. Other than his brother’s recent troubles, he’d never had reason to worry about his family’s safety before, and it wasn’t a feeling he was comfortable with. Though he might be overly paranoid, it didn’t take a genius to know people had killed for a lot less than a bejeweled necklace of legend.
He called his father on his mobile phone, and told him to stay with his friends for the night, reassuring him that all was well. And it was. Everything was locked and secured, the curtains drawn. There was nothing to worry about. Or so he hoped.
He served up dinner, grabbed a couple of beers, and headed to the library.
“Here ye go.” She thanked him, while he set her food down on the side table and then took a seat next to her on the sofa. “The doors and windows are locked, though anyone who really wants to get in can, given that the windows aren’t barred.”
“A comforting thought.” She forked a piece of frittata into her mouth, and then looked up him, eyes wide. “This is really good.”
“Ye sound shocked.” He ate a bit of his own and then, uncapping the beers, handed her one, before taking a long pull of his own.
“I hadn’t really expected you to know how to cook, is all. And certainly didn’t think the food would be amazing.”
“Amazing, aye? I’ll take it.” He gave her a sideways glance and a smile.
Settling back, he continued eating while looking at the paintings they had propped up across from the sofa. The woman in the painting was beautiful, but was it Nessa? He had to wonder if she even left any clues behind. Nessa may have told a select few in confidence, but would she risk the information and the necklace being lost, especially when those times were precarious and those taken into her confidence could easily perish? He doubted it. She would’ve had some sort of backup.
Once they finished their meal, he got back to the matter of who’d been snooping around. “Since that was likely James peeping at the windows, I think it’s time ye told me about him—and what transpired between the two of ye.”
She let out a huff of annoyance. “Fine. He’s a colleague at the university. We were working together on a research project.” She sighed and he sensed there was more to the story.
“So ye fell in love?” He could see it. The long hours spent in each other’s company, shared interests.
“I wouldn’t say that. In my experience, love is for fairytales and fools—or at the very least, other people. Just not me.”
“Have ye ne’er been in love then?” She shrugged in answer to his question. “I can’t believe it, lass. Or did some arse break yer heart?”
“I’ll discuss James, since he’s likely the one snooping around, but I’m not discussing my love life. Besides, you’d be bored to tears.”
Bored, eh? Why did he like that she hadn’t had much of a love life? “Fine. James then.”
“We’re both at the same department, and were collaborating on a project that overlapped. Long nights comparing notes, and we eventually started dating—until he went and published my research under his name, save for a brief footnote.” Those last words were spoken through a stiff jaw.
“Was there no evidence to back up yer claim?” There had to be a way she could prove the work was hers.
“There would have been, except that he deleted my files from my laptop and school computer. With our research overlapping, he had enough information gathered to make a convincing argument.” She took a deep breat
h that looked forced and then let it out slowly.
“He really is a bastard.” Iain shook his head, annoyed. What sort of person would do that? “That he’d go as far as wiping yer files from yer hard drives… And I’m assuming he left behind no clues that it’d been him.”
“No. Not that the board really looked too deep when one of their esteemed professors was involved. He knew exactly what he was doing—likely from the start.” She bit her lip and then took a long swig from her beer, quiet for a bit before talking again. “I think that’s the worst part of it. That he played me for a fool from the very beginning, and I was stupid enough to fall for it.”
“Ye’re no fool, lass; just trusting. Ye thought he’d be a decent guy, when he’s nothing more than an arse.” Anger bubbled up inside him, that James could make her second-guess herself, and that he’d treat her so poorly. “Ye said he’s not capable of violence, and yet he’s obviously capable of deception and going through yer computer files.”
“I know. I just can’t think of him as violent.”
“Well, I can. He obviously cares for nothing but what will benefit him and him alone. And how did he get access to yer office? I can’t imagine ye’d leave yer door unlocked.”
“What does it matter?”
Annoyance crept into his voice. “It matters because I need to know exactly how far he’ll go. If he stole yer keys and had copies made, then that’s a wee bit different to finding yer door open—though not by much. If he went to those lengths for a bloody research paper, then just think what he’d do to get his hands on a priceless piece like the Hope.”
“You’re right.” She closed her eyes, her brow furrowed with worry. “And the worst part is, if it was him snooping around, then he probably saw all the paintings we’ve pulled out and will know we’re up to something.”
“Then our only option is to find the necklace before James has a chance to act.”
Chapter Seven
Cat ignored her nerves as Iain introduced her to his brother, Malcolm. “It’s a pleasure.”
There were definite similarities in the men’s looks. Both were tall and good-looking, with dark wavy hair, and those intelligent blue eyes. Yet Malcolm seemed to have a completely different air about him, as if he didn’t have a care in the world when in the presence of anyone female.
“The pleasure’s mine.” He shook her hand with a curious smile and a glint in his eyes, his touch lingering a second longer than one would expect. “Iain’s girlfriend? I hadn’t realized.”
Even though Malcolm lived in Edinburgh, they’d decided it’d be best to keep up the charade of being in a relationship, in case Malcolm spoke with anyone from town. Even if James figured out they weren’t truly a couple, it’d still be best to keep up appearances, so others wouldn’t start to suspect their true motivations.
“It’s been a bit of a long-distance thing.” Iain wrapped an arm around her shoulder, his eyes lingering on hers to reinforce their lie. “We’ll not stay long, but I appreciate ye taking Da on such short notice.”
Malcolm gave his father a smile and put a hand on the old man’s shoulder. “Anytime. The two of us will find plenty to keep us entertained and busy. Won’t get into too much trouble, will we, Da?”
Iain’s smile turned stiff, though it was only for a second. “Can I speak to ye a moment?”
Without waiting for an answer Iain walked into another room, waited for Malcolm to join him, and then shut the door.
“Dinnae fash yerself, girl.” Callum patted her arm, before taking a seat. “They’ve ne’er quite seen eye to eye, and Iain, being the oldest, has always taken it upon himself to care for everything and everyone.”
She’d noticed. Cat still thought Iain was being a bit paranoid about James, especially going to the extent of having his father stay with his brother. Still, better safe than sorry. He was right about people going to extreme measures when there was fame and fortune to gain.
“Well, I hope I’ll get to see you again before I leave Dunmuir. I’ve yet to hear any of your stories.”
“Och well, Iain probably knows them better than I do at this point.” He laughed, his blue eyes kind and keen. “And don’t let his gruff exterior get to ye—he’s a lamb underneath it all. But I think ye already knew that. He’s used to getting his way, so don’t go letting him push ye around. Put him in his place if ye see fit.”
Before she could say anything, the door opened and the brothers joined them. The air in the room suddenly felt charged with tension. Iain turned to his father. “Like we discussed. And if you need anything at all, ye have my number.”
“Aye, son. Take care.”
“Will do, Da.” Iain then turned a harsh gaze on his brother. “I’ll be in touch.”
They headed out the door and down the stairs, his walk brisk and his stride long.
She picked up her pace to keep up with him. “I don’t suppose you want to tell me what that was about?”
“Ye supposed right. This isn’t a real relationship, Cat.”
“Luckily!”
They climbed into Iain’s car, and before she’d even buckled up, he’d pulled out. “Bloody hell, Iain.”
He pounded the steering wheel in frustration, gritting his teeth and taking a long breath. “Sorry.”
“Look, I don’t mean to be nosy, but if we’re going to be stuck together for the foreseeable future, then maybe…”
“Maybe what? Maybe we can do each other’s hair and confess all our secret crushes like a bunch of school girls? It’s not happening, love.” He flicked her a glance through narrowed eyes, his jaw tight and his entire body bristling with tension.
“Then I refuse to be on the receiving end of your wrath. I get being angry. But if you’re not going to talk to me about whatever dragged your beautiful sunshiny mood out to play, then you need to vent elsewhere. I have no problem with you being upset, but if you’re going to have a fit, then you better start talking.”
Iain glared at her, his hands tight around the wheel. “Do ye not have any siblings that drive ye absolutely mad? Or are they all as perfect as you?”
“You’re being a real jerk, Iain.”
He said nothing for a long while, and Cat refused to speak to him. She knew families could be a pain, and whatever had gone down between Iain and his brother seemed to have really ticked him off. Still. She wasn’t going to be the punching bag for his sour moods.
He swerved the car over to the side of the road and threw the gear into park, spinning in his seat to face her. “A jerk? Maybe I am. But guess what? Ye’re stuck with me, just like I’m stuck with you. So deal with it.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I don’t have to deal with it, Iain. I’ll find the jewels without you. You can take your help and shove it up your Scottish arse.”
She flung the door open, furious, and stepped out into the rain that always seemed to be falling, slamming the door behind her. He came after her, but she ignored him and kept moving down the road, refusing to acknowledge him. Tears stung her eyes as she wondered whether she’d just thrown out her one chance of finding the jewels. Yet she refused to back down.
He grabbed her hand, and she flinched, pain surging up her arm as her cut started to throb. “Shit! Sorry.”
She pulled her hand away and kept walking, leaving him to try and catch up.
“Cat. Ye’re getting drenched. Come back to the car.”
When she continued to ignore him, he picked up his pace and cut her off, so he was now standing in her path. He gently grabbed her arms to keep her from escaping and was met with a glare.
“Let go of me, Iain. I’ll find my own back to Dunmuir.”
“And what then? Ye’re staying with me. Remember?”
She laughed, ignoring the burn in her eyes. “You really think I’m still staying with you? Think again. I’m gone as soon as I grab my stuff and my car. And even that will be far too much time spent in your company.”
His eyes narrowed in scrutiny, before his gaz
e softened. “Cat… I’m sorry.”
He cupped her cheek, and before she could pull away, he kissed her, his lips on hers in a sweet and tender kiss. She resisted, but could only manage it for a moment.
Her head spun as their kiss deepened, her heart racing as he pulled her in close, her body molding to his, as she forgot about the other people walking by, forgot about the rain pouring down on them, and forgot about why she’d been mad at him.
When their kiss finally slowed, he still held her close, his eyes searching her face. “Can ye forgive me?”
She let out a weary sigh, fighting through the dizziness of that kiss. “Yes—but only if you stop being a jerk. I certainly don’t need to know your life story and I’m not one to pry, but if whatever’s going on with you is going to affect our working relationship, then I need to know about it. I told you about James, didn’t I? Now it’s your turn to spill the beans.”
“Our working relationship?” His lips quirked into a smile as he leaned in to kiss her again—only to have her pull away.
“And that kiss? That never happened.”
“Never happened, aye?” His smug grin and her racing heart had her pulling out of his arms and walking back to the car.
“No, it didn’t. And whatever didn’t happen is not going to happen again. You hear me?”
His eyes sparkled with amusement as they got into his car. “Aye, love. It ne’er happened and I swear I won’t ne’er kiss ye again.”
“Was that a double negative?” The only response she got was a laugh as he pulled out into traffic and headed towards home.
***
“Duncan?” Iain called out but the dog didn’t come. “That’s odd.”
Cat could see Iain was worried. And then they heard a bark. “Down the hall. One of the rooms down there.”
Iain opened the closed door, and the dog came barreling towards them in a full body wiggle. “Did ye get yerself trapped? Come on then. It’s been a long day. Go on out.”
Iain let Duncan out, but the dog only took a few minutes before running back in.
“I think he missed you.”