by Terry Spear
“He was the one who started the war between our clans years ago,” Cearnach’s aunt said, her lips pursed and eyes narrowed. She looked at Elaine as if she personally had advised her great-grandfather to go to war with the MacNeill clan eons earlier.
So much for Cearnach taking her someplace safe until she could get her ID and everything back. But she had nowhere else to go.
“What did you say your name was again?” his mother asked.
“Elaine.”
“Your last name.”
She hoped that her uncles had not accosted any of the MacNeills’ ships.
“Hawthorn.”
His mother seemed to mull that over, then her face turned red. “The Hawthorn brothers. Pirates, both of them. The men who Lord Whittington had hanged in St. Andrews?”
“Privateers,” Elaine countered. “Fighting for the American cause.”
“Och!” his mother said in outrage, her face reddening. “Tell that to the men who lost everything.”
Elaine’s heart tumbled over itself, and she gritted her teeth as a sudden shimmer of tears swam in her eyes. Had her uncles killed the sailors? She didn’t think they were that cruel, but what did she know, living as sheltered a life as her family had given her?
Except for after they died and she had to deal with Kelly Rafferty on her own.
“I’ve got to straighten this out with Robert.” Elaine looked away from his mother’s harsh glower before the woman could see how upset she was. She knew that kind of woman. She would not be moved by tears, taking that reaction as a sign of weakness. “I need to get my things back and talk to him about the… uh… inheritance.”
“That’s what this business arrangement is about? An inheritance?” Cearnach’s mother asked.
“Um, yes.”
His mother looked like she wanted to ask more, but Julia took charge. “Come. Let’s join the men. I’m sure they’ll have a plan of attack.”
Elaine frowned at her. She didn’t want the clans fighting over this.
“Just a figure of speech. After what happened to you and Cearnach, I doubt they’ll want you doing this on your own.”
Elaine wasn’t sure what to think about the MacNeills’ offer of help. In a way, she wished she could have it since at least Cearnach seemed genuinely interested in her welfare. Yet she wondered if they would just create more trouble if she allowed them to get involved. She didn’t want to tell them the whole truth—that she was after her uncles’ treasure. What if some of it belonged to the MacNeills?
She sighed. If she hadn’t met Cearnach’s family, it wouldn’t have mattered. But now that she’d met them, she felt obligated to do the right thing and turn the treasure over to his family if it had belonged to them.
“You… don’t have any dogs, do you?” Cearnach’s mother suddenly asked Elaine.
Elaine was so startled by the question that she didn’t respond right away.
“You know, dogs?” his mother said, impatiently waving her hand as if conjuring up visions of dogs.
“No. No dogs.”
“Good.”
Julia frowned at her mother-in-law, appearing to be surprised by the question, too. Then she escorted Elaine to another room down the long hall and knocked on the closed oak door. The men’s conversation inside the room went silent.
Ian said, “Yes?”
“It’s Julia. Elaine wishes to speak with Robert and get this matter taken care of.”
Duncan opened the door. Cearnach was already moving toward Elaine and Julia, looking grim-faced, a man with a definite mission, like he was ready to do battle on her behalf.
Julia quickly introduced the brothers: Ian, the pack leader and her mate; Guthrie, their financial advisor; and Duncan, in charge of warfare. All eyes were focused on Elaine’s swollen and bruised cheek.
The air was already sizzling with tension when she walked in. When everyone saw her injury, she felt the whole room would explode.
Shelley quickly joined them and handed Elaine an ice pack. She pressed the cool ice to her cheek while Ian looked to Cearnach to explain.
“Vardon McKinley did it when he tried to hit me. Elaine attempted to stop the fight.” Cearnach stood so close to her that she could feel the heat radiating from his body, reaching out to her, warming her.
Ian’s phone rang. He read the name on the caller ID. Shaking his head, he said to his brothers, “The Kilpatricks.” He set his phone on the desk and didn’t answer it.
They had to know she was here. She felt mixed emotions over that. She was worried about bringing the MacNeill clan into this, although it was her kin’s fault for putting her in this predicament in the first place. And she felt self-righteous satisfaction that after having been so ruthless toward her and Cearnach, the Kilpatricks had lost her to their enemy.
“After what they pulled, we’re not going to just turn her over to them,” Cearnach said, as if he was in charge of the pack and dictating terms.
Ian took a seat at his desk and leaned back in the chair. “She’s their kin. I doubt they plan to harm her.”
“Ha! They’ve already treated her shabbily. What if she had been shot while running as a wolf?”
Ian’s expression turned stormy. “You mentioned nothing of this to me.”
“A sheepherder’s dogs barked until the farmer investigated to see what was disturbing the peace. Oglivie, you know how he is, and another man chased after us in a pickup and tried to shoot us. What if they’d injured Elaine?”
Duncan snorted. “Her kin don’t deserve to have her back.”
She wholeheartedly agreed, but she wasn’t sure Ian wanted to keep her here, which could stir up more trouble between the clans.
Cearnach remained beside Elaine, his fists clenched in anger. “What if they’re furious with her for having been with me? You can’t turn her over to them.”
“I’m not going to. They have to make full restitution of your vehicle and hers. Your clothes, sword, phone, and anything else they took. If they can’t do that right away, she’ll be our honored guest until they do,” Ian said. He looked at Elaine as she stiffened, and she thought his dark expression was a warning. She had brought this trouble to the clan; he was the clan chief and would decide what happened to her.
After Rafferty, no one had dictated what she could do, so she was used to being in charge of her own destiny. She didn’t like anyone thinking he could tell her what to do.
Ian’s phone rang again, and this time after he looked at the caller ID, he shook his head. “The McKinleys.” He set his phone back down on the desk. “They can stew overnight about what they did to the lass and Cearnach. Guthrie, make sure the place is locked up tight. Next time they see her, they can show their kin a wee bit more Scottish hospitality.”
“Aye, Ian.” Guthrie hurried out of the room to take care of the task.
“Elaine and I need to have dinner.” Cearnach slipped his hand around her arm. “I’ll get us something to eat.”
“You don’t cook,” Ian reminded him. Though his brother’s tone was dark, Cearnach thought he heard a hint of amusement in his voice.
Cearnach gave him a small smile. “Maybe I can manage a pizza. Or…” He sniffed the air. “Maybe Cook’s got some of that lamb stew left.”
“The way this clan eats, I doubt it,” Duncan said.
“Then I can take her to Scot’s pub.”
“Not without an armed escort. Call ahead and clear out the place before we arrive,” Duncan suggested.
Cearnach was thinking of a quiet dinner for two. Just Elaine and him where they could discuss what they would do next. Not a mob scene with his clansmen watching over them.
“Did the rest of you not eat already?” Cearnach asked. At this late hour, he knew they had.
Ian and Duncan glanced at
each other and looked as though they finally got the message.
Julia and Duncan’s mate, Shelley, smiled. His aunt and mother didn’t look pleased.
“Cearnach,” his mother said, her brow furrowed, “a word with you.”
When he hesitated, fairly sure she would lecture him about getting involved with his enemy’s kin, he couldn’t believe it when she said, “Please.”
It was the first time he’d ever heard his mother say the word, and he knew everyone present was just as shocked.
“I’ll take Elaine down to the kitchen, and you can join her in a few minutes,” Shelley quickly offered.
Cearnach didn’t care how nicely his mother asked, if she even asked him nicely, or if she tried to order him about. She wasn’t the one to determine what would happen to Elaine.
Chapter 11
Ian’s phone rang once again in his solar, and everyone looked at him as if he was about to hear some earth-shattering news—a call to battle, a final ultimatum—from one of the McKinleys or their cousins. He glanced at the caller ID and frowned. Looking at Cearnach with a raised brow, he greeted the caller with a brief, “Calla.”
Cearnach couldn’t have been more astonished.
“Yeah, Cearnach is safe here. I’ll let you speak with him.” Ian held the phone out to Cearnach.
Cearnach crossed the floor to Ian and took the phone. He breathed in deeply and said, “Calla.”
“You’re all right?” she asked, and he heard a hint of tears in her voice.
He hated that Baird or his brothers had upset her. “Aye, I’m fine, Calla. You… heard about my car.”
“Aye, the bastards. I’m so sorry.”
“You had nothing to do with it, lass.”
“Is… is the woman with you?”
“Aye, Elaine Hawthorn. Robert Kilpatrick’s distant cousin. They stole her rental car and left us stranded.”
Silence.
“Calla?”
“Aye, I know. That’s why I called. After I left the church, I learned Baird and his brothers and the Kilpatricks went after Elaine’s car. Except they didn’t know at the time that she was the one who was to meet with Robert. I was worried when they were concerned you and Elaine hadn’t made it to Argent Castle yet. They were furious you came to the wedding, but even more so when I called it off.”
Cearnach didn’t say anything for a moment, too astonished. “But you got married.”
“We didn’t exchange our vows yet. I’d explained to Baird that I’d invited you, so when Vardon hit Elaine and made you leave the church, I was furious. I’d told him before the wedding that if he did anything to discourage your being there, I’d call off the marriage. Despite my warning, he still had his brothers throw you out. He said he had nothing to do with it, but he lied. I saw him give them a slight nod, issuing the order to have them remove you. So as soon as you left, I walked out.”
Cearnach smiled. “I’m glad to hear it.”
“If I’d learned they’d destroyed your car beforehand, I would have made a public spectacle of Baird. Is Elaine all right?” she asked, sounding genuinely concerned for the American.
“Aye. She’s here with me now.” Safe and secure, and he meant to keep her that way.
“Good. Keep her there, Cearnach. Let them continue to be concerned. Robert’s stored her rental car in his garage so it’s protected for the time being. They’re still worried that Elaine might not have made it safely to Argent Castle. Ian wouldn’t answer his cell phone. So they’ve turned wolf to find your trails. I’m sure they’ll soon discover you made it home and will be demanding Elaine’s release.”
“They can demand all they want. Are you going to be all right? About calling off the mating?”
Calla gave a ladylike snort. “My family has been really quiet about the whole situation. I think they’re secretly pleased I didn’t marry Baird but afraid to say so. What’s Robert’s cousin like?”
Sexy as hell was what came to mind. Cearnach smiled at Elaine. “Travel weary, and she’s hungry. I’m about to fix her something to eat.”
“I’d like to meet her before she returns home to America,” Calla said. “She’s really pretty. I saw her poke at you and heard her say that if you were going to object to the wedding, you should do so. I had to smile, although Baird was scowling up a storm. I like her already. Keep her away from Robert. Make him pay for what they did. I think Vardon feels bad about hitting her when he meant to hit you, but you know how they are. No apologies to anyone. And, Cearnach?”
“Aye, lass?”
“Thanks. For telling me what I didn’t want to hear. I’ve got to go. Dad wants to talk with me. He says to tell you hi. Take care.”
“You as well. ’Night, Calla.”
When the phone call ended, he took a deep settling breath, glad that Calla had not married McKinley, but he knew it wouldn’t be over that easily. He was certain Baird would attempt to convince her to marry him, if nothing more than to save face. Although knowing him, he’d probably blame Cearnach. He handed the phone to Ian. “Calla called off the wedding.”
Duncan gave a dark laugh. “No wonder they were angry with you, Cearnach. So she finally listened to you.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think she would have done so if I hadn’t been there and they hadn’t reacted the way they had. They proved to Calla what I’d been talking about all along.” Cearnach turned to Elaine. “Ready to eat?”
“I’m not all that hungry,” she demurely said.
She looked tired and ready to go to bed, which immediately made him think of sharing his mattress with her and wishing she was thinking along the same lines. “Keep me company then after I speak with my mother? I’m starving.” He took her arm and led her into the hall, away from his family. He hoped he could whip up something that would appeal to her.
His mother came out into the hall looking determined. He said to Elaine, “I’ll be down in a moment.” In truth, he didn’t want to leave her for a second longer. Even while he’d stood next to her in Ian’s solar, he’d wanted to do so much more.
Elaine seemed to know what he was thinking. She took his hand in hers and squeezed, then reached up and kissed his lips briefly as if she was afraid to do much more in front of his mother or Shelley.
Hell. But when he saw the devilish smile in her eyes and on her lips, he knew her sweet, innocent kiss was intended to entice him. Vixen.
He pulled her hard against him, looked down into her dazzling dark brown eyes, and kissed her for all it was worth. All the pent-up worry about her and the men that had been shooting at them, and the anxiety about her being injured in the falls… all of that came rushing back to him.
He didn’t stop at a sweet, chaste kiss but gave her what he was feeling—relief, desire, and a craving for her so strong that he didn’t want to curb the emotions. When she melted in his arms and kissed him back, pressing her soft body against his arousal, he deepened the kiss.
Both their hearts were pounding as he leaned his forehead against hers, breathed in deeply, smelling her own arousal, and gave her a small wicked smile. She cast just as devilish of a smile back at him.
He kissed her again, then let her go, his body still hot and hard and wanting from holding her. “I’ll be down in a moment,” he said, his voice rough with need.
She nodded.
Shelley was grinning as she took Elaine’s hand and led her toward the stairs. Cearnach stood staring after them until they disappeared, not caring how his mother might react to his impulsivity. But then he noticed that his brothers, his aunt, and Julia had observed the whole thing, too. Fine. They could assume what they would.
Julia was wearing a small smile of approval. His aunt’s brows were raised, a hint of disbelief in her expression. Guthrie shook his head as if he finally got the point that he didn’t have a chance wi
th the little gray wolf. Duncan’s brows were furrowed. He probably figured Cearnach was going to start a war between clans if he took the she-wolf as his mate. Ian closed his gaping mouth and glanced at their mother to see her take on it.
“Coming?” his mother asked, her voice brittle.
He followed her to the library, where three walls were covered in books all the way to the ceiling. A large floor-to-ceiling window was situated between two of the bookshelves, providing a view of the garden during daylight. One whole section of a bookcase had been dedicated to Julia’s werewolf romances as well as some of her favorite authors’ romance stories.
A book with a hot-bodied military man and a wolf on the cover lay on one of the tables, apparently someone’s recent read. He could just imagine Julia insisting that Ian wear a dog tag for her next book. He wouldn’t go for it, Cearnach was sure. No self-respecting wolf would wear something called a dog tag.
After his mother was settled in an overstuffed reading chair, he closed the door. He didn’t move any farther into the library, his whole posture stating that the audience with his mother would be as brief as possible. He crossed his arms in a defensive manner and studied her.
“In the old days you would have killed a wolf who hurt a woman like that. Are you going to kill Vardon, Cearnach?” his mother asked, her tone serious.
In fact, if he hadn’t known her better, he would have thought she was giving him permission to do just that. He certainly hadn’t expected her to ask such a question. He cast his mother a wry smile. “Is that what this is all about?”
“Mate with her,” his mother said.
His jaw nearly dropped to the floor. He had half expected his mother to tell him not to get interested in the woman and to get her out of their castle at the earliest convenience. That she was a source of danger to their people.
But mating? He was stunned as hell that she would even suggest such a thing. He wanted to ask if she’d been nipping the brandy with his aunt before he and Elaine arrived.
His mother shrugged. “She’s protective of you, a good quality in an alpha female. She’s able to stand up to me. I like her.”