“Here’s a twist,” Cormac adds, “Gavin Blackwood - Bruce’s heir - contacted me this morning to tell me their clan wasn’t involved.”
“Do ya’ believe him?” Lachlan snorts.
“I do,” Cormac says. “The Blackwoods are never ones to hide their work. Dougal, let me know what Ian finds from that phone.”
“Aye. I’m heading home to dress my bride up in something just slightly too sexy for this party so I have something bonnie to look at.” Standing, I double-check that there’s no gore on my boots. Rule one in the clan; never bring blood home.
Even though I caught maybe three hours of sleep last night, I feel oddly energized and excited to show Isla off.
“This is an important debut as a MacTavish wife,” I say, pulling on my suit jacket. “If you can stay sweet, it will dispel all the rumors that I had to steal my bride.”
“You did steal me, actually. Rather an awkward narrative, that.” She’s struggling with the zipper of her dress, and I brush her hands away, running a knuckle against her skin as I draw it up.
“Aye, but presenting us as a happy couple also leaves out that awkward moment when you broke into our vault and stole a priceless object,” I smile pleasantly, enjoying her irritation.
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes, this impertinence will be addressed later as she holds up two pairs of shoes. I point to the black heels and she holds on to my shoulder for balance as she slips them on.
The moment hits me and I realize how much I want this. The way we get dressed, moving around each other so easily. The small, mundane moments I never would think to value.
“Are ya’ ready?” She’s looking up at me, her beautiful sea-glass green eyes alight.
“Aye.” Cupping her face, I kiss her thoroughly. “You look beautiful, wife.”
“Thank you. Also, now my lipstick is smeared,” she says, winking at me as she turns back to the mirror.
“Who in particular are we impressing today?” Isla asks.
I’ve got her hand on my thigh and if this SUV had a privacy screen, I’d have her on her back, dress flipped up, and having her perfect little pussy for dinner.
“Robert Johnson will be there, he wants to launder money in our island holdings but doesn’t want to pay our rate,” I say, “he does love to puff up and impress the women.”
“Do you want me to sleep with him?”
I nearly pop a blood vessel in my eye until I realize she’s fecking with me. “Only if you want me to shoot him into a dozen pieces. No. Be canny. See how he reacts. I know you’re an expert with body language. On the legal side, we’re expanding our construction interests into England and Ireland. Michael Knowles is my target there. He’s the developer who has the bid to revitalize the Tower Hamlets and Newham sections of London. It will be a billion-dollar project by the end of it.”
She’s already looking both men up on my phone.
Wait.
“When did you steal my phone?”
“I didn’tstealit,” she says haughtily. “You’ll be getting it back. Thus, not a theft.” She eyes the pictures of both men and nods. “Targets sighted.”
The business event we’re attending takes over most of the Grand Central Hotel in downtown Glasgow, a magnificent old building with an ancient clock tower, crowded with antiques and crystal chandeliers. Most of the attendees have already arrived, so I parade Isla past them, enjoying the avid whispers.
“Ready?” I pause just outside the ballroom doors.
She shrugs, “I know the plan, let’s get both men in the bag before we leave.”
“My clever wife.” Leaning down, I whisper, “I’m wanting to kiss you again and smear that pink lipstick. Though working the room with a massive erection is not ideal.”
“Then stop looking at me like I’m buried treasure and you’re a horny pirate,” she whispers back, delicately biting my earlobe.
I’ll be workin’ the room with astonnerafter all.
Isla…
This isn’t the first big corporate event I’ve worked, though doing it with the MacTavish Clan’s best interests in mind instead of the Blackwood’s is a paradigm shift.
