“Or whatever.” She could envision his careless shrug. Details like that were never important to him. Claire nibbled on her bacon as he continued, “He came by a couple weeks ago and told me you were having some issues and asked, quite nicely and with generous monetary incentive, to prepare a few things for you. Told me you’d call when you were ready for them. Gotta say, I didn’t believe him, but cash is cash, right?”
Everyone at the table stopped eating and stared at her phone as if they could see through it to her brother in Seattle.
The bacon stuck in Claire’s throat. “This guy wouldn’t happen to be named Donell, would he?”
“Dude! Are you clairvoyant now, too?” Danny sounded impressed. “Yeah. Well, I got most of it ready for you. I just need the pictures.”
“Pictures?” She lifted a brow at Hugh, but all the men seemed as stunned as she by the knowledge Donell had somehow been ‘living’ in the same building as her brother. “Sure, I’ll get those to you this morning.”
“Better hurry,” he added with a playful note to the request. “You know I’ll be going to bed soon.”
“You’ll have them in a minute.”
“Excellent. Once I have the documents prepared, I’ll be on the next flight over there.”
Claire laughed aloud at the thought. “You know the government can track you when you travel, right?”
Silence lasted only a heartbeat. “
“So true. FedEx it is.”
Relief intermingled with a whole new round of curiosity but her brother wasn’t the one with the answers. As always, all roads led back to the enigmatic Donell. God, she hoped the old man didn’t have his sights set on Danny for a future project.
But then, he was part of the project. As she was. How odd yet thrilling it’d been to learn she was descended from Emmy and Connor. She’d thought her only role in all this was saving Hugh from Jameson’s wrath.
“Hey, Danny, did you know our great-great grandfather was a Scottish earl?”
“Truly?” he drew out the word. “I suddenly feel so superior to the common rabble.”
Ha, he always felt superior.
“At least now I know where you got your hoity-toity attitude from,” her brother added.
“Ha-ha,” she said without a trace of humor. “Thank you, Danny. I owe you one.”
“You owe me several, but who’s counting?”
Clearly he was.
“Thank you anyway.”
“Anything for my favorite sister.”
“I’m your only sister,” she replied by way of goodbye and ended the call.
Claire took one of the chairs at the table, tucking one of her feet beneath her, and picked up another piece of bacon. They all ate in silence for a few moments, absorbing this new twist on their convoluted tale. The others were going to love this.
Rhys broke the silence at last. “Yer brother seems a humorous lad.”
Hugh gave a short bark of amusement. “Aye, ye two would get along famously.”
Laird
For all the grim looks come morning, it was obvious to Laird they’d all spent the night combatting the harshness of reality in the most satisfying of ways. All the ladies had looked well tumbled at the breakfast table. Scarlett included. Though she may not have been tumbled in truth, she’d been thoroughly satisfied.
Cherishing love and life because of a madman intent on taking it all away from them had been a priority for them all.
‘Twas a bloody shame a body well-sated one night didn’t translate as easily to peace of mind come dawn. Momentary pleasure couldn’t sweep the dangers awaiting them aside.
