Meara cast her eyes to the ceiling. “Connor, only you would think of your stomach when your sister’s barely settled.”
“As he knows I’m fine, and if I wasn’t, cooking would settle me the rest of the way.”
“We’ll bring it in here.” Fin spoke in a tone that brooked no argument. “If you’ve a mind to cook, you can cook here. If you need something I don’t have, we’ll get it. I’ve some work in the stables, and more upstairs, but someone will be close.”
He walked out, she assumed to bring in her groceries.
“Give him a break.” Iona spoke quietly, got up herself, rubbed a hand on Branna’s arm. “Giving him a break doesn’t make you weak, won’t make him think you are. It’ll just give him a break.”
“He might have asked what I wanted to do.”
Connor kissed her temple. “You might have asked the same of him. We’ll be off then, and back in time for dinner. If you need anything, you’ve only to let me know.”
When they all left, Branna sat back down and had a good brood into the fire.
13
BRANNADECIDED,GIVENTHECIRCUMSTANCES,SHE’Djust call what she needed to her. It seemed the best place to work on her research and studies would be the breakfast nook in his kitchen, and that way all would be close to hand when the roast was in the oven.
He kept his distance from her, and his silence—and both, she knew bloody well, were deliberate acts. Let him have his temper, she thought. She had one of her own, and the cold shoulder he offered only kept it stirred on a simmer.
On top of it all, it irritated her not to be able to stamp out the pleasure of cooking a real meal in his kitchen. It had such a nice flow to it, such fine finishes, such canny little bits of businesses such as the pot filler near the cooktop should she have a big pot to fill and not want to haul it from sink to stove.
And the cooktop she coveted. Then she might’ve had a six-burner commercial grade herself if she’d envisioned cooking for so many so often.
It didn’t seem right a man who didn’t cook himself should have a kitchen superior to hers—and she’d considered her own a dream of style and efficiency.
So she brooded about that while she let the meat marinate, and set up her temporary desk in his nook.
Another cup of tea, a couple of biscuits—store-bought, of course—and her dog along with Bugs snoring under the table. She passed the time working on the formula for the second poison—ingredients, words, timing—sent a long email to her father in case he knew, or knew anyone who knew, more of demons than she could uncover.
By the time Fin came in, grubby from the stables, she’d abandoned her books and sat at his counter peeling carrots.
He got out a beer, said nothing.
“You’re the one who put me in this kitchen.” She didn’t snap, but the edge of one colored her tone. “So if you’re going to cling to your anger with me, take yourself elsewhere.”
He stood in a ragged jacket and sweater more ragged yet, jeans giving way at one knee and boots that had seen far better days. His hair mussed and windblown around the cool expression on his face.
It only egged on her own temper he could look so bloody sexy.
“I’m not angry with you.”
“You’ve an odd way of showing your cheerful feelings then, as you’ve been in and out of the house twice and said not a word to me.”
“I’m buying a couple more hacks for the guideds and working a deal on selling one of the young hawks to a falconer. It’s my business, one that keeps all this running, and I came in and up to my office so I wouldn’t be talking terms in front of the hands and the young girl in for her afternoon lesson.”
He tipped the beer toward her, then drank. “If it’s all the same to you.”
“It’s all the same, and still the same I’m saying to take your temper somewhere else. It’s a bloody big house.”
“I like them big.” He walked over, stood on the other side of the island. “I’m not angry with you, so don’t be a fecking idjit.”
She felt the very blood kindle under her skin. “A fecking idjit is it now?”
“It is from where I’m standing.”
“Then if you insist on standing there, it’s me who’ll go elsewhere.” She slapped down the peeler, shoved back, and got halfway to the doorway before he took her arm.
