Ryker held up his hands. “I’m not the bad guy here. I saw a problem, and I stepped in to stop it.”
“And buying into the company? How does that fit into your plans?”
“I needed to be close, even if you guysprotested. Your father agreed, so we came to an arrangement. Either he or you can buy back the shares when Richard Grant is out of the picture. It was a stipulation your father insisted on.” Ryker slid his hands into his pocket and licked his lips. “Twenty-two seconds…that’s the amount of time it took me to hack your database. Two minutes was the amount of time it took me to break in to set up the surveillance. Thirty is the amount of times Harper has been vulnerable in just the last two days. One…is the number of bullets it will take to kill her. Think of me as her bulletproof vest.”
Ice slid down Harper’s spine as she bit her tongue. “What do you get out of it for helping me…us?”
“I can answer that,” Aunt Betty said, walking into the library. “He needs your help.”
“With what?” Harper asked, pegging Ryker with her gaze, unable to let go of his deceit.
“Locating something. I’m not sure what it is yet, but he’s actively searching for something.”
“I’m going to need a stronger drink,” Harper said, spinning on her heels and storming out of the library. Her mind was hazy as she replayed every word he’d ever told her. The flirting, the twenty questions, the calls. She’d been his research. Afreakin’ pawn. She walked into the kitchen and straight to the liquor cabinet. No way was she going outside and facing all of those nameless people while pasting a smile on her face. No amount of Christmas cheer could fix her mood.
She grabbed a bottle of tequila and set it on the counter. Bracing her hands on the countertop, she lowered her head and squeezed her eyes closed. Of all her clients, why him? Hell, why her?
“I take it that didn’t go well, lass?” Ian asked, resting his hip on the counter.
“No.” She sighed, lifting her gaze. “It seems we have a new partner, and worse than that, he’s been stalking me because he has a hidden agenda.”
“I’m no’ surprised. When you Thatchers get into trouble, it’s always the equivalent of a 747 jumbo jet trying to land in Times Square.”
Laughter escaped from Harper’s lips. “Those are wise words, MacDougall. You should forget you know us and run back to Scotland.”
“Nay, lass. You’re my new entertainment.” He gave her a lopsided grin as she twisted the top off the bottle.
“What would you do if you were a target, and being manipulated?”
Ian rested his hand on the top of the bottle. “I’d do what my father did before me, and his father before him. I’d draw mysword and fight to the death. I wouldn’t wait for the danger to find me. I’d charge all in and take them all by surprise. Do you know what I like about you sisters?”
“We have a pulse and boobs?”
He smiled and winked. “Besides that. You’re like female Highlanders. The lot of you are fierce in your own right. You seize the moment to help when you can and deal with the consequence after the fact. Take a look at your sisters. Quinn was told to forget the emerald. Cara was dead set against helping Coop. It only makes sense that you’ll handle this with the same finesse and stubbornness. Besides, if that disnae work, then I’ll lend you a spare sword and fight by your side until we cut down each and every threat that stands to harm the others or you. You have the MacDougall word.”
“You’re right,” she said, recapping the liquor. “I am a fighter.”
“Aye, you come from a long line of them, lass.”
Chapter Four
The loud voicesand arguing in the library silenced as Harper stomped in, grabbed Ryker’s hand, and hauled him out. She didn’t stop until she had him inside her old bedroom with the door closed. She leaned back against the wood and blew the hair out of her eyes.
Ryker gave her a lopsided grin. “If you wanted to get me into your bedroom, all you had to do was ask.”
“Cut the flirting. When was I vulnerable?”
“Excuse me?”
“When?” she demanded.
“The coffee shop when you spilled your coffee on your concert T-shirt. In the barparking lot, when you were debating to come inside and meet me, which was stupid by the way. I could have been anybody. I could have done anything.” He let out a sigh. “When you were standing, by your window at work, talking on the phone to me. When you opened an unknown package. When your porch light went out and you didn’t replace it.”
“That was you?”
“Yes. You probably have a short. I’ve fixed it three times. Would you like me to continue?”
“If I help you find Grant, and whatever else it is you’re searching for, you’ll leave us alone and let us buy back my father’s shares?”
