‘Good morning,’ she said politely. Callum had usually left the house before she was up and about, so it was a surprise to find him still here.
‘I don’t believe you’ve seen the den yet,’ he said, gesturing with one hand inside the door.
Kenziehadn’tseen the den, and she didn’t particularly feel like seeing it right now either, but there was no polite way of getting out of the invitation.
The room was almost as formal as the sitting room on this side of the house. It was exactly how she’d envisioned a room that was Callum’s domain would look, with brown leather chairs and heavy mahogany furniture, carpet that was dark green with splashes of red and gold and a massive desk dominating the room, although she’d expected a bit more tartan and lots of animal heads on the walls.
‘How are you enjoying your stay?’ he asked turning back to face her.
‘It’s been lovely. Poppy’s enjoying herself.’
‘And the big announcement? We all thought that wouldn’t be happening yet.’
‘Yes, well, ideally, a little more time would have probably been better, but Poppy seems to be taking it all in her stride.’ ‘She’s a child.’ He shrugged. ‘They don’t fully grasp the situation like we do.’
‘I think she grasps the situation just fine,’ Kenzie said, wheeling out her professional smile. ‘Kids just adapt more easily to things.’
‘Well, unlike children, adults need to be a bit more careful. I’m sure you appreciate that this has all come as quite a surprise to all of us.’
‘I do.’
‘And my job as head of this family is to protect it.’
A tad medieval, but fair enough.‘I understand that.’
‘Good. So you won’t mind if we insist on a DNA test, then?’
Yes, she very muchwouldfucking mind. She may not have said it, but from the way he lifted his eyebrows, she was pretty sure her expression was mirroring it very clearly. ‘If Ewan wants a test, then he and I will discuss it. I have nothing to hide, but I won’t be putting my daughter through any unnecessary stress.’
‘It’s just a simple cheek swab. No stress involved,’ he countered easily.
He’d obviously already looked into it, a thought that didn’t sit well with her. Of course, it was probably natural that it might cross their minds that someone might be trying to pull the wool over their son’s eyes, but it didn’t make the insultsting any less. ‘As I said, if Ewan wants a DNA test, he and I will discuss it.’
‘Laire-Mor is a large business. Afamilybusiness,’ he stressed pointedly. ‘Naturally, it would look like an attractive prospect.’
Kenzie narrowed her eyes. ‘I had no idea about Laire-Mor before coming here. I have no interest in your property.’
‘Youaren’t the concern,’ he said with a dismissive scoff. ‘It’s making a claim through a child—a child that could be anyone’s—that’s the concern here.’ He was watching her carefully, like she would immediately confess to her dastardly scheme.
But he’d freed her; Callum had abandoned all pretences, now she could do the same. ‘No one’s making a claim on your property, Mr Campbell,’ she said acidly. ‘I can assure you, it’s completely safe.’ She’d had enough. Kenzie took a step sideways to move around him, but his words made her pause momentarily.
‘Good. Because if you think my son is somehow coming into all this one day, you’re sadly mistaken.’ She didn’t bother to dignify his remark with a reply, but the coldness of his tone sent a literal chill through her body. Was he implying Ewan wouldn’t be inheriting anything from his father?How sad.She didn’t know what had happened to drive a wedge between them, but excluding him from what was clearly supposed to be his right as this man’s child was heartless.
In her opinion, Ewan was better off without any of it.
She left Callum’s office without a backwards glance.
Once she was inside her bedroom, she gathered her towel and headed up the hall to the bathroom. Since she had themorning to herself, she decided she needed to take a long, hot shower to rid herself of the lingering negativity she swore she couldfeelon her skin.
Later, she dried herself and wrapped the towel around her tightly before brushing her teeth. Feeling a lot better, she opened the door and ran into a brick wall, letting out anoofas the breath left her body.
‘You okay?’ Ewan asked, his hands holding her upper arms tightly. When she nodded, he let out a small chuckle. ‘We need to stop meeting like this.’
‘It’s not on purpose,’ she snapped, regaining her senses and realising she was, yet again, practically naked in his presence.
‘Are you sure?’ he asked, a twinkle in his eye.
She failed to see the amusement in the situation. ‘I’m positive,’ she grated.
