“Now, Leith, you can leave me here while you tend to your lady,” she says with her signature class.
I shake my head. “No, ma’am, I’ll need a word with your house help.”
I open the door and let her in. She bangs her boots by the door as if to shake off the snow, but I suspect she’s trying to sneakily alert her staff that I’m coming in.
Cairstina watches as I step through the doorway, and I beckon her to come.
I clear my throat when I see Nan’s caretaker sprawled on the sofa with the television blaring, but he still doesn’t move. Cairstina’s eyes grow wide as I walk over to him and give him a brisk brush of the shoulder.
“Wake up.” Anger sails through me as he shrugs off my touch and rolls over on the couch. I’ve had enough.
I ignore Nan’s gasp and the way Cairstina’s hands go over her mouth in horror as I lift the bastard up bodily and give him a solid shake. His eyes fly open and his jaw drops.
“Mr. Cowen, sir! Is everything alright?”
“Now, Leith,” Nan begins, but I hold up my hand to stop her.
“No,” I tell him, furious. “It’s not bloody alright. I caught my grandmother down by the graveyard alone, wearing nothing but a housecoat. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“I’m sorry, sir!” he stammers. “I didn’t mean to—I shouldn’t have?—”
I toss him to the couch. “Get your things. You’re fired.”
“Mr. Cowen, sir, please don’t sack me, I promise you, I?—”
“You have ten minutes. I’ll get a ride to escort you home.”
He hangs his head and gathers his things. I turn to Nan, ignoring the look of reproach she gives me.
“Och, Leith, honestly.” She’s the mother-in-law of one of Scotland’s most wanted. She needs protection, not a lazy arse asleep on the bloody couch.
“I’ll have someone come to you before the day is through.”
My phone buzzes with a text, and when I look, I’m surprised to see it’s Cairstina.
I can help.
I give her a withering look and shake my head. “No.”
She scowls and sends another text.
She can’t be left alone, and I’m not allowed to leave, and what else am I supposed to do when you’re meeting with your men? Hmm?
Bugger, damn sass from a text.
I scowl at her. Last night she felt my palm across her arse, but bloody hell if she doesn’t end up with her knickers around her ankles before the day’s through. She reminded me of the meeting I damn near forgot myself. Has the lass bewitched me?
I shake my head when another text comes through.
Please? Pretty please?Followed by an angel emoji with those long eyelashes.
I roll my eyes.
“I’ll make an exceptionjust this once,and on onlyonecondition.”
She nods eagerly.
“I’ve a guard at the door and another at the back.”
