Page 16 of Edge of Yesterday

“Can’t keep your fans waiting.”

“Something like that.”

“Text me when you get back to your room.”

“I’ll call ye tomorrow,” he said. “You need a good night’s sleep.”

“If you really stay the extra three weeks, I could come see you,” she said. “I’ll only be in Glasgow another week at the most and I don’t know when I’ll get back to Scotland.”

“Raylon will have more problems you’ll have to deal with in Glasgow. What about their Edinburgh office?”

“I’m setting up a network security that even I couldn’t breach and they’re putting a good man in charge. Plus, we have issues to deal with in New York that’ll keep me busy.”

“Should I ask what those issues are?”

“If I told you, I’d have to kill you,” she said.

“We cannae have that. I would love to see ye, but there’s nothing techie out here, Ginny. You would go mad in two days. I could—”

“Two days it is, then,” she said. “Call me tomorrow.”

Before he could reply, she’d hung up. Cailean tossed the phone on the bed and shook his head. It seemed his sister was going to visit him in Heatheredge.

~*~

Cailean caught sight of Lady Morgana up ahead on the High Street, talking to a tall, dark haired man. He drew closer and recognized the stranger as the man who had boldly stared at him on his way to Heatheredge Tower last night. He read her displeasure in her profile. Cailean reached them and they both turned.

“Cailean Ross,” the man said.

“Do I know ye?” Cailean asked.

“I doubt it. Constable Drummond.” He extended a hand.

Cailean accepted and returned the firm grip. Police were a required presence at festivals, but he had the feeling there was more to Drummond’s presence than maintenance of the peace.

“I hope everything is all right,” Cailean said.

“Couldn’t be better.” Drummond flashed white teeth in a smile that didn’t reach his keenly intelligent eyes. “I hear you’re the Heatheredge champion this year,” he said.

“I’ve done well,” Cailean replied.

“Ye always do well.”

“Cailean is good with a sword,” Lady Morgana said. “Did you see him at the joust?”

“As a matter of fact, I did. Very impressive,” he said, though Cailean wasn’t sure if he was being sincere or patronizing.

Not patronizing, he decided. He’d encountered competitiveness from plenty of men outside the tourney world. The pettiness manifested in overt male aggression. This man wasn’t jealous. Curious, was the word that came to mind.

“How long do ye plan to stay?” Drummond asked.

There was that curiosity. “Another three weeks, possibly.”

Drummond’s brows rose. “Another three weeks. You’re quite the enthusiast. Where are you staying?”

Cailean debated whether or not to answer. Curiosity was one thing, intrusion another. Still, he could think of no reason to withhold the answer. “Bain’s.”

“Donnie Bain’s. His wife is a good cook.”