Page 4 of Edge of Yesterday

Cailean grinned. “One of the best.”

A young, curvaceous brunette stopped beside them and raked her gaze down Cailean’s body. Her eyes shifted to Val.

He shook his head. “Be gone, lass. I’m too old for ye.”

“You should let me be the judge of that, my lord,” she said in a thick cockney accent.

Val snorted. “I dinnae bed children.”

She looked at Cailean.

“The lad is busy. Go on now,” Val said in a stern voice.

She thrust out her full lips in a pout, but moved along with the rest of the crowd.

Val looked at Cailean. “Would ye have preferred I didn’t send her away?”

Cailean shook his head. “You’re right, she’s very young, and I’m not interested in the sword chasers.”

Val lifted a brow. “You’re too young to shun female companionship.”

“You’re not so old yourself.” Cailean would have guessed the man to be about fifty years old.

A corner of Val’s mouth ticked upward. “Perhaps not, but I’m surprised ye havenae sought out a saucy wench.”

Cailean grimaced. “I lost my taste for sword chasers long ago.”

It seemed Val would reply; instead, his eyes shifted past Cailean. His expression darkened and he snapped his gaze onto Lord Dunnett. “Dunnett.” Val nodded at something behind Cailean. Cailean glanced back as Dunnett stepped past him and caught sight of the same TV camera he’d seen earlier. The camera disappeared as Dunnett slipped between the buildings. Cailean faced Val Ross.

“Each year we have to ask some camera crews to leave,” Val said. “There’s always someone who refuses to abide by the rules.”

Cailean knew that camera crews were supposed to remain as unobtrusive as possible, but wasn’t sure what infraction this crew committed.

“They’re jackals one and all,” Cailean said

Val’s expression cleared. “I knew I liked ye, lad.”

Rathais whispered something in Val’s ear.

Val nodded, then said to Cailean, “You received your invitation for dinner at Heatheredge Tower tonight?”

“I did.”

“Well done. I must go, but we’ll see you there.” He grinned. “Don’t let the good folks of Heatheredge drag you into the pubs. The ale will be flowing at the Tower and you’ll need your wits about ye.” He lowered his voice. “We have fairer serving wenches, too.” He winked, then turned and strode away, leaving Cailean alone.

Cailean surveyed the street. It was time to make some memories.