Page 10 of Loving Graystoke's Heir

Tamsin could see Magheli shake his head from the far side of the room. It was only too easy to understand his meaning. The men between them were by no means muscle-bound, but there were four of them and they all had an edge that said they were not averse to bloodying their knuckles. And the look in their eyes, at least the eyes that she had seen, told her that it didn’t matter to them that she was a woman. They’d hurt her if they had to if it meant protecting their rather cushy way of life.

Yeah, equality!

“Going forward,” she repeated as she struggled to order her thoughts. Her concern for Donal’s safety was playing havoc with her thoughts. “At the very least informing GEI that you’ve squandered away the fees that you’ve been paid for services that I’m sure you didn’t render. And that means, I’ll have to send a report to the Board of Directors. They’re the ones who approved your fees. After that,” she had the good sense to start walking toward the door leading out to the lobby area of the offices, “the Police Service might have to be informed as well.”

Instead of getting angry, her adversary wore a self-impressed smile. “Go ahead,” he shrugged, “make your report to the Board. I only answer to Graystoke. You don’t matter to me.”

“Graystoke?”

She saw the realization in his eyes that said he’d stumbled somehow.

“So, you’ve at least talked to Donal. Is that what you’re telling me?”

Tamsin saw the way the man’s features darkened and she saw the tension riding high on his shoulders, but before she could press him for an answer, she felt Magheli try to lift her off her feet.

“Come along, Miss Ellery. I do believe we’ve outstayed our welcome.”

It made her just a little bit happy that it took him no small amount of effort to get her outside, but once she felt the natural heat out of doors she regained some of her composure.

She failed to ignore Magheli’s laughter as he rounded the Jeep and climbed in behind the steering wheel.

“Really? You’re going to laugh at me?”

He busied himself with the road, but he turned to give a quick look. “I’m not laughing at you, Miss Ellery. I’m sad to say I was hoping you’d squirm free enough to give them a little hell. I regret ushering you outside when I did. I haven’t had this much fun in a long time.”

She rolled her eyes and sank back against the passenger seat. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.”

“I’m not without my charm.”

She sighed and looked out at a row of apartment buildings along the street. “Well, maybe you can use your charm to figure out where we should go next.”

“You say that like you doubt that I’ll be able to figure something out.” A long moment passed before he continued. “But, I think I have just the thing to make you change your mind. I know a man.”

She felt her teeth grind together. “With more than fifty-million people in this country, I’d hope that you would ‘know a man.’”

“Testy.” His chuckle crawled over her skin. “I kind of like it.”

“Really?” She huffed.

“What can I say? I like a challenge.”

“Who is this man?” She had to change the direction of the conversation before she ran them both off the road. “The one you think can help.”

“Oh, he can help. I don’t doubt that. The issue,” Magheli stared straight ahead through the windshield, “is if he will. There isn’t a thing that happens in the southern half of the continent that he doesn’t know about, but he’s… picky about who he helps.”

Tamsin’s hands fisted in her lap. “I’ll find a way to get him to help. I just need you to tell me as much as you can about him.”

Magheli squinted into the sun. “It won’t do you any good. One look at you and he’ll have made up his mind.”

She heard the sour note in his voice and saw the way his hands flexed on the steering wheel. Curious, she had to ask, “He turned you down before, didn’t he?”

Magheli gave her a look that spoke volumes. “How did you know?”

“Just a feeling.” Smiling, she looked out the window and nodded her head to the music she heard on the radio. “I think I’m going to like this man.”

“Just my luck.” He sighed and bent forward to lean against the wheel.

Tamsin tried to focus on the possibilities of the moment rather than the challenge. “I’m hoping it’ll change mine.”

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