Page 78 of Wild Scottish Fortune

“Noted.” Kaia smiled. “Well done on that.”

I couldn’t hide my smile.

“I’ve brought a portfolio specific to gates that I’ve worked on in the past, but I also work with other elements, should you need something more specific.” Kaia switched into work mode, digging a folder out of her satchel, and I opened it, flipping through glossy pages of gorgeous gates.

“Och, Kaia. This one. It’s stunning.” I tapped my finger on a gate made to look like thorns and leaves, with gold etching on the petals of the roses.

“Yeah, that was a fun one to do. I love when a client is willing to think outside the box.”

“I was hoping to do something with the name or the logo, but maybe we could incorporate a thistle design too?” I stepped back, framing the entrance with my hands, noting how the creamy stone walls worked nicely against the backdrop of green forest and rolling hills behind the distillery. Adding an element of nature into the gates would make it go more seamlessly with the gardens and forest surrounding it.

“Could do that. What about swords?” Kaia turned and nodded to the castle. “Or something armor like?”

“Also interesting. Would it be a big deal to mock-up a few designs?”

“No problem at all. I love this kind of stuff. Particularly with a building like this.” Kaia pursed her lips and shook her head. “It’s why I came over here. You just don’t get to work on spaces like this in the States.”

“No, I don’t imagine you have quite the history we do.”

“Orla, hi!” I turned as Willow came out of the castle, her cat sauntering after her, and I waved.

“Willow, this is Kaia, a fellow American. She’s just moved to town and is a metalworker. We’re discussing designs for a custom gate.”

Willow’s eyes narrowed as she looked Kaia up and down before she brightened.

“What kind of metalwork? Is it industrial only? Have you considered chain mail? Or jewelry?”

“I do both, actually. Depends on my mood really.” Kaia and Willow beamed at each other, fast friends, and I had to admire the woman. Where it took me ages to warm up to people, Kaia seemed to do so effortlessly.

“Even better. I’m a designer and I’ve been playing with some ideas for kind of a chain mail crop top of sorts? That you could wear alone or throw on over a band T-shirt, you know?”

“Totally. I can work on it, though chain mail takes time. It’s an exacting work, hooking all those links together, and then soldering them closed as well.”

“I can imagine. That’s why we charge the premium price, don’t we?” Willow grinned.

Calvin, her cat, brushed against her legs and Willow shot him a look before angling her head at Kaia. I wondered if the cat was communicating with her like she’d told me he was capable of doing. He was cute, I’d give him that, and I crouched to give his ears a wee scratch.

“You’re a handsome wee lad, aren’t you?”

“Brrap.” Calvin bumped his head against my hand, and I gave him a good pet while the two women chattered aboutchain mail and fashion. Finally, I stood, knowing I needed to get back to work.

“Kaia, send me those designs when you can. I have to run.”

“So great to meet you, Orla. I’ll follow up soon with a few ideas.” Kaia shook my hand, her grip authoritative, and I nodded my thanks.

“Say, Kaia. Got a moment? I’d like to introduce you to Sophie, the woman who owns this castle.” Over Kaia’s shoulder, Willow shot me a look.

One of those looks that seemed to say she wanted me to pay attention to something.

Or someone that was.

With a jerk of her chin toward Kaia, I understood what she was trying to tell me.

This woman might be the next in the Order.

Pursing my lips, I gave Willow a quick nod of understanding. If so, I was quite pleased. Having another woman who worked in the trades like I did, and with a personality like Kaia’s, would be a benefit to the group. I still wasn’t entirely sure what I brought to the table, but Sophie continued to assure me that I was doing just fine.

I’d passed my second challenge.

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