Page 29 of Tempted

Rush and I both look at our uncle. Our jaws are on the floor. “Are you crazy?” I squeak.

“I've never been so serious, lads. That's one thing that we do not have on our staff, aside from your Auntie, and that's a smart woman. She's out to get what she wants, and as sure as the nose on my face, she gets it.”

“We have plenty of lasses on staff.” Rush counters.

“Not like that, lad.”

I'm really annoyed. I thought that Dougall would eat him for lunch. “So you're not pissed that he deceived you? And worse, that he didn't marry her? You were so hell bent on me putting a ring on her finger, so why is he any different?”

“Do you want to marry her, after all? Is that what this is about?”

My face sours, like I just ate a lemon. “God, no. But, aren't you pissed thatRushdidn't marry her?”

“Well, she and her da are coming in to sign a contract. That's all I wanted.”

I’m so pissed. “And you don’t give a damn that he lied to you?” I shout.

He pushes his hands onto my shoulders and talks through his teeth. “Listen, I'll be the judge of when I’m pissed off, and I’ll deal with your brother, lad. You just keep your dick where it belongs and keep your mouth shut! You do anything to jeopardize this deal with the Mackenzies and you’ll wish that you weren’t born, got it?!”

My eyes bulge. “Aye, sir.”

He pats my shoulder, face relaxed. “Good. Now. Let’s get back to business. When Clare and her da come in to sign, Malcolm, I want you to deal with them. I want her to feel right at home, doing what she’s comfortable doing. If she wants to do anything, no matter how ridiculous, you do it. Understand?”

“Aye, sir.” I repeat, stunned.

“Good.” He pats me again, pleased. Never in my life have I been more confused. Dougall follows Declan out the door and Rush and I stand there, staring at each other.

“Fuck, he’s good.” Rush says finally. “You see what he did there?”

It takes me a moment to realize how strategic the man is. He diffused a fight without effort. He removed the anger between us and set us both straight. He also reversed some of the ill opinion we have of Clare, and he did this all with grace and dignity. “Aye. He knows what he’s doing, that’s for sure.”

That's when Uncle Dougall sticks his head back in again. “And this storm?”

“Aye?” I say.

“Make sure your staff know the protocol, hm?”

“Aye.” Rush states.

“Good.” He frowns. “I’m heading back to Scotland with your Auntie before it hits. Call me when it passes, or if you need me.”

“Will do.” I nod.

When he closes the door again, which Rush and I agree that he just came back to ensure that we weren’t fighting again, since everyone knows the weather protocols here, Rush says to me. “So, what are you going to do about Clare? Are you going to tell her that you know the truth?”

I scoff. “You heard Uncle Dougall. If I confront her, I could face her ripping up the contract and walking away, and then he’ll have my balls for sure.” I tip my chin at him. “And what are you going to do if you see the bitch around here? Do you think Uncle Dougall was serious? That he’d hire her?”

“Don’t be a fool, Malcolm.” He tuts. “She’d never leave her da’s business. And as for seeing her here, she already knows that we’re finished. I’ll go my way and she’ll go hers. It’s simple.”

“So, what are you going to do? Are you heading home to work remotely, as per hurricane policy?”

“What areyougoing to do? What about keeping watch over Steph?”

“I think I’ll leave Rory to that. She’s more than I can handle, frankly.”

“Are you sure? I mean, you did fuck Clare before me.” He teases. Then he sees my face and takes a step back. “Too early?”

I feel my lip curl into a snarl. “A tad.”

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