Page 3 of Tempted

“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.” Caleb says, unimpressed.

“Fuck you, man.” Malcolm whines. “Have you got anything better?”

Caleb rises and walks towards the door, having had enough.

“I’ve got to get back to work.” I tell them. “I’ll let Jack and Dalton know what’s happened, so they can have security on guard.”

Malcolm rises and takes steps towards me. “No need, lass. Me and Declan have a meeting with them later. We can let them know. There’s no need to trouble yourself.”

Declan also rises, as we all get ready to leave the boardroom. “If there’s been a death in your family, lasses, I doubt that the Ford brothers will expect you back in the office, anyway.”

Malcolm nods. “That’s true. How about I swing you by your place to grab some things, and then take you to my place, so you can get yourself settled?”

The thought of being alone with Malcolm right now is a double-edged sword. Being in his presence sets my pulse off,waking things in my body that have long forgotten what it’s like to be around a man like him, but I also feel shameful. Why my body is turning at a time like this is beyond me. Malcolm and I, up until his bashful acknowledgment not five minutes ago, have been just friends. And it’s taken this tragedy to open a door that was otherwise closed. “Sure. Let me just call over to Colton and let him know.” I’d slipped out on my lunch to visit granny, and I haven’t returned. The least I can do is put his mind at ease; in case he is worried.

“Call him on the way, lass.” Malcolm says, and his hand goes into mine, as he guides me out the door.

“I’ll talk to you later, Moira.” I tell my cousin, giving her a warm glance through pursed lips. Neither of us are the emotional type, but granny meant a lot to us both. Moira answers with her own smile and wink.

We exit the building through the back and get into Malcolm’s truck. He’s silent all the way to my place, and I find it peculiar that he doesn’t have to ask where I live, but all the same, it isn’t peculiar. We are both employed by his Uncle Dougall Harris, CEO of Harris Investments, and anyone that sets foot in this company is given a full investigation. It wouldn’t surprise me if at one point in time or another, that my house was staked out by someone either related to or in the employ of one of the Harris boys. As we arrive at my modest home, a small condominium not far or dissimilar to my cousin Moira’s, Malcolm follows me inside, not offering to wait in the truck.

“Can I give you a hand with anything, lass?” He asks, and it’s the first thing he’s said since we left Harris Investments together. He didn’t even utter a word when I spoke briefly to Colton Ford on the phone on the way over.

“No, that’s okay.” I tell him with a small smile. Malcolm has never been inside my home. I’ve had my share of men here, but never one like this. As he releases my hand, the electriccharge from his touch remains. It’s like my feelings for him have suddenly awakened, and I’m not sure what to do with them. Normally, I’ll have bedded a man by now, but with Malcolm, our friendship, albeit accidental, has been nothing but innocent until now. “So, you told Declan that you and I were seeing each other?” I test.

“Aye.” He nods, face pink again. “I’m sorry if I offended you, lass. I just...I shouldn’t have said anything. I suppose that my hopes are showing. My cousins seem to have a microscope on me at the best of times, and I didn’t want anything to happen without their knowledge.”

“I’d call that putting the cart before the horse, wouldn’t you?”

He shrugs, but his tone is reasonable. “Call it what you want to, lass. But we have been spending some time together recently.”

“And you call that a relationship, Malcolm?” I ask, but my angle is mild. I’m merely testing him, not accusing him.

“I don’t have much experience with relationships, lass. I’ll admit. But I’d rather be upfront and honest with the people that sign my paychecks, than have them find out later, and be guilty of hiding something.”

I admire his honesty. I also think he’s adorable. I also can’t deny that he’s right.

He changes the subject. “So, what are you going to do about this kin of yours that’s after you? Were you close to him?”

“I never cared for the little fucker if you want the truth. I haven't seen him in years, of course, but the last time I saw him he was a whiny, spoiled, little mama's boy. I didn't see him for a number of years, but Moira was always telling me that he was always in trouble with the lasses.”

“What sort of trouble?”

“He's a true Scot. All about the drink and the whores.”

“I suppose that you like him even less now that he's murdered your granny.”

“That lad needs to fry in jail. But I know that the justice system here in the States pales in comparison to the one in Scotland. And since he's probably fled back home, he'll go into hiding now, and he'll get off.”

His hands rest on my hips comfortingly. “Once my Uncle Dougall gets wind of this, he'll help, I'm sure of it. Especially since the motherfucker came after us first.”

I can't deny the increased blood flow through my body at his touch. I allow myself a glance at his lips. I notice that his eyes go to my lips as well. Although my mind is all over the place right now, there is no mistaking one thing, and that is that I'm hopelessly attracted to Malcolm Harris right now. Granted, I've been with my share of men, and I don't normally ignore my healthy libido. But something has kept me from reacting, and something continues to halt my reaction to his touch, despite knowing that Malcolm likely feels the same way about me.

I shake off the feeling of lust, forcing myself to focus on the subject at hand. “Aye, I'm not one to rest once I've been fucked, Malcolm. Whether your Uncle Dougall helps or not, Callum will pay for this. For defending his guilty da at Moira's expense, for coming after my family, and for killing our granny. Mark my words, Malcolm. I will not rest until that man pays dearly.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“I've got something better than a plan, Malcolm.” I say, feeling my purse strap still over my shoulders, knowing what I've stored inside there, arming myself against my cousin.

---