Page 6 of Tempted

Da smiles, but his eyes are slit. “Don’t make me think that this changes my mind about the lass, Malcolm. I still think that she’s trouble. But if Colton Ford is going into business with her, then who am I to question him? I trust Colton more than most.”

I lift a hand. “Fine. Just...forget it. I’ll be in my office.”

I head to my office, wishing like hell that I was a fly on the wall during this meeting. Why the hell Uncle Dougall didn’t mention his meeting with Steph and Colton during his barrage is beyond me, but it can only mean one thing: that he didn’t know she was coming. And why Uncle Dougall is meeting with Colton, yet none of us knew this, makes my skin crawl. But that’s the way that the man works. He always keeps us on the edge of our seats and only tells us things strategically. The man is like a machine. His mind is always at work, thinking of his next move.

After checking some emails and getting prepared for a late meeting we have today, where I’m about to get hosed for a deal that I tried to make that went sour, my assistant buzzes me on my desk phone, telling me that I have a visitor. My guess proves right when I hear the tap at my door a few moments later. It’s Steph. “Come in.” I tell her. “Why are you working?” I ask, concern all over my face.

“When you have a meeting about a deal that can bring in two million dollars in one quarter, you go, whether or not your granny just died.” She says matter of factly.

“Aye. I see.” I nod. “Sit.” I gesture to the guest chair in front of me. Her face is unreadable.

“I won’t keep you.” She replies, evidently refusing to sit. “I just wanted you to know that I’m staying with Moira at Declan’s place for now. Moira insisted.”

“That’s a good idea, lass. Declan has excellent security, just as I do.”

“So, you don’t need to worry about me.” She says this like I called her fat earlier, and she’s denying it, like she just joined Weight Watchers, so don’t worry about her being fat or something.

I decide to take the low road here, since I know that I put my ass on the line in telling my cousin about my feelings for her,and in my opinion, she took advantage of that. “It was my Uncle Dougall that insisted.”

“That’s a lie.”

“Aye, actually, if any of my cousins have spoken with you, Uncle Dougall all but told me to keep my distance from you.” I swallow, feeling like shit for saying as much. “In fact, his words, if I recall correctly were, ‘are we running a business, or a refuge for women’.”

She lifts her brow and frowns. “Then I made a mistake coming here.”

“You came to see Colton, didn’t you?” I say as more of a statement than a question.

“Aye, but also Dougall. Colton was consulting with me on a project that he’s working on, which is like one of mine.”

“And he’s paying you for this.” I check.

“Aye. A large sum. One of my designs is what he’s after for their fleet. I’ve patented it but he’s willing to give me a generous amount for my troubles.”

“He’s buying your patent?”

She shakes her head no. “No. He just wants to ensure that he doesn’t get sued. He wants to replicate some of my concepts and alter them for his needs.”

“Aye. So, he didn’t mention this to Dougall, then.”

“No. But because of the large sum that he’s paying me, he figured it was best if I came to discuss this with your Uncle as well. And it was just as well, since I had to sign paperwork for it.” She licks her lips, and there’s something behind those eyes of hers, but I can’t place what it is. “I’m guessing that Dougall didn’t think you or your cousins were fit to deal with something so involved.”

Ah, she’s being a bitch. That’s what was behind her eyes.

“Dougall is the CEO of this company, along with his wife. He can see any client that he wishes to without our consent or association. He’s done this many times.”

“Aye, but this time, it’s rattled you, hasn’t it.” She says, playing with me. She wants to piss me off, just like I pissed her off earlier. I’ve never had a pissing match with a lass before, and I’m not sure that I like it. I can’t punch her in the face, for one.

I just smile.

“You love to be in control, don’t you, Malcolm.”

“As do you, lass.” I nod once for emphasis.

“That’s the difference between me and you, Malcolm. I’m a business owner and you’re just another hamster in the wheel.”

“I thought you were an engineer.” I point out.

“I’m the engineer that owns the business.”

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