Page 11 of Heirs and Graces at Highland Hall
‘We?’ The man’s eyes narrowed.
‘Well, I didn’t know it would be you exactly,’ Bex said, wishing his eyes would stop that damn glittering thing they were doing. ‘I actually imagined he’d have employed some old local lawyer to do the job instead.’
The man’s lips parted into a slight O shape. ‘Oh, you think I?—’
Whatever it was he was going to tell her, he was cut off when her phone rang loudly in her bag.
‘Sorry,’ Bex said, offering an apologetic smile before pulling out her phone and staring at the screen. It wasn’t a number she recognised.
‘Hello?’ she answered.
‘Hello, Rebecca? It’s Gordon here.’
The voice on the other end of the line carried a thick Scottish accent.
‘Gordon?’ she said.
‘The lawyer. I was meant to be meeting you at the castle today. I’m awful sorry, I’m running late. Bloody sheep on the road. I’ll be about another forty minutes.’
‘You’re the lawyer,’ she repeated. A prickling sensation rose on the back of her neck.
‘Aye, are you already there? The nephew arrived last night. Should be able to let you in if you are.’
‘Right…’ Her throat was so dry she couldn’t even answer his question about whether she was at the castle yet, let alone say goodbye before he hung up.
She turned back towards the room, her eyes settling on the man who, only minutes ago, she had assumed was the lawyer she was meeting.
‘You’re not the lawyer,’ she said, still trying to swallow a lump that was trying to stick in her throat.
‘No,’ he replied, the slightest hint of a smirk on his lips.
‘Which means you’re…’
‘I’m Kieron,’ he said, the smile widening. ‘The new laird.’
Bex felt like an idiot. A complete and utter fool. How had she mistaken the new lord – and owner of the land and the castle – for a lawyer? Of course he wasn’t a lawyer. He was gorgeous and charming and not even Scottish. At least, not Scottish sounding. Was this worse than when she’d mistaken Fergus for a groundsman? Probably not, but she’d never actually said to Fergus that was who she’d assumed he was.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she said, her words tumbling out. ‘I’m ever so sorry. I seem to have got confused.’
‘It’s no problem. I was going to point it out, but then you took the call and it appears they cleared it up for you. I’m assuming that was the actual lawyer.’
‘Yes. Yes, it was.’ Bex nodded. Her stomach clenched so tight she wanted the ground to swallow her up.
‘Besides,’ Kieron continued, ‘it was lovely to see how warmly you spoke of my uncle. I understand why he was so fond of you.’
He kept looking at her with that same warm smile, and though she wouldn’t have previously thought it possible, that twinkle in his eye was even greater than it had been before.
‘So, did that actual lawyer say anything of interest?’ he asked. ‘Anything I should know?’
‘No,’ Bex said. The lump in her throat had finally dispersed, although she wasn’t sure whether her overheated state was coming from the fact that she was still wearing a coat, inside a room with a roaring fire going, or because of the way those eyes were continuing to look at her. ‘He was just saying he’d be late. About another forty minutes or so.’
‘Hmm, that is late,’ Kieron pondered, pressing his lips together. ‘I guess I should have known that was how it would be around here. Well, as we’ve got time to spare, I quite fancy breakfast. If you haven’t eaten already, I’d be more than happy for you to join me?’
‘No, no, I haven’t,’ Bex said, horrified by just how quickly her words came out. Though Kieron merely smiled at her response.
‘Good. I was hoping you’d say that.’ His smile stretched into a grin. ‘How does smoked salmon and scrambled egg sound?’
‘Smoked salmon and scrambled egg sound perfect,’ she said.
