Page 35 of Heirs and Graces at Highland Hall
Bex had never once heard Fergus talk about anyone who worked for him as ‘staff’. In fact, she would have bet her new corner office that he knew the first and last names of every person who worked for him, but it was probably wrong to expect the same of Kieron. Until now, he had been in and out of this world so sporadically. And he was obviously trying. ‘Now, come. Sit down. I’d offer you something to drink, but I just headed downstairs and we’re out of coffee. I’ll make sure we’ve got plenty in tomorrow. Although…’ He offered the slightest flickerof a grin. ‘If you’d like to have this conversation over something stronger, maybe later tonight, I’d be happy to oblige?’
The line could have sounded cheesy. A blatant chat-up line, but there was something about Kieron that was effortlessly charming. Was it a boarding school thing? she wondered. He’d told her he went to boarding school, so perhaps it came from that. Or maybe it was just natural charm. She’d certainly worked with well-educated people who had no concept of basic manners, but Kieron wasn’t one of them. Not when he was speaking to her anyway.
‘My boss, Nigel, rang me yesterday,’ she said, making it clear the conversation was going to happen now.
‘I hope there aren’t any issues?’ His eyes widened, as if the question was genuine. Was he not aware of what had happened?
‘Not at all. He wanted to thank me for all the extra business I’ve brought his way. Though, obviously, it was businessyoubrought his way. I assume you are the reason he had so many people give him my name?’
‘Oh?’ There it was again; definite surprise. Although it quickly transformed into a smile accompanied by that twinkle in his eye. There was no way someone could learn to do something like that. No, that was pure charm alone. ‘Well, I’m glad I could help. Like I said, you’ve done such a great job for me. I really appreciate it. Actually, I’ll be rather disappointed when everything is finalised. I’m not sure what the castle’s going to be like without you here.’
He held her gaze with an intensity that caused her mouth to dry. ‘We’ve still got plenty of things to sort out before we leave.’ Bex tried to keep her tone neutral, not wanting to say anything that might hint at the complications they were facing with Fergus’s will. ‘We could be here a little while longer.’
‘Well, I’m not going to complain if that keeps you a little closer.’ She swallowed hard. While the room was notoriouslywarm, she wasn’t sure that all the heat was coming from the fireplace. ‘And I should probably tell you that I wasn’t aware your boss was going to ring you at all. Or that I’d actually succeeded in getting you more clients. I sent out a WhatsApp message to some friends in London. To be honest, I didn’t know if any of them would contact the firm, but I’m glad they did. You deserve it.’
‘Thank you.’ How did she keep finding herself looking into his eyes? Bex wondered as she was once again drawn to those deep irises. Although from the way he was looking at her, it felt like a mutual issue.
‘Well, I should probably admit my actions weren’t entirely altruistic.’ Before explaining what he meant, he stood up, walked over to the mantelpiece and picked up a folded piece of paper. ‘This was in my pocket when I got here. It was actually still in my pocket when you walked in and accused me of sitting in Fergus’s chair. I couldn’t decide whether to burn it or give it to you. I am still not entirely sure this is the right thing to do. But here.’
He held out the paper, which Bex realised was actually an airline napkin. When she unfolded it, she found his name and number written inside.
‘I spent the whole flight debating whether to ask one of the air hostesses to give it to you,’ he said. ‘But I chickened out. Then I thought I might see you when we landed, and I actually hung around for a little, but… well, I decided that was kind of creepy to have a man you’d barely had two conversations with loitering at an airport hoping to speak to you again. So I got in a cab, figured that if I was meant to see you again, fate would play its part. Well, that was what I thought for about fifteen minutes, until I completely regretted my decision and wished I’d marched up the plane and asked you out then and there. When you came in here the next morning…’ He let out a trembling breath as he took another step towards her. ‘When you walked in here, shouting atme for sitting in the armchair, there was a reason I kept my back to you for so long; I just didn’t want to believe it was real. That I’d actually found you again. It feels like fate, doesn’t it?’
Heat rose in Bex’s chest, spreading upward. He was a gorgeous specimen of a man who wasn’t intimidated by her own career or ambition. Who clearly respected her for who she was. Wasn’t that what she had spent years looking for, before… before… She wouldn’t let the rest of that thought form. ‘It was certainly a very strange coincidence,’ she said carefully. Kieron took another step towards her.
‘When I came to Lorna’s the other day to invite you to Burns Night, it didn’t quite go as planned. I wasn’t just asking you as an employee or even as a friend. I was asking you to come with me. As my date.’
The words rang in her ears.
He wanted her as his date. Kieron, possible future laird of Highland Hall, wantedher, an average accountant, to be his date at the first official event at the castle since Fergus’s death.
‘Wow,’ Bex said, the word slipping out before she could stop herself.
A pink hue coloured Kieron’s cheeks. ‘I apologise. I’ve caught you off guard, haven’t I?’
‘No! No. Well, actually… yes, completely.’ She laughed nervously. ‘Thank you, though.’
‘Hmm.’ A crooked smile played on his lips. ‘Is that, “thank you, I’d absolutely love to attend as your date” or “thank you, but that’s not an offer I’m going to accept”? It’s fine either way, obviously.’
Bex looked down at the napkin in her hand, the inked number staring back at her. Why the hell was her pulse so fast? It wasn’t like it was the first time a man had asked her out.
‘I actually considered doing something similar,’ she admitted. ‘Well, not sending a napkin, but, at the airport, I was hoping you would be there when I got off the plane.’
‘So is that a yes?’ His eyebrow rose, as did his smile. And Bex wanted nothing more than to say yes, just because it felt like the right thing to do. But that wasn’t a good enough reason to go on a date with someone, was it? Particularly not a date that would be as public as this one.
She hesitated. ‘Things are a little complicated for me at the moment.’
‘Complicated?’ His smile fell by a fraction.
‘I’m just out of a serious relationship.’
‘Oh, I’m sorry. I assume it’s not anybody I know?’ There was no hint of irony in his voice, and Bex realised that he had somehow missed it all. The tense moment in the kitchen when they’d been having breakfast and Duncan had shown up to get dog food. And only moments ago, outside with Ruby. Kieron hadn’t noticed how they had struggled to be together. How their hearts were still in tatters from the knowledge that they would never work together, regardless of how much they loved one another. Bex’s stomach tightened.
‘No.’ She flashed a smile as she lied. ‘Someone back in London.’
‘Right.’ Kieron nodded, before drawing in a long breath. ‘Well, that’s good to know. And there’s no pressure. You don’t have to decide right now. I won’t rescind the offer and I certainly won’t be inviting anyone else. But if you want to stand with me, it would be nice to have a dance or two.’
‘A dance or two sounds nice,’ she said softly, before standing up a little taller and clearing her throat. ‘Well, I should get back to Gordon. He’ll be wondering what I’ve been doing all this time. Thank you, Kieron.’
