Page 6 of Sadie's Highlander (Highland Protector 1)

“Allow me,” Alec said, slowly rising from his seat. Ignoring Delia completely, he spoke to Sadie as though she were the only one in the room—and as far as he was concerned, she was.

A knowing smile settled across Dwyn’s face. He nodded for Alec to continue as he took his post beside an enormous whiteboard that had appeared in the center of the back wall at the touch of a hidden button.

Motioning to his left, Alec respectfully nodded to each of his family members as he made the introductions. “My brothers: Grant, Ramsay, and Ross.”

Each of the brothers acknowledged the women with a single slow nod.

Alec slightly bowed toward his father sitting at the far end of the table. The older man, his wild, unkempt hair white as lamb’s wool and his worn denim shirt sporting almost as many threadbare spots as his tattered overalls, seemed oblivious to the goings-on in the room and was totally absorbed in what looked to be an oblong shard of softly glowing quartz cradled between his arthritic hands. “And this is Emrys Danann MacDara. My father.”

At the sound of his full name, Emrys peered up from the crystal, studied Sadie for a few moments, then looked to Alec. Without smiling, he jerked his chin downward in a single sharp nod. “She will do. The other must no’ be trusted under any circumstances.”

Delia immediately reacted with what sounded like a cross between a growl and a stifled scream. “Like I said before, I did not come here to be insulted.”

She launched back up from her seat so quickly that the damaged heel on her shoe finally snapped. Stumbling to one side, she grabbed hold of the chair to keep from falling all the way to the floor. “Dammit! Would you people just show me the way out of this dungeon? I’ve had enough historical bullshit for one day. I can find another location for the shoot with no problem.”

Alec studied Sadie a bit closer. From the amusement sparkling in her dark eyes and the subtle color barely kissing her cheeks, the lovely woman was holding her breath to keep from laughing at her sister.Aye, lass. Yer sister is quite the fool.

“ ’Tis a pity ye’ve decided as such,” Alec noted, not even bothering to hide his amusement at Delia standing with her broken shoe in one hand and her bare foot lifted as though she were some sort of knob-kneed wading bird. “We had but three terms to add to yer agreement and then yer six weeks of filming was to be approved to commence immediately.”

Emrys chuckled softly to himself, spinning the crystal shard on the table and excitedly drumming his fingertips atop the marble each time the rock stopped turning and pointed directly at Sadie.

Grant stood, shoving his chair back as he held out a hand to Delia. “I’ll be happy to escort ye out if ye feel ye canna stomach any more time with my brother.” He highlighted the invitation with a mischievous wink. “I understand completely, ye ken? He fair gives me a case of the red arse a good deal of the time too.”

Delia rolled her broken shoe in one hand as though fighting against the urge to lob it at the men. Hanging on to the back of the chair, she gimped around to stand behind it. She ignored Grant, focusing her sour-faced glare on Alec. “I’m listening. What terms?”

“Show her the map.” Alec motioned to Dwyn, then faced the huge whiteboard behind them.

Dwyn complied with a click of the small remote he held in his hand. An aerial view of the park, with all details and landmarks clearly identified, came into view.

Hmpf. One of the better changes of this time. Much more accurate than maps drawn upon parchment or etched on hides.Most technology befuddled him. Frustrating complications supposed t’save time. More oft than not, they were a large pain in the arse.

Alec heartily approved of this particular advancement. He walked over to the board, took up the laser pointer from the whiteboard’s tray, and fixed the red dot on a small golden label in the northwestern-most point of the map. “Term number one: Ye willna under any circumstances have yer crews go anywhere near this building. Castle Danu and a perimeter of five miles around it is strictly prohibited. This castle is not to be disturbed and this point is not negotiable. Period.” He turned and glared at Delia. “If I catch any of yer company near that castle or on that land, ye’ll rue the day ye were born. D’ye ken my meanin’ clearly?”

Delia white-knuckled the back of the chair, lifted her chin, and squared her shoulders. “And the other terms? I believe you mentioned three?”

Alec shifted his attention to Sadie. Eyes wide and leaning slightly forward in rapt interest, she was studying the map as though it were a cherished work of art. And it was. The historical theme park that so easily protected and hid the Heartstone and the goddesses’ sacred weapons was as precious to him as if it were his child. Sadie felt the park was more than just a business to him. He saw it in her eyes.

Nodding at Sadie, Alec slowly approached the table. “Your sister, Mistress Sadie Williams, must vouch for Realm Spinners Productions—assure us that yer company will abide by all the terms currently listed in your contract and by those added here today.” Alec paused and dipped his chin in polite acknowledgment of Sadie’s quick intake of breath. “I trust this woman.” He turned back to Delia. “I’ve already established how I feel about you.”

Delia’s mouth flattened into an angry, overly lipsticked line and the leather back of the chair squeaked in protest as she clenched it even tighter. “My sister will vouch for my company. Won’t you?” She glared down at Sadie, her expression clearly threatening Sadie to say the right thing or else.

Sadie’s sleek dark brows arched a notch higher. She glanced at her sister, then barely nodded at Alec. “Uhm…yes. I can try. I…uhm…will do my best to ensure Delia’s company doesn’t breach the terms of the contract—this time. She and I will go over all the listed requirements with the crew just to be sure everything is clear.” She ended the weak affirmation with a short, strangled cough, as though the words had nearly caught in her throat.

“I’m sure my sister is just nervous,” Delia hurried to explain. “She knows we always abide by our contracts. Now, what’s your third term?”

Alec rounded the table, stood directly beside Sadie, and held out his hand. “Ye will be assigned to me for the extent of the six weeks of filming. Private quarters at MacDara Keep will be provided for yer comfort. Ye’ll want for nothing.”

Sadie’s eyes flared wide, filled with leeriness and shock. “Assigned? To you? And what exactly do you mean by private quarters?” Sadie glanced down at Alec’s extended hand, then slowly lifted her gaze to his face. Her tempting mouth went slightly ajar. She blinked slowly as though trying to fathom what he had just said. “I need a little more clarification, if you don’t mind.”

“Of course she can be assigned to you.” Delia hobbled around the chair and jutted out her open hand to seal the deal. “But I must warn you, she talks incessantly and is usually way more trouble than she’s worth.”

Alec sent up a silent prayer to the goddesses.Give me the strength t’keep from back-handin’ this foul woman.He ignored Delia’s extended hand, focusing solely on Sadie. “Ye will stay in the guest wing at our private keep and report t’me daily—first thing each morning—for breakfast, in fact. Ye will spend each day of the six weeks of filming at my side, explaining the process t’me and proving that we didna err in granting Realm Spinners Productions access to our beloved park.”

Sadie clenched her fists in her lap, her unblinking gaze still locked on Alec’s extended hand. “I’ll have to think about that option and get back to you on it. I’m not sure that would be in the best interest of…the uhm…the company.”

Disappointment twitched in the center of his chest, but admiration for Sadie’s leeriness helped temper the dull ache.Good. I would expect nothing less from a woman who properly respects herself.

Delia thumped her broken shoe against the back of Sadie’s chair. “She misspoke. Of course she’ll do it. Won’t you, Sadie?” Delia tossed down the shoe and yanked on Sadie’s arm as though trying to put her hand in Alec’s grasp.

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