Page 42 of Joanna's Highlander (Highland Protector 2)

“Lass?” Grant prodded in a louder voice that sounded altogether too hopeful.

Without looking at Grant, Joanna rested one hand on his forearm and smiled at Sarinda. “I’m fine—just not hungry tonight.” She turned and faced Grant. “And I’m definitely not pregnant.”

Visibly disappointed, Grant straightened and returned his attention to the succulent slab of prime rib on his plate. “Ah well…I suppose there’s plenty of time for children.” He looked up and gave a knowing wink to his brother Alec, seated farther down the table. “All the more time for the tryin’, eh brother?”

Alec grinned as he reached over and lovingly settled his hand atop his wife, Sadie’s, slightly rounding stomach and pecked a quick kiss to her cheek. “Aye, brother. There’s definitely something t’be said for all the tryin’.”

Sarinda rapped the handle of her knife hard against the table. “I’ll have no such talk at this table. Shame on the both of ye. Dinna think that just because ye’ve got women of yer own that yer free to lose yer manners. If they willna box yer ears, I’ll be more than happy t’handle the job.”

Sitting to Sarinda’s immediate left, younger brother Ramsay quietly chuckled and promptly received a backhanded smack hard across the chest.

“And dinna ye start. I canna believe my sons are behavin’ in such a way—not when we have guests.” Sarinda underscored her warning with a narrow-eyed glare at each of her sons. She didn’t include her husband Emrys in her warning look. The elderly chieftain was too absorbed in his meal to even realize where he was. Her features softened as she looked back at Joanna. “After dinner, come to the upstairs kitchen. I’ve an herbal-laced brandy, a fine digestif that’s guaranteed to settle yer stomach.”

“Thank you. I will.” Joanna made a show of sliding the food around on her plate to make it look as though she’d decided to eat.Time to get out of the spotlight.“By the way, Ramsay, where’s your lady this evening? Grant said I was finally going to get to meet her.”

“Ramsay’s beloved is much too busy to dine with his lowly family.” Grant made a noise that sounded something like a cross between a spitting snort and a growl. “We’re no’ important or exciting enough for such an upper-class lass with so many parties in the city to attend.” He repeated the sound of disgust as he returned to cutting his meat. “I’d bet my best dagger the woman is a money-grubbin’ Brit at heart—intent t’ruin us.”

“Enough, brother, or we’ll be takin’ this outside.” Ramsay slowly put down his knife and fork and planted both hands on the table in preparation of launching himself up from the bench.

Oh shit. Wrong tactic to get out of the spotlight.Joanna quickly stood and maneuvered her way off the bench running the length of the table. “Suddenly, I don’t feel that well at all. I must have a bug or something.” She fanned herself with one hand, then turned and latched hold of Lucia’s sleeve. She needed to talk to someone about the meeting with Lilian Tasker before she exploded or caused a serious split in the MacDara clan by saying the wrong thing. “Come with me, Lucia. You’re pretty good at mixing up herbal remedies and I don’t want to take Sarinda away from all her guests.”

Lucia’s eyes narrowed the slightest bit, signifying that she understood completely. “Come on, Tyler. You can have dessert early while I doctor up Auntie Jo.”

Grant stood, genuine concern shadowing his features. “I’ll go as well. I dinna like that ye’ve been unwell ever since…” He stalled for a moment. “Ever since our exploring of the caves.”

Oh hell no. Think fast.“No. No, stay here with our guests.” She looked around the room at everyone, giving them all an apologetic nod. “I’m so sorry for having to excuse myself early. Thank you all so very much for coming, and please do carry on.”

One of the MacClendon clan stood and lifted his cup. “To the joining of Grant and Joanna. May it be blessed with love, laughter, and many sons.Slainte!” The hall echoed with cheers, clinking mugs, and stomping.

Joanna smiled until her cheeks ached, all the while backing toward the exit. “Thank you all,” she said again. “Thank you so much.” She frantically motioned for Lucia to follow.Come on. Will you?

Lucia turned to her son. “Come on, T.”

“I wanna stay here with the men, Mom.” Tyler sat up straighter and thumped his chest with his fist.

“Leave the boy with me, lass,” Taggart said with the smile of a man who knew exactly what he was doing. “He’s a fine lad and always welcome among the MacClendon clan.”

Aww…yay.A warm flush of happiness for Lucia flooded through Joanna but was then quickly shoved out of the way by her mounting anxiety. “Uhm…Lucia? Now?” She hated to ruin the moment, but Taggart and Lucia could pick this back up as soon as she’d had a long heart-to-heart with Lucia to figure out what the hell to do.

Lucia shooed her onward. “Right behind you, sweets. I’ll have you feeling better in no time.” As soon as they’d walked through the archway of the upstairs kitchen, Lucia started in. “You’re as nervous as a whore in church. What the hell happened at that meeting?”

“Keep your voice down.” Joanna motioned Lucia to the far end of the kitchen, all the while watching the entrance to make sure no one had followed. Hugging her middle as she leaned back against the counter, she clenched her fisted hands so tightly her nails dug into her palms. “She offered me a job.”

“Shewhat?”

“A job.” Joanna swallowed hard, the feigned nausea suddenly becoming quite real. “While we’re in here, go ahead and mix up something for my upset stomach, will you? I’m about to blow chunks.”

Lucia stared at her in open-mouthed disbelief. “I don’t know anything about making homemade no-puke medicine and you know it. I might have some antacid tablets in my purse, but it’s downstairs. Do you really want me to risk it?”

Joanna shook her head, sucked in a deep breath, and slowly released it out her nose. “No. I’ll tough it out.”

“Good. Now get to the job offer. What kind of job? Scrubbing her toilets with your thumbnails or something? The woman hates you.” Lucia pulled out a chair at the table and slid into it.

“Actually, she doesn’t,” Joanna replied, still unable to quite believe that fact herself. She joined Lucia at the table and sagged into a chair. “She believed me when I apologized and told her that I had no idea that Matthew was married and had children. It appears that I wasn’t his first…” Joanna paused.How had Lillian phrased it? Oh yeah.“His first dalliance,” she finished with a slow bobbing of her head.

“So she offered you a job. What job?”

“CEO of Asclepius Pharmaceuticals.”

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