She opened the car door and frowned at him. “What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, irritated with his high-handed ways.
“You’re not seeing him,” he said, reaching his car and towering over her—a hot-under-the-collar Highland warrior, and not one ounce of him looked like it could fit into a suit and a tie.
“What are you talking about?”
He hesitated, looking puzzled. “Where were you going?”
“You know, you could have asked me that to begin with in a nice way. A phone call would have sufficed,” she snapped, so irritated that he would chase her down like this and act as though she was the bad guy.
“Reception isn’t always the greatest out here,” he said, trying to talk his way out of this.
She wasn’t buying it. “Where did you think I was going?”
He shoved his hands in his pockets.
“Grant?”
“To see Archibald.”
“What?” She couldn’t help how angry she sounded.
“To ask him if he knew about my father’s death.”
“Oh.” She thought Grant was worried that she’d intended to take up with the man, as in dating and mating, after she had told him she had no intention of letting Archibald get his hands on the estates. She took a deep, calming breath. “I’m on my way to see Julia. And I won’t be home until tomorrow, later sometime. I don’t know when.”
He motioned to the car behind him and both men got out. Maynard and Darby? What was going on?
“Darby, you and Maynard can return home. I’ll take it from here,” Grant said.
Lachlan got out of the passenger side of the car in front of her and waved.
“Go on home, Lachlan. I’ve got this covered,” Grant said.
“Wait, you’re going to walk home?” she asked Grant.
The men looked like they didn’t want to witness this conversation, yet they hung around as if they thought they might still need to give Grant a ride back to Farraige Castle.
“Move over, lass. I will drive you to Argent Castle.”
“We’re having an all-night girls’ party, and all day, too, if you must know.”
“Good, I need to speak with Ian and his brothers. That will work perfectly for me.”
In disbelief, she moved over to the passenger’s side. She didn’t believe he’d had any intention of speaking with Ian or his brothers until she made plans to visit them.
“This is what you meant by letting me borrow the car anytime I wanted?” she asked, scowling at him.
Grant smiled.
She shook her head. “You couldn’t just call Ian?”
“Bad reception sometimes.”
She didn’t believe it for an instant. Well, maybe sometimes, but not this time. “You really didn’t think I was getting together with Archibald for any other reason, did you?” She had to know beyond a doubt that he didn’t think she was interested in the man.
“No, lass. It’s as I said. I was concerned you might think to ask him about your father’s contribution to my father’s death. I didn’t want you getting involved in that. So what brought on this sudden urge to see Julia? I thought you were spending the day studying the financial graphs.”
She was sure her whole body blushed. She didn’t want to reveal that her leaving had all to do with one wickedly sexy wolf who had seduced her last night, abandoned her, and was now trying to take charge of her today. And how she didn’t know how to deal with him when her emotions got in the way.
Grant’s phone rang and he answered it. “Ian, yes, I got word the lass intended to keep my car for longer than we thought. Which is fine. I’m coming with her, so make another place at the table, will you?”
She heard Ian laughing. Grant glanced at her. “Aye, I’m keeping her out of trouble on the way there. What’s the deal with this wild all-day and all-night party Julia’s holding? Is it something we’ve got to be concerned about?” he asked Ian.
Colleen smiled. “Yes, if you’re a man.” That earned her a smile. “Ask Ian if Julia’s had any of these parties since she’s been there.”
He asked Ian, listened, and then he said, “Okay, so you don’t know what this is all about, either? Well, between your pack and me, we should be able to manage them all right.”
Colleen chuckled. “Not on your life.”
“See you in a while, Ian.” Grant ended the call and said to Colleen, “So what do you do for ladies’ night out?
She smiled. “Whatever we feel inspired to do. Haven’t the women in your pack done such a thing?” She wasn’t about to tell him she’d stolen a pair of his boxers and Enrick’s also, and if she’d known he would actually be there, too, she wasn’t sure she would have snatched them. Well, yeah, she would have. She had no idea what Julia intended to do with them. She sure hoped Grant wouldn’t learn of it prematurely. Or afterward, either.
“Not that I know of,” Grant said.
“That should be changed.” And she intended to while she was here. “Where are the women in your pack?”
“On holiday.”
“Did you think having only braw men at Farraige Castle would scare me off?”
“Nay, lass. I was afraid the women would attempt to befriend you and agree to anything you wished to do. But it didn’t work out as well as I’d planned.” He gave her a small smile.
“Oh?”
“I’m afraid you won my men over, and me. And even without the woman being there, you won them over as well.” He sighed. “So…you’re not going to tell me about this ladies’ day and night out?”
“Just think of it like a guys’ day out, sword fighting and then feasting afterward, without the sword fighting.”
“Without the sword fighting it would lose all its appeal,” he said and smiled at her, and that wolfish smile made her heart leap.
She wondered how she’d managed to get away from him, only to be stuck with him once again, and her feelings for him were twisted into knots even worse now.
Her cell phone rang and Grant glanced at her. She hoped it was just one of her cousins, but she suspected it was Archibald since he said he’d call her today. She fished out her phone. It was. And she really didn’t want to talk to him right now.
“Hello?”
“Hi, it’s me, Archibald. I said I’d call and I wondered if you’d like for me to take you out for supper tonight.”
“I’ll be at my friend’s place tonight and tomorrow.”
Pause.
“You have friends here?” Archibald asked, sounding surprised.
“Yes. Julia MacNeill of Argent Castle.”
Another long silence. Did he not know Ian MacNeill, or was he on the outs with them, too?
“Okay, well, if I don’t get a chance to see you before you return home, I’ll call you tomorrow night.”
“Do you want me to tell him to get lost?” Grant asked loud enough that she was certain that Archibald had heard him with his wolf hearing.
“If Grant gives you any trouble at all, I’ll take him to task,” Archibald said in a very nice way.
But she didn’t think he would deal with Grant in a nice way if she asked Archibald to help her out.
“Did you know anything about Grant’s parents’ deaths?” she asked.
“I knew it. He’s been filling your head with stories of how the Borthwicks did terrible things. But John MacQuarrie was a lying bastard who stabbed my grandfather, Uilleam, in the back. I know that the MacQuarries have always claimed they had managed the estates for the Playfairs from the beginning. But it’s all a lie. Uilleam was their first manager—but John did everything in his power to turn Gideon and Neda Playfair against him. Ask Grant about that. I’m sorry that you’ve had to hear all the lies. I had hoped we could talk so you could learn the truth. I’ll call you tomorrow and we can talk.”
&nbs
p; He ended the call and she looked at Grant. “Why would he say that Uilleam was the first manager of Farraige Castle?”
“Trying to get you to believe we’ve lied about everything? Spreading the seeds of doubt? You are already worried we’ve told you a lie, lass. Isn’t that so?”
***
When they arrived at Argent Castle, Grant was still disconcerted about Archibald’s claims and didn’t believe them, but what bothered him was that Colleen seemed to think he might be telling the truth.
Ian greeted them with a gaggle of women. Julia, Ian’s mate, was all decked out in a pirate-wench costume. Grant raised his brows to see the redhead with her curls tied back with a black-and-white bandana, and wearing a low-cut white blouse with voluminous sleeves and a gold corset that emphasized her breasts. A long, full skirt and boots finished the look.
Shelley, Duncan’s mate was similarly dressed, except all in blue and silver. Grant recalled that the lass had caught Duncan’s eye because of all the silver she wore, and other reasons, of course. As Ian’s youngest brother, he had made a fine catch. Werewolves were not fond of silver. The ancient tale that silver bullets could kill still pervaded their beliefs, so Grant knew she had to be a spitfire.
The real pirate of the bunch, or at least where her relations were concerned, was Cearnach’s mate, Elaine. Cearnach was second in charge of the MacNeill pack. Her uncles had stolen Cearnach’s sword when he was a strapping lad, and now she wore it fastened at her side.
Grant was surprised to see Ian’s mother and aunt arrive in full costume as they greeted Colleen as well. Their costumes were not as busty as the younger women’s were, but they were all decked out in long skirts, fancy three-corner hats topped with outrageous feathers, and Ian’s mother had a sgian dubh, the knife sheathed at her waist. Grant recognized the handle as one Cearnach had hand-carved.
Even Heather, Ian’s unmated cousin, was in attendance. She wore a Scottish version of a pirate’s costume in plaid.
“Looks like we should be armed as well, or the lasses are sure to steal anything that is not bolted down,” Grant said, wanting to enjoy the goings-on and not waste another minute thinking about Archibald and his attempt to upset Colleen.
She looked like she had forgotten the conversation completely and was enjoying being with the other women already.
Colleen offered him a glorious smile, and he smiled at her in return. The ladies all chuckled, then Julia took Colleen’s hand and Shelley grasped her other, and they hurried her back into the keep.
“I don’t have a costume,” she said.
“We’ll fix you right up,” Heather said.
In a normal situation, Grant would not have cared anything about what the women were up to and would have been pleased to visit with Ian and his brothers. But he was dying to know what the lasses had in mind. As much fun as they looked like they could have, he wanted to join them. He would be the sword-wielding Highland pirate, and the wenches would be his to command. Especially Colleen, as he suspected she would fight him every step of the way, and he loved a challenge.
Ian slapped his back. “Come. We will see them later.”
“Colleen said they would be busy all day and through the night and tomorrow as well,” Grant said.
“Aye, but you wouldn’t let that stop you from raiding their party sometime later when they’re least expecting it, would you?” Ian asked.
“I like the way you think, Ian,” Grant said and joined the brothers in the great hall. He half expected the women to be in there. “Where are they?” he asked when he saw that it was empty.
Cearnach motioned toward the kitchen. “In the garden room outside. They’ve closed all the blinds and it’s their pirates’ hideaway.”
“They’ve never done this before?” Grant asked, wondering what he was in for if Colleen decided to do this with the women at his castle.
“Nay. First time. Apparently Colleen and Julia did this regularly with their girlfriends back home. Do you remember Calla? The wedding and party planner?”
“Aye. She saved Cearnach from drowning when he was a lad. And he saved her from a bad marriage.”
“Well, she’s planned most of the activities. So no telling what they’ll be up to,” Ian said. “Let’s retire to the living room and have something to drink and plan our own adventures.”
Grant noted the evil look of pleasure on his friend’s countenance. His brothers shared the same expression. Guthrie, Ian’s brother, quickly joined them in the direction of the study. “I overheard the lasses say they were going on a boxer raid.”
“As opposed to a panty raid?” Cearnach asked. “What do they propose to do with our shorts?”
“They won’t bother with mine,” Guthrie said, sounding relieved.
“Not mine, either. Too far for them to go to fetch a pair,” Grant said, just as thankful.
“That leaves us,” Ian said to Cearnach and Duncan. “But, Guthrie, I wouldn’t be so sure about your clothes.”
The men all laughed and tried to come up with ideas for catching the women when they attempted to steal from them.
“You didn’t install a spy among the women?” Grant asked. “That would have been my plan.”
“They have been making preparations for this since the day the lass arrived,” Ian said. “Remember how I told you my mother wanted my brothers’ help and wouldn’t let them come with me to spar with you? I believe they had intended to have it a little later, but when Colleen stated she wanted to see Julia today, they moved the date up.”
“Aye.”
“She had them helping with this project. They’ve been decorating for days,” Ian said.
Guthrie folded his arms. “Calla knows how to spend more money than any other woman I know.”
“She’s a party planner. That’s her job,” Ian said. “Now, to this other matter, Grant, how are you and the lass getting on? I take it she’s nothing like her father, and you might manage living with her for a year.”
“I believe I might have been a wee bit hasty,” Grant had to admit.
They heard loud music beating outside.
They all looked in the direction of the gardens and laughed. Grant knew Ian and his family had every intention of crashing the ladies’ pirate party with tricks of their own. He was glad he’d caught up to her on the road and come along for the ride.
Chapter 17
Colleen had needed this—to reconnect with Julia after all this time and to make new friends here with Julia’s new relatives. She couldn’t believe that Julia had actually married, as had Shelley and Elaine, when their wolf kind normally just mated and it was a done deal for life.
Ian had a title, Julia had explained. To pass down to their offspring.
Colleen wore a white peasant’s blouse, a beautifully embroidered red corset, and a navy blue full-length skirt as the music blared and a fire pit glowed with red-orange flames. They danced on the stone floor that had been cleared of the sofas and dining table, having the time of their lives.
Though Colleen had wanted to speak with her friend privately, she figured she’d find the time since she was going to be here all night.
“Did you see the looks on their faces?” Calla asked, taking Colleen’s hand and swinging her around on the floor.
If Colleen ever had to marry, and that was something she’d never considered before, she wanted Calla to plan it for her.
“Oh, aye,” Lady Mae—Ian’s mother—said, all smiles. “I don’t think I have ever seen my sons want to learn more about what we were up to than I did today. They are dying of curiosity.”
“So when do we decorate our flagpole?” Elaine asked.
She was the only one of the women actually descended from pirates, though she insisted that her uncles were privateers, therefore they were commissioned to do the job. But still, the rest of her family were out-and-out pirates,
and that fascinated Colleen.
“Let’s do it now,” Julia said. “Before we really start celebrating and forget to! You did bring a pair of Grant’s and Enrick’s, didn’t you, Colleen?”
“Yes. Luckily, Grant was staying in a guest chamber so I was able to search for the perfect pair.” Colleen held up a pair of blue plaid boxers. She was glad the guys didn’t know about this and weren’t planning to get back at the women. “Thankfully, Grant had already taken some with him to the other room or he would have wondered why I was rummaging through his underwear. Enrick had already left his room this morning before I grabbed a pair of his.”
The ladies laughed.
“Good. We suspected Grant would follow you here sometime today. We didn’t want him to feel left out.” Julia waved a pair of red, white, and blue striped briefs she’d gotten for Ian. “I claimed him for America even if he remains in Scotland.”
“Does he wear them?” Colleen asked.
“Oh, yes. He’s great at trying to please me.”
Colleen loved him already.
Shelley twirled a pair of black, active mesh boxers. “Duncan likes black.”
“On you,” Elaine teased. She stretched out a pair of boxers—white, semitransparent. “Love these on Cearnach.”
Colleen hadn’t expected Ian’s mother to have snatched anyone’s underwear. She was widowed. But she shook out a pair of longhorn-steer-decorated boxers. “Shelley’s Uncle Ethan’s.”
Grinning, everyone clapped.
Calla showed off a pair of black briefs for Guthrie. “I didn’t want him to feel left out. I figured he’d have boxers with dollar signs all over them.”
“They would have cost too much,” Julia teased. “He’s in charge of the purse strings, Colleen. Even for this affair, he was fussing. It’s coming out of my book sales, so I told him to think of it as a promotional party. He grumbled that I wouldn’t be selling my books to any of you but giving them away free.”
Colleen laughed. She slipped her hand in her bag and pulled out another pair of briefs, this pair red. “Hot, eh, Heather? I don’t know how I’m going to explain how I was in Enrick’s underwear drawer when I return to Farraige Castle.”