Piper (Queen's Birds of Prey #4) - Kathi S. Barton Page 0,34

have held it in than he could have told Piper no about anything she wanted from him. When she turned and glared at him, he kissed her on the mouth, then kissed her again. There was something so cute about Piper when she was pissy.

“I, for one, would like to help out with the castle and the occupants that have settled there. I’m assuming these people have no rights to where they’re living?” Duncan told him they were, for the most part, squatters. “So do you want them removed, or do you want them to figure out how to live there legally?”

“That would be something you two would figure out. I’m all for them staying, if they follow any rules, you would impose on them. They would have to have homes built. For the most part, they’re living in campers and tents. A few have been clever enough to have some kind of semi-permanent home. But that is something else you’d have to take care of. There is plenty of money for you two to make any kind of improvements to the housing they’re living in. Also, my mom made sure there are trees and a garden there for the keep to use. From what I’ve read in the journals she kept, as soon as Piper crosses over the threshold, everything will come alive and start producing.”

“You said it was all locked up. I don’t understand how that is supposed to work with me crossing over the threshold.” She glared at Grant. “Not that we’re going to do it, right? You want to live by your mom, don’t you?”

“I don’t want to upset you anymore than you are, love, but we’d already planned on my mom staying with us. Did you know she was the sometimes cook in this castle? I bet she would have all kinds of advice for us running the other one.” Grant asked Duncan how large the castle was. “I mean, you said it was updated. Do we have lights and heat? Or do we even have running water?”

“Whatever is in this castle is in the other one. According to the journal again, Mom said the improvements would be duplicated in both of them at the same time. So you’d not just have heat and lights, but Internet and cable as well. And of course, running water.” Duncan handed him a file. “I’m not sure how much that is going to help you, but it was within the paperwork that was here. As you can see, that castle is larger than this one because it had been added onto at some point. I think it had something to do with brother rivalry. Anyway, there is a smokehouse on the grounds, as well as an herb drier. I’m not entirely sure what that might be, but you have it and a large herbal garden. My aunt, my uncle’s wife, was said to have had the best herbs around back then. Again, I’m not sure what that will mean for the two of you.”

“These people that we’re supposed to be taking care of. Are there jobs for them to do? I mean, are they just sponging off the land and will expect the two of us to take care of them? Look, I don’t want to have to go in there and replant the lot of them. If they’ve been lazing about for decades only to have them invite their friends around to do the same thing, I’m going to be sorely pissed off.” Duncan handed her some photos, and Grant looked them over as well. “They’re not even cleaning up after themselves? Oh no, they’re not going to be doing this when I get there. We’re going to have order and a place to dump trash. Not leave it— Is that a stroller there? Someone is actually raising a child in this sort of environment? That’s it, I’m going there today and taking care of this shit.”

“So, you’re going to take it?” Duncan looked at Grant when all Piper did was fold her arms over her chest and tap her foot at him. “I don’t know what that means. Is she all right with it now?”

“I would say she is. However, if I’ve learned anything in my years on this planet, it’s that you never assume anything when it comes to having a mate. Or any female.” Grant pulled Piper into his arms and felt her relax against him. “We’re in love. I just wanted to put