A Highland Werewolf Wedding - By Terry Spear Page 0,83
into the river when they had been on their way to a party that night. For what reason? No one ever knew. The carriage sank so fast that they were unable to get out. But the horses were saved. The horses, as if they were the only thing of value and not my parents’ lives. That’s partly why I believe he had something to do with the carriage accident. The horses were safely returned home, and neither was wet.”
“My God, Elaine.” He took her hand in his and found that her fingers were ice cold. He held her hand against his chest and rubbed it to warm her. Again he regretted having lost her all those years ago and felt sickened that he couldn’t have protected her. “What about the other half of the details that would lead to the loot? Isn’t it with your suitcase or purse?” The game would be lost, but why would Robert still want Elaine to meet with him?
“In here,” she said, tapping her head. “He won’t get it from me.”
“I wonder if the stolen goods could be hidden on one of the properties you own.”
Elaine frowned. “Wouldn’t Robert have learned of them and already investigated?”
“Possibly.”
“Then he wouldn’t need me for finding the treasure.”
She snuggled closer to Cearnach, loving the sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear and the way he was caressing her hand. She hoped Cearnach wasn’t condemning her too much for not standing up more to Kelly Rafferty. She’d always felt she was a caught animal, unable to get free of his men when he was away and terrified of him when he was home, yet she had tried to show him her alpha side.
Sometimes he loved bullying her to show she wasn’t as alpha as he. Other times he seemed to love that she’d stand up to him and he would leave her alone.
“I’m sorry for letting you get away from me the first time,” Cearnach said, hugging her tight.
This was where she belonged. With him. Like this.
“I ought to get up and get dressed before Logan returns,” Cearnach said, not sounding like he wanted to let go of her.
“Yes,” she murmured.
Before they could leave the small bed, Cearnach turned his head in the direction of the door.
“Someone’s coming,” Elaine whispered, hearing the sounds of footsteps.
“Logan,” Cearnach guessed.
“Have you seen Cearnach?” Ian asked beyond the drying room, the door still locked.
Ian.
Chapter 21
Someone pounded on the kennel’s drying room door. “Cearnach, Elaine’s solicitor is here. She needs to speak with him. You and I will also listen to what he has to say,” Ian said.
“Hell,” Cearnach said, running his hand over Elaine’s hair. “Guess we’ve got to face the world.”
She groaned. Then she sat upright and whispered, “Ian said my solicitor is here?”
“Aye.” He hadn’t thought the solicitor would show up this quickly, either. Ian must have made the man fear the wrath of the pack.
She wrapped the towel around her and pushed at Cearnach. “Go, get the dry clothes Logan brought for me. Mine are still wet.”
Cearnach put his damp clothes on.
“Why would a lawyer be here to speak to me?” Her eyes were wide.
“It probably has to do with your properties and the management of them. I’m sure that’s what the solicitor is here to talk with you about.”
“Did your mother know about this before she suggested you mate with me?” she asked. Then she shook her head. “She didn’t. We had only just met. I bet that would have been an even greater incentive for you to mate me.”
Cearnach sighed. “You are priceless to me, lass. With or without your holdings. With or without the treasure.” He smiled in a much too predatory way. “With or without your clothes.”
He sighed. “Let me get the dry clothes.”
He left the room and stalked through the drying room where the dogs had left their beds to crowd around the door, desperate to greet Ian. Cearnach unlocked and opened the door. The dogs rushed out as Cearnach came face to face with Logan and Ian, both giving him accusatory looks. The dogs eagerly greeted them, bouncing around and jumping up in a wild frenzy of doggy love.
“The clothes?” Cearnach was not about to explain himself in front of Logan. Well, to Ian either.
Logan handed him the clothes.
“We’ll be right out, Ian.” Cearnach shut the door.
“How’d they take it?” Elaine took the borrowed pale-pink sweater and jeans from him and hurried to dress.