Bound by Blood (Cauld Ane Series)

by Tracey Jane Jackson

  Cole laughed, albeit quietly.

  She jabbed a finger toward him. “Hey, I was twelve and making an attempt to like something she liked. In the end, I didn’t really care, so I switched to the ’niners. Now, they’re a habit.”

  “Well, that’s a great reason to root for a team.”

  “Okay, mister expert, are you going to tell me you like the Patriots or Steelers, or something even more impressive?”

  Cole tapped his fingers on the table. “I’m a diehard Lions fan.”

  “Detroit Lions?”

  “Hell, yeah.”

  “What are you? The patron saint of lost causes?”

  Cole grinned. “You’re funny.”

  The server arrived with their meal and, once Sam approved of the wine, poured them each a glass. He left them and Sam felt compelled to find out more about Cole Drake.

  “So, tell me, why the Lions?”

  “Born and raised in Detroit,” he said.

  “Detroit, Detroit, or the outskirts?”

  Cole chuckled. “Detroit, Detroit.”

  “Wow. I can honestly say I’ve never actually met anyone from Detroit. I thought once the car factories dried up, everyone got out.”

  “That’s true to an extent. But my lineage isn’t an auto one…it’s law enforcement. We were lucky.”

  “It can’t have been easy to watch friends suffer, though.” A shadow crossed Cole’s face and Sam figured she’d probably pushed a button with that comment. She was also a little surprised she’d made such a personal observation. “How do you like the wine?” she asked, in an effort to change the subject.

  “It’s very good. I’ll be sure to defer to you in the future for all my wine choices.”

  “You can tell your friends you have your very own sommelier on speed dial.”

  “In my crew, that’ll make me somewhat unpopular. But it can be our secret.”

  Sam smiled. “So, does the university typically fly their guest lecturers first class?”

  Cole’s eyes widened and then he smiled. “No. They waited too long to book my flight and only had first class available.”

  Sam hummed. “Lucky you.”

  The rest of dinner was much the same. Easy and comfortable conversation. Sam was pleasantly surprised by how much she connected with Cole. When the check arrived, he insisted on paying, even after her strenuous argument. He was gallant to the end, walking her to the elevator and kissing her cheek again. She’d felt comfortable enough to exchange phone numbers with him, but was glad he didn’t ask to walk her to her room. She wanted to keep a few boundaries with him and honor her father’s request to keep her wits about her, which he’d followed with several instructions on staying safe.

  She headed back to her room and checked to see if Pepper was online. She wasn’t, so Samantha got ready for bed and proceeded to not sleep.

  * * *

  The next morning, Samantha’s new cell phone rang and she answered it to Payton McFadden, Duncan’s assistant, letting her know she awaited her in the lobby.

  “I’ll be right down,” Sam said.

  After checking her appearance in the mirror, Sam grabbed her satchel and purse and headed to the elevators. Stepping into the lobby, she was surprised by how busy it was.

  “Dr. Moore?”

  Sam turned to the pretty, young woman and smiled. “Yes, I’m Samantha Moore.”

  “I’m Payton.”

  “Hello. It’s nice to meet you.”

  Sam shook Payton’s hand and took in her appearance. She had dark red hair that she’d pulled into a tight bun at the base of her neck and she wore thick-rimmed glasses. She didn’t wear a stitch of make-up, and looked a bit like a stern teacher, but her light blue eyes crinkled at the corners, softening her appearance. When she smiled, Sam felt like she was with an old friend.

  “It’s nice to meet you as well. I have a car waiting for us out front. Dr. Gunnach is expecting us, so we should go. Have you had breakfast?”

  “No. I don’t usually eat until lunchtime.”

  Payton tsked. “That will never do. Dr. Gunnach is quite the stickler on eating at regular hours. We’ll grab something on the way to the office.”

  “Okay.”

  Sam tried to keep the irritation from her voice. She’d become an expert at hiding her opinion about overbearing men; however, she’d been subject to many of Pepper’s tirades on the subject.

  They found the car waiting for them. Gobber the Belch nodded as Sam slid into the backseat.

  “Dr. Moore needs to eat, Alasdair, so if we could stop somewhere quick, that would be great.”

  “We better,” Alasdair said. “The boss doesn’t like people skipping meals.”

  Sam had a vision of Genghis Khan sitting at a large desk, waving pastries in the air as he ran Gunnach Pharmaceutical.

  “There’s a Starbucks close by,” Payton said.

  “Please don’t go to any trouble,” she argued.

  “In that case, Alasdair, we’ll just stop at the café in the building,” Payton instructed. “Will that work, Dr. Moore?”

  “Sounds great,” Sam said.

  Alasdair pulled away from the curb. Before Sam could get her bearings, he brought the car to a stop.

  “We’re here?” Sam asked.

  “Close, eh?” Payton said.

  Sam nodded. “We could have walked.”

  Payton groaned. “Not me. I don’t walk anywhere I don’t have to. I prefer to be driven.”

  Sam couldn’t stop a laugh. “You sound like my best friend.”

  Payton slid out of the car and Sam followed. “Dr. Gunnach will meet with you for a few minutes, and then his assistant, Anna, will show you to your office and give you a tour of the lab.”

  Payton led Sam to the café on the bottom floor of the building, and she chose a small muffin and a large coffee. Her heart started to race again as she took the last bite, and she took a minute to attempt to calm herself. She’d been having these minor panic attacks since she’d arrived. Friday night’s had been the worst, but this one had the potential to be just as bad.

  What the heck is going on?

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “ANGUS, YOU CAN’T push her like that,” Kade warned.

  Angus had stopped in at Kade’s office before heading to the lab, in an attempt to force Fiona’s obedience on the library issue.

  “She needs to yield, Kade.”

  “Using words like ‘yield’ is going to get you nowhere with my sister. You’ve known her long enough to know that. And you saw her Friday night, she was overwrought. If I can’t get her to ‘yield,’ I don’t know how you’ll be able to. She obviously needs a distraction. And she’s right. You’re not bound, so you can’t actually force her into doing anything she’s not willing to do.”

  “Which is something you could fix,” Angus pointed out.

  “Don’t start.”

  “The bottom line is that you’re chieftain, Kade. You have to stop this.”

  “I may be chieftain, Angus, but I’ll not force her.” Kade tried to stamp down his rising irritation. “What would you do if this were Payton?”

  “My sister would bloody well do as she’s told.”

  “Well, Fiona’s not Payton. Besides, she’s your mate. You have more sway over her than I do. Weren’t you the one going on and on about the importance of being able to control your woman?”

  “You’re a bloody bastard, Kade.”

  “You’ll watch your tongue, Angus.” Kade fisted his hands on his desk and leaned forward. “The new researcher is arriving in ten minutes. I don’t have time to spar with you this morning. Anna will introduce her to you later.”

  Angus bowed his head, his reluctant indication of submission, and stormed out of Kade’s office.

  * * *

  Sam cleared away her breakfast and threw away her trash. Her emotions were calm again, so she shook off her confusion and followed Payton through the lobby and to the bank of elevators, popping a mint in her mouth as
they stepped inside.

  “The executive offices are on the top floor, but the lab is below us, so you’re going for a bit of a ride, I’m afraid.”

  “I don’t mind,” Sam said.

  So long as it’s not a plane.

  “How were the accommodations, Dr. Moore?” Payton pressed the top button. “Do you like the Balmoral?”

  “Oh, please call me Samantha. ‘Doctor’ makes me feel much more important than I am.”

  Payton nodded. “Samantha. Thank you.”

  “In answer to your question, the accommodations are incredible. I feel very spoiled.”

  “Only the best for our researchers.”

  Sam grinned. “In that case, will there be caviar and champagne later? It’s my lunch of choice.”

  Payton chuckled. “Most certainly.”

  The elevator doors opened and Payton led Sam to a large, ornate marble desk.

  “Mornin’ Anna,” Payton said.

  “Well, hullo, Payton.” Dr. Gunnach’s assistant, a portly woman in her fifties, smiled at Sam and rose to her feet. “You must be Dr. Moore.”

  Sam couldn’t help but feel at ease. Anna’s warmth seemed to pour out of her as she stepped from behind her desk to shake her hand. “He’s expectin’ ye, but I’ll just give him a ring and let him know you’re here.”

  “Thanks,” Payton said.

  “You go on back and he’ll bring ye to me when it’s time for your tour.”

  “Thank you,” Sam said.

  A slim hallway led to a large mahogany door that Sam likened to something from a medieval castle.

  Payton knocked and the door opened seconds later. Sam thought her heart might stop…her breathing certainly did. Standing before her was the best-looking man she’d ever seen. Not a hint of Genghis Khan anywhere to be seen. Dark blond hair, longer than the norm, framed a chiseled jaw and potentially perfectly symmetrical face. He had a day’s growth of beard, a little heavier than a five-o-clock shadow. His deep blue eyes sparkled and full lips smiled, revealing even, white teeth. She had to stop herself from placing her hand over her stomach.

  Her heart was racing again, but she wasn’t convinced it was just because of her attraction to him. As his hand covered hers, a strange language popped into her head and her heart calmed. She pulled her hand away in an effort to break contact, realizing that in that moment she may have gone certifiably insane.

  * * *

  Kade’s morning had started well enough, he supposed. He’d gotten out of bed, which was a positive. His unsettled feeling continued, however. His conversation with his sister had produced nothing different than the argument on Friday, other than to elicit the silent treatment and occasional look of both anger and disappointment during Sunday dinner. He hated fighting with Fiona. She could deliver a guilt trip like no one he’d ever known.

  The argument with Angus had only managed to irritate him and make him want to hand the mantle of chieftain off to someone else. He hated his lineage sometimes.

  His phone rang. “Yes, Anna?”

  “Payton and Dr. Moore are here.”

  “Thank you. Send them in.” He took a minute to put his suit jacket on as he made his way to the door. The knock came and he pulled open the door.

  His heart stuttered. She was magnificent. Long dark hair that she’d swept away from her face with a headband fell in waves over her shoulders, and light hazel eyes like the color of a reflection of trees on the water, met his and then dropped to the floor as her cheeks pinked. She wore dark grey trousers with a cream turtleneck, and what his sister would refer to as “sensible black shoes.” He shook her hand and her eyes met his again with a perplexed expression.

  He smiled as the ancient words swirled in his head.

  Að eilífu stýrimaður. (Forever mate.)

  She looked surprised, and he wondered if she’d heard them too. No, not possible. He took a deep breath, drawing in her scent. Clean, with a hint of vanilla.

  She pulled her hand back and slipped it into the pocket of her trousers.

  “Dr. Kade Gunnach,” Payton said. “This is Dr. Samantha Moore.”

  “It’s lovely to meet you. Please come in.” Kade stepped back and waited for the ladies to step inside. “Have a seat.”

  “Duncan needs me to run a few things across town. Do you mind if I do that now?” Payton asked.

  Kade shook his head. “Not at all.”

  Payton handed Dr. Moore a lanyard with “Gunnach Pharmaceutical” written on the dark blue fabric. “Here’s your keycard for the building, office, and lab.”

  “Thanks.”

  Payton squeezed Dr. Moore’s arm. “I’m leaving you in good hands, Samantha. I’ll swing by later today and see if you need anything.”

  “Thank you,” Dr. Moore said.

  Payton left and Kade indicated the chairs by the large windows. Dr. Moore made her way toward them. “What an amazing view.”

  “Yes.” Kade had a few precious seconds to study her before she took a seat. He figured she was at least as tall as his sister, maybe a little taller. She was slender, and she carried herself with modesty. He could tell immediately she was shy, but exuded quiet grace.

  “How was your weekend, Dr. Moore?” he asked.

  “It was nice.” She smiled.

  “Did you explore the city at all?”

  She shook her head. “Ah, no. I didn’t get a chance. I was reading…and sleeping.”

  “Did you sleep on the plane?”

  “Sort of.”

  He frowned. “I gave instructions for you to be booked in first class.”

  “Oh, I was, Dr. Gunnach. I just didn’t sleep much.” She blushed. “Excitement and all.”

  Kade got the impression she was holding something back, but didn’t press. “I trust Duncan provided you the information about the position and our expectations?” he managed.

  “Yes. I went through everything.”

  “Do you have any questions?”

  She shook her head. “Not yet.”

  “Would you like to see the lab now?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Kade rose to his feet and followed her down the hall and out to Anna’s desk.

  “Shall I show Dr. Moore her office?” Anna asked.

  Kade shook his head. “No, thank you, Anna. I’ll take care of that.”

  Anna covered her shock well, but perhaps not as quickly as he would have liked.

  Kade had told her that he wanted to spend no more than five minutes speaking with the new researcher and then she was to come and rescue him. He’d told her he wanted her to show the new doctor to her office and to introduce her to someone who could give her a tour of the lab.

  Someone who wasn’t him. However, the moment he saw Samantha, that plan had gone out the window.

  * * *

  As Dr. Gunnach escorted her through the lab, Sam felt her body and mind react in a way she’d never expected. Gone was the nervousness she usually felt with strangers, replaced with an easy banter that had only ever been possible with her family and Pepper. This was the second man in less than a week that she’d felt at ease with.

  No, that wasn’t entirely true. She wasn’t completely at ease with Cole. But with Dr. Gunnach, she was.

  She wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not.

  Maybe it’s Scotland.

  After touring the lab, Dr. Gunnach led Sam down a long hallway, pushing open another ornate mahogany door. Her name was printed on a plaque on the wall next to it. He stepped back so that she could precede him inside.

  Sam took in the large room that would be her office. It was surprisingly bright; not at all what she’d imagined would be more like a medieval dungeon. Rectangular windows ran the length of one wall, butting against the ceiling, letting in an abundance of natural light. A large mahogany desk, similar to the one in Dr. Gunnach’s office, sat in the center of the room, facing the door. Two overstuffed chairs were settled in the corner with a round table in between them. Bookshelves took u
p the wall behind the chairs and were already partially filled with medical journals. Overall, the office was cozy and welcoming while still retaining its professional air.

  “I hope your office is to your liking,” Dr. Gunnach said as he waved his hand toward her desk.

  She set her purse and coat on one of the chairs. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Our IT department will familiarize you with your laptop tomorrow morning, if that’s acceptable. I thought you’d want a day to organize your equipment and make yourself comfortable.”

  Sam smiled. “Thank you, Dr. Gunnach.”

  “Kade, please.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Why not? We are not so formal here.”

  Before she could respond, her office phone rang. “Work starts immediately, it would seem.” She picked up the phone. “Samantha Moore.”

  “Dr. Moore, it’s Anna. Is Dr. Gunnach still with you?”

  “Yes, Anna, he is. Just a minute, please.”

  Samantha handed Dr. Gunnach the phone. She explored her office further, but when she noticed Dr. Gunnach had lowered his voice, she stepped outside to afford him some privacy. She made her way to the lab, using her new keycard to enter. There were other technicians in the room next to her, separated only by glass. With a staff of six, she’d have her hands full. She slipped her lab coat on—her name was already embroidered across the pocket—and began to go through the file cabinets.

  “You’re the new doctor, eh?”

  Sam turned to the sound of the new voice and her nervousness came again in droves.

  Nope, Scotland is of no help.

  A large man, stocky and built like a wrestler, stood in the doorway. His dark red hair was trimmed short and he leaned against the threshold, his lab coat opened to reveal dark trousers and a green ribbed sweater. He was handsome, but he also scared her a bit. He was formidable in his gaze, and Sam slid her hands into her lab coat pockets, lest he see them shaking.

  She forced a smile. “Yes. I’m Samantha Moore.”

  “I’m Angus McFadden.”

  “McFadden? Are you related to Payton?”

  “Aye. She’s me sister.” He pushed away from the doorway and came toward her. “Ye’ve your work cut out for ye.”

  “So I’ve been told. Do you work in the lab as well?”