Bound by Blood (Cauld Ane Series)

by Tracey Jane Jackson

  “This is why we’re best friends.” Sam giggled. “Oh! I keep forgetting to ask how work is now that you’ve taken on more hours.”

  “Oh, it’s fine. I’ve been getting these weird anonymous gifts, though. Probably some whack-job wanting a free meal.”

  “Make sure you tell your boss if it gets to the stalking level.”

  Pepper laughed. “Not that he’d care, but I’m sure it’s nothing.”

  “Okay, I better go. I’ll give you a full report when it’s over.”

  “You better.”

  “Love you.”

  “Love you too,” Pepper said, and the call disconnected.

  * * *

  Kade glanced at the clock for possibly the tenth time. Five fifty-two. His heart raced in anticipation of the knock on his door as he paced the floor, looking for anything he might have missed. His place was immaculate. He’d brought his housekeeper in for a third time that week to make sure, and he’d taken care with the table setting, but he was still nervous.

  Payton had assisted in purchasing everything he needed for what he hoped would be an impressive meal, and he’d made sure his wine room was stocked with Samantha’s favorites. Payton had gone the extra mile to share her list from Samantha, and Kade almost kissed her. She’d also given him some insight into Samantha. Just a few things that only Payton would know and Kade would normally be forced to figure out. Tonight had to be perfect.

  When the knock came, Kade pulled open the door and his breath caught in his chest.

  Stunning.

  There was no other word for her. She wore dark, form-fitting jeans, with a blue floral top that appeared to have been styled in an era long past. The shirt was gathered below her bust and then continued to just below her hips, enhancing her perfect form more than he thought he could ignore. Her hair was free of any clips or bands and fell in waves.

  “Hi.” He smiled and kissed her cheek, breathing in her clean vanilla scent. “You are beautiful.”

  She blushed as she smiled. “Thank you.”

  “Come in,” he said, and stepped back.

  “I brought a bottle of wine. I hope you like it,” Samantha said as she handed it to him.

  He studied it for a few seconds and smiled. “It’s one of my favorites.”

  “Really? Great.”

  He closed the door and followed her into the apartment.

  “Your place is lovely,” she said as she gazed about the room. She seemed drawn to a small table with an ornate vase sitting in the middle. “These flowers are gorgeous.”

  “Thank you. They’re fresh and grown locally.” He held the bottle up. “Shall I pour us a glass now?”

  “Yes, please.” She slipped her hands into her pockets. “Can I help with anything?”

  “How do you feel about chopping veggies?” He started toward the kitchen. “The salad’s the only thing I haven’t finished.”

  Sam followed. “It just so happens I’m the best veggie chopper south of the Mason Dixon.”

  Kade chuckled. “Excellent.”

  Payton was right. Samantha needed to feel included. She wasn’t one to be catered to, and would feel uncomfortable if she couldn’t contribute.

  He organized the lettuce and various other vegetables on the counter while Samantha washed her hands. He then located a large bowl for her to put everything into. Samantha got right to work and Kade checked on the pasta boiling in the pot.

  “How was the rest of your day?” he asked.

  “Good. I spent the day observing. The team is amazing.”

  “Duncan doesn’t hire second best. It’s why he’s paid the big bucks.” He grinned. “And it’s also why you’re here.”

  Samantha chuckled. “Is the charm in your genes or something you learned?”

  “It must have been learned,” he retorted. “Because Brodie has none of it.”

  She waved the knife at him. “Careful. I’ll tell him you said that.”

  “It’s nothing I haven’t told him a hundred times before.”

  With a sexy flip of her hair, she sighed and asked, “Do you have a towel? I don’t want strays in the salad.”

  He handed her a clean tea towel and she wiped her hands and reached in her pocket. Pulling out a black band, she secured her hair at the base of her neck and then went back to preparing the salad.

  “How was your meeting with Shannon?”

  Kade frowned. “What meeting?”

  Samantha paused in her cutting and studied him. “Just before I left, she came by my office and said you two had a meeting.”

  “There was no meeting.” He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “Did she say why she came by your office?”

  “She wanted to offer me help and information should I ever need it.”

  He fisted his hands at his side. “Did she happen to mention what kind of information she’d impart to you?”

  Sam went back to her cutting with entirely too much vigor.

  “Samantha? What did Shannon say?”

  She continued to chop for a few seconds and then she laid the knife down. “She gave me some insight on what you do when you’re interested in someone.”

  “Excuse me?” he snapped.

  Samantha went back to her vegetables.

  He took a deep breath, willing his anger to cool. “What exactly did she say, lass?”

  She paused again and looked up at with a forced expression of bravado. “She said that when you like someone, you take them to breakfast and then you offer to cook for them.”

  “Bloody hell.” Kade’s irritation started to take over his calm again.

  “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “I’m glad you did,” he assured her. “The best bit of advice I will ever give you is to ignore Shannon Fraser and never believe a word of anything that comes out of her mouth.”

  Her eyes widened. “Well, I already figured that one out on my own.” She went back to the salad. “What’s the history with you two?”

  “Our families are connected. She’s wanted a partnership with me for years, but it will never happen.” He sighed. “Your arrival has put her on alert.”

  “My arrival?” she asked. “How so?”

  He didn’t quite know what to say at this point. He didn’t know how much he could say. “She’s figured out that you’re someone I’d like to pursue a relationship with.”

  Samantha dropped the knife. “I’m sorry?”

  CHAPTER NINE

  SAMANTHA’S HEART SLAMMED against her chest. She wiped her hands on her hips and tried not to dash toward the door.

  Did he really just say that?

  “Samantha?” Kade made his way to her and took her hand. “Don’t run. I know you want to, but I’m asking you to trust me.”

  She nodded, her heart calming again. “I know you are. I’m just not sure what to make of it. I’ve known you for less than two days, and you’re telling me you want to pursue a relationship with me. It’s all a bit much.”

  “Perhaps, but you feel the same, don’t you?”

  “I feel something. I just haven’t figured out what it is. I’m not sure if it’s insanity or not.”

  “Well, if you’re crazy, then so am I. Why don’t we aim for the sanatorium together?” He smiled and kissed her palm. “Will you give us a chance?”

  Of course I will. I’m already half in love with you as it is. How about we just get married tonight and I’ll be happy to have your baby too?

  She shrugged. “I guess.”

  Kade laughed and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “I plan to kiss you properly before our evening’s over. Think about that while we eat…I know I won’t be able to think of anything else.”

  Let’s skip the wedding and just get to the baby-making.

  Samantha shuddered. “You are impossible.”

  “We could always have dessert first.”

  She pulled her hand from his. “Kade, stop it. I can’t think straight when you’re doing that.”
<
br />   “Doing what?” he asked innocently.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Being all sexy and…and…cute.”

  “Ah, so you think I’m sexy.” He leaned down. “And cute.”

  His lips covered hers and she didn’t quite know what hit her. He pulled her close and she felt the hair band loosen and fall away. Then his fingers were tangled in her hair, and she didn’t think about anything after that.

  She grasped his shirt to keep from falling and her hands seemed to move of their own accord. She slid them up his back; his muscles were like granite under his soft cotton shirt.

  The irksome sound of beeping permeated Samantha’s psyche and she groaned.

  Kade broke the kiss but had the forethought of mind to keep her firmly in his arms. If he hadn’t, she would have melted to the floor.

  “That would be the pasta,” he said as he stroked her cheek. “Can I let you go?”

  She nodded. He released her and made his way to the stove.

  Samantha stood watching him, momentarily stunned. The boy could kiss. She didn’t know what she’d been expecting, but she’d never felt like that with any of her past boyfriends…not that there were many…but she’d thought they were pretty great. Sadly, her experience was obviously lacking, and now she knew she’d never settle for anything less than mind-blowing. Kade Gunnach had just ruined it for any other man she might ever think to date in the future.

  “Samantha?” She blinked up at Kade. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he grinned at her. “Was it as good for you as it was for me?”

  “It was okay, I guess,” she joked. “You?”

  He laughed. “I have never experienced anything like that, to be honest.”

  She bit her lip. “Me neither.”

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Probably.”

  He took her hand and ran his finger over her knuckles. “Why don’t we eat and then we can hash some of this confusion out?”

  Unable to fully form a coherent sentence, she nodded and helped him carry plates to the table. If anyone had asked her how the food was, Samantha wouldn’t have been able to tell them. What she did put on her plate only got pushed around, and she barely tasted anything she managed to eat.

  “This isn’t really working, is it?” Kade moved his plate away and rose to his feet.

  Sam shook her head.

  He held his hand out to her and she took it. He led her into the living room and pulled her onto the sofa next to him. “What’s going through your mind, love?” he asked.

  “Too much to explain.”

  Kade smiled. “There’s no rush, Samantha. We’ll go at your pace. I’m not going anywhere; I just ask that you don’t either.”

  She assumed her favorite position, cross-legged with her back against the sofa arm, and sighed. “I can’t go anywhere. I signed a contract, remember?”

  “I’ll tear the damn thing up if it will make it easier for you.”

  “You really would, wouldn’t you?”

  He laid his hand on her knee and turned to face her. “I’d do anything to make this easier for you.”

  She placed her hand over his. “I believe you, and I’m not going anywhere. You just need to know something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “If you break my heart, Pepper will hunt you down and do some permanent damage. Don’t think she hasn’t done it before.”

  Kade laughed and pulled her onto his lap. She was so shocked by the action she let out a quiet squeak.

  “I have no intention of breaking your heart. I just hope you don’t break mine,” he said.

  She reached up and smoothed the worry from his forehead. “I promise I won’t.”

  He kissed her and Samantha looped her arm around his neck as he pulled her closer. She broke the kiss and dropped her head onto his shoulder. “You need to stop. I don’t know if I can take much more.”

  “Aye,” he said gruffly.

  She scooted off his lap, but stayed close, and he kept an arm around her. He kissed her forehead and they spent the rest of the evening sharing things about their lives that had nothing to do with their instant bond and unusually deep emotions. When Sam could barely keep her eyes open, she put some distance between them.

  “I really should go home and get to bed,” she said. “I need to run tomorrow before work.”

  Kade raised an eyebrow. “Do you want me to run with you?”

  “I’d love you to join me sometime, but I have a feeling I’m going to need to work some things out alone.”

  “If you change your mind, call me.”

  “Okay.” Sam frowned. “I’m sorry about dinner.”

  Kade smiled. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll bring the leftovers to the office tomorrow and you can join me for lunch.”

  She grinned. “Oh, I can, can I?”

  “If you’re lucky.”

  She rose to her feet and stretched. “What about the wine?”

  “It’ll be here waiting for dinner tomorrow.”

  “We’re having lunch and dinner tomorrow, huh?”

  Kade stood and wrapped his arms around her, running his hand across her back. “And every day after that, I hope.”

  She pushed him away gently. “Again, you need to stop doing that or I’ll never make it home.”

  He sighed. “Are you saying my evil plan is thwarted?”

  “Yes…definitely.”

  “All right, I’ll walk you to your door.”

  “All six feet of hallway,” she joked.

  “I have to make up for my lack of gentlemanly behavior earlier.”

  “When weren’t you gentlemanly?”

  “I should have collected you.”

  “Oh, right. Yes. You should have.” Samantha chuckled. “Don’t think you’re getting off that easily.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it. Come on. If we don’t go now, I won’t be able to say goodnight.”

  Samantha nodded and led him from the apartment.

  * * *

  The next morning, spurred on by the desperate need for a distraction, Samantha headed out for her run. Granted, she didn’t manage the full six miles she’d set for herself, but four miles nearly did her in, so she headed back to her apartment hoping a shower would wake her up.

  Alan smiled as he held the door open for her. “Good morning, Dr. Moore.”

  “Hi, Alan. Hey, if I have a few things delivered here, will Jon have time to bring them up to my place today?”

  His expression darkened, but he recovered quickly. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll be happy to deliver whatever you need.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Ma’am.”

  Sam continued to her apartment and got ready for work. She didn’t run into Kade in the hallway or the lobby, which made her a little sad. As she entered the Gunnach building, her heart began to race and she felt anger, thick and heavy in the air. Instead of heading to the lab, she pressed the button to take her to Kade’s office.

  Stepping out of the elevator, Sam felt a little sick. She took a deep breath and headed toward Anna’s desk. It was empty, so she walked down the hall and knocked on Kade’s door, even though she doubted anyone could hear her with all the yelling going on in there. She pushed in and stood frozen. Kade and Brodie were engaged in some form of heated discussion. Payton sat at the table, and she looked as though she’d been crying. Connall stood sentry, appearing to be waiting to break something up.

  “What’s happening?” Sam pushed the door closed, having to raise her voice over Kade and Brodie.

  “Shite!” Kade snapped and ran his hands through his hair. “I’m sorry, lass.”

  Sam frowned. “Why are you so mad? What’s going on? And why is Payton upset?”

  Brodie’s face reddened, and he slammed his fist into the wall, then yanked the door open and stalked out of Kade’s office. Payton’s hands shook as she wrung the handkerchief in her hand.

  “I’m so sorry, Sam,” Payton said, tears streaming down her face.
>
  “It’s not your fault,” Connall said.

  “It is my fault.”

  “It’s not!” Kade snapped, and Payton jumped.

  Instinctively, Sam closed the distance between herself and Kade and laid a hand on his arm. His ire began to calm and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

  “Will someone please tell me what’s going on?” she pressed.

  “It’s taken care of,” Kade said. “Nothing you need concern yourself with.”

  “Except that Payton is crying and Brodie’s pissed and your heart is still racing,” Sam pointed out. She sent a pleading look to Connall and asked, “Will you please fill me in?”

  Connall looked at Kade, who gave him a slight nod. “We had to let Alan’s son go.”

  “Jon?”

  “Aye,” Connall said. “He has been indiscreet.”

  Payton groaned. “I should be the one losing my job. It’s my fault.”

  Sam let out a frustrated grunt. “What happened? Why did you let Jon go?”

  “I had to drop a few things off yesterday, including your wine, and Jon was there to help me. We started chatting.” Payton sniffed, tears starting again. “I guess he said something later to Shannon. But I shouldn’t have said anything to him to begin with, and now that poor boy is jobless.”

  “That ‘poor boy’ got a bloody good severance and recommendation, Payton, and he knew better,” Kade snapped.

  Connall held his hand out to Payton. “I think we should let Kade and Sam talk. Let’s go find Brodie, eh?”

  She gave a reluctant nod and rose to her feet. “I’m really sorry, my…um…Dr. Gunnach.”

  “It’s not your fault, lass.” Kade’s expression softened. “I’ll come see you later this morning.”

  She nodded and followed Connall out of the office.

  Kade laid his hand over Sam’s. “I’m sorry you got caught in that.”

  “I still don’t understand what happened,” she said. “People should be allowed to have conversations, Kade. You can’t fire them for sharing information.”

  He took a deep breath and led her to the table by the window. “Have a seat.”

  Sam sat down and he did the same.

  “Jon wasn’t fired for having a conversation, Samantha. He was fired because he gave someone he shouldn’t have private information. There’s a difference.”