A muscle in George’s cheek twitched. “Nice try, but it didn’t happen like that.”
“Maybe not, but Edwina and Jacques remember that you took Sophie’s rejection hard. They’ve always wondered why Sophie left so abruptly. One minute she was nuts about their son, something that did worry them, by the way. But then, all at once, she hopped on a train.”
“You’re lying.” All the affability left George’s expression. “You haven’t talked to them.”
“Once I realized that it made no sense for Sophie to have left of her own accord when she was mated with Byron, I wondered who might have talked her into it. During a layover in Chicago, I phoned Edwina.”
George’s eyes glittered. “Edwina’s losing it. You can’t trust anything she says.”
“Don’t you say that about my grandmother!” Luna started toward him.
Colin put a restraining hand on her arm. “He knows that’s not true, Luna. He’s bluffing, but it won’t work. Edwina and I had a long conversation, and we both agreed that if Byron had told anyone about mating with Sophie, it would have been his cousin, the Were he loved like a brother.”
George’s face turned gray.
“If I had any doubts about your role in this tragedy,” Colin continued, “your actions today erased them.”
Luna’s breath hissed out. “You.” The word was filled with equal parts of horror and loathing. Fingers curled, she lunged at George.
Colin grabbed her around the waist and held on tight. “Don’t. He’s not worth it.”
She struggled in his grip. “But he’s responsible for my father’s death! He deserves to pay for that!”
“Don’t you think I pay for it every day of my cursed life?” George’s face twisted with agony.
“Oh, I’m so sorry for you!” Luna’s breathing was ragged. “What about the price my father paid? And my mother? And my grandparents? And me ?”
“How could I know he’d go after her? I told him she didn’t love him anymore, that she didn’t want to live as a Were. Why didn’t he believe me? If he’d believed me, he’d be alive!”
Heat came off Luna’s body in waves. “He didn’t believe you because he knew she would always love him, that they were mated for all time.”
George began to shake. “I get that now, but back then, I didn’t understand… God… the wreck… the blood… ” Burying his face in his hands, he wept.
Colin had looked forward to this moment with relish, but now that it was here, he took no pleasure in George’s complete humiliation. He just wanted the Were out of his sight. “I’ll call Knox,” he said. “He’ll take you home.”
“God, no.” George’s shoulders quivered. “I can’t face my son right now.”
Luna stepped away from Colin, and he let her go. Although she might have been ready to claw George’s eyes out a moment ago, Colin didn’t think she’d do it now.
She took a shaky breath. “Sit down, George,” she said. “Get yourself together.”
His eyes red and his face damp with tears, George located the chair he’d recently vacated and sank unsteadily into it. He glanced once at Luna and looked away. “Every time I see you, I see Sophie. That’s why I wanted you gone.”
Luna folded her arms. “Let’s not forget the plan to buy Whittier House when my absence made Colin lose interest in the project. Don’t pretend it was all about your guilt.”
George coughed. “Okay, I admit that was a consideration.” Reaching in his back pocket, he took out a handkerchief and began mopping his face. “But now I’m finished.” His whole body sagged. “Once this gets out—”
“Maybe it doesn’t have to get out,” Luna said.
Colin glanced at her in surprise. “Don’t forget that I’ve talked to Edwina.”
“And how did she react?”
“She’s upset.” He directed his attention to George. “And she expects you to atone for what you’ve done, which means clearing Sophie’s name and welcoming Luna fully into the Trevelyan pack. However, once she finds out that you tried to drive her granddaughter out of town… ”
“She’ll want my head on a platter,” George said.
Colin nodded. “Yes, she will. And I’m prepared to hand it to her.”
Luna looked at Colin. “But we don’t have to tell her about this.”
“Why wouldn’t we? The bastard deserves whatever he gets.”
“I agree, but think about it for a minute.”
Finally he understood her intention. Although she’d been put through an emotional wringer, she’d kept her wits about her. She was even smarter than she was beautiful, and that was saying something. “No, I guess we don’t.”
George stared at both of them in amazement. “You would do that?”
“Yes,” Luna said, “on the condition that you throw all your support behind the Whittier House Inn, without—”
“Done! I’ll do whatever you say. I’ll—”
“Wait.” Luna held up her hand. “I’m not finished. Colin and I welcome your support, but there can be no more discussion of buying in. We didn’t want to be part of your empire before, and now we’d rather drink battery acid than be in business with a weasel like you.” She looked at Colin. “Right?”
“Damn right.”
George blew out a breath and stood. “Okay.” He offered his hand first to Luna, and then to Colin. “It’s a deal.”
Colin shared a triumphant glance with Luna. He’d never been more proud of her, or more desperately in love.
Luna held herself together until the helicopter lifted off the helipad, taking George Trevelyan back to Seattle. Wind from the whirling blades buffeted her as she stood next to Colin, who’d tucked his arm securely around her waist.
As they watched the helicopter rise up over the trees, she allowed herself to lean in to his solid warmth. “That was intense. Thanks for showing up.”
He tightened his grip. “I’m the one who should be thanking you. I was willing to let Edwina and the pack take him down, but thanks to your quick thinking, we have him right where we want him—on a tight leash.”
“Yes, but you handed me the leash.” Glancing up at his profile, she felt her heart constrict. He meant far more to her than he should under the circumstances. “That insight about my mother was brilliant. I wish I’d thought of it.”
He turned, slid both arms around her waist, and gazed into her eyes. “I can’t take credit for the insight, either. My brother, Duncan, came up with it.”
“Then please thank him for me. I have a much better image of my mother now.” She rested her hands on his broad shoulders and looked into his face. She never grew tired of doing that. “And how is that situation with your brother, by the way?”
“He’s breaking up with Molly.”
“And you’re happy about that, I’ll bet.” So Colin had efficiently subdued his brother’s rebellious impulse. She felt a prick of disappointment. Colin’s prejudices were still firmly in place.
“I’m happy only because she wasn’t his true mate.”
“You’re absolutely sure she’s not?”
“He’s sure, and that’s what counts.”
She nodded, but she wondered if Duncan had simply caved under pressure and told his older brother what he wanted to hear. Colin could be extremely convincing, as she knew firsthand.
He started to say something, then shook his head and glanced away.
“What?”
He looked into her eyes. “I wish you’d called me when you knew George was coming. I understand why you didn’t, but I still wish you’d called to let me know.”
“I wasn’t about to bother you when I didn’t know what he wanted.” This laird of Glenbarra had a lot of nerve, but then he was a pack alpha, so it probably went with the job. “Speaking of calling, I wish you’d called me to say you were flying back here, and I don’t understand that at all. Why the hell didn’t you?”
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“Mission accomplished. I thought I
was hallucinating. You had no reason to be here.”
He pulled her closer, surrounding her with his heat, his scent, his charisma. “I had every reason to be here.” His gaze searched hers. “I’ve been an idiot, Luna. I hope someday you’ll forgive me.”
“For what?” Something in his expression was different, and he’d never called himself an idiot before. That wasn’t particularly lairdlike. She wondered what he was leading up to. Then a horrible possibility occurred to her. “Please tell me you didn’t sell Whittier House.”
“No! I wouldn’t do that.”
She let out a breath. “For a second there I was really scared. So what am I supposed to forgive, then?”
“My arrogance, my meddling, my stubbornness, my insufferable snobbishness.”
“Oh.” She paused while she debated whether to be honest or not. Honesty won out. “I have to admit you’re guilty of those things, but I—”
“Just don’t reject me yet.” His plea was reflected in his amazing blue eyes. “I know I have flaws, but give me a chance to redeem myself.”
“Who’s rejecting you? You and your flaws are still welcome in my bed anytime.”
He reached up and cupped her face in his hand. “And that makes me a very lucky chap, indeed.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb. “But I want more than that, lass.”
“More?” She blinked in confusion. “Look, I’m not into bondage.”
He smiled. “Neither am I.”
“Then what is it you want?”
His smile faded and his gaze intensified. “A mate, Luna.”
Her body vibrated as if she’d touched a bare electrical wire. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. A mate? She must have misunderstood.
He took her face in both hands and looked into her eyes. “I know why you’re confused. I’ve done a fine job of convincing you we don’t belong together. So now I have to convince you that we do. Let’s start with this.” He lowered his mouth to hers.
As a persuasive technique, it worked like a charm. After a few seconds of the loveliest kiss he’d ever given her, she was willing to believe anything he said.
He ended the kiss slowly and raised his head. His smile was heartbreakingly tender. “I love you. And I mean to reform so that you’ll love me back.”
“But I already do.” She clutched his shoulders and prayed this wasn’t a dream, but he felt very real.
His eyes filled with joy. “I can’t imagine why that’s so, but I’d be a bloody fool to question it.” He started to kiss her again.
“Wait! What about Scotland?”
“Scotland?”
“You’re the Much Honoured Laird of Glenbarra!”
“So I am. And I may need to make regular trips there, even if Duncan takes on more responsibility for the place. But I won’t ask you to leave the island. I know how much it means to you.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Just try leaving without me, mister.”
“You’d want to go?”
“Providing you’d want me there.” Belatedly she realized she might not be totally welcome.
“I do. I’ll be proud to introduce you as my mate and the Lady of Glenbarra.”
“But I won’t be the one they would have chosen for you.”
“No.” His expression hopeful, he met her gaze. “At least not at first. But if you’re willing to make trips over there, we could work together to open some minds, and that would be a good thing. I realize I’m asking a lot of you, but—”
“I’m up to it.” As she said that, she knew it was true. She was surprised to realize she didn’t need constant contact with this island. It wasn’t home. Colin was. The island could serve as her base as she helped her newly tolerant mate spread even more tolerance in his homeland. “You once told me I might be destined for more than a secluded life on Le Floret.”
“And so you are, my lady.” His lips hovered over hers.
“My lady. I like the sound of that.”
“I’m glad.” He brushed her lips with his.
“Think of it. I’m going to have a Scottish title.”
He lifted his head and grinned at her. “If I’d known you’d be so taken with the idea, I would have started with that instead of listing all my failings.”
“What failings?”
He laughed. “Now, lass, I’m not perfect and you well know it.”
“You are perfect… perfect for me.” And to prove it, she pulled him down for the steamiest kiss in her short but extremely eventful kissing history.
Epilogue
Opening weekend at the Whittier Inn could have turned into a disaster, but Colin had agreed with Luna that they should invite all the major players, including her grandparents and as many of the Trevelyan pack as could make it, even George. On top of that, Colin had decided to go for broke and invite Duncan and their mother, Brigit.
His father was too ill to make the trip, but Duncan and their mother had arrived right on schedule, eager to meet the half-breed Were Colin had claimed as his mate. He’d told his mother everything and had let her decide how much to tell his father. He suspected she hadn’t revealed much.
But none of that mattered on this bright August day as the guests gathered outside for the croquet tournament Luna had organized as an ice breaker. Colin stayed in the background, content to watch his lady shine. And shine she did, moving through the crowd in her bright flowered dress.
Guests, including his mother and brother, buzzed around her like bees seeking nectar. Colin understood. He wanted to do the same, but he resisted the urge. Later tonight he would have his turn. He could wait.
Hector, looking sporty in a polo shirt and crisp navy slacks, sauntered over to where Colin stood. “So she talked you into wearing your kilt, I see.”
“Aye.” Colin didn’t add that Luna could talk him into anything, anything at all. Hector probably knew that already. “Thank you for agreeing to mingle with the guests. I know it’s not your favorite thing to do.”
Hector chuckled. “It seems to mean a lot to her. And it’s not so bad. In fact, it’s good to see how some of those boys turned out.”
“Hors d’oeuvres, gentlemen?” Dulcie, dressed in a sequined top and tight white pants, appeared bearing a tray of bite-sized delicacies Janet had spent the afternoon creating.
“Thanks, Dulcie.” Colin picked up a still-warm pastry that oozed fragrant cheese.
Hector helped himself to a cracker with a swirled topping. “Don’t mind if I do.” Then he reached down with his free hand and pinched Dulcie’s bottom.
“Hector, you old reprobate!” Dulcie pretended outrage, but her color was high and her eyes sparkled.
“Catch you later, Dulce.” Hector winked at her.
“Only if you’re fast enough, Hec.” She walked away, hips swaying.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t see that,” Colin said.
“Hell, at my age, I don’t care who sees it. I’m just grateful that I still have lead in my pencil.”
Colin almost choked on his cheese-filled pastry.
“Don’t hurt yourself, son.”
“Right.” Colin swallowed the last of the pastry and wiped the moisture from his eyes.
“By the way, I’m also grateful that you and Luna haven’t instituted any rules against fraternizing among the staff members.”
“Would it matter if we did?”
Hector shrugged. “Not really. We’d just get sneaky about it.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“The dynamic around here is better, now that Dulcie and I have something going. Sexual frustration makes folks cranky. I do believe I suffered from that problem a bit, although I doubt anyone noticed.”
“I doubt they did.” Colin controlled the urge to laugh. The rest of the staff was overjoyed that prickly Hector had been replaced by mellow Hector. Dulcie seemed quite happy with the turn of events, too.
“It’s all coming together,” Hector said. “Sybil’s ready to take over tempor
arily when you and Luna are in Scotland, and Janet gets a kick out of bossing around her new recruits in the kitchen.” He paused. “Geraldine would have loved this.”
Luna walked over, smiling as she approached. “What would Geraldine have loved?”
“All of it.” Hector swept an arm to encompass a landscape filled with cheerful guests against a backdrop of green grass, flowers, the bright sea, and a magnificent castle. “She intended to fill this place with family, and when that didn’t happen, I don’t think she knew how to correct the situation.” He gazed at Luna. “But you did.”
Luna flushed with obvious pleasure. “Thank the Laird of Glenbarra for taking a chance on me.”
Colin knew an opening when he heard one. Walking toward her, he held out his hand. “And I want to thank the Lady of Glenbarra for taking an even bigger chance… ” He drew her close. “On me.”
“Ah, go ahead and kiss her,” Hector said. “It’ll do you both good.”
“I believe it will, at that.” Leaning down, Colin savored the sweetness of Luna’s mouth for as long as he dared. Then he drew back. “Later, lass.”
With a knowing smile, she returned to her guests.
“See?” Hector gave him a sly wink. “Nice to know you have lead in your pencil, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Colin willed his erection to subside. “Except when you’re wearing a bloody kilt.”
Hector’s laughter was contagious, and soon Colin was laughing with him. Yes, he thought, Geraldine would have loved this. All of it.
Read on for a look at the next fun and sexy
Wild About You novel by Vicki Lewis Thompson,
WEREWOLF IN DENVER
Available in October 2012 from Signet Eclipse
WERECON 2012:
HOWLERS CHALLENGE WOOFERS
Exclusive Wereworld Celebrity Watch report by
Angela Sapworthy
(Denver) Excitement mounts on the eve of this landmark conference, the first of its kind in werewolf history. A star-studded list of attendees from the far reaches of the globe will gather at the elegant Stillman pack lodge in Estes Park near Denver this weekend to debate the conference theme, “Our Future in a Changing Environment.”
Werewolf in Seattle: A Wild About You Novel Page 28
