Bound by Fire (Cauld Ane Series Book 2)

by Piper Davenport

  A knock at the door brought Nicholas. “I’m so sorry for the trouble, sir. I have a more private table for you, and lunch is of course, on the house.”

  “Oh, that’s not necessary,” Pepper said quickly.

  “It’s my pleasure, m’lady,” Nicholas replied. “Please. Follow me.”

  Once they finished lunch and Pepper insisted Connall leave the man twice the amount of the bill, Connall led her back to the apartment, using back streets and alleys just to be safe.

  SAM CALLED TO let Pepper know that Payton and Fiona would join them for their outing, and Pepper couldn’t wait for a day out with her friends. She’d been so wrapped up in Connall since they’d met, she felt like she hadn’t given herself a chance to come up for air.

  Her first order of business was a wedding ring for Connall and then something to wear for the concert. She kept her wedding band on, but decided against her engagement ring. She felt a little uncomfortable wearing such a large diamond without Connall there to beat off the robbers.

  Connall’s laugh sounded in her mind. Robbers?

  Better safe than sorry.

  “You are allowed to wear the engagement ring, sweetheart,” he said from the doorway of the bedroom. “And it also shows the rest of the world you’re taken.”

  “My wedding ring does that.”

  “Not until after the creep’s close enough to see it.”

  She chuckled and tried to put on her watch, but had trouble with the clasp and stuck her wrist out for help. “I know you think it’s silly not to wear it, but it’s not just because of the theft thing.”

  “What else?” He secured her watch.

  “Well, store owners see that rock coming at ’em, and they’re going to double their prices, especially when they see my checkbook.”

  “Your checkbook?”

  “P. E. Gunnach. It’s right there in black and white.”

  “What is?”

  “The invitation to take me for all you’re worth.”

  Connall laughed. “Och, love, you are bloody adorable.”

  She wagged a finger at him. “Are you laughing at me again, Dr. Gunnach?”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it, Mrs. Gunnach.” He cupped her cheek. “Besides, you’re going to the Mile. Everyone there knows my sister and Payton. They wouldn’t dare take advantage of you. They’re too afraid of Brodie.”

  “Not Kade?” she asked.

  “Kade’s a puppy dog compared to Brodie.” He smiled. “One store owner raised her nose at Payton some years back and found herself out of business and out of favor. Word got around.”

  Pepper gasped. “I can’t imagine that sat well with Payton.”

  “Oh, it didn’t. We found out quiet, unassuming Payton could out-yell pretty much anyone we know. I don’t think she managed to stop Brodie from interfering, but he’s certainly done a better job of doing it without her finding out.”

  “What’s the deal with them, anyway?”

  “Payton’s not twenty-five for another two months, give or take a week, which means her heart won’t definitively know Brodie’s her mate until then. But he knows she’s his. Has since she was fifteen, which was when he first met her. And I think she wants him to be hers, but she’s cautious by nature, so she’s waiting.”

  “Ten years? He’s waited that long?”

  “Aye. The waiting’s nearly killed him, which is why he joined the Royal Air Force for five years. But we’re on the home stretch now, and he’s trying to be less of a bull in a china shop around her.”

  “You all look ridiculously young. How does the aging thing work?”

  “The Cauld Ane age at the same rate as humans until mating year. After that, we age at about one year per one hundred human years. It’s not exact, but that’s about the average. Now that you and I have mated, our aging process becomes more like one year per two hundred human years. But with our hearts bonded, you and I will age at the same rate and die at the same time.”

  “So even though you’re centuries older, you’re not going to die hundreds of years before me?”

  He smiled. “Nope. I’ll be around as long as you are.”

  She looped her hands around his neck. “Wow. Can you imagine everything we’ll see in our lifetime?”

  He kissed her. “It’ll be even more amazing seeing it with you.”

  “Yoo-hoo,” Sam called out. “Anyone home?”

  “Back here,” Pepper responded, and then grinned at Connall. “I’ll wear the ring.”

  He smiled and slipped it on her finger. “Thank you.”

  “I hope it’s okay I let myself in,” Sam said as she poked her head into the bedroom. “The door was open.”

  Connall frowned. “It was open?”

  Sam raised her hands. “Unlocked, sorry. Didn’t mean to worry you.”

  “Ready?” Pepper asked.

  “Yeah.” Sam led them back out to the front room. “Fi’s at our place, we’re just waiting for Payton. Alasdair’s getting the car.”

  “Where’s my phone?” Pepper mumbled as she patted her pockets.

  Connall handed her the purse and cell phone she’d left in the bedroom.

  “Right. Thanks.”

  He chuckled and kissed her cheek. “It’s my absolute pleasure to keep track of you.”

  “Someone has to do it,” Sam retorted.

  “Laugh, laugh,” Pepper said with a grin.

  Connall ushered the women from the flat and then followed them down to Kade’s apartment. Pushing open the door, he couldn’t stop his smile when he found Payton snapping something in Gaelic to Brodie. He thought he heard donkey’s arse or something similar.

  “Well, hi there, Payton,” Connall said. “I see my brother’s in fine form today.”

  She smiled at Connall. “Sure. Let’s go with that.”

  Sam giggled and hugged Payton. “Are you glad to be home?”

  Payton lived with her family in Edinburgh, close to Angus and Fiona, and not far from the office.

  “Definitely. It’s nice to have some space again,” she said, with a pointed glare toward Brodie. She grabbed her purse and pulled out an envelope. “This arrived for you at the office today, Con.”

  “Just in time,” he said as he ripped it open. He pulled out a black credit card and handed it to Pepper. “For you, sweetheart. Just sign the back and you can shop to your heart’s desire.”

  “No, that’s okay. I’m good.”

  He smiled. “It’s yours, Pepper. Take it.”

  “No, really. It’s fine.” She pasted on a fake smile. “I have those temporary checks from the bank, plus I have my credit card from home.”

  “I’d rather you take this card, love. It’s separate from our bank accounts and gives you a little more freedom, spending-wise.”

  “I don’t need it.”

  I want you to take the god damn card, Pepper.

  I don’t want to take the god damn card, Connall. You just put a hundred-thousand pounds in my shiny new bank account this morning. I don’t need a credit card as well.

  What if you want to buy something that costs more than a hundred thousand?

  She gaped at him. What could I possibly want that would cost more than a hundred-thousand pounds?

  “Fine,” he said.

  “Great,” she added.

  Connall turned away from her and handed the card to Sam. “Just in case,” he whispered.

  Sam shook her head, but slipped the card in her purse.

  Fiona walked into the room from the back of the apartment, followed by Angus. “Hi, Pay,” she said and hugged Payton, then turned to Pepper. “Hi, Pepper. How was your first day in Edinburgh?”

  “It was good,” Pepper said. “Even with the photogs.”

  Fiona rolled her eyes. “Ugh. They’re parasites.”

  “You’ll keep your eyes open today,” Angus warned. “Right?”

  “Yes, Angus,” Fiona said. “Ali will also be close.”

  “Maybe we should join you,” Kade said.
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  “No,” came the unified response.

  Sam laughed. “We’re big girls, Kade. We can handle a few photographers. Stop worrying.”

  He leaned down and kissed her quickly. “Be careful.”

  “We will,” she promised.

  “Let’s go before they pull rank,” Pepper said, and kissed Connall. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  “I love you,” he said.

  “Love you too, baby.”

  Pepper followed the group to the elevators and they headed to the garage to meet Alasdair.

  “Ladies,” Alasdair said as he opened the car door.

  “Hi Ali,” Sam said, and climbed into the back of the large SUV.

  Another man Pepper didn’t recognize sat in the front passenger seat. He smiled briefly at Sam and then turned forward again.

  Pepper followed Sam and sat next to her, pulling the seat in front upright so Payton and Fiona had enough room to slide in. They buckled up and Alasdair started the car. As they drove out of the garage, Sam opened her purse. “Okay, don’t be mad.”

  “What?” Pepper asked in suspicion, and groaned when Sam handed her the credit card.

  “Just take it, Pepper. It’ll be safer for you to use this than carry cash, and it’s certainly faster than writing a check.”

  Pepper turned the card over. “Is this one of those cards?”

  “What cards?”

  “Those ones for the stupidly rich with a monthly disposable income that equals the amount of an average person’s house?”

  Sam giggled. “Pepper, just sign the back and put it in your wallet.”

  “I don’t have a pen.”

  Sam grinned, handing her a thin Sharpie. “Had a feeling you’d say that.”

  Pepper rolled her eyes, but took the pen and signed her name. “Your organization skills are annoying sometimes.”

  Sam giggled. “Oh, I know.”

  “Will you do something for me?”

  “Of course.”

  “I know I have money to spend and I want to find something really nice for Con, but will you tell me if I’m either being cheap or spending too much? I feel a little out of my league… no, actually, I feel a lot out of my league here.”

  Sam smiled. “I’ve got your back, Pepper. Don’t worry.”

  * * *

  “Pepper?” Connall called through the door. “Will you let me see you now?”

  “Just a sec.” Pepper adjusted her new black leather jacket and checked the mirror. Black jeans, tight in all the right places, but still comfortable. She wore a black bustier under a brand new black camisole which covered enough not to be trashy, but showed just enough to be sexy. Her new outfit had the wow quality she was looking for and was exactly what she’d envisioned wearing to the concert. “Okay. Come in.”

  Connall pushed open the door and let out a louder than expected whistle.

  Pepper giggled. “It’s okay?”

  He slid his hands over her hips. “Better than okay. You look gorgeous.”

  She bit her lip. “I’ve never spent this much on clothes before, so if it’s too much, let me know. I’ll return something.”

  Connall laughed. “Baby, you are keeping everything. It would be a crime to return it.”

  “Really?”

  He nodded. “Yes, you’re sexy as hell.”

  He leaned down and kissed her.

  “We’re going to be late if you keep doing that,” she said.

  Connall grinned. “So?”

  “I have something for you.”

  He slid his hand under her camisole. “Which I’m trying to get at.”

  “Not that,” she retorted. “Your ring.”

  “So soon?”

  “They were very accommodating at the jeweler.” She reached into the bag on her bed and pulled out a navy-blue leather box. “I hope you like it.”

  He rubbed his hands together and then took the box, opening it to reveal a simple white-gold band with double-rope inlay around the edges. “Pepper, it’s perfect.”

  “Are you sure you like it? It just felt like you, but Mr. Ferguson said you could return it if it’s not right.”

  He slid the ring on his finger and tossed the box onto the bed. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her, lifting her and laying her on the bed.

  “I love it,” he said, and proceeded to do some amazing things with his mouth.

  Pepper yanked his shirt over his head, but before they could go any further, the doorbell sounded, ripping them from their romantic moment.

  He dragged his lips from hers and settled his forehead against hers. “Damn doorbell.”

  She gasped in deep breaths in an effort to calm herself.

  The doorbell pealed again.

  Pepper licked her lips. “You better get that.”

  He pushed himself off the bed and left the room, pulling on his shirt as he went. Pepper righted her clothes and tried to bring her hair back under control.

  Connall returned and sighed. “We’re going with Kade and Sam. Brodie and Angus are already at the theatre, and Ali’s waiting in the garage.”

  She grinned. “I’m ready… although I wish we had an extra fifteen minutes.”

  “How I’m feeling right now, love, we’d need an hour.”

  “Ooh,” she groaned. “Don’t put that visual in my head. I’ll make you find a closet somewhere.”

  He kissed her cheek. “View it as a promise for later.”

  “Not making it better, Connall.”

  He laughed and grabbed his leather jacket. “Let’s go. I have a surprise for you.”

  “Another one?” she said as she dropped her phone into her purse and followed him from the apartment. “I need to stop letting you distract me.”

  “Promise me you’ll stay out of my mind for twenty minutes?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “If you insist.”

  “Thank you.”

  They met Kade and Sam in the parking lot and Alasdair drove the couples to the theatre. King’s Theatre was a beautiful old building built in the early nineteen-hundreds and one of the most popular places to see a show. Pepper couldn’t wait to get inside, but frowned at the long line of fans already standing in the cold, waiting to be let in.

  “They haven’t opened the doors yet, huh?” she said.

  “They’ve opened them to us,” Connall assured her.

  Alasdair pulled down a side street and into the private back lot of the theatre. The doors opened and they were ushered in and into a private room set up with tables and chairs and set for dinner. Pepper grabbed Connall’s hand as she caught sight of the entire band, along with Angus, Fiona, Brodie, and Payton.

  “Surprise,” Connall whispered. “It’s a mini wedding reception for us.”

  Pepper grinned. “I can’t believe you did this.”

  “I can’t take all the credit,” Connall said. “Max helped.”

  Max made his way to the couple and wrapped his arms around Pepper’s waist, lifting her off her feet. “Welcome to the family, Mrs. Gunnach.”

  Pepper laughed and hugged him back. “Thank you!”

  Connall slid his arm between the two of them and pulled her off Max. “Okay, that’s enough of that.”

  Pepper tried to stay calm and not squeal like a teenage girl as she was introduced to each band member. She gripped Connall’s hand like a talisman, which calmed her considerably. As servers brought wine out, Max picked up an acoustic guitar and started playing “Heavy is the Heart.”

  “Your favorite song, Pep. Imagine that,” Sam exclaimed. “Will you sing for us?”

  Pepper blushed and shook her head.

  “Do you know it?” Max asked.

  “Kind of,” Pepper said.

  “Kind of, my butt,” Sam retorted.

  Max started the song again and Pepper joined in. She couldn’t believe she was being treated to a private concert, let alone singing with her idol. She thought she’d explode with excitement.

  Dinner was festive, albe
it short, with the call for the band to get ready to go on.

  Connall led Pepper down a hallway and tried to shield her from the photographers as much as possible, but the amount of flashes coming at them meant it was more important he make sure she didn’t trip as they made their way to the side of the stage.

  The only photographers allowed in this area were the two personally picked by Max.

  Connall slipped his arm over her shoulders. “We’re going to hang out here for a couple of songs, then we’ll go up to the box.”

  “Really?” she asked.

  “Really.”

  “Oh, okay. Twist my arm.”

  He grinned and pulled her closer as the curtain rose and the roar of the crowd more than likely broke a few sound barriers. Pepper was in heaven… and unprepared for Max’s announcement.

  “Hey, everyone. I want to invite a couple of special people to come on stage to help us out with a song. Do you want to meet them?” The crowd went wild. “I thought so.” He beckoned to Connall and Pepper. “Come on, you two.”

  “What did you do?” Pepper asked Connall.

  “I’m going to play and you’re going to sing,” he said innocently.

  “Shut up! I am not.” Pepper gripped his arm. “I’m not warmed up!”

  “What do you think all that was in the back?”

  “You are insane.”

  He took her hand and dragged her onto the stage. A guitar tech handed Connall his guitar, the pretty blue one she’d seen hanging in his studio, and another man handed her a microphone and pair of in-ear monitors.

  Max held his hand out to her and she glanced at Connall before taking Max’s hand and letting him lead her to the front of the stage. “I’d like you to meet Pepper. She and my best friend, the ugly one back there with the blue guitar, just got married.” The crowd went wild again. “What some of you probably don’t know is that Connall played on six of the tracks off our last album, but tonight he’s going to help us out with an oldie and he’s roped Pepper in to sing with me.”

  Pepper tried not to pass out. She was used to performing, had done it since she was little, but usually in theater or karaoke, and certainly nowhere near the scale that this was.

  “Ready?” Max asked.

  “No,” she said.

  Max grinned. “How about now?”

  “I think I hate you.”

  “Oh, I know.” Max laughed. “Take a deep breath. Ready now?”