Bound by Secrets (Cauld Ane Series Book 3)

by Piper Davenport

  “Mine showed up at my door.”

  Sam giggled. “At least that means a kiss at the end of the sermon.”

  “Yes, that’s very true.” Payton grabbed the menu. “Almost worth it. Almost.”

  A server interrupted their banter and took their order, returning remarkably quickly with their food. Once she left again, Sam folded her hands in her lap and took a deep breath. “I need a favor.”

  “Anything.” Payton lifted a glass of water to her lips.

  “Find a way to screw up the coronation so it has to be canceled.”

  Payton choked, grabbed for a napkin, and laid it over her mouth. “What?”

  “I can’t do this.” Samantha grimaced. “I mean, I’m fine with being queen… I guess, because I love my husband, and he does all the work, but I swear to Buddha, I will trip or drop something on my gown… or someone else. Someone way more important than me.” She grasped Payton’s hand. “Payton. Listen to me very carefully. I will ruin this. I will embarrass my mate and everyone will hate me. You have to stop the coronation.”

  Payton bit back a giggle. Her queen suddenly looked like a very scared little girl. “Sam. First, power of suggestion doesn’t work on me, sorry. Second, you’ll be fine. I promise. You always do everything right. You have nothing to worry about. Kade has kept the list of the closest guests very small. The Council and their families, security, us, and whoever you’d like to invite are the only ones who will actually be at the coronation. The fealty ceremony will happen later at the castle, which means you will be in your own home and can escape for little breaks whenever you need them.”

  “Hold on… back the truck up. What do you mean the power of suggestion doesn’t work on you?”

  Payton smiled. “My gift of psychometry prevents it.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. Won’t work on Pepper either.”

  “Dang it,” Samantha said. “Would you be willing to dye your hair brown and stand in my place?”

  Payton patted the hand still gripping hers. “Pepper already turned you down, didn’t she?”

  “Yes! After everything I’ve done for her… you know, being her best friend forever and stuff.”

  “Yes, she’s so hard to get along with.”

  Sam fought back a smile. “Besides, she’s pregnant. There’d be way too many questions.”

  Payton giggled. “Yes, I think there would be.”

  “You have to understand something. I didn’t even like my wedding,” she admitted, after taking a few bites of her lunch. “I mean, I did, because I got to marry Kade, but I hated all the attention. I really did it for my family, but I would have been just as happy with the bonding and be done with it.”

  “So romantic.”

  Sam sighed. “I know.” She closed her eyes and let out a quiet squeak.

  “Kade?” Payton took a bite of her sandwich.

  Samantha rubbed her temples. “Yes. Sorry. Just a sec.”

  Just as Payton took another bite of her sandwich, Dalton strolled in, grabbed a chair, and sat down. “Hi, sis,” he said, stealing a French fry from Samantha’s plate. “Payton.”

  Payton smiled. “Hi, Dalt.”

  “Hi, stranger.” Samantha glanced at her watch. “It’s been all of forty-five minutes.”

  “What?” He took another fry. “I missed you.”

  “Hm-mm, I bet.”

  When he reached for her plate again, she smacked his hand and he drew back with a wince. “Dang, Sam, you’ve gotten a lot stronger.” He held his reddened hand out. “I’m actually injured.”

  “Oh, sorry, Dalton,” she said genuinely. “I really didn’t mean to hit you that hard.”

  She laid her hand over his and the redness disappeared.

  “Wow,” he whispered. “I don’t know if I will ever get used to this. It’s so cool.”

  Sam smiled. “You still can’t have another fry.”

  “That’s sibling abuse. Don’t you think, Payton?” He frowned at his sister. “And I just gave you a compliment.”

  “Sorry, bud,” Payton said. “Injury aside, you’re still both much nicer to each other than Aidan and I are.”

  Dalton rolled his eyes. “Yeah, she loves me. She can’t help it.”

  “Who could?” Sam said. “You’re so adorable.”

  Dalton chuckled.

  Payton glanced at the clock on the wall. “I should get back, Sam. I have to get the salary matrix report done today and I’m already behind.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Dalton offered.

  Payton raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to hang out with your sister for a bit?”

  Samantha giggled. “Nice try, Payton. I have my own guard dog lurking around the corner. You don’t get to fob Dalton off on me too.”

  “Buggar,” Payton said.

  “What?” Dalton said with forced innocence. “I’m simply going that way.”

  Payton gave Samantha a look of irritation, and Sam shook her head. “No, he doesn’t really think you’re an idiot, Payton, he’s just trying to have plausible deniability.”

  “Never mind, since you’ve made me.” Dalton sighed. “Come on, Payton.”

  Payton rose to her feet and gathered her leftovers, which Dalton took from her.

  As soon as Samantha was on her feet, Karl, her security for the day, was right by her side, and the foursome made their way to the elevator.

  Dalton and Payton went up, Samantha and Karl went down. Once inside the lift, Dalton turned to Payton. “When did you know?”

  “When I got in the elevator to come downstairs.”

  “Shut up, really?”

  Payton nodded. “Brodie looked to his left just for a second. And what’s to the left of the lifts?”

  “The stairs,” Dalton grumbled.

  “Exactly.” Payton giggled. “I also saw you out of the corner of my eye as I sat down.”

  “Jig’s up then, I guess.”

  “Even though I think it’s a little overkill in the office, I know I can’t fight the edict of my being guarded, so I guess, I like the idea that it’s you. I trust you, and more importantly, so does Brodie.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.” Dalton smiled. “I think once Jet’s no longer a threat, things will calm down a bit.”

  “Let’s hope so.”

  The elevator doors opened and Payton moved to step out, but Dalton held his hand out. “Hold on a second, please.”

  He leaned out of the lift, looked left, then right, and then stepped into the hallway, holding the doors open. “It’s all clear.”

  Payton rolled her eyes. “Shocker.”

  Dalton gave her a placating smile. “You can never be too careful.”

  “No, you really can’t,” Brodie said, strolling toward them.

  Payton’s heart fluttered and she failed at trying to give him an admonishing frown. Her mate was entirely too sexy for his own good. “We’re in the office, love. It’s a fortress.”

  Brodie kissed her cheek. “Aye, but I appreciate Dalton’s care with my favorite person in the world, all the same.”

  “I’ll talk to you later, Payton,” Dalton said, and handed her leftovers to Brodie.

  “Thanks, Dalton,” Payton said.

  Dalton left the couple and Payton led Brodie back to her office. Once she unlocked and opened the door, Brodie set her food in the fridge. “I know you have a lot to do, so I’ll leave you now,” he said. “I’ll pick you up at five.”

  Payton nodded as she logged on to her computer. “Sounds good.”

  He leaned down and kissed her. Payton sighed. “Okay, you cannot make this a habit.”

  “What?” he asked.

  “Interrupting my work day with kisses. I won’t be able to get anything done now that I’m distracted.”

  He grinned. “I’ll make it up to you later.”

  She pushed him gently away. “That doesn’t make it better. Now I’m imagining you naked.”

  Brodie laughed. “That makes two of us.
”

  “Don’t forget we’re having dinner with everyone tonight.” She smiled. “Last chance before Con and Pepper go home.”

  “I haven’t forgotten, love.”

  “Good. Now, go away,” she said. “I have to get these numbers to Kade before we can leave.”

  Brodie sidled out the door then poked his head back inside. “I love you.”

  She threw a pencil at him and he dodged it beautifully.

  “I love you too,” she called as he pulled the door shut.

  LATER THAT EVENING, having made it back to the flat in record time despite her busy workload, Payton slid on a wide bangle and secured her earrings. She’d chosen dark jeans and a silk top that fell just above her hips, and with her four-inch heels, she felt a little less tiny standing next to her mate. She needed to look her best tonight, especially competing with the likes of her drop-dead gorgeous sisters-in-law.

  “No competition, love. You look beautiful,” Brodie said, leaning against the doorframe.

  “Thank you.” Payton grinned. “So do you.”

  He wore dark jeans as well, with a black button-up and biker boots. His hair was perfectly messy, and he’d kept a day’s growth of stubble on his face.

  “Jack’s all prepared,” Brodie said. “We’re doing our best to sneak in through the back, but there might be paparazzi there anyway.”

  “I’d imagine so.” Payton nodded. “How often do three handsome men of Scotland’s finest aristocracy go out together with their wives? I’d be surprised if there wasn’t any at all. Especially, considering the photogs hang out daily at Slàinte as it is.”

  “I guess that’s true. I just hate it.”

  Payton made her way to him and kissed his cheek. “I know you do. But we’ll deal. Too bad Max and Niall aren’t here. They’d be able to distract them.”

  “We’ll plan better next time.” He crossed his arms. “I have some news about the flat.”

  “Oh?”

  “We got it.”

  Payton clapped her hands. “We did? That’s wonderful. Did the sales woman calm down?”

  Brodie scowled. “She was sacked.”

  Payton gasped. “What? Brodie, you didn’t really have her fired, did you?”

  “Absolutely. Bloody hell, if that’s the way they run their business, it’s unacceptable.” He shook his head. “Her boss wasn’t overly pleased to hear that she liked to flirt.”

  Payton forced back a giggle. “Maybe they were a couple and you just broke them up.”

  Brodie laughed. “I should probably feel bad about that, but her boss got the commission, so he wasn’t complaining too loudly.”

  “So, what did you negotiate the price down to?” she asked as she shut the clasp on her watch.

  “Six.”

  “Six million? That’s higher than the listing!”

  He crossed his arms. “Not for the building.”

  Payton’s mouth gaped open. “What?”

  “I bought the building.”

  “Why? We don’t need the whole building, Brodie!” She waved her hands in the air. “Just the house inside of it.”

  “This isn’t quite where I expected this conversation to go.” Brodie frowned, pushing away from the doorframe.

  Payton laid her hands on her heated cheeks. “I know that you have more money than Croesus—”

  “Actually, that’s Connall,” he said, interrupting her.

  She couldn’t stop a grin. “Okay, more than Croesus, less than Connall, but even you must see my point that buying an entire building might be a tad overboard.”

  He chuckled. “Not at all. If we bought just the flat, the rest of the apartments would be available for others, for instance, humans, to purchase or rent. With the building comes the freedom to expand when I fill your belly with babies, or offer up to other Cauld Ane when they need a place to stay.”

  “See? You make everything sexy!” she accused as her body filled with desire. “I vote filling my belly with babies, please.”

  Brodie laughed and wrapped his arms around her. “Your wish is my command.”

  “What made you think about the building thing?” She raised an eyebrow. “Which is actually a really good idea, I might add.”

  “Yes, I know,” he quipped. “It was a question Dalton asked, actually, about how we explain our longevity to people. In our world we don’t need to, but with the advances in social media, it’s getting harder to be anonymous. Think about Fallen Crown. They “formed” in the eighties. That was almost thirty years ago. They’re going to have to do something soon, or the world will start to suspect.”

  Payton hummed in agreement. “Yes, they barely look out of their twenties now, and there’s no way they could pull off being well into their forties.”

  “Exactly. Some humans age better than others, and everyone can suspend their disbelief to a certain degree, but then it just gets silly.”

  “Golly gee willikers,” she said, in the worst American accent. “You’ve got a point. Okay, I’ll live in it.”

  “Twist your arm, eh?” He laughed, and checked his watch. “If you’re ready, we should get to Kade’s.”

  “I’m ready.” She grabbed her purse. “Let’s go.”

  Payton led Brodie next door and had a brief second of insecurity when Kade answered the door and they walked inside to find Sam and Pepper in all their glory. Pepper wore a high-waisted, cobalt blue dress that fell just above her knees and showed off her knee-high boots. Despite the fact she was over half-way through her pregnancy, you couldn’t really tell. Samantha wore a black, shimmery short dress with strappy heels that accentuated her killer legs.

  Oh to be tall and thin, Payton wished quietly.

  Stop it, Brodie admonished. You are perfect. Far better looking than your sisters.

  You’re biased.

  Hey, you’re insulting my woman, Payton, and I’ll have none of it. Got it?

  “Payton!” Samantha exclaimed as she hugged her. “My word, you are gorgeous. Shirley Manson gorgeous. I may have to hate you.”

  Payton giggled. “I was just thinking the same thing, little miss Kate Beckinsale look-a-like.”

  “Since we’re comparing each other to celebrities,” Pepper said as she hugged Payton, “does that make me Shamu?”

  “Pepper!” Connall snapped.

  “I’m joking.”

  “It’s not funny,” he pressed. “You’re beautiful.”

  Pepper blushed. “Sorry, baby.”

  “He’s right, Pepper,” Payton said. “I hope I look half as good as you when the time comes.”

  Wow, you boys are super serious about this, aren’t you? she projected.

  And you better not forget it.

  “Just so we’re all clear,” Brodie said. “When you make a comment about how ugly or fat you feel, you are insulting the women we love, right? So, I’d say all three of you just need to remove that line of thought and conversation from your repertoire.”

  “Amen,” Kade said. “Now, let’s go have some fun. I would venture a guess we’ll lose Brodie for part of the night once folks get wind of him being at the club, so be prepared for him to mingle.”

  Brodie frowned. “I don’t mingle. I abhor mingling.”

  Kade chuckled. “But you’ll still do it, because you own the most exclusive club in Edinburgh and it will be expected of you.”

  Brodie sighed. “You got me. I do need to check on a few things while we’re there.”

  “A few things,” Payton said. “And within reason, love. It’s not a work night. It’s a family night.”

  “Aye.” Brodie wrapped his arm around Payton and the couple followed the rest of the group downstairs. Dalton and Cole were waiting for them in the garage, so the group piled into one SUV, while another identical one, driven by Alasdair, led the way.

  “Are you really so popular you need a decoy?” Dalton asked from the passenger seat.

  “Rich, young, and drop-dead gorgeous aristocracy?” Pepper retorted. “Hell, y
eah, they’re popular.”

  Connall rolled his eyes. “And very, very taken.”

  “That too,” she said, and kissed his cheek.

  “It’s nice to have so much more interest on Will and Kate right now. Other than a couple of instances of late, we’ve been able to move pretty easily in public without folks hounding us,” Kade said.

  “Very, very true,” Connall agreed.

  “Still hate it,” Brodie grumbled.

  Payton giggled and squeezed his hand. “It’s good that you’re a shut-in, then.”

  How about we go back to the flat and I’ll show you just how good of a shut-in I am, he said.

  Payton felt her face heat. Brodie!

  He grinned, leaning over to whisper, “Just wait for tonight.”

  Payton closed her eyes briefly to calm her heart.

  “We’ll wait here,” Cole said, pulling over several cars behind Alasdair’s. “Let’s hope this works.”

  Payton watched as a hoard of people went rushing after the SUV, but her heart dropped when a smaller group stayed put.

  “Well, at least, it’s not as many,” Kade said.

  “Let’s go in through the back,” Brodie said.

  “You can’t drive inside,” Payton pointed out.

  “I’m aware, love. I do own the building,” he retorted. “It’s not far to walk and if Cole waits and drives through the front, it will distract the rest.”

  Payton groaned. “Walking, really, Brodie?”

  Samantha giggled. “Come on, Pay. It’s less than a block.”

  “I’ll carry you,” Brodie offered.

  “What about Pepper? She’s very, very pregnant,” Payton countered.

  “Then I’ll carry her,” Connall said, and opened his door, sliding out.

  “Ha! You will not. Nice try, Payton, but you’re outnumbered,” Pepper said, and followed her husband.

  “Fine.” Payton groaned and joined the rest of the group. Once Cole drove off, Payton declined Brodie’s offer to carry her, and they made the short trek to the rear of the club. Brodie scanned his keycard and the door buzzed open, granting access to the secret offices that housed some of Brodie’s more senior employees.

  “I’ll just check on a couple of things,” Brodie said, turning toward his private office. “Won’t be long.”