“But, truly, Fletcher, tossing away immortality is a bit scary.”
He nodded. “But the alternative is to wait our days, seeing people we love die. For you, you should be married and happy, giving me lots of nieces and nephews.”
“Are you saying that because I’m a woman?”
“Ooch, doona say that. You know that you’ve accomplished more than just about any woman I have ever met. It’s only that I know you wanted to have children and a husband. I want you to have what you want.”
“And you? What do you get out of this?”
“Those nieces and nephews to spoil.”
“One of these days you will want more than that for yourself. At least I hope you do.”
“Aw, Anice, I’ve learned that hope is a dangerous thing in times like these. I’d rather use my hope on your future.”
She sighed and leaned down to kiss his cheek. “But I want you to hope for more. Promise me you’ll at least try.”
Her whispered request hit him square in the chest.
“I promise,” he said, even knowing he was lying. “Now go on to bed.”
She nodded and left him alone with his thoughts. Hope for more than a night or two of pleasure wasn’t for him. Rena tempted him to aspire to more, to want that happily ever after people talk about, but Fletcher had learned that hoping for more would lead him down the path to ruin.
* * *
Phoebe shifted in bed trying to get comfortable. Unfortunately, her baby seemed to want to do the River Dance. She’d already been to the bathroom once—just ten minutes earlier. No, there was something else that was bothering her along with the baby. It was tied together in a neat little bundle of worry.
“What’s wrong, love?” Callum asked.
“Our child is the problem.”
“Of course. McLennans are not easy creatures. You know that.”
She smiled as she felt his lips against the back of her neck. “And I’m worried.”
“When do you not? What has you worrying tonight?”
“Fletcher and Rena. Their quest is troubling.”
“How is it more troubling than our other quests?”
“There is specific mention of lovers in this one. Do you think they’ve slept together?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
He chuckled. “I just do.”
Irritated, she rose up and turned on the bedside lamp.
“Bloody hell, woman,” he said, covering his eyes for a moment before he glared at her. “Warn a man you’re going to do that.”
“Stop whining and tell me what you meant.”
He sighed and rose up to rest his weight on his elbow. Her heart fluttered at the sight of his bare chest. The McLennans were handsome well-built men, and she still couldn’t believe this man was hers. All hers.
“Callum, stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want to strip me naked and have your way with me.”
“Well, I do, love.”
Phoebe shook her head. “Will you be serious and answer my question?”
“What question?”
“The one about Fletcher.”
“The fact that you want to discuss my cousin in bed is a bit unsettling.”
“Callum McLennan, if you don’t discuss this with me, I’ll go to London and have this baby in an English hospital.”
“Ooch, you are a mean one.” He sighed. “Fletcher has the look of a man in full lust.”
She rolled her eyes. “No, please, try to be more cryptic.”
“He looks at Rena as if she is the only thing he wants in the world.”
“And once he has her, he won’t.” He opened his mouth, but she added, “Like you. How do you look at me?”
“Ah, love, you are not a thing I want. Not anymore.”
“Then what am I?”
“You are my world.”
The simple words said in that no-nonsense tone of his melted her heart. He said it as if it were a fact, because for him, it was. She didn’t know where she would be if they had not met. It had been fate.
Then she realized she was losing track of what she wanted to talk about.
“But, what happens if they don’t fall for each other? There are numerous references to lovers.”
“Maybe it’s because of the specific jewel. You mentioned that they called it the jewel of love a few times.”
She chewed on her bottom lip thinking it over. “I’m not sure it’s because of that.”
“Even so, we can’t worry how they will react. We have no control over it.”
“But it says that they will be challenged, and their pessimism can ruin everything.”
“I’m sure everything will work out just fine, love.” He tugged on her nightgown. “Why don’t I take your mind off all of that silly stuff?”
She looked at him, recognized that smile. It was the one that helped her fall in love with him. But she resisted, barely.
“Stop that. I’m worried, Callum. Can they work through all of that? If they can’t, they won’t be able to get the ruby.”
“They will. I know Fletcher, and I know that he will succeed.”
“How do you know that?”
His gaze softened as he gave her nightgown another tug. This time she let herself be lured closer to the one man she would never be able to resist. He pulled her against his body, his warmth calming her.
“I know, because I recognize a man falling in love.”
“How?”
“Because we recognize our own kind.”
She frowned. “You are falling in love with me? You aren’t already in love with me?”
He brushed his mouth against hers. The simple touch had her entire body heating. Just like that, she wanted—no needed—him.
“I fall deeper in love with you every day, Phoebe. I always think I can’t love you more, then you walk in the room and my heart just tumbles down on the floor at your feet.”
Tears burned the backs of her eyes. Callum wasn’t a romantic man, but when he spoke to her like this, he always grabbed her. It might be sappy, but she didn’t care. Right now, she couldn’t love him any more.
“Yes?”
He nodded, his gaze not leaving hers. His mouth curved up on one side. “And let me show you how much I love you.”
Needing his touch, this connection they always had with each other, she allowed him to do just that.
Chapter Six
Two days later, the McLennans and Serena gathered together in the library once again. Angus had spent the intervening days gathering research on their target. Serena could have easily given them the information she had on McDougall, but that would have exposed her own plans for the woman. She knew the McLennans, and she knew her friends. They would never let her risk her life for this, or they would wonder if she would even help Fletcher. She had every intention of helping him before she set her plan in motion. Serena just prayed that McDougall didn’t recognize her as the daughter of the faery he killed years earlier.
“So, we have found out that the woman has a lot of money,” Angus said.
“Money like you have?” Serena asked. She had known a lot of rich people in her life, but the McLennans were the richest. Of course, they had spent a couple of hundred years building an empire.
“Richer. Old and new. All from her late husband.”
Probably because the bastard looked for the richest, oldest, and weakest one and then seduced him. “And you say she lives in a castle. Was her husband royalty?”
“No,” Anice said. She smiled, but there was no humor behind it. Serena always thought of Anice as the sweet McLennan; but seeing the gleam in her eyes told Serena that when Anice needed to fight, there would be blood. “But he was damned close, and worse, he was English.”
“Hey,” Phoebe said.
“I mean English as in his family was appointed back in the 1800’s.”
“She likes to have parties, and you b
eing a McLennan, she is going to want you there,” Angus said to Fletcher.
Serena glanced in Fletcher’s direction. He was sitting in the corner once again. As she studied him, she wasn't sure if he was irritated, mad, or just plain bored with what was going on right now. They’d had very little contact over the last two days. In fact, it was more like he was avoiding her, but that was okay. She had been dodging him too. There wasn't a good reason for it, but she knew that the less time together the better.
“You've found a place for us to let?” he asked.
“Yes,” Anice answered. “A nice little country manor. Now, we can't have you go there as husband and wife, but we are going to plant a few stories that you have been dating for a while. That should get her attention. It won't be that long before you get an invite.”
“That's all we have going?” he asked, his tone dismissive as his frown turned dark. “I don't like leaving things up in the air like that.”
Anice snorted. “I thought that was how you roll, brother.”
Irritation flashed in Fletcher’s eyes. Fletcher was on edge and Anice knew just how to get him going. Serena knew things were about to get out of hand. Normally, she would just let the brother and sister have it out. Their fights were fun to watch sometimes, but these days, Fletcher was unpredictable. He could be cruel at times, not really on purpose but out of self-preservation. They didn't have time for this.
“I have to agree with Fletcher. Don't you think that we need a more solid plan of attack?”
Maggie smiled. “Rena was the planner of our group. She always had to have a plan.”
“It is easier to execute a con with a plan,” she said. Maggie looked around the room and then to the open door. Serena knew she was looking for her son. “First, I'm sure he knows what we did for a living. Hard to hide things from Jack. But, he's with Belvidore, getting some biscuits from cook.”
“We need a better plan,” Fletcher said, and Serena nodded. She felt his gaze touch on her for a second or two, but she dared not look around. She tended to lose her train of thought these days when looking at him.
“Does she have a big party coming up?” Serena asked. “If she does, then it would definitely make it easier on us.”
“How so?” Callum asked.
“If it is a bigger party than she normally throws, then we can get lost in the crowd. Security might be tighter, but those country folk rarely have enough. Their security is often lazy because they feel safe out away from the cities. “
“With a McLennan?” Maggie asked. “Good luck with getting lost in the crowd.”
“You know what I mean,” Serena said. “More people make it easier to search the grounds. Plus, she might not pay attention to me.”
That is if that demon in her didn’t sense who she was. If she did, all bets were off.
“Like I’m going to allow that,” Fletcher said.
“I don’t think I asked.” She might be attracted to the man, but no man told her what to do.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m the one with the thievery experience. I would be the best to case the house.”
“I’ll not have you running around that house doing God knows what to find the ruby.”
“Are you mad? You think you can tell me what to do?”
“I think I can go alone.”
“No,” Callum said, drawing her attention away from Fletcher. That was when she realized the entire family had been watching the argument. From the amused expressions on their faces, there was a good chance they had been entertained.
“What?” Fletcher asked.
“I said no. You need someone with you because you would stick out if you went by yourself. Why would you go up to that area without a reason? It might set off this McDougall woman’s alarms.”
“Where does she keep the ruby?” Fletcher asked.
“We aren’t exactly sure,” Angus said.
“Then how do we even know if she has it? This could all be rumor and speculation. We don’t have time to f…” He glanced at the women and cleared his throat. “We don’t have time to screw around.”
That shouldn’t have melted her heart just a little, but it did. She had used the word enough and its use didn’t bother her. But, while this family was modern in many ways, their respect for women was a trait of all McLennan men.
“Calm down, cousin,” Angus said. “We know she has it because there is an article about it online.”
Angus picked up his tablet, punched a few things into it, then handed it to Serena. She took it, but barely kept herself from shaking. The form he had taken this time around was beautiful, almost innocent looking. Serena knew better.
Long brown hair, blue eyes, and the fairest of skin. Any man would fall for Aileen McDougall, that was easy to see. In the picture, she was at a table with a display in front of her. There were a few jewels there, but the ruby stood out among them. The smile on her face seemed genuine, but Serena could look beneath the surface. She could see the demon bastard there. This time, he had picked a person who was younger and female. What did that mean?
Widow Aileen McDougall displays her treasures.
“Let me see,” Fletcher said from behind her. He had snuck up on her again. She handed him the tablet.
He looked at the woman and the article for a long moment, then his gaze hardened. When he spoke, his anger and frustration weaved through his words. “Okay, so she had it when this picture was taken.”
“It was taken just two weeks ago, so I don’t think she’s unloaded it by now,” Angus said.
Fletcher continued to read the article. “Mrs. McDougall says she’s interested in preserving Scottish history. That she is positive these all have some tie to our heritage. I doona buy it.”
At that moment, she realized Fletcher was smarter than everyone gave him credit for.
“Why would you say that?” Phoebe asked.
“Every bleeding one of these stones has been owned by some crackpot who wanted something out of it. More than likely she has a connection to the McWaltons.”
“What makes you say that?” Anice asked.
“It’s the way of it. The witches seem to make us have to fight for it, and they throw a McWalton or someone connected to them in our path.”
“They aren’t throwing people in our path. But, I have to agree with you. We need to look for connections,” Anice said.
“You’re right, and Angus is digging into her background. Better to be prepared just in case she is another nutter,” Phoebe said.
That pulled a chuckle from Angus. “In fact, I’m going to get started on that right now.”
He rose and held out his hand for Maggie. She shot Serena a worried look, but she smiled at her friend. There was no reason to worry either of her friends. She could handle getting the ruby and gaining her revenge.
“Right. I’ve got a meeting in town and Phoebe has promised to take a nap,” Callum said.
“I did no such thing.”
Serena watched as the usually gruff Callum offered his wife a smile that could melt any woman’s heart. No wonder Phoebe had fallen for him. There in his expression was the love he felt for her, and it was easy to see the consuming need to protect her. He glanced at Serena and Fletcher, then focused on his wife again.
“Come now, love. You don’t want me to cancel my meeting to stay home and mind you.”
Phoebe looked at her and Fletcher, then nodded. “All right, but I expect some of that fudge I like from that shop.”
He took her hand. “Of course, love.”
Meghan smiled. “Call if you need to talk plans.”
She nodded as she watched the two couples leave. Anice followed them, but other than sending Fletcher a worried look, she said nothing.
When they were alone, she settled back into the sofa. “When did you want to leave?” she asked.
“Hmm,” Fletcher said, as he continued to read over the article.
“Fletcher.”
“What?” he
asked looking up.
“I’m going to get upset if you ignore me for the McDougall woman.”
“I was reading the article. Besides, she’s creepy.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m assuming they directly quoted her. Just the phrases make me think there is something more to her acquisition of the ruby.”
She had known he was smart, but more and more, she was starting to realize just how brilliant he truly was.
“Now why are you looking at me like that?”
“Why do you pretend to be the easy-going cousin?” she asked.
“I am.”
She shook her head. “You are to a point, but there’s a brilliant mind there. There is something off about the woman.”
“Did you pick up on something?”
Serena tried not to make eye contact. For the first time in her long life, she felt guilty about lying. It was an art that had helped her survive on the streets and save her friends’ lives more than once. But now, with this man, she was starting to feel just a little guilty. “Not sure, but there’s something just off about the woman. Like you said.”
“I doona trust women like her.”
Everything in her stilled. “What?”
“Gold diggers,” he said, almost growling the word. It pricked her senses. “She married an old man.”
“There’s nothing in the article about that, is there?”
“Yes, there is. It says they met and were married in less than six months.”
She shrugged. “That’s not very uncommon. Look at your cousins.”
“And he was dead two months after the wedding. I’m going to make sure Angus looks at information about the will. She got it all. The house, the money, there’s no mention of children from a prior marriage.”
“Okay, that is odd.” She knew the bastard presently inhabiting McDougall’s body was always interested in money. Money meant security, plus the ability to acquire things to make him feel happy.
“Either way, I think we should head up there by midweek. Better to get it over with.”
Why did it hurt that he wanted their association to be short-lived? He had already decided that they weren’t right for each other, and there was every chance that she would be dead at the end of her quest. Still, she hated the way he made it sound like a burden.
Fletcher: The Cursed Clan: Book 4 Page 6
