by Denise Carbo
“I don’t recall anyone asking you to.”
“I heard part of your conversation. Mr. Donovan wants you to stay here and keep tabs on my clan. What is that if not spying?”
“It’s making sure this little coup going on in your clan doesn’t escalate into a full out war.” Davis leaned toward her. “It’s keeping your cute little butt out of the line of fire, or has it not occurred to you that your dear cousin and Advisor Heyes want to meet with you to garner your support. How kindly do you think the loser is going to take it when you make your decision?”
She stared at him with those pink pursed lips. The urge to lift her off the stool and into his lap and plant a kiss on those lips had fire spreading through his veins.
He lurched off the stool and stalked to the chipped porcelain sink. Placing his cup in it, he gripped the edge of the counter and kept his back to the little temptation.
“You’re not my bodyguard, Davis. I keep telling you, you’re not responsible for me. I can handle my cousin and Advisor Heyes.”
He spun around. “Like you dealt with your brother?”
Bethany stiffly rose from the stool. She smoothed the front of her dress and gave him a withering look. “That was uncalled for.” She turned her back on him and started walking toward her bedroom.
Davis winced and pinched the bridge of his nose. Damn it. Why couldn’t she react to things like he expected. Scream at him, throw something, anything but the hurt, how could you look.
“I’m sorry.”
Stopping at the door, she looked back at him.
“Look, no one expects you to spy or betray your clan, okay? I’m just here to make sure things don’t get out of control. I’ll simply be reporting to the council. It’s all above board. Your clan will know exactly why I’m here.”
Placing her hand on the doorknob, she nodded. “You will need a place to stay while you’re here. There are guest suites in the main building reserved for visiting dignitaries. I’ll arrange for you to have one when we go to the meeting with Aaron.”
She started to enter her bedroom, but stopped again, and glanced back. “I’ve dealt with contrary men all my life. My brother wasn’t contrary; he was evil. I didn’t see it, and that’s something I will live with the rest of my days. I suppose I can learn to deal with one more contrary man for the length of your stay.”
Bethany walked into her room and closed the door with a quiet snap.
Davis leaned back against the counter and folded his arms. Well, it looked like the little owl had teeth after all.
Chapter Five
Stress pounded on the front of Bethany's skull. She rotated her neck and shrugged her shoulders, trying to relieve some of the tension that had wrapped her body and taken root. The late afternoon sun shone overly bright to her weary eyes as she exited the headquarters. Her meetings with Aaron, and then Advisor Heyes, had only added to the questions ricocheting around her brain rather than providing any answers. Both wanted to lead, and both wanted, or in her cousins’ case, demanded her support.
“Bethany!”
Recognition caused her to pause and swivel in the direction of the voices. She smiled and shot her hand up to wave at her two closest friends.
Kate and Celeste closed the distance separating them from Bethany with a stilted jog, despite their three-inch heels and snug skirts. They enveloped her in a three-way hug. The three of them had bonded once discovering none of them had been raised on the compound. Fitting into the fiercely closed clan had not been easy. Finding friends to rely on who were in the same position had drawn them together and enabled them to help one another find their place.
“We heard you were back and rushed over right away. We’ve been so worried. How are you? Is it true? Did Bryant really do all those horrible things?”
“Celeste, take a breath, give her a minute.” Kate gently squeezed Bethany’s arm and leaned her head against hers briefly before straightening. “Why don’t we go back to my place. We can have some wine and pry all the details out of you in comfort.”
Bethany cast a furtive glance toward Davis. He stood about ten feet away with his thumbs resting in the front belt loops of his jeans. She’d been so intent on getting a breath of fresh air after the meeting she’d completely forgotten to show him to the guest suite. She glanced back at her friends and forced a smile to her lips. “That sounds like a wonderful idea, but I need to take care of something first. Does meeting in an hour work for you?”
Kate followed her gaze to Davis and grinned. She sauntered over to him and tilted her dark head to the side. A thick tendril of black hair drifted across her cheek. Her blue-eyed gaze wandered from the top of his head all the way to his cowboy boots and back up again. Bracelets jangled when she cocked her hip and propped her hands on her hips. “Who are you?”
Celeste gave a sharp intake of breath. Bethany barely restrained the sigh itching to come out. Celeste gave an artful toss of her dirty blonde hair and tottered over to Davis and Kate. Realizing introductions were unavoidable, Bethany followed along. “This is Davis Campbell. He escorted me home from the North American Clan. These are my friends Kate and Celeste.”
He briefly shook Kate’s hand as she held it out to him. Celeste, accustomed to men kissing her hand, dangled it palm down in front of his face. Bethany held her breath hoping he wouldn’t insult her friend. Celeste tended to be sensitive, and she didn’t want to see her hurt. Davis glanced at the offered hand, grasped and released it quickly. He stuffed both hands in the front pockets of his jeans as if he was afraid they would latch on to them. Knowing her friends, they probably would, and stuffing them in his trousers wasn’t a guarantee to stop them. He stared at Bethany, his eyes entreating her to do something. She supposed her friends could be a bit overenthusiastic.
Bethany took a step closer. “I need to get him set up in one of the guest suites. He will be staying here on council business. I’ll see both of you in about an hour.” Perfume wafted from each as she kissed both of them on their cheeks before walking back toward the double glass doors of the headquarters. Davis arrived first and held the door. After stepping inside, she glanced back to see her friends standing on the pavement watching them. She sent a brief wave and smile in their direction before addressing the guards at the chest high security desk. “I apologize. I neglected to get Mr. Campbell set up in a guest suite. He will need a keycard.”
“Of course, Lady Bethany. One moment, please.”
Clasping her hands in front of her, she smiled politely and stared at the back of the computer as he checked for authorization. She hoped the request had been entered, otherwise she would need to speak to her cousin or Advisor Heyes again to have the matter cleared up. Her stomach churned. She didn’t want to speak to either one of them again so soon. If she wasn’t careful this whole situation would give her an ulcer.
“Here we are. It will be just another minute.”
She listened distractedly while the guard gave Davis instructions, took his picture, and handed him a keycard.
“Thank you. I’ll show him to his suite.”
“Do you require an escort, Lady Bethany?”
“No. Thank you.”
The guard nodded and glanced at Davis a moment before returning to his work.
Walking to the elevators, she smiled and nodded at her clan members as they passed. Once they were in the elevator, she faced Davis. “I’m not certain whether he explained or not, but your keycard will only access specific floors. You will need an escort to visit any restricted floors.”
“He explained, but I’m familiar with the process.”
Swinging back to the metal doors, she stared at the smudged fingerprints on shiny metal. A low hum accompanied the climb up to his floor. She wanted to get him settled quickly and then be on her way. Perhaps she should make excuses to her friends and visit another time. Her heart just wasn’t in it today. A chime sounded, signaling their arrival at his floor.
“Here we are.” The doors opened, and they proc
eeded down the hall. “I believe you are the only visitor currently, so the entire floor is empty.” She stopped in front of a set of double wooden doors and stepped back for him to use his keycard and enter.
The doors opened into a spacious room with a wide expanse of glass showcasing the view of the River Clyde. If you walked closer to the window, you could gaze down onto the shipyard. She emitted a slight sigh of relief. She had been concerned he would be put in a small room used for the visitor’s bodyguards or other staff as a sign of disrespect. Thankfully, someone had the foresight not to further insult the North American clan. Sadly, she doubted it had been her cousin who made the decision. Perhaps the Advisor, or could one of the guards have made the assumption on his own? Regardless, she was thankful.
Davis inspected the entire suite, including the various rooms opening off the main room. She waited patiently by the entrance and gazed out the window at the winding path of the river.
“This is quite the pad.”
“I’m glad you approve. If you need anything, you can use the phone on the wall here.” She pointed to the phone next to her. “They’ll even help you with dining options outside the compound if you desire.”
“Anxious to get rid of me?”
Bethany blinked. “No, of course not. Is there something else I can help you with?”
Davis walked into the small kitchenette which opened off the main living area and peered into the minifridge. “Looks like it’s fully stocked. What would you like?”
“Nothing for me, thank you.”
He opened a can of soda and handed her a bottle of water. “You’ll want to hydrate before you go drinking wine with your friends.”
She wanted to refuse, but she was in fact thirsty, so she accepted the bottle and murmured, “Thank you.” Her mouth was dry and tasted a bit stale. Perhaps the icy water would help revive her a bit as well.
“Have a seat. You have time before you need to meet with your friends.”
Taking a sip of water, she followed him to the couches by the windows and sat on the edge of the couch across from him.
Davis took a long drink from the soda can and rested his ankle on his opposite knee. He rested the can on his bent knee and stared at her.
Bethany took another sip and waited for him to speak. He probably wanted to discuss the meeting and question her about her intentions. She wasn’t in the mood for another interrogation. Aaron had made her feel like she was on trial during their meeting, making her go over every detail of her experience in the States. She had stared at the long glass table in the center of the room and silently counted the minutes until it would end. He hadn’t asked her to sit. Standing in front of the wide window with the sun outlining him through the tinted glass, he had directed her to limit her contact with Advisor Heyes and demanded she give him a full report of any meeting she had with him. After making his dictates, he had ended the meeting rather abruptly and walked out of the room, not saying a word to Davis who had been waiting outside the conference room.
Thankfully, Advisor Heyes had been less confrontational and briefer. Still, the result remained the same—they both wanted her support. The Advisor simply approached it in a more diplomatic manner. He had called for a clan wide vote to choose who would rule the clan.
Davis watched as Bethany took another sip of water and stared at the floor. Her dress teased the edges of her knees as she sat on the couch with her feet and knees firmly planted together. The woman certainly didn’t mind the silences. Apparently, she felt no need to fill the silences with chatter. When she had stepped out of the conference room after her meeting with her dick of a cousin, the exhausted and defeated expression on her face gave him the urge to plant his fist in her cousin’s face. She’d silently stood in the doorway while her cousin and his guards disappeared into the elevator. Advisor Heyes had sedately stepped out of the adjoining elevator shortly after, alone and still adorned in his ceremonial robe.
Bethany had disappeared into the conference room once again. When the door had opened, the Advisor had held Bethany’s hand and asked her to visit with him once she was settled. He’d shaken Davis’ hand before leaving and said he hoped Davis would come to him with any questions or concerns during his stay.
Bethany waited patiently by the door. As soon as the Advisor stepped into the elevator and the doors closed, she pressed the button for the elevator. He didn’t blame her for not wanting to share an elevator. Not a word was spoken until her two friends waylaid her outside the building. At least then some of the tension had eased from her face.
He could guess the gist of the conversation in the conference room. Something along the lines of Aaron demanding her fealty and never-ending obedience. However, if there was something else putting the wounded expression on her face, he needed to get to the bottom of it. He was less sure of Advisor Heyes’ approach. Can’t believe he was actually sitting here wishing she was a bit chattier.
“You going to tell me about your meetings, or are you going to make me pry it out of you?”
Her gaze met his. “I suppose if I tell you it was nothing that concerned you, you would still feel the need to interrogate me?”
“This feels like an interrogation to you?”
She frowned slightly. “Aaron wanted an accounting of what happened in the States and to express his desire for my support of him ruling the clan. Nothing surprising.”
“And do you?”
“Do I what?”
“Support him?”
Bethany fiddled with the edge of her dress. “He is the only one left in line to inherit.”
“Doesn’t mean he should, and your uncle never designated him as the heir. It opens things up considerably.”
“I’m aware, and Advisor Heyes voiced that same opinion as well.”
He eased farther back onto the black leather couch and draped an arm over the back. “What else did he have to say?”
“He wants the clan to vote for their new ruler.”
“Very democratic of him.”
“Yes, I suppose it is. It would appear to be a fairer representation of the wants and needs of the clan.”
The cool condensation on the can dripped onto his fingers. He absently wiped it on his jeans and then took a sip. “Appear? You don’t think it is?”
“It depends on how the vote is held, doesn’t it? And whether all clan members feel safe to vote how they choose and that those votes will be counted accurately.”
“True. An unbiased voting process is crucial in order to get results that represent the clan. Did he mention any details about the vote? How it would be done? By whom? When?”
“He wants it held as soon as possible to soothe the disarray the clan is currently embroiled in. He didn’t go into any details about the process however. Aaron has not been supportive of a vote.”
“I don’t imagine he would be.”
“If a vote is held, I’m sure there will be those who would vote for him. He is the traditional choice.”
“Is he? I guess that depends on how you look at it. Traditionally the heir must be officially named to follow the rules of succession. If no heir is named, then whoever wants to claim rule has to battle all takers for the right to rule.”
Bethany closed her eyes. “I need to get back to my life. I have been away from work too long as it is.”
“You’re an engineer, right? And design the ships?”
“Essentially, yes. Although there are numerous engineers involved in the process. It’s not just me.”
“Do you enjoy it?”
She opened her mouth and then closed it with a frown. Took a sip of water and stared at the bottle in her hands. “That’s a question with a complicated answer.”
“Not really. You either enjoy your job, or you don’t.”
“Do you? Enjoy your job?”
“Yeah, I do. Security plays to all my strengths, so it suits me just fine.”
“I enjoy certain aspects of my job, others not as much. Like I said, the a
nswer is complicated.”
The cold fizz of the soda trickled down his throat as he gulped the last of the drink. “What parts don’t you like?”
“The bureaucracy can be difficult and frustrating at times. You have to accept the good with the not so good I suppose.”
“Not necessarily. If you don’t like something, why can’t you change it?”
“It’s not that simple. Do you honestly like every aspect of your job?”
“Nope, not all the time, and you can be damn sure I look for a way to get out of it or if it’s something I’ll have to do again then I find a way to make it more palatable. The point is you don’t have to sit back and accept things the way they are if you want them to change, change them.”
Bethany gazed out the window as he stared at her profile. Her pale blonde eyebrows pinched together over her dark eyes. She had a way of looking like a fragile porcelain doll, but he knew there was a spine of steel lying beneath the surface.
Chapter Six
“Time to spill, Bethany, and you can begin with that scrumptious Davis.” Kate curled her long legs beneath her, leaned back on the sofa, and took a deep sip from her glass of red wine.
“Oh yes, tell us about him! Is he single?” Celeste leaned forward in eager anticipation.
Bethany tucked her hair behind her ear and leaned back against the white wingback chair across from the matching sofa her friends were sitting on. Where Bethany tended to decorate with comfort in mind, Kate preferred a more stylish approach. The chair was attractive to look at, but the texture abraded the back of her legs, and she felt like she was sitting on a hard floor. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to go back to her apartment, climb into bed, and bury her head under the covers for a day or two. She loved her friends dearly but wasn’t in the mood to answer any more questions.
“I really don’t know much about him.” Including whether he was single or not. Did he have a mate waiting at home for him? She squirmed in the chair. It was none of her business or concern if he had someone.
