Authors: Melissa Schroeder
He looked down at her hand and frowned. “I can show you
around your room.”
She laughed. “I can handle it myself. I’m used to travel.
Thank you once again.”
Before he could argue with her, she closed the door directly
in his face. She needed a break from the testosterone of all the Lennon men for
a few minutes. If she didn’t get it, there was a good chance she would faint
from the overload—if not the embarrassment of her behavior.
She took a good look at the room. She stood in a small
sitting room that opened up into the larger room. As she stepped into the
bedroom itself, she sighed.
A massive
bed, with a mattress so thick there was a step stool beside it for her use,
dominated the room.
When she stepped
further into the room, she noticed the high vaulted ceiling. With it painted in
celestial blue, along with the lighter, almost airy quality of the furnishings
and bed linens, it felt as if she were walking through the heavens. Still
agitated with Callum, not to mention with herself, the atmosphere was a calming
influence, bringing her back to her goal at hand.
Phoebe approached the bureau and noticed that her bags were
indeed sitting by the foot of the bed. When she looked up, she saw herself in
the mirror and groaned. No wonder Callum Lennon had thought she was an idiot.
Her suit was a mess, wrinkled and still damp from the rain. Half of her hair
was still piled on top of her head, while the other half hung down in a mess of
tangled curls. What makeup she had worn was now either smudged on her face or
was gone. Good God, she looked like she’d rolled through a ditch before coming
to meet them.
Knowing there was nothing she could do about it now, she
grabbed her toiletry bag and headed to the bathroom to clean herself up. At
least when she met the remaining two cousins, she would look professional, and
with her armor back in place, she could better deal with Callum Lennon.
Before she could start cleaning up, her mobile buzzed. The
familiar number made her groan. She’d forgotten to contact Kenneth McWalton,
the head of the grant board, after she arrived. She wasn’t in the mood to deal
with him. However, his say would carry a lot of weight when the grant she
needed was given out, so she’d best put up with his blustery impatience and
answer. Besides, he would continue to ring her until she did. This was
inconvenient enough, but she definitely didn’t want him to ring her when she
was with the Lennons.
“Hello.”
“Dr. Chilton. I thought you said you would ring me up when
you landed,” McWalton chastised.
Phoebe took a deep breath before answering. She hadn’t had
to answer to anyone for over eighteen months, and she refused to do it now.
She kept her voice calm and businesslike. “We were fogged in
and took off later than usual.”
There was a pause, as if he were weighing her every word,
trying to decide if she were telling the truth.
“Hmm. Well, I was worried.” His tone had turned solicitous
enough to agitate her.
“I thought you
might have had second thoughts.”
“I haven’t even had time to freshen up, let alone look over
whatever artifact they have for me.”
Another pause. “You
are
going to try for the grant, aren’t you?”
“As I told you before, I’ll make that decision when I have a
chance to evaluate what this is.”
“I was just wondering because Sir Wendell Farthington has
contacted me about the grant. Seems he has something he thinks might win over
the committee.”
A wave of apprehension washed over her at the mention of her
arch rival from college. Whiney Wendell was still annoyed she’d beat him out
for valedictorian—especially since he had ten years on her. If he’d contacted
McWalton, there was a good chance he knew she was interested.
“I’ll let you know as soon as I can be certain if I’m onto
something that will fit what the grant committee is looking for.”
As soon as she reassured McWalton twice more, she rung off
and sighed. She’d felt more than a little twinge of guilt for being a bit
deceptive. Okay, she felt a lot. She’d built a reputation on being fair and
honest. This could tarnish that image. Greatly. But, this was the most
important leap of faith in her career, one that could leave her reputation in
tatters or give her the recognition, independent of her parents, she had always
craved.
Before she could get back into the bathroom, her mobile rang
again. When she noticed Isabel Totaro’s number, she immediately answered.
“Where the hell are you?” her former assistant asked.
“Hello, Isabel. How are you?” She laughed.
“I’m fine. I’m always fine. You, on the other hand, were
supposed to have lunch with me tomorrow and your new assistant—who has the
manners of a goat—called me to cancel.” All of this was delivered in a mixture
of heavily accented English and Spanish. When irritated, Isabel had a habit of
slipping in and out of different languages.
“She doesn’t have the manners of a goat. She’s efficient.
Besides, you quit.”
“She was rude and wouldn’t tell me where you were. I was
worried you went back to Egypt with Barbie and Ken.”
Phoebe sighed. She wasn’t used to this, although she should
be after three years. Isabel had bounced into her life during the horrific last
months of Simon’s illness. Five-foot two of dynamite that one was. She’d
refused to allow Phoebe to wallow in self-pity. Her resignation last month had
been bittersweet, but she’d fallen in love with an Italian businessman and they
were moving back to the continent. It was hard to lose your only friend.
Phoebe smiled, but she still felt she should admonish her
friend. “I wish you wouldn’t call my parents names.”
“You know you like it. So, tell me where you are.”
“Scotland.”
“What the bloody hell are you doing there?”
“I’ve thrown caution to the wind, and I’m having a mad
affair with four Scotsmen.”
“About damned time.”
Phoebe laughed. “No, I have a chance to look at an artifact
from the Lennon family.”
“Lennon Enterprises? Hold on.” Phoebe heard a deep murmur in
the background before Izzy came back. “Roberto wants to know if you met Callum
Lennon.”
Just hearing his name sent a shiver of awareness across her
nerve endings.
“Yes, in fact, I’ve met two of the others also.”
More murmuring, then Izzy giggled. “Roberto said he’s a real
bastard.”
“He’s met Callum Lennon?”
“Roberto negotiated a deal with them a few years ago. They
want you to look at an artifact? What is it?”
“I haven’t heard, but apparently it might work for that
grant I wanted to go after.”
Izzy said nothing for a moment. “Don’t do this.”
“What?”
“Poppet, I love you. You know I do. So I’m saying this for
your own good. Your parents aren’t worth it.”
“Izzy—”
“They will never accept you.”
A sharp shard of pain stabbed her heart. Izzy was right.
They both knew it.
“I don’t give a damn about them accepting me.” She drew in
an unsteady breath. It was the truth, even if it took her almost thirty years
to accept that. “What I want is to study Celtic myths full time.”
“Then do it. You have enough money.”
“I can’t…well, I can. It’s just…” How did she say she wanted
to stick their noses in her success without sounding like a horrible daughter?
She would never be free of their shadows if she couldn’t make it on her own
without their help. They would always try to influence her career unless she
made a clean break.
“You want to say shove it to Barbie and Ken.” Amusement
infused Izzy’s voice. “I wholly approve.”
Phoebe chuckled. “I thought you might. They won’t say a word
if I get a reputable historical society to back me. But none of that is going
to happen until I get a look at what the Lennons have. I can’t do that until I
negotiate the terms with Callum Lennon.”
“What was that?”
“I said, I can’t—”
“No. There was something in your voice. You…oh, my. You’re
attracted to him.”
Phoebe swallowed. “Him?”
“Callum Lennon.”
Bugger
. Izzy
always could tell what Phoebe was feeling even before Phoebe knew. “You can
tell that all from the tone in my voice?”
“Yes. There was a little heat in your voice when you talked
about him.”
“It’s because he’s a pompous ass.”
Izzy laughed. “You are attracted.” Phoebe opened her mouth
to lie, but her friend was too fast for her. “Don’t even fib to me. I’ll let
you go, but I want regular updates.”
Phoebe sighed. As if she could talk Izzy out of it… “You got
it.”
After ringing off, Phoebe looked at her reflection in the
mirror. Her hair was still a mess, her makeup still streaked her skin. This was
not the most auspicious of beginnings.
*
*
*
*
As soon as Fletcher escorted Dr. Chilton from the room,
Callum shifted weight from one foot to the other, trying to calm his body’s
reaction to her. Bloody hell, he’d practically jumped over the desk and kissed
her, not caring who was there to witness.
Be truthful, Callum.
You wanted to do a whole lot more than kiss the lass.
Aye, he did. She made his blood pump, and he wanted to know
if she’d look as heated when she moaned his name.
“Just what the fucking hell was that?”
Angus’s cursing wasn’t normal. Callum knew he deserved the
rebuke, but it didn’t mean he cared for his younger cousin’s tone.
“Nothing.”
“
Nothing
?”
“You willna question me on this, Angus. Nothing happened and
nothing will.”
Callum turned and watched the younger man approach him. As
leader, Callum allowed discussion, but with his body still aroused, any debate
was like pouring salt into the wound. Not only was he angry with himself for
the desire still curling in his belly, but he’d shown disrespect to a woman by
showing such blatant lust, not to mention giving her a way to use him. If she
had any idea how much he wanted her, she could get just about anything she
wanted.
He never bedded women who worked
for him.
Ever
.
Dr. Chilton had been attractive in a rumpled sort of way. He
had a feeling that under the ill-fitting jacket, she had curves he couldn’t
find on women today—ones he thirsted to explore. He still didn’t trust her. Not
many people would turn down money just because of a simple contract. Callum
couldn’t put his finger on it, but something about the woman bothered him.
Other than the fact he wanted her beneath him, digging her nails into his back.
Sweet Jesus, when she’d stood up to him, mild interest had
shot to heated desire in the blink of an eye. The force of it had left him
shaken to his soul.
“We can’t have you tupping the help, Callum.”
He smiled, knowing it was all teeth and no humor. “Have you
ever known me to?”
“No.” Angus looked out the window, and Callum could almost
hear his mind turning over the problem. When he met his cousin’s gaze, Callum
realized he wasn’t angry but worried. “But I’ve also never seen you act like
that.”
“I’m hardly a virgin.”
Angus smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes, a hint of
sadness darkening his gaze. “I know that. Seriously, if it were anyone else, I
would say take her to bed for a week—even if I think you two are completely
wrong for each other. You have a business mind, she has a scientific mind and
you would never—”
“Sweet Jesus, Angus, just get on with it.”
He sighed. “This is too important.”
Guilt, familiar and uncomfortable, had the muscles in his
gut clenching. He knew he’d failed before when it had counted the most. But he
refused to let his emotions get the better of him again. Even for a woman with
the fire Phoebe Chilton showed—especially when she held their future in her
hands.
“Doona fash yourself.”
Before Angus could reply, Fletcher returned, Anice following
close behind him. A frown puckered her brow as she kept darting nasty looks at
Fletcher.
Without preamble, Fletcher said, “I think we need to be
careful of Dr. Chilton.”
“You have no basis for that.” Anice had crossed her arms
which was a sure sign she was ready to fight.
“For the love of Christ, you haven’t even met the woman. I have,
and she was asking too many questions about us and the company.”
“The company?” Callum asked, his suspicion rising.
“She wanted to know when you took over Lennon Enterprises
and who was in charge before you. I tried to dissuade her, but she kept on it
until we reached the room.”
“I’m sure she forced you to answer her.” Disgust ripened
Anice’s voice. “You’re over six feet tall, and she is barely five and a half
feet.”
“I’m not saying she forced me but that she was persistent.”
“I think—”
“Enough!” Callum shouted. When brother and sister got going,
they could make him barmy.
He thought of her refusal to sign the contract, possibly
turning down a healthy amount of euros. People just didn’t do that without
cause. Now she was asking about them. She was insistent enough to make Fletcher
question her motives, and he rarely thought straight when a woman was involved.
“I want you to check out her background.”
Angus studied him with a frown. “I did. I double-checked it,
in fact. There is nothing to indicate she would sell out.”
Callum gritted his teeth and then blew out an aggravated
breath. “Triple check. I want to know everything there is to know about Phoebe
Chilton, especially if this turns out to be the cure we’ve been searching for.”
Angus nodded.
“Since I missed my meeting, I need to ring up the supplier
and set a new one. I’ll be having dinner by myself with her tonight,” Callum
said.