grinning.
Cody scooted past Shay. “We’re going out to check the woods again. I want to warn Old Elmer to be on the lookout.”
Faelan gave Bree a lingering kiss. Cody looked at Shay’s mouth, licked his lips, but kept his distance. “Be back before long. Stay here.”
Shay followed him to the door, itching to hit him… or something. “Why don’t you just tattoo that on your hand?
“You look like you want to bite him again.” Bree grinned. “Or maybe you want to handcuff him to the bed.”
Shay’s cell phone rang. She grabbed it, hoping it was Renee. It was Jamie. She hadn’t talked to him since he moved from Scotland to Virginia.
“So what’s up with the table? Is it a consolation prize, or have you changed your mind?”
“Table?”
“I’ve got a table here with my name on it. It came from your shop in Leesburg.”
“I didn’t send it.” Why would Renee send Jamie a table? “What kind of table?”
“It has four legs, a top… it’s a table.”
“Funny. Pretend you’re describing your knife collection.”
“Hmmm, it’s round, dark wood, has these little drawers in the middle and doors on the sides. Funny designs on the edges.”
The mate to the one in Scotland. The one Julie had canceled. Why would Renee send it to Jamie?
“Keep it there. I’m coming to get it.” Jamie’s place in Luray wasn’t that far away.
“You’re taking it back?” Jamie asked.
“It might be a clue.”
“To what?”
“Someone broke into my shop in Scotland and destroyed the mate to that table. The shop in Leesburg was vandalized too, and last night someone broke in here.”
“Your house?” Jamie asked, alarmed.
“No. I’m in Virginia, at Aunt Nina’s.”
“I’m coming to get you.”
“No. I need to get away from the house for a while anyway. I’m bringing a friend with me.”
“Who?” he demanded.
“A woman.”
“You trust her?”
“I do.” She did. It was one of those instant connections, like with Lucy Bell and Renee. And Cody. They didn’t happen often, but when they did, it was strong.
“If you’re not here in two hours, I’m coming after you.”
“Cody’s going to kill you, you know,” Bree said, when Shay told her where she was headed. He and Faelan were out in the woods, trying to track whoever broke in.
“I’m not sitting around like a prisoner. Anyway, it’s probably safer away from the scene of the crime.”
Bree grabbed her purse. “I like the way you think. Let’s go get the table. Some fresh air and excitement will do me good. We’ll be back before the men know we’re gone. What about the cat?” It sat in the doorway, ears raised like antennae, eyes so green they seemed to glow.
“I’ll put it outside. Maybe it’ll get bored and go home.”
***
“Why are men so overbearing?” Shay asked as they drove.
“They can’t help it,” Bree said. “I think they’re all born that way. My father would hardly let me out of his sight.”
“Why?” Shay asked.
“I think he got paranoid after my Aunt Layla died. She was only twenty-five. As if my father weren’t protective enough, I go and find Faelan buried in the family graveyard, and he’s even worse. When he gets too chivalrous, I remind him how many times I’ve rescued him.”
“I bet that goes over well,” Shay said, thinking how fierce Faelan looked.
“Like a ton of bricks. We fight as hard as we love. How can you not argue with a man who believes women should sit at home while men protect them? You should’ve seen his face when he found out Sorcha was a warrior. You haven’t met her yet. Picture Xena the warrior princess with red hair. And Anna. Actually Anna has the black hair and turquoise eyes. Drop dead gorgeous and tough as nails. Faelan doesn’t have a clue what to do with them. They didn’t have female warriors in his day.”
“There are female warriors?”
“I keep forgetting, all this is new to you. I’m sorry,” Bree said, catching Shay’s frown. “I know it bothers you
