“Damnation!” Faelan stood frozen in the doorway. The color drained from his face. He ran for the ladder, curses blazing from his lips.
“Don’t curse at me in Gaelic,” Bree said, regaining her footing but still reaching for the book.
“What are ye trying to do? Kill yerself?”
“You can judge his temper by his accent,” Bree said calmly, finally grasping the book. Gripping it to her chest, she started down the ladder. Faelan plucked her off, ranting at her. When she was safely on the ground, he pulled her into his arms and crushed her in a hug.
“Did you bring my tea?” she asked, voice muffled against his shoulder.
“You daft woman, what am I going to do with you?”
Shay left them hugging and went to see what was taking Cody so long. She tapped on the door.
It opened, revealing a woman dressed in a no-nonsense dark suit and crisp white shirt, but her face and body looked like a model’s. Short blond hair accented her striking face.
“Sam,” Cody called from the bathroom. “Did I hear the door?”
Shay gaped at the woman. “You’re Sam?” she said, backing away.
“Yes.” She turned as Cody called again.
“Sam—” He stepped into view, a towel wrapped low on lean hips. His eyes met Shay’s. He started to say something, but Shay turned and hurried to her room. She bolted the door and sagged against it, feeling her breakfast climbing up her throat.
“Shay?” Cody banged on the door. When she didn’t answer, he tried the knob. “Open the door, Shay.”
After a few moments, she picked herself up and cracked the door. He stared at her. “Can I come in?”
She didn’t answer, but turned and walked toward the balcony, trying to calm her thoughts.
He followed her, still wrapped in a towel. “That was Sam.”
“I figured it was when you called her
“She got here last night.”
Shay still didn’t say anything.
“Shay, look at me.” Cody turned her so she faced him, while he gripped the towel with the other hand. “You don’t think there’s anything going on between Sam and me, do you?”
“She’s in your bedroom while you’re wearing a towel. What should I think?”
“She came to get some papers. I was in the shower.”
“If you say so. What business is it of mine, anyway?”
“What business… what the hell does that mean? How can you say that after what we’ve done? After what you told me. And this.” He thumped the tattoo on his neck. “I swear you’re the most stubborn, infuriating woman I know. That’s why cavemen dragged women around by their hair.” He followed by digging a hand in her hair and kissing her, hard, demanding, and possessive. She struggled for a minute before her lips betrayed her. The kiss softened, and he lifted his head until they were separated by an inch. “Do you think I could kiss you like that if I wanted Sam?”
“You’ve seen her! How could you not want her?”
“Women!” Cody growled and kissed her again. “Listen to your heart; your head’s obviously screwed up. There’s nothing between Sam and me.”
“Never?”
He groaned. “How do women always know the one wrong question to ask? Once. A couple of years ago.” He leaned back, forcing Shay to look at him. “You have my word. Come on. I’ll introduce you, and then we’ll go to the police station and get some things from your house.”
Sam was nice, but Shay was still stewing over the matter, even after they left the police station. There was no evidence against Shay, so they couldn’t hold her, but they did ask her not to leave Scotland for the time being.
“You’ve known Sam how long?” Shay asked as they drove to her house.
“A few years.”
Great. “She’s married?”
“No.”
“Boyfriend?”
“No.”
“Lesbian?”
“No.” His responses were dry.
“She’s beautiful.”
“She is that.” Cody gave Shay an exasperated look. “Don’t make something out of it. We have other things to focus on, like a nearly thousand-year-old demon.”
“So it’s fine if you and Jamie go at each other like rabid wolves,” Shay said, although they were being civil now. “But I’m not allowed to say anything when some gorgeous woman shows up who you’ve slept with?”
