Page 34 of The Defiant Curse

Yeah, they’d all had to give DNA in case that happened.

He clued her in.

“This town has a mix of people,” he admitted. “Mostly Scottish, but like I said, you look Irish with the blue eyes and back-alley black hair.”

Well, that worked for her.

Anytime she could blend in, she was absolutely going to do that. It was the small things she missed like getting a manicure or shopping for herself. Online purchases weren’t the same thing.

“Got a hat I can borrow?” she asked. “Because again, I came with just a small amount of things. I need a whole wardrobe for the time I plan on staying.”

He didn’t ask her how long that would be. The last thing he wanted was for her to believe she didn’t belong there with them.

She did.

“Absolutely. We’ll lumberjack you right up, and before anyone knows it, you’ll blend in, Lass,” he said, mimicking his husband’s accent.

He couldn’t help it.

It was sexy sounding.

That amused her.

“When in Rome,” she said, pointing at the door. “Can we take a tour? I’d like to meet my other son in person for the first time.”

He smiled.

When she said that, it gave him so much joy. The fact that Graham’s parents didn’t come around since they had a gay son, and that she’d adopted him as hers…

It gave them both peace.

They had family that loved them more than anything. Their worlds were almost complete. Maybe one day, they’d be dads, but until then, he wanted to share his mom with him.

“Absolutely. We made dinner, like I mentioned earlier. We’re having a roast. No animals on the farm were harmed in the making of the food,” he added. “In case you suddenly thought we were eating Gunny the goat. We’re not.”

She snorted.

“I mean, I’ll never eat goat or horse again…wait. I never did before. If you get cows, I’m going to have to figure that one out,” she admitted. “You know that I love a steak, but I don’t think I can keep eating it once I pet one of those hairy highland cows.”

Yeah, that would be a problem because he wouldn’t be able to fall in love with an animal, and then eat it. Even he had a limit, and that was it.

Once it was a pet, it wasn’t food.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Heading to the door, he told her about this entrance, so she knew the layout of the place.

“This is the back way in, and leads through the newly renovated kitchen. When Callen and Chris chose the layout, they did it with you in mind. Most of the family quarters are on this side of the castle. The guest rooms that we’ll be using for the holidays and the wedding are over there.”

She liked the idea that her kids would be on one side with them. The last thing she needed was her boys exploring a ‘once-haunted castle’ in the middle of the night.

He continued.

“You head up into the tower for the bedrooms. There’s enough for the whole family and security if they double up.”

She was curious.

“Are they all done? Ian and Gryphen’s wedding is coming up, and The President of the United States is supposed to be heading here. We have to put him somewhere, along with his entourage.”