Page 37 of Guarding Salvation

“You own this castle?”

Bram’s cheeks went pink a little, which she found endearing and so far away from the protective badass he showed the world, it made her heart skip a beat.

“Yeah, kind of.”

“Aye, he’s the thirteenth Laird of McCullum, lord and master of all ye see.”

Lana was enjoying this if the smile was any indication.

“McCullum? We passed through the village of McCullum… does that mean?”

“Yep, we own the village, it’s part of the estate.” Lana was no-nonsense and Aoife liked that about her.

“Wow, I had no idea.”

Bram frowned. “Why would you, I don’t tell people about my title or my life, I can’t do my job with that kind of exposure. Plus, I was made for the life I live and Lana and her husband, Rory, run this estate much better than I ever could.”

Bram glanced back to his sister who was pushing two heaping bowls of stew towards them.

“Bram would be great at it. The villagers love him but it’s not what he wants and we’re happy to do it. The kids love it here and I can be around for them and still work, so it’s a win, win.”

Aoife tucked into the stew as they sat at the butcher block kitchen island, dipping the bread into the thick, flavourful gravy. It looked like the kitchen had been completely refitted with new appliances, but it still had things like an original bread oven and an Aga, as well as a sleek range. “This place is amazing, and I’d give my right arm to be able to cook like this.”

Lana giggled. “Yep, Mrs M is going to love you.”

When they’d finished eating and Lana had left for the evening, herding her tired children to the home they had on the edge of the estate, Aoife felt herself fighting a yawn.

“Come on, let me show you your room.”

Bram picked up her bags and she followed him down endless hallways before they ascended a wide set of stairs.

“This place is huge, I bet it has some stories to tell.”

“Oh, hundreds. Robert the Bruce stayed here in 1305 before he became King. His family were friends with the McCullums, and it was said it was here that he planned John Comyn’s murder.”

“Well, I have no clue who the second guy is but even I know who Robert the Bruce was.” Aoife looked around the old building, almost feeling the ghosts of the people who walked these halls so many years before her. “You can feel the history here, it’s almost reverent.”

“I know, I always felt it as a kid too. The history, the stories, it’s something I never took for granted but I also think it’s why I never wanted the pressure of carrying this legacy to the next generation.” Bram stopped outside a door and looked down at her, before lifting his thumb to swipe across her bottom lip. “This is you.”

Aoife felt her heart skip a beat at his touch, her eyes closing waiting for a kiss that, when it came, landed softly on her cheek. Dragging her eyes open, she found Bram watching her intently.

“You’re so beautiful. I want you to know I hear you, Aoife. I can take it slow, but don’t think for one second I don’t want you.”

With that he opened the door, revealing a magnificent room done out in blues and creams. A roaring open fire was going in the grate, and a huge cream and blue rug covered the wooden floors. A four-poster, Queen Anne bed with a blue quilt covered in white flowers was piled high with cushions. A hand-quilted throw had been placed at the foot of the bed, and heavy, velvet brocade curtains hung at the windows.

“The room looks out over the back of the estate gardens. You have a bathroom through there,” Bram pointed toward a door beside the fire. “My room is next door, so if you need anything, just shout.”

Aoife didn’t want him to leave but asking him to stay after everything she’d said was wrong. “Bram, are you sure we’re safe here? That it’s safe for your family?”

Bram moved close to her, his body almost flush with her own and she felt her heart kick up a beat at his proximity. “Snow and Titan are set up in one of the cottages along the perimeter of the castle and nobody knows we’re here but my team.”

She hadn’t noticed the car behind them until they’d wanted her to in the rear-view mirror, and once again she realised just how good these people were, but would it be enough?

“I know but he always finds me, and I’d never forgive myself if something happened to your family because of me.”

“Nothing is going to happen, Aoife, trust me.”

“I do trust you.”