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‘You are going to be the death of me,’ he said as he circled the desk and pulled her up out of her chair and into his arms—just where she wanted to be.
‘Not just yet,’ Heather said with a grin. ‘I’ve got plans for you first.’
‘Your room?’ Cal asked.
‘My room,’ Heather confirmed. She was furthest away from Anna, and overwhelming lust hadn’t completely dulled her good sense. ‘Now.’
It had just made her ignore it for a little while.
* * *
One more day. Tomorrow morning Anna would be on her way and the castle would be theirs again.
Theirs.
Not just his, or Ryan and Daisy’s, but Heather’s, too. Almost like a home.
When had that happened?
Long before he’d first taken Heather to bed, he knew. She belonged here—with them. The ‘in his arms’ part was purely for his benefit. And hers, he thought, smirking as he remembered leaving her breathless in bed that morning as he’d crept back to his own room before the rest of the castle awoke.
Heather might not stay for ever, but for now...she was everything he needed. Until the absurd levels of passion between them cooled he had to find a way to keep her at Lengroth. Otherwise he was honestly afraid he might go insane with want and need.
They were risking a lot, he knew. This last week had given him a far greater understanding of his ancestors than he’d ever expected to have. He’d always avoided any kind of personal risk—even the sort of risk Ross had apparently been addicted to as he’d gambled away his inheritance. But now... His whole world could go up in flames and as long as he could have Heather with him he wouldn’t care.
He almost didn’t recognise the person he’d become in the last six weeks. But that didn’t mean he didn’t like him.
‘You’re in a good mood this morning.’
Anna’s sharp tones rang through the corridor and Cal looked up suddenly to find her standing in his way.
‘It’s a beautiful day,’ Cal said, before glancing out of the window to see that rain clouds were gathering. Summer in Scotland. He supposed they’d been lucky to get away with as much good weather as they’d had that week. It would make it trickier for Heather to get the kids out of the castle today, though.
Anna followed his gaze to the window. ‘I suppose summer means something rather different in Scotland to the rest of the country,’ she said scathingly.
‘You must be in a good mood, too,’ Cal replied, falling into step with her as they headed for the dining room. ‘You get to go home tomorrow.’
That was putting him in a very good mood, anyway.
‘And leave all this splendour?’ Anna replied, waving an arm towards the long dining table, loaded with Ryan’s favourite sugary cereals and half a pain au chocolat left on Daisy’s plate.
‘Not what you expected from an earl’s castle, huh?’ Cal asked, hiding a smile.
Anna smiled back, but there was no warmth in it. ‘Not exactly. I would like to get one last interview with you and the children before I leave, however.’
Cal glanced up to see Heather coming in from the kitchen. Meeting her eye, he knew she’d heard Anna’s question. She gave a small, reluctant nod.
‘I’m sure that can be arranged,’ he told Anna, hoping she hadn’t clocked the exchange. ‘As long as I’m in the room with the children.’
‘Of course.’ Anna smiled sweetly, then made her way to a seat at the far end of the table.
Heather, Cal noticed, didn’t look at all reassured by her promise.
‘So, Heather, what do you and the children have planned for today?’
Heather met his eye before answering. He gave her what he hoped was an encouraging smile, rather than an I want to ravish you on the breakfast table smile, but really it could have gone either way.
‘Since it looks like it’s going to be a soggy day out there, I think we’ll work on our history projects in the schoolroom today.’
‘They’re studying the Second World War,’ Cal put in, as Daisy and Ryan both groaned in unison. He silenced them with a glare.
‘You take a strong interest in your niece and nephew’s education, then?’ Anna commented, looking between them.
