I was surprised. Out of all of us, Griffin had every reason not to want to go back to Scotland. Growing up there hadn’t been kind to either of us, but at least I had Ma.

  My eyes kept drifting back to Bailey who had fallen asleep almost immediately. She looked like an angel, innocent of all deeds. When I felt Griffin watching me, I glanced away and urged my son to eat the food they’d brought.

  Sleep had been non-existent for what felt like days. And it eluded me until after the dinner I forced myself to eat. I’d closed my eyes, only to wake and find Bailey gone.

  Griffin, who seemed to never sleep, read my mind.

  “She’s in the back.”

  It only took a second glance to realize Turner was also missing.

  “Down, boy. It may not be anything. I’ve heard nothing,” he said as if he had superhuman hearing.

  I glanced to my right to see Gabe curled up in the seat. I adjusted it to lie flat and covered him with a blanket. I tapped Ainsley.

  “You should sleep,” I said and indicated the next cabin. “The sofa is probably more comfortable.”

  “Thanks,” she said.

  I sat across from Griffin so we could talk.

  “What do we know?”

  I’d hoped he’d used our Wi-Fi connection to keep up with the latest developments.

  “He’s not talking even though they’ve offered him a deal. Though it’s likely he doesn’t know much. Jobs like this could be handled through the dark web.”

  A part of me wished I’d killed the bastard and said as much.

  “Bu chòir dhomh a bhith air a mharbhadh.”

  “Aye, but at what cost?” Griffin said.

  I blew out a breath. “We’re no closer to finding out who’s doing this. His life should be forfeited and not just for what he’s done to Bailey. He sells women—”

  “And he’ll get his due.”

  “Sùil airson sùil.”

  “An eye for an eye.” I nodded. “Do you still believe that—”

  “Aye. It makes the most sense. Who else has it out for yer?”

  I’d made plenty of enemies along the way to my success. Plenty who’d love to see me fail. But Griffin and I’d discussed the possibilities, and this had been far too personal.

  “I know you don’t want to believe it. But get yer head out of yer arse.”

  “I’ll find out.”

  His brows shot up. “A face to face.”

  I nodded. “Eye to eye. That’s the only way.”

  And I began to plan.

  Thirteen

  The scenery was worthy of a canvas. Too bad the car ride over rolling hills was even more awkward than being woken up on the plane and told to take my seat. It’d felt like I’d taken the walk of shame as everyone in the first cabin viewed me leaving the bedroom with Turner, not knowing nothing had happened outside of sleep.

  “It’s beautiful,” I said absently, staring out the car window.

  “Aye. It is,” Griffin said from the driver’s seat on the right side, which was weird in itself.

  Turner and I rode with him as Kalen drove with Ainsley and Gabe because we couldn’t all fit in one. Cars were a lot smaller over here.

  “Why would you want to live in New York when you live here?” I asked.

  “Opportunity. Though truth be told, one takes for granted what’s right in front of them.”

  “True,” I answered despite the message he could have been sending me with that statement. He was Kalen’s friend.

  I decided not to overthink it and leaned my head on the glass and stayed silent the rest of the ride.

  When we pulled up to a moderate-sized cottage, I found myself in love with how homey it looked. It was certainly fancier than the house I’d grown up in. But it wasn’t like a mini mansion.

  The real question I had was why we hadn’t ended up at a hotel.

  As I sat without moving, the door to the house opened and instantly I knew it belonged to Kalen somehow.

  A woman with timeless beauty stepped into the doorway. One look at her face and it was apparent who she was. She shared some features, like the curve of her mouth, the structure of her cheekbones, and her green eyes with her son. Although her hair was a mix of gray, he’d also gotten his dark hair from her.

  When Kalen got out of the car, her eyes lit up in what could only be described as motherly love.

  Once the miniature version of Kalen was released from his car seat, he bounded out of his father’s car and barreled into his grandmother’s arms. Immediately, I was struck with a longing for my mother. I had to hold back tears as I remembered our all too short farewell.

  “Bails,” Turner said, shaking me out of my thoughts. I wiped the corner of my eye before shifting to glance in his direction. “Are you getting out?”

  Both men seemed to be waiting as Kalen’s mother turned her gaze to me. Instantly, I felt welcome. She waved me over, and it would have been rude to refuse her. Just because her son was a jerk didn’t mean she was one too. I opened the door and she met me halfway.

  “So you’re Bailey. I’ve heard so much about you.” She took me in her arms and squeezed before leaning back while still holding my shoulders to look at me. “You are as bonnie as he said.” She sighed. “You may call me Isla.”

  I could only hold a smile to my face, unable to come up with a response. Had Kalen really talked about me to his mother?

  “Speak, lass. My son brings home a girl for the first time and I’m aching to hear your lovely voice.”

  The only thing I could think to say was, “He’s not really bringing me home. Not that way, at least.”

  I could tell she didn’t believe me until Turner stepped up to my side.

  “Hi, I’m Turner,” he said, reaching out a hand to her in greeting.

  Her eyes shifted over our shoulders for a quick second before she greeted Turner with the same fondness.

  “You all must be hungry. Please come in.”

  “I should be going,” I heard Griffin say from somewhere behind me.

  “Don’t be silly. You will stay for dinner. If you must go, you’ll go after.”

  Her command was received and not protested.

  We stepped inside a small foyer with a staircase straight ahead. To the left, I glimpsed a small kitchen with an L-shaped counter and the basic appliances that didn’t look too fancy. To the right was a living room of sorts that held delicate looking furniture that appeared as though it would crumble under Kalen’s weight and he wasn’t an overly large man, at least not in girth.

  His mother steered us beyond the kitchen where a table that could hold all of us was already set for dinner.

  “Tea?” she asked.

  My stomach was in knots, but I didn’t decline.

  “Sure,” I said, along with a chorus of agreement.

  “Will you help me?” she asked me.

  It wouldn’t have been polite to refuse, so I followed her into the kitchen.

  She busied herself getting water in a kettle while she spoke. “My son has never talked to me about a girl before even though I know he’s had plenty. When he called to tell me about you, I was so excited. I’m getting pretty old and worry about him.”

  At that moment, I was grateful I hadn’t had a drink. I would have choked.

  She turned to look at me. “And here you are. My son’s girlfriend.”

  “We’re not together,” a voice said behind me and his mother and I turned as one.

  Kalen stood not too far behind us, seemingly taking up the entire space. His impassive expression seemed to rattle us both as his mother turned back to grab the kettle.

  “My mistake,” she said before handing the pot past me to her son. “Put it on, will yer?” she said to him. To me, she said, “You can have a seat, lass.”

  As directed, I went back to the table. All the seats were claimed save three. Turner stood beside one and neither of the other two options were next to him. I sat in the only one that wasn’t at the ends of the table. I glanced at Turner who sat catty-cornered to me just as the tea arrived. I didn’t know how to feel when Kalen sat at the end of the table nearest to me as dinner was served. I did my best to ignore the heat that felt combustible every time he was near.

  To my relief, the adorable Gabe stole the show as he regaled everyone with his adventures in New York.

  “—And I rode in a carriage… and one day we went to the zoo and saw the lions,” he said with big eyes as he spoke non-stop. Kalen’s mom nodded and looked properly amazed during his tale. “Through the window in my room, I can see the sky more than the street.”

  The way he spoke reminded me how awestruck I’d been when I’d left the community area for the first time. New York had seemed so big. Yet it had felt so small when I’d left Kalen in his office for what felt like years ago.

  “And what was your favorite: the zoo or the museums?” Kalen’s mom asked.

  Gabe pinched his chin as if in deep thought before giving her the biggest smile. “Both.”

  Everyone laughed and I might have too if Kalen’s knee hadn’t brushed against my leg at that moment. The fact that I wore jeans didn’t matter. It was still electric and made all the hairs on my arms stand on end.

  In a moment of weakness, I gave in to the magnetic need to glance his way. And damn, if he wasn’t staring straight at me. I swallowed, unable to turn away from the gravity that pulled us together.

  “Bailey.”

  I snapped my head in the direction of the voice because Turner didn’t often call me by my full name. That was when I noticed everyone staring in my direction and my cheeks heated.

  “Yes,” I said automatically.

  “You’ve been to Central Park Zoo, right?” he asked.

  “No.” When he looked confused, I felt the need to explain why I’d hadn’t heard him.

  Only how could I say I’d been too busy staring at Kalen? One glance back at him revealed his arrogant smirk. I felt heat spread down my neck and over my body. This time it wasn’t filled with lust but embarrassment.

  Immediately, I shifted my focus back to my food as Gabe broke the awkward silence.

  “You should go. The elephants…”

  And he was off to the races again. I wanted to hug the boy. Instead, I tried to ignore the egotistical man, as his knee hadn’t moved an inch from my leg. I feared if I did, it would be obvious what was or wasn’t going on under the table.

  Swallowing was difficult as I tried to choke down what was really a delicious meal as the pressure of Kalen’s body against mine didn’t let up.

  I’d never been so grateful when Ainsley announced that she was leaving and not for what she said. For taking away any lingering curiosity as to what was or wasn’t going on between Kalen and me.

  “Thanks for the wonderful meal, Aunt Isla, but I should really get home.”

  If I’d thought the silence was palpable for me getting caught staring at Kalen, this was ten times worse. Isla, Griffin, and Kalen traded weary glances, until Isla made a show of a big smile.

  “It was so good to see you. Make sure to call if you need anything,” Isla said.

  “Anything,” Kalen reiterated.

  Ainsley glanced at Griffin. “I was hoping Griffin would drive me.”

  He only barely glanced at Kalen before saying. “Sure thing. I should be going anyway.” He pushed back his chair and got to his feet. Isla did too, hugging both before waving them off.

  She shifted her gaze to her grandson. “It looks like you’re done. Upstairs with you and get ready for a bath.”

  Gabe nodded obediently and skedaddled off. Then she turned to us. “There are two bedrooms left. I’ll leave you to decide who’s sleeping where.”

  She left and I could feel the burn of both men’s gazes on me.

  Fourteen

  “Are you sure you’re okay with this? I could take Gabe’s room and he could share with you.” Turner chuckled. “This isn’t new to me. I shared a room and bed with my brother, something I’m guessing is new to you.”

  He had no idea how I’d grown up and I chose not to share those details with him.

  “Just keep to your side of the bed,” I said.

  He shrugged, still amused. He wouldn’t be laughing if he knew why I’d agreed to this sleeping arrangement.

  There was no way in hell I would leave him alone in a room so close to Bailey so he could sneak in with her. If that made me an asshole, so be it.

  “I know her better than you,” he said as if he’d been holding that in for a while.

  I almost felt sorry for him.

  “You know the girl she used to be. I know the woman.”

  He went for the checkmate.

  “She’s made her choice.” He let that resonate before adding, “I’m going to take a shower.” He flicked his thumb in the direction of the washroom before turning.

  I didn’t respond, annoyed with the situation.

  Once the door was closed, I left the room. I found Ma sitting on Gabe’s bed with a book in her hands.

  I sat on the opposite side. “Had an adventure today?” I scrubbed a hand over his head.

  He nodded. “It was a great day.”

  “It was. I’ll let Granny finish the story.”

  “Will you stay?” he asked.

  I had no other place in the world I wanted to be.

  “Of course.”

  When the story was over, Ma left and I stayed to tuck my son in.

  “Will Bailey be my mommy?”

  I was shocked for a second. Mommy was an American term. Then again, he spent the last two years learning their words.

  I opened my mouth but found I didn’t have the words. I know what I wanted and didn’t have a clue how to tell my son.

  “Bailey is a friend,” I decided.

  “My friend,” he asked.

  “Yes. Now it’s time to get some sleep.”

  After kissing his forehead and tucking him in, I stood in the doorway a second longer. I knew how tough it was on him without a mother. Since he hadn’t asked about his biological one for a while now, I thought maybe his longing was over.

  I turned off the light and closed the door. The next one I entered wasn’t mine.

  My firebrand was a lit fuse when she turned around.

  “I know this is your house, but you can knock,” she spat.

  “Would you have let me in?” She rolled her eyes. “I didn’t think so and we need to talk.”

  “Why? You despise me.”

  “There are many words to describe my feelings, Miss Glicks, and that isn’t one of them.”

  I didn’t waste time. I moved to get in her space, forcing her to step back until her back was flush with the wall.

  “I—I—” she started.

  It was too fucking sexy when she got all flustered.

  “What do you want?” she asked shakily.

  It wasn’t a question I wanted to answer. Not truthfully.

  “Everything I shouldn’t.”

  She shoved me and I allowed myself to step back.

  “That’s all it ever is with you.”

  I took back the distance she put between us.

  “Really. I defied my father and potentially gave up my inheritance to bring you here. Do I need to remind you where here is? My mother’s house, a place I’ve never brought any other woman.”

  Her eyes grew wide for a second before they turned shrewd.

  “And that’s the problem. You’ve never been in a relationship before. You can’t possibly know what you want.”

  I moved closer and leaned down to whisper in her ear, “I know exactly what I want.”

  “And I want Turner.”

  Fifteen

  There had been no good reason for me to have said what I said other than self-preservation.

  I didn’t understand how such a magnetic man would want me and only me.

  If I could have taken it back, I would have instead of watching his heated expression turn to ice. In fact, I reached out to him, unable to vocalize the words, but he was gone out of room in only a few strides. The door closed behind him with a resounding thud.

  My feet felt like lead and my heart like ash as I couldn’t take it all back. Four words had put an end to my world and I had to live with the consequences.

  I fell onto my bed hating myself, unable to admit how much I’d fallen hard for a man like him. It was so much safer to be with Turner.

  He was the personification of good and kind. He would take care of me with his last breath. We would have a good life.

  Yet dumbly, I longed for more. I wanted not only the thrill and challenge Kalen possessed, but the adventure. Every encounter between us, whether friend or foe, was filled with passion.

  It didn’t matter now. I’d ruined any chances of that.

  I longed to talk to Lizzy, who would have all the answers. I wanted to tell her how I’d left both of them tongue-tied when I told them they would be sharing a room.

  Though Turner and I had broken the rules many times in our childhood, I doubted he would sneak into my room the way Kalen had.

  Now that I had the answer to where my feelings lay, what was I going to do about it? I closed my eyes and let my mind drift as I decided on the next course of action before it was too late.

  Between jetlag and lately always feeling abundantly tired, the sun was high in the sky when I awoke after a night of fitful sleep. I’d dreamt of being bound and all the fear that came with it.

  I was grateful for the growl from my stomach to dispel those nightmares and the promise of the smells coming from below.

  After a quick trip to the bathroom to freshen up for the morning, I followed my hunger to the kitchen, hoping to pass the time until I could talk to Kalen again.

  “Well, good morning to you, lass,” Isla greeted.

  “Good morning to you as well.”

  She waved a hand to the table I’d sat at last night. It was no longer ready for a dinner of seven. It sat empty.

  “I’m sure you’re hungry.” She nodded and I didn’t disagree. “I have a full Scottish ready for you. Do you want tea or Kalen brought coffee? He thought you might like it.”