Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
CALLUM
I was late for work, but damn if I could find it in me to give a shite. Not when I’d had Parker warm in my bed all night and started my day coaxing her awake with an orgasm for an alarm—a state of affairs she’d breathlessly approved of before we’d moved to the shower to start all over again. Not surprisingly, that had done a hell of a lot more for my outlook on the day than the punishing multi-mile run I usually went for, rain or shine.
Finn was going to freak out because I couldn’t seem to stop smiling. He and Alex would no doubt have plenty to say to me when I arrived. They’d seemed on board with the idea of me and Parker, but we’d taken a step we couldn’t walk back from. I didn’t think she wanted to walk back from it—not given how she’d lingered in the front seat of my Land Rover before finally making the dash for her flat. But they’d no doubt have concerns about how our relationship could impact our business. Which was fair. Right now, it was hard to see our relationship doing anything but improving the business. Because she was staying in Scotland.
I hadn’t realized exactly how much anxiety I’d been carrying around the idea that her parents might talk her into leaving. I had no compunction about throwing myself bodily between her and anyone who tried to force her into anything. But I wasn’t sure how I’d have combatted her making that choice for herself. Even if that choice had been made under some form of emotional duress.
But she’d chosen me instead.
Well, she’d chosen the life she was building here, which included me. Thank Christ.
I was one lucky bastard. I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve the affections of a woman like her, but I was determined she wouldn’t regret it.
Finn and Alex were already at the office, standing around the drink station with steaming mugs in hand. Their looks were decidedly conspiratorial as I stepped into the lobby, and I knew they’d been talking about me.
“Morning.”
They exchanged a glance, then both went brows up in clear expectation.
When I only blinked at them, Alex prodded, “Well? How did the dinner go?”
After yesterday, it was entirely expected that they’d have questions. I’d allowed an entire troop of women into my inner sanctum and pulled out all the stops in the name of impressing Parker’s parents. They’d done what they could to help, which had mostly been covering the excursions I’d been booked for, so I could handle the rest. They’d earned some answers.
Moving past them, I put on the kettle for tea. “Well, the dinner itself went well. Parker’s no’ leaving. That’s the good news.”
“Oh, is that all the good news?” Finn snarked. “Because you’re smiling an awful lot for a morning. Or for you at all. Frankly, it’s rather terrifying.”
Alex snorted. “You were late this morning. And our intrepid office manager hasn’t made it in yet.”
They were fishing. No question about it. Feeling a little awkward, I dumped a tea bag into a mug and cleared my throat. “We’re together. She’ll be along shortly.”
I could leave it at that. Right?
To make sure of it, I shifted gears to what I wanted to discuss with them before Parker arrived. “There’s something more serious that came up.”
Their expressions sobered.
I quickly explained what Jade had revealed about the potential threat to Parker. “Her father is the CEO and owner of Meridian Global.”
Alex’s eyes widened. “Oh.”
“Aye.”
“So Parker is effectively an heiress?”
“Aye, that’s more or less the gist of it.”
Finn kicked back against the edge of her desk. “Huh. You two are better matched than I even thought at the beginning.”
I rolled my eyes. My mates were well aware of all the reasons I’d walked away from my own family legacy. “Anyway, her parents’ concerns are no’ just about her potential physical limitations. They’re concerned for her literal safety. Worried that she could be taken and used as leverage. Jade and I convinced them she’d be safer here, under our protection.”
“Done,” Finn announced.
“Aye,” Alex concurred. “Anything we need to do to keep her safe. What do you need from us?”
“I need an assessment of how legitimate a threat this is. Which means I need you to do what you do best.”
He nodded. “Understood.”
“Jade will have more information. You can speak to her when she arrives.”
“Speaking of,” Finn muttered.
The door behind us swung open, and the women arrived. Parker caught sight of all of us clustered around the drink station and froze just inside the door with a deer in the headlights look.
“Um. Good morning.”
Falkor made a low woof and trotted over to get his head scritches. Jade nudged Parker into motion, and she headed for her desk to stow her handbag.
“Sorry I’m late.” The lovely blush that worked its way up her throat and over her cheeks told me she was definitely remembering all the reasons she was only just getting in. That promptly sent my brain down a rabbit hole of all the ways I’d made her flush with pleasure in the past twelve hours.
“So,” Finn began. He ignored my sharp look. “We hear you’re actually an heiress in hiding.”
Parker’s gaze shot to me. “You told them?”
I couldn’t tell if she was upset about that. Maybe she’d have preferred I wait for her? “It seemed prudent, under the circumstances.”
“Well, that saves me a step.” She shut her handbag in a desk drawer. “Yes, technically, I suppose I am. But I’m not some spoiled little princess.”
Alex pressed a hand to his heart. “We would never cast such aspersions.”
“Aye,” Finn agreed. “We just want to make sure you know that you’re a part of the team, and we’re committed to making sure you feel secure and safe.”
With one of those smiles that told me she was feeling warm and squishy, she ducked under my arm and cuddled in. “I certainly appreciate that. I know none of you signed on for extra guard duty.”
Finn shrugged. “It won’t be the first time. Between Isobel and Ciara, we’ve had plenty of practice in our retirement.”
She frowned. “I know you and Finn did security on Isobel’s last tour. But what happened to Ciara?”
Alex’s face closed up. “My past caught up to her.”
“And we got her back and shut it all down,” I reminded him. “She’s fine, aye?”
He rolled his shoulders, visibly trying to shake off the memories that I knew would likely haunt him for years to come. “Aye. Well, under the category of other business, it seems like we really ought to talk about getting Jade on the payroll, at least temporarily. Because, obviously, you’re not going anywhere.”
“You are correct, sir.” She stepped past him to start the kettle again. “To be clear, I’m still being paid in an official capacity as Parker’s bodyguard.”
“Aye, but you’re still doing work while you’re here. It’s only fair,” Finn argued.
She flashed a smile. “I won’t complain about an extra paycheck.”
“Having you here is ideal, actually,” I said. “It’ll relieve some pressure, as we’re going into our busier season. That way, we can all three be out on jobs, and Parker’s no’ left alone in the office.”
“I can’t complain about that.” With one more squeeze, Parker stepped toward her desk. “I’ll get the paperwork drawn up. In the meantime, let’s go over the schedule for the rest of the week.”