Chapter 13 Apologies
Apologies
Niall gaped at his brothers and Suzie. Colin was kissing her.
His mate.
“Mine. Mine. Mine!” his bear chanted, and the possessive words held a distinct growl.
Suzie was their mate, so why would she kiss Colin with such enthusiasm, their bodies plastered together, chest to chest?
Niall took half a step, his gaze on the couple. He’d come to find Suzie and apologize because he’d been wrong. Unfortunately, his past had intruded, shoving him to the wrong conclusion. Angus had set him straight and told him Suzie had been genuinely upset.
Suzie hadn’t met anyone other than to say a casual hello and hadn’t made phone calls. Angus had conducted a secondary investigation for him. Suzie was precisely who she professed to be—a shifter from Middlemarch in New Zealand.
Yeah. He owed Suzie a heartfelt apology. But he hadn’t expected to witness her kissing his brother. Devastation filled him. Betrayal. Yes, he’d treated her harshly. However, he hadn’t anticipated her to run into his brother’s arms.
He heard a feminine screech and turned to witness Suzie slapping Colin. Colin bellowed, and fear slithered through Niall, especially when Euan cackled like a hyena. Colin drew back his fist, and Niall started running. He wouldn’t make it in time. He knew it, but that didn’t stop him from trying.
Niall focused on Suzie. She stilled, sensing the danger. He was too far away to help. Colin wouldn’t kill her, but he could injure her.
Suzie murmured something too low for Niall to hear. Don’t taunt him. Colin has no sense of humor. Not a scrap. Not unless he’s carrying out the prank.
Colin released a furious roar and loosed his punch. Suzie dropped, shifting her weight and rocking Colin off balance. His punch skimmed the outside of her arm, and seconds later, Colin fell on his arse.
Euan roared with laughter. Colin cursed up a storm. Niall finally reached the group as Suzie bobbed to her full height and kicked Colin in the ribs. She hadn’t noticed him yet, and he wondered what reception he’d receive.
“Never grab me like that again. I feel sorry for the women in your life because you kiss like a wet fish.”
“Bitch.”
Niall made a choking sound but held his laugh at bay. He did not need to rile Colin any further. Euan didn’t seem to have a problem, probably because he was the oldest brother, and Colin always followed his lead. With a wary gaze on his brothers, he turned his attention to his mate.
His bear hummed a joyful sound, and Niall found his lips curving into a smile as he watched her. He was in awe of her bravery and her cool head.
Suzie picked up her shopping bags and muttered under her breath. He must’ve made a sound because her head jerked up. “Why are you here?”
Niall went with the truth. “I came to apologize and beg your forgiveness. I want you to come home with me.”
“Why the change of heart?”
“I realized I was acting like a fool and jumping to unfair conclusions. You have spent every moment with me.”
Suzie’s brows rose. “Apart from my walk, where I came across two idiots.”
One of his brothers growled, and once again, Niall fought a smile.
“If the cap fits,” Suzie snapped.
“I let my past govern good sense,” Niall said. “I hope you’ll forgive me. At least give me another chance to prove myself to you.”
“Oh, brother,” Euan said. “She has you under her thumb.”
“Your opinion doesn’t matter,” Niall said. “I’m not the same cub you tormented all those years ago.”
Suzie didn’t reply. She picked up every bag and turned toward the castle, her strides brisk. Niall fell into step while monitoring his brothers. He didn’t stop his watchful manner until he and Suzie were halfway back to the castle.
“Are you speaking to me?”
“I haven’t had the best day,” Suzie said. “And I’m rather tired of bossy men placing me in the little lady category.”
“I haven’t done that.”
Suzie stopped walking to glare at him. “No, your behavior was worse. You treated me as an equal and accused me of betrayal. You didn’t even give me a chance to defend myself.”
A flash of shame struck, and Niall hung his head because that was precisely what had happened. He raised his gaze to meet her beautiful green one. “I’m sorry, Suzie. That’s exactly what I did. I’ll try harder in the future to hold back my temper.”
“And you will stop letting your childhood color your reactions. You’re an adult. Successful. Smart. Sexy,” she added after a pause.
Niall knew then that she’d forgiven him—at least a little. “I am sorry. My brothers…” He hesitated, wondering how much he should tell her.
Everything, his bear chided, and Niall’s shoulders slumped momentarily. “Now is not the place, but I’ll tell you more about my brothers soon.”
“They want your money.”
“Of course they do. They never could walk past a bet. They’ve probably borrowed money from the wrong person and neglected to repay their loans.”
Suzie frowned, then surveyed their surroundings. They’d left the main square and taken the road toward the castle. She cast a glance behind them before looking at him. Suzie leaned close enough for him to catch a trace of citrus from her hair.
“Your brothers mentioned your honey. Would they have organized the attempt to acquire your newest product?”
“Euan and Colin are smart. Crafty. They might’ve made an educated guess since it’s not a secret I’m a honey producer. I didn’t pick up their scents at my research building. Did you sense anything?”
Suzie’s brow puckered. “The intruders had human scents. Nothing distinctive that I recall, although I’d recognize them if I encountered them again.”
“Same,” Niall said. “Normally, these occurrences wouldn’t bother me, but if I add everything together plus the upcoming release date of my product, I’m inclined to increase my security and keep an even closer eye on my brothers.”
“I don’t blame you. What will you do?”
“The investigator hasn’t come back to me yet. If I understood where they fit in this mess, it’d help me decide what to do next.”
Suzie’s expression softened, and the tightness in Niall’s chest reduced.
“I feel as if my world has tipped upside down. Before, everything was easier. Now…” He shrugged, not wanting to seem mushy.
But hell. Since Suzie walked into his life, he couldn’t think clearly.
He snorted inwardly. He wanted to blame his confusion and unease on Suzie when it wasn’t her fault.
She’d had her life mapped out and wanted different things from him. But it was hard to fight fate.
He didn’t even know if he wished to return to his pre-Suzie life.
That had been a lonely existence where he’d had mainly acquaintances rather than friends.
He’d immersed himself in work, and since he loved every moment of the challenge, nothing else had mattered.
Yes, he’d dated women, but most of those relationships had been disasters.
He’d thought he would remain alone—his destiny.
Until Suzie.
“Why are you frowning so hard?”
Niall took his time answering, checking their surroundings as they left the outskirts of the village. “If you had your life planned and no interest in a mate, why did you come to the gathering?”
“I never said I didn’t want a mate. I objected to my parents and grandparents dictating my life, thinking they knew better.
As for the gathering—I’m sure I’ve mentioned Saber and London asked Edwina and me to attend.
Six of us came from Middlemarch, and they approached us all.
Our attendance was voluntary. No one forced us to do anything.
All Saber wanted was for shifters to participate with open minds.
They didn’t put pressure on us and didn’t mind if we returned home without a mate.
Saber and London thought the experience would benefit us and other younger Middlemarch residents.
Some shifters in attendance look desperate because their families have such high expectations. ”
“Good to know,” Niall said.
They walked for a few minutes in companionable silence.
“I gave the go-ahead to put the honey into production today, but I haven’t told anyone this product is special.
It’s labeled honey and nothing more at this stage.
The plain label and reasonable price point should help the honey sell itself.
Once people taste it, I’m hoping word of mouth will do the rest.”
Niall was pleased to see that Suzie scanned their surroundings before she replied. “You don’t want to create a splashy launch and extoll your honey’s benefits from the start?”
“All the catchy names and fancy labels won’t do a thing if my product sucks.”
Suzie laughed, and Niall’s steps faltered at the bright, bubbly sound. This woman. She was the whole package. He recalled their night together and fervently wished he hadn’t destroyed their fledgling relationship with his bullheadedness.
Suzie… She’d made him feel, made him think, and yeah, she’d made him laugh. For once, he wasn’t allowing business to consume him. He wanted her to stay of her own volition. He desired Suzie for himself. Hell, he needed her.
It was time to apologize again.
“Suzie, I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions and forcing you from my home. I wasn’t thinking clearly. Our night together put me off balance, and I behaved badly before my brain engaged.”
She shot him a look filled with annoyance. “You would’ve let me go home to New Zealand and done nothing to stop me.”
Niall winced because he understood her irritation, and she had a point.
“Suzie, males can be dense sometimes, and I’m worse than most. I’m so sorry.
” He caught the flicker of doubt in her.
She also possessed a core of stubbornness but concealed it beneath her smiling visage.
“I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but please forgive me. ”
“Why did you walk and not drive?” she asked suddenly, ignoring his apology.
He’d have to try harder. “I wanted to follow your trail, so walking was easier.”
She nodded. “Your brothers are troublemakers. I doubt they’re finished with their mischief.”
“I’m positive they haven’t,” Niall said, recalling Colin kissing her. He could smell his brother on her, and that irritated him. “I’ll contact the private investigator as soon as we get back. Hopefully, he’ll have found something useful because I don’t trust their sudden arrival in Scotland.”
Suzie handed off her parcels at the castle to a young man who assisted Angus. “Could you leave them in my room for me, please?” She gave him her room number, and Niall went cold.
“I thought you’d move back in with me,” he said, watching her carefully.
“I think it’s best if I have my own space. Besides, I want to catch up with Liam and Scott. I haven’t seen them today.”
“Oh.” He’d damaged their fledgling relationship with his distrust.
Suzie halted him when he would’ve turned away. “We’re still new to each other, and I don’t want to make a hasty decision I’ll regret.”
Niall felt his mouth drop open and hurriedly corrected his expression.
He pressed his lips together and waited.
This was his fault. If he didn’t stop letting himself get dragged back to that tiny quivering cub covered with bruises and scared of his shadow, he’d never win a beauty like Suzie.
She was fierce and independent. Sure of herself and her future, and she didn’t deserve to land in the middle of whatever mess his brothers were orchestrating.
“Would you have dinner with me?” When it looked as if she might reject his offer, he said, “Bring your Middlemarch friends with you. I’d enjoy meeting them.”
She hesitated before smiling, and the tension inside Niall relaxed. “I’ll ask them. Liam has enjoyed checking out the old weapons on display. You have a few in your private apartments that I’m sure he’ll get excited about viewing.”
“Shall we say seven for dinner?”
“Thank you.”
Niall’s phone buzzed. “Sorry.”
“Answer it. I’ll see you later.”
Niall picked up the call but watched Suzie until she vanished.
“Sinclair? You there?”
“I’m here,” Niall said, recognizing the private investigator. From his terse tone, he had information. “What have you got for me?”