Chapter 14
WESTON
“Did the preliminary sketches come through from the architects?” I asked as I leaned on the doorway of Pete’s office. Lena was parked behind the massive desk, laptop in front of her.
For a moment, I simply admired the way the light caught her through the window, highlighting streaks in her dark hair, brightening those blue eyes.
She was wearing a jumper the color of purple heather to fight off the chill of the office.
I’d never seen her in that color before.
She looked…Well, she looked good. Soft. Touchable.
“They did not,” she said, tapping her nails against the wood, breaking me from whatever spell had momentarily captured my attention. I’d blame it on the lack of sleep, but deep down I knew it was a lie. “I’ve been in touch with Houston,” she continued. “Just waiting for them to get back to me.”
I nodded and cleared my throat. “Good. I’m eager to see what the initial thoughts are for the wind farm design.”
Lena cocked her head as she looked at me, her eyebrows knitting together.
“What?” I asked, glancing down at my outfit. It was nothing grand, just trousers and a loose denim shirt with the sleeves rolled up. What about that had Lena catching her lip between her teeth? “Something wrong?”
Lena collected herself, rolling her eyes at me. “Bedhead is definitely a look,” she said, lips twitching. “We should give it a try around the boardroom.”
I lifted my hand, flattening the hair I thought I’d sorted earlier.
“Here, let me do it,” Lena said, sounding half exasperated, half amused as she stood, coming around the desk. “It’s just this back part here.” She reached up on her tiptoes, running her hands through my hair. The sensation sent an electric shock from the back of my skull straight down my spine.
“Is that me sorted?” I asked.
“All good,” she said, pulling away, her eyelashes fluttering.
“So, you survived Tess’s hen do?”
“I did. Everyone else was also alive and well as we made our way to the airport.”
I smirked. “Am I off Tess’s shit list yet?”
Lena’s lips twitched in amusement. “You’re definitely moving in the right direction.”
My eyes dropped to her lips, and for a brief moment of insanity, I wondered what it would be like to taste them.
Lena’s tongue darted out, running along her lower lip, and I caught a groan in the back of my throat.
I knew I shouldn’t want to, but the problem was, thinking about Lena like that—wanting to drag her in for a kiss—was happening all the time lately.
And it was getting harder and harder to convince myself it would be a bad idea.
The wee devil on my shoulder seemed so very sure that kissing her would be nothing but good.
She stepped back suddenly. “I should…get back to work.”
“Wait,” I said, voice thick. I shook off the lingering exhaustion and ridiculous thoughts I was having. “Leave that for now. There’s something I want to show you.”
“If it’s Bonnie again, count me out,” Lena said, following me out of the office and down the hall. “She’s already leveled me with her little horsey demon eyes this morning.”
I laughed. “It’s not Bonnie. Though Agnes said she got in the back door and ate through a portion of Milo’s dog kibble before she managed to shoo her out.”
“Menace,” Lena muttered, clearly still bitter about their first meeting. “There should be warning signs posted around the property.”
“Beware of tiny horse?”
“Yes, it might gnaw at your knees.”
“Did you ever think you’d have a nemesis?”
“And that it would be a Shetland pony?” she snorted. “Not in a million years.”
I paused in the front hall, looking down at her feet and the nice white trainers she was wearing. “You’re gonna want something a little less white on your feet.”
“Why?” she asked, suspicious.
I shot her a wry grin. “You’re going to love it, I promise. But seriously, I think it’s time for your first pair of wellies.”
Once Lena was properly outfitted—unfortunately with a pair of wellies that were a size too big—I led her out to the cattle shed. It smelled strongly of manure and wet straw, but she didn’t bat an eye, following me down the main aisle.
“Am I about to find out where you disappeared to all night?” she asked.
I grinned at the excitement in her voice, then paused beside a pen, pointing out the Highland calf curled up in the back corner. It was half buried in straw, just a tiny mound of ginger hair visible.
“Oh my God,” Lena cooed, leaning right up against the fence. “Who is this little one?”
“This is the newest addition to Lochbrae,” I said proudly. “I helped Callum deliver her this morning. Pulled her out myself.”
“Okay, Scottish Grey’s Anatomy,” she said, laughing.
But then the calf yawned, and Lena covered her mouth with both hands, making a squeal of pure adoration that had the calf’s ears twitching.
“She’s friggin’ adorable. I just want to touch the soft fluff on the top of her head. And pat that little nose!”
“Do you want to meet her?” I asked.
She turned to me, eyes wide, jaw dropped. “How is that even a question?”
I rolled my eyes playfully. “Oh, of course. Forgive me for even thinking otherwise.” I unlatched the gate, holding it open for Lena, snorting as she raced past me.
She approached the calf slowly, ooohing and awwwing as the little ball of hair poked its head up, regarding her with those big black eyes. “Look at you,” Lena cooed, kneeling down in the straw. “You’re so precious.”
The calf shuffled forward, laying its head on her knee, and Lena beamed at me, giving it a scratch. “Better than Paris?”
Lena laughed. “Don’t tell Tess, but so much better! I don’t know how Callum gets anything done around the property,” she said. “I’d want to spend every moment in here. What’s her name?”
“She still needs one,” I said. “Any thoughts?”
She ran her fingers through that ginger coat. “I’m gonna suggest Little Miss Snuggle Muffin.”
“I didn’t think you’d be able to do worse than Lord Wigglebottom, but—”
“Hey!” she complained. She frowned, attempting to give me one of her stern looks, but it fractured the moment the calf made a little chuff. “Okay, fine,” she said. “A real name, then. What’s her mom called?”
“Skye.”
“That’s pretty.”
“She’s named after the Isle of Skye.”
Lena hummed. “There are more islands, aren’t there? Around Scotland?”
I nodded. “Orkney, Lewis, Mull, Arran—”
“That’s it!” Lena called. “That’s the one.”
“What?”
She cradled the calf’s head. “Meet little Arran.” She turned to me, looking hopeful. “What do you think?”
“Definitely an improvement on Snuggle Muffin.”
Lena shot me a wicked grin as the calf started snuffling around in the straw. “That can be her middle name.”
“Hiya!” Callum called, coming down the aisle toward us with a large bottle in his hand. He was still wearing the clothes from last night, and I wondered if he’d stopped at all to rest. “I see you’ve met our most recent addition,” he said to Lena.
She beamed in response. “I’m never leaving this pen. The cuteness is off the charts. I’m just going to set up here with my laptop and do my calls while getting a constant serotonin boost.”
Callum laughed, smiling at her, and I couldn’t help thinking about how easily Lena charmed people.
“I was gonna give her a bottle,” Callum said. “Skye’s not much interested in the whole nursing thing yet, but this little one needs her colostrum for the next couple o’days. Since she’s taken so well to the two of you, want to do me a favor and give it to her?”
I nodded, reaching for the calf bottle.
“I’m gonna head off for a kip,” Callum said, clapping me on the shoulder. “You think of name yet?”
“Arran!” Lena announced proudly.
“Carrying on tradition, I see.” He nodded his approval. “Well, you two have fun. I’m off.” He turned and strode away.
I could practically feel Lena’s excitement as I carried the bottle into the pen to her. As I extended my hand, there was suddenly another very excited presence and a pair of gnashing teeth trying to take hold of the bottle.
“Bonnie!” Lena complained as the pony darted in to take the colostrum. “I told you she was a demon pony.”
I grabbed hold of her the best I could, passing Lena the bottle as I wrestled Bonnie out of the pen. “You don’t belong in here,” I told her.
She made a disgruntled snort, stomping her tiny hooves.
“Aye, that’s right. You take yourself back to the pasture you came from.”
I managed to haul her halfway across the shed, then Milo appeared, racing down the aisle to sniff and bark at the pony.
Bonnie broke from my hold and darted after him, straight out the door.
“Well, that works,” I said, waving them both off.
I dusted my hands on my pants, slightly out of breath.
By the time I returned to the pen, the calf had finished the bottle and was curled up asleep.
Lena had locked the gate and made her way down the building to where some of the working horses were stabled.
I walked up to see her giving Clover a rub on the forelock.
“You’re good with her,” Lena told me.
“I’m not sure anyone is good with Bonnie,” I said. “She does as she likes.”
“Oh, please,” Lena scoffed. “Last time I went head-to-head with her, I ended up face first in the mud.”
“I think she’s developed some weird attachment to Milo.”
Lena gave me a hard look. “Don’t even think about bringing her back to Houston.”
I grimaced at the thought, imagining Milo and a Shetland pony wreaking havoc all over my property. Clover chuffed, bumping Lena, and she laughed, giving the animal more attention.
“You like horses?” I asked.
“Minus the tiny demon? I love ’em,” she said.
“Are you interested in taking a ride?” I asked, liking the way she lit up at the question. “I could show you more of the estate that way.”
“Yes,” she said immediately. “I’d love that. Where’s your tack room?”