Angus (6 page)

Maggie didn’t know what to say when the hired car came to a stop in front of the massive mansion. She knew the Lennon’s had money, but she had no idea they had this kind of money.

“Is it a castle?” Jack asked, his voice just above a whisper.

Angus smiled at him. “No, not quite, but there are a lot of old things in it like a castle. Mainly, my cousin Callum.”

There was something to his tone that caught her attention. “He’s the oldest?”

“Callum was born old.”

“That’s what Mum says about me. I’ve an old soul.”

“Is that so?” Angus asked.

Jack nodded.

“Well, Callum’s just stodgy, but most businessmen are.”

Jack giggled. She uncurled her fist and felt her nerves ease a bit. While she wasn’t thrilled with Mr. Lennon, she definitely could appreciate his ability to keep Jack entertained. Not many men would be able to handle someone so precocious under the best of circumstances.  He had been a calm beacon in the sea of uncertainty.

“Are you ready?” he asked, his gaze drifting between the two of them. She knew he was asking both she and Jack.

“If I’m not, then it wouldn’t really matter, would it?”

She tried to keep her tone light, but it came out more serious. Not easy to be lighthearted with the unknown.

He nodded. It bothered her a bit that he seemed to understand her better than most, but in a way, it was comforting. She had been trying to keep herself hidden for so long, she had taken on another persona. Mr. Lennon—Angus—seemed to know that there was something beneath the surface. She just prayed to the Goddess he didn’t find out everything.

He stepped out of the car and held his hand out for her. She took it and felt a spark of electricity the moment flesh met flesh. It left her feeling slightly dizzy. When she looked at him, she found him studying her with a pensive expression. He must have felt it too, but his scientific mind would tell him it was static.

Maggie moved aside to allow Jack to step out. She watched him, but heard a scream of delight behind her. A raven-haired beauty came flying down the stairs toward them.

She immediately stepped in front of Jack.

“I canna believe it took you so long.”

The woman tackled Angus. “Oof. Woman, you aren’t a small child anymore.”

The woman gave him one last hard hug then turned to look at Maggie. “You must be Maggie and you must be Jack.”

Maggie gave up trying to shove him behind her. “Yes.”

“And because she isn’t always this rude, I will introduce my cousin, Anice. Anice, this is Maggie O’Conner and her son Jack.”

“Nice to meet you. Come on, everyone’s waiting.”

“Everyone?” Angus asked.

“Yes, everyone.” Anice leaned down so she was eye level with Jack. “Master Jack, would you escort me into the house?”

He glanced up at Maggie, waiting for permission.  She wanted to tell him no. It was a knee jerk reaction that had saved them more than once, but she knew she could at least trust the woman this far.

“Go on.”

Anice smiled as she straightened. “Come on, Jack. You’ve had a long trip.”

He readily moved forward, taking Anice’s hand, he kept up with her as they walked toward the door.

“It was quite a long trip, but I slept a lot of the way. Mummy says that is the best way to handle a long trip.”

“Oh, does she?” Anice asked, as if being enthralled with the greatest of stories.

“Yes, and she is always right, according to her.”

She felt her face heat as Angus studied her, a smile curving his lips.

He offered his arm, a bit of an odd gesture in this day and age, but she took it and walked in behind her son and Anice. When she stepped over the threshold, she found herself facing another group of faces. The expressions ranged from inscrutable to irritated to welcoming. She felt a wave of dizziness hit her. Blinking, she tried to gain control. A wave of nausea hit her. It was like the old days when she would get a premonition. It always left her feeling unsettled and cold. She shivered.

“They don’t bite,” Angus said, his breath feathering over her ear. He was so close she was surprised she didn’t feel his lips. Sensual heat surged through her at the thought.

“It isn’t that. The long trip seems to have gotten the best of me.”

Thankfully he said nothing else.  They stopped as Jack went from person to person introducing himself. It gave her time to study the Lennons. She had seen the man with the inscrutable look before. He must be Callum. He was listening to Jack as he talked in that way that always amused adults. Mainly because they didn’t know he was probably telling them the truth. Beside him was a plump blonde, with a sweet smile, a pair of glasses and a scholarly air about her.

Behind them stood two men. One was dressed in a pair of chinos, a loose white shirt and his hair was a bit mussed. All of them looked related to each other, but this one had to be Angus’ brother.

The other one was tall, wearing a pair of jeans, and, lord, cowboy boots. He had his arms crossed over his broad chest and a cynical twist to his lips.

“I guess I should introduce you. The glum fellow with the angel next to him is my cousin Callum and the angel is Phoebe.”

Callum nodded, but Phoebe stepped forward with a smile. She took Maggie’s hand and offered her a smile. “So nice to meet you, Maggie.”

“Thank you.”

“And the rather tall wanker wearing the cowboy boots is Fletcher, and then, the other chap is Logan, my brother.”

Phoebe stepped back so that Fletcher could say hello. His cynicism dissolved into a charming smile. This one set off alarm bells. “Nice to meet you, Maggie.”

She nodded but said nothing else. He wasn’t Magickal but there was something very
different
about him.

Logan then stepped forward with a smile. “Nice to meet you and Master Jack here.”

Jack moved up on the other side of her and took her hand. He did that because he was worried about her. There was something wrong with a child who was so perceptive of his mother’s feelings at such a tender age. She had often worried about it, but at the moment, she took the comfort he offered.

Callum looked at their joined hands as he took control of the situation.

“Ms. O’Conner, you must be exhausted.”

She could tell he wasn’t being solicitous. Just as Angus had said, Callum Lennon was a businessman. They all looked at the world in black and white.  Getting her well rested would move the plan forward. Usually, she liked to keep them on their toes. But she was bloody tired and a good rest would do her a world of good.

“I am.”

Phoebe Lennon slipped in front of her husband and smiled. “Of course you need a rest. And I always need a shower after a long overnight flight. Come on, I will show you to your rooms.”

Angus opened his mouth but Phoebe stopped him with a shake of her head. Maggie had an idea that Phoebe ruled the family with a velvet wrapped steel spine.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I think Jack and I will share a room just fine.”

She smiled in understanding. “It’s more of a suite with two rooms, but I promise you that the king bed is big enough for both of you if you choose to both sleep in the main room.”

Phoebe showed them down a large hallway filled with antiquities.  As they turned to go up the stairway, Jack stopped.

“Jack?”

“Look. The Bruce’s sword.”

She followed his line of vision, up to a massive claymore hanging above an arched door. It was definitely an antique. The hilt of the sword had one brilliant diamond in it.

“You’re right of course, Master Jack,” Phoebe said with a smile. She gave Maggie a wink. “That was a Bruce sword, or so my husband’s family claims. Of course, it’s hard to verify, but I assure you, it is that old.”

“And you would know that, how?” Maggie asked genuinely wanting to know.

“I’m an archeologist with lots of PhDs. That’s my family business. You might have heard of my parents, the Chiltons?”

Of course she had. Most in the business of acquiring jewels knew of the Chiltons and their research. “Didn’t you work with them?”

Her smile faded. “Up until my marriage. They were not amused with my choice.”

“You marry a very successful man who has more money than God but they aren’t happy?”

She shrugged. “My choices were not what they wanted for me. I pursue things they believe are a waste of my very substantial mind.” She motioned to the stairs. As they started up, she continued. “See, I like Celtic myths and legends. My parents think it is a fool’s mission.”

“Indeed. We can’t always make our parents happy.”

She had proven that. But she didn’t add that her Mum never forgave her for marrying Ian. She had been right in that quarter, but she wouldn’t have Jack without Ian, so everything had been worth it.

“They see my pursuit as silly.”

“But don’t they spend their time going after legends when they search for antiquities in Egypt?”

They stopped in front of a door and Phoebe smiled. It was such a lovely smile that Maggie couldn’t help but respond in kind. “I think I’m going to like you a lot. I would love to chat more, because I know
everything
but I don’t know about Magick. Not enough and I would like to pick your brain. Callum would grumble though.”

“But he wouldn’t get mad. He can’t stay mad at you.”

Phoebe laughed. “That is very true. It is a bit intoxicating to have a man like that at my beck and call, but I try to not let it go to my head. Much.” She opened the door and stepped into the room. “These are your rooms.”

Jack’s hand slipped from hers as he ran into the room. “This is bigger than our entire flat in America!”

And for that one little moment, he sounded like the little boy he was. He pushed open the curtains to look down below. Maggie followed him to look down on the back of the house. A massive grass yard stretched out behind the house. A boy could have a lot of fun running there.

“It is,” Maggie said.

“And through here is the bathroom you will share with each other and another room.”

Jack followed Phoebe, slipping his hand into hers much as he had done with Maggie. She watched as they walked into the bathroom and into the other room. She found their bags sitting neatly next to each other beside the wardrobe. Two little suitcases were all they had left in the world. She fought back the tears. She didn’t have time for this; she only had time to figure out what the bloody hell they were going to do.

“So, I will let you get settled, take a nice bath and relax. That flight from the states is horrible.”

“Jack?”

“He’s in his room, playing. When Callum found out that you were coming with a boy, he had some toys put in the room.”

“Thank you so much. I…”

“You don’t have to explain. Just know that this family is different, but they are good people. I had my doubts when I arrived, but know they will do nothing to hurt your boy.”

“I wouldn’t have come otherwise.”

“I have to admit, that it’s going to be fun having him around.”

“You are very good with him.”

Her face flushed and pleasure brightened her eyes. “Yes? I was hoping, but I wasn’t sure. I was never around children much even when I was one, so I have been wondering if I would be good around them.”

“It’s something a lot of newlyweds think about. I know I did.”

“Oh, I thought I was the only person who thought that way.” Relief filled her tone. “Well, I will let you get some rest. I’ll send up some snacks for you and Jack.”

Phoebe headed out the door, closing it behind her quietly.  

“She has a nice aura,” Jack said as he walked into the room holding a wooden train. “All warm colors, like yours.”

“Yeah?”

He nodded. “And they all see her as kind of a mother, you know. Well, not Callum. He loves her.”

“You got that after just a short time with them?” she asked shaking her head and sitting on one of the wingback chairs. Jack climbed up on her lap without invitation because he always knew he was welcome.

“I could have had more if you hadn’t been so tired, Mum. You need to get rest.”

“I plan on that. I need a shower first.”

“And then you rest.”

She looked into those worldly eyes and smiled.

“Yes, I will rest.” Then she would try to figure out just how to get out of this bloody mess.

Chapter Eight

Angus had been taught by his father to always assess the battle before facing the enemy. He just never realized he would view his family as the enemy. From the varying expressions on their faces as they came into Callum’s office, he had a few allies and, of course, a few enemies. It would have probably amused him, but he was bloody tired. He wanted a shower and then his bed.

Fletcher was the first to let into him. “What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing bringing a stranger into our home?  A thief at that.”

“She wouldn’t come, otherwise.”

Which wasn’t exactly true. They could have easily found a secluded safe house for her and the boy but for some reason, that hadn’t set well with Angus. He wanted her there, under their protection, under their roof.
And in his bed.
 

Bloody hell, he needed to stop thinking that way. He didn’t the complication of taking the witch to bed and he definitely didn’t. That was a lie. He wanted her, more than was good for him. She wasn’t the kind of woman a man like him would ever mess with. She was…illogical. She calmly sat there in the plane talking of Magick as if it were the same as talking about the color of her hair.

“Money would have gotten her here,” Fletcher said.

“Not everyone is as greedy are you are, brother.”

That came from Anice. Her voice was calm, but the expression in her eyes told him she would have gladly conked Fletcher on the head with the computer tablet she was holding. Brother and sister were always at odds.

“And I think you need to hear the whole story,” Logan said.

Angus gave his brother a thankful nod. They might not always get along, but when it came down to it, they would support each other.

“I don’t know why you dinna call us before you left New York. It’s not like you couldn’t have done that,” Callum said. He gave no indication to which side he stood, but it was easy to know which way the stodgy old man would fall on. Hell, he had fought having Phoebe there to begin with.