Unwrapped (17 page)

He prayed like hell that by the time she brought it up again . . . he’d know if he could make her that promise.

Chapter Six

“I
appreciate your meeting with me,” Kira said as she stepped into the office that Graham kept in town. He mostly worked in the labs he’d crudely constructed in the crumbling clan castle,
Flaithbheartach
, though he could even more often be found in the flax fields. The office in town was for clan business, and located just a block or two down from the building that housed both Roan’s and Shay’s offices.

“Shay said you needed to discuss a business proposition that would impact the island economy?”

She nodded and took a seat across from the broad expanse of black slate that was the surface of his desk. Graham, himself, as brawny as he was tall, was even more imposing than the massive antique. Had she not already known he was more keen scientist than scowling patriarch, she might have felt nervous about her proposal. But she also knew him to be a fair leader who truly wanted what was best for the citizenry of Kinloch.

“How much has Shay told you? Did Roan speak to you of it before the wedding?”

Now Graham’s eyebrows knitted in a mild frown. “No. Should he have? What is this that everyone is already in deep discussion about it? I didn’t think it was possible to keep a secret on this island.”

“Oh, it’s no’ a secret. Just an idea that Roan and Tessa had and brought to me, thinking I’d be the perfect one to champion it. And I only brought it to Shay to see if it was legally feasible before discussing it with you.”

“I see.” He sat back in his equally overlarge office chair. The leather was so worn it had cracked through around the edges. Kira knew that despite his lofty station on the island, no one had less pretension about him than Graham. In fact, she’d be surprised if he’d even noticed the deteriorating condition of the antiquities that surrounded him.

He didn’t say anything further, but continued his steady regard for another minute.

“So . . . would you like to hear the proposal?”

He nodded. “I would. But, if I may, could I ask you something of an entirely personal nature first? And please know, you’re more than welcome to tell me to bugger off and I assure you it won’t impact my decision-making on your project, but—”

“Yes, Shay and I are involved. With each other. I hope we’ll have your support. And Katie’s.”

His eyes widened in obvious surprise at her bluntness. But he didn’t correct her assumption that that had been the question he’d been about to ask.

“Our involvement has nothing to do with the business at hand, though, if that’s your concern.”

“My concern isn’t that, or Shay. Well, that is to say, my concern at the moment isn’t Shay.”

Meaning he was concerned about her. Now it was her turn to widen her eyes. She’d spent the first nine years of her childhood growing up with Graham on Kinloch and had certainly been sociable to him upon her return, so there was the comfort of a long, if general, association. But they’d never been the kind of acquaintances who shared personal details with each other. In fact, she was closer to having that kind of friendship with Graham’s very outgoing wife, Katie. And she’d only been on the island a few months. “If your concern is for me, I can assure you, I’m fine.” There was a bit of mortification in her response. Other than Tessa, she’d never openly talked about her reasons for coming back to Kinloch with anyone, but she was absolutely certain every last soul knew the circumstances behind the move, if not the more intimate details.

She’d spent a goodly part of the time since her return holed up in her grandmother’s cottage. Weaving mostly, or at least that’s what it had become when brooding and feeling sorry for herself had ceased to provide any actual comfort. She’d interacted professionally with Roan while marketing her baskets, as that was his job, and she’d made certain to smile and nod at everyone when she had to come into the village to buy food or supplies. But, otherwise, she’d kept to herself. And she realized, on an island this small, people had their opinions about why a thirty-one-year-old woman would, for all intents and purposes, become a hermit. It couldn’t have been seen as healthy.

And now Graham seemed concerned that his friend had hooked himself up with a woman of questionable mental stability. She’d have laughed, if she hadn’t been so embarrassed. Of the two of them, she felt her outlook on things was far healthier than Shay’s.

“Good,” Graham said, and seemed to be content with her answer. Then he went on to say, “Has Shay told you about himself? His family?”

“I was born here, so he didn’t have to,” she said, not in a patronizing way, but wanting to get things back on a more comfortable footing. “I know his mother left him here as a boy, to live with his father, and I know Mr. Callaghan was anything but an easy man, especially with Shay.”

“Have you thought any about what he does for a living . . . and perhaps why he does it?”

“He runs his late father’s divorce practice in Edinburgh. I imagine he does so either for the income, or to honor his father’s wishes, or both.”

“You can’t imagine, then, that he does so because he enjoys it.”

“No,” she said, instantly. “Definitely no’ that.”

Graham nodded, and a bit of the tension in his posture seemed to ease up. “You’d be right then. He doesn’t.”

Kira dipped her chin for a moment, and stared unseeing at the accordion binder she held in her lap. “I don’t want you to think I’m prying. Anything I want to know, I’d ask Shay directly.” She lifted her gaze to Graham’s. “But your insight, as a friend, would be appreciated.”

“Because others see us more clearly than we see ourselves?”

“Yes.”

He nodded and settled back in his chair. “I started the subject, so ’tis a fair request. What is it you want to know?”

“You bring up his family, his mother, leaving him. As far as I know, they never had contact past that time. And we know his father was less than supportive of his only child and son. So, are you saying you believe his commitment to remaining a bachelor extends back beyond being a practicing divorce attorney?”

“Possibly.”

“But he’s had the deep bonds of friendship with you and Roan for a lifetime. And nothing but support from the islanders—”

“Islanders who are all descended from two clans, neither his own.”

“Right, but we’re more than our heritage, are we no’? You’re saying he’s an outsider, a man apart, but surely he feels as if Kinloch is his rightful home?”

Graham’s expression gave away nothing. “I can’t speak for him. You’ll have to ask him how he feels about that.”

“Has he said as much to you? Not asking you to break a confidence, but—”

Graham shook his head. “Shay has never once spoken on any of it. He’s no’ exactly the chatty type when it comes to revealing his thoughts. That would be more Roan’s niche.”

Kira smiled, briefly, thinking perhaps she’d gotten Shay to open up far more than he had to anyone else. But she didn’t speak of it; that was between them. “Aye, that would be the truth of it.”

There was a beat of silence, then Graham said, “Ye truly care for him, don’t you?”

She met his gaze squarely then. “I truly do, aye. I know it’s a recent thing, our involvement, but it’s no’ a recent thing, my . . . well, my feelings for him.”

“I don’t believe his are, either.”

Kira swallowed at that, hard. Shay had said as much, but Graham’s confirmation . . . somehow strengthened the importance of it. “He . . . mentioned me? Before . . . before the wedding?” Seemed the safest way to characterize the start date of their relationship.

“No, but he wasna too good about hiding his interest. Not from where I stood, anyway. But I know him as well as anyone could.”

“Oh. I see. But you’ve . . . spoken on it?”

“The day of the wedding, aye. But no’ since then. He hasn’t been ’round much. In Edinburgh, and . . . out of his office more.” The corners of Graham’s eyes crinkled a bit. “And ye do have Katie’s blessing, by the way. I’ll warn ye not to give her an opening unless you’re prepared to divulge every last moment of your time spent together.”

Kira smiled a little at that. “Thank you. And for the warning as well.”

Graham leaned forward, and caught her gaze squarely once again. “And how are you faring?”

Her shoulders softened a little, which was when she realized how rigid and stiff they’d become. Not so much in defense of herself, but for Shay. “Are you asking as my clan laird?”

“I’m asking as a friend. At least, I’d like to think we’re friendly. Especially as it looks like you’ll be wanting to continue your involvement with Shay for some amount of time.”

“Some amount of time,” she echoed more softly. “Aye. Aye I would.” She took a steadying breath and smiled. “I’m faring quite well. We’ve only just embarked down this new path, but it’s one I’m excited to be on.” Her smile grew. “And, truth be told, ye only have yerself and Roan to blame, really.”

He lifted one eyebrow. “And how is that?”

“You go carting home a delightful woman from the States and make her your bride-to-be, then Roan goes and becomes lover and protector to my closest and dearest friend, and weddings are happening all over the place . . . it’s hard not to have a renewed sense of faith and optimism in the face of all of that happiness and hope. I was already well on my way, but you lads make it hard for a lass to procrastinate.”

Graham smiled truly then, and Kira was reminded of how transforming such a small thing could be. Graham was more the distracted type, where Shay was mostly serious or thoughtful, but it took only a single smile to reveal the depth of either man’s true warmth.

“If we can be an inspiration, I’ll no’ shy away from it,” he said. “I’ve never been happier, nor has Roan. And we’d be very happy, of course, if that were to spread to Shay. Just . . . have a care with him. And with your own heart. I canno’ think of a woman better suited to him, but I’m no’ so sure he’ll ever allow himself to be well suited in return. No matter how deserving he is, or how much he wants it.”

Kira’s cheeks grew warm, but in a good way. Graham’s heart was truly in the right place. “Thank you. For your concern for me, and even more, for him. He has good friends. I don’t know how we’ll fare, but we’ve been open about that from the start. And . . .” She lifted her shoulders. “We’ll see what we see. Rest assured both of us have our eyes wide open.”

“I appreciate your letting me speak so freely.”

“That’s what friends do,” she said, happy with the idea that she’d made a new one that day.

“Indeed. So . . . tell me about this weaving school you want to open.”

Her eyes widened. “I thought you didn’t know about this supposed ‘secret project.’ ”

He smiled again, and this time there was a knowing gleam there that made her pulse jump a little, as it would any living, breathing woman. Kira began to see why Katie was always glowing.

“Tell me about the parts I don’t know. The parts I can help you with. Years back, Roan had tossed the idea around when he began converting the stables and hunting lodge into the home he now lives in, but when his own work became more demanding, the idea was lost along the way. I’m glad he thought of it again, and thought of you to run it. Because I think it’s a fine idea. A fine idea, indeed.”

Kira opened her accordion folder and took out the heavy sheaf of papers, very excited to hear that . . . but even as she enthusiastically went over all of the plans, and learned what kinds of clan laws she’d have to contend with, their earlier conversation was never far from her mind.

She had a lot to think about. And more questions. Questions she feared had no immediate or easy answers.

Chapter Seven

“W
e’d take this section here, clear the stone, and renovate and remodel the croft house first, then what used to be the stables and barn.” Kira scrambled around the rocks and stood where they could see the far corners of the property, each boundary marked by low, stacked stone walls. She pointed to the shambling building in the northwest corner. “The stables will house the offices, the barn the actual classrooms, and the croft house will be expanded to provide living quarters for the students during their stay. Those who don’t find accommodations in the village.”

“What of the instructors?” Shay asked, though, in truth, he really didn’t, in that moment, give a flying fig about schoolteachers. Other than the one standing next to him. He’d been gone three days and he was like a man dying of thirst who’d just found his only well.

“They will all be McAuley or MacLeod weavers,” she chattered on. “I already have quite a list compiled of those interested in taking a session on. Some of the names might surprise you,” she added, with that devilish smile. “They did me.”

Och, but he was this close to putting her over his shoulder and carting her straight to her cottage. But when his stay in Edinburgh had been extended, he’d promised to meet her here, straight from the ferry.

With more control than he thought he’d ever need, Shay stepped up on the rocks beside her and scanned the property. “I’ve gone over all the paperwork and it seems in order. With Graham’s help and support, I dinnae think you’ll come up against any real opposition at the council meeting tomorrow. Has anyone approached you directly with concerns?”

“Just a few queries about making sure our lessons focus on the traditional weaving, and no’ my own designs. I’ve assured them that while I eventually hope to offer advanced classes to help students find their own creative and artistic voices, in general, the idea of the school is to spread Kinloch weaving traditions beyond our isle, in hopes of increasing the interest in what we do. There’s also the added benefit that the more people who know of our work, the better the chance that it will never completely die out. Not to mention it’s great for tourist trade.”

Shay stepped down and held a hand up to assist her down as well. “Sounds like you’ve thought it all through quite thoroughly. I don’t think ye’ll be needing much counsel from me.”