So why was he becoming aroused all over again, just thinking of her naked body lying on his bed and her responsiveness to his touch? And why did he want to join her in his bed in the worst way?
***
A small bag in hand the next morning, Colleen hurried to find Lachlan and ask for the keys to Grant’s car. She had gotten up really early, hoping Grant was still asleep so she wouldn’t run into him.
She wasn’t sure what was going on with Grant’s clansmen, but many had made a special effort to go out of their way to say good morning to her while performing their various duties. As if they’d known Grant had nearly made love to her last night, and they thought maybe she would be his mate soon. Like that would ever happen.
Grant better not have thought that pleasuring her was like a payment for her having saved Ollie. And that was all there was to it.
Frederick was the only one who hadn’t seemed pleased to see her. He had immediately disappeared when she caught sight of him, before she could even wish him a good morning.
Darby had asked if she’d needed anything. Maynard had wanted to fix her a special breakfast. But all she had wanted to do was leave. She couldn’t deal with Grant this morning. Not after the way he’d left her last night as if he’d made a horrible mistake. She couldn’t imagine sitting next to him at a meal, thinking about the way his hands had been all over her, his mouth on her breasts, her tongue in his mouth. She groaned.
She was torn between regretting the intimacy between them and wanting a hell of a lot more.
Which was just why she needed to see Julia and get her head on straight.
Two men offered to take her bag to the car while Lachlan watched, looking damned concerned. Enrick had hurried to speak with someone, but neither of Grant’s brothers went to see him, so she assumed they knew he had no problem with her leaving.
And nobody asked where she was going, which was just as well. Because truthfully, it was no one’s business—specifically, none of Grant MacQuarrie’s.
***
Grant woke to the sound of someone knocking on the guest-room door, and he was instantly wide awake. Colleen had awakened a need in him he hadn’t felt in a very long time. Something deeper than wanting just sexual fulfillment.
He’d never considered the possibility that he might care for the lass. Not after the way her father had behaved toward him and his clan. He hadn’t thought she would risk her own neck for one of his people, or love the castle and the lands surrounding it like he did. He’d never thought she would have despised her father as much as he did.
Someone knocked again. “Aye,” he called out and pulled on a pair of trousers.
Lachlan opened the door and said, “I thought you’d want to know that the lass took your car out for a spin.”
“What?” Grant said, his voice verging on a growl. He couldn’t even imagine such a thing. He’d expected her to still be asleep in his bed, like he’d been in the guest bedroom. Or maybe looking again at the finances if she’d decided to get up early.
“It’s all right,” Lachlan said. “Enrick sent two men to follow her. They’re reporting back to him as soon as they know where she’s going. You did say she could drive your car anytime she wanted to if she wished to go somewhere.”
Grant frowned at him. “One of you gave her the spare keys to my car without asking me?”
Sounding exasperated, Lachlan said, “You told her she could use your car, Grant. If you hadn’t really meant it, you should have let us in on the secret.”
Grant knew his brother was right, but he wasn’t about to admit it. He threw on a shirt. “Who went after her?”
“Maynard—”
“Our cook?” Any number of men who seemed better suited to the task should have gone in his place.
“It’s his day off.”
“Who went with him?” Grant shoved his feet in his shoes.
“Darby volunteered. Well, actually, several did, but Darby and Maynard were so adamant about going that Enrick chose them.”
“When did they leave?” Grant stalked out of the chamber.
“Twenty minutes ago.”
Grant glowered at his brother. “Why didn’t you tell me that she’d left twenty minutes ago?”
“We were trying to get someone to follow her pronto before we lost sight of her.”
Grant let out his breath in exasperation.
“They’ll watch her, Grant. She’ll be all right.”
“Give me the keys to your car,” Grant growled, thrusting his hand out.
Lachlan’s brows rose in surprise. “You want to go, too? Isn’t that kind of overkill?”
“Last night we talked about her father possibly being responsible for our father’s death. That Archibald might have known something about it,” Grant said in a rush, feeling panicked when he rarely felt that way. But he didn’t want her anywhere near the bastard.
“Bloody hell. You think she’s gone to talk to Archibald? I’m going with you.”
Enrick stalked toward them as they reached the foyer of the keep. “Darby called and said the lass is still driving.”
“Has she gone in the direction of the village where Kelton’s Pub is located?” Grant asked.
“It’s a long way to the village. She might take any exit way before that and—” Enrick said.
“We’re going. You take care of the place while we’re gone,” Grant said.
Enrick looked a little surprised, then he smiled.
“What?” Grant asked, annoyed, stalking out of the keep.
“I didn’t expect you to chase the lass down personally. Again.”
“If she’s seeing Archibald and he causes her any trouble, she needs protection. If his buddies are with him, Darby and Maynard won’t be any match for them.”
Enrick swore under his breath. “She is still seeing that bastard?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t want to risk it.” Grant climbed into his car, Lachlan slipping into the passenger’s side.
“I thought you and the lass were getting along last night—”
“She knows Archibald may have inside knowledge about our father’s death.”
“She can’t mean to question him,” Enrick said, his eyes wide. Now he realized the concern Grant had for the lass.
“We don’t know, Enrick. But what if she did? I’ll keep in touch.” Grant and Lachlan drove out through the gate and down the road to the one the lass and the others took.