Santa in a Kilt by Donna Kauffman

Author:Donna Kauffman [Kauffman, Donna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zebra Books
Published: 2012-08-21T04:00:00+00:00

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.

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