Angus (20 page)

“Do I pass?” she asked, not able to hide the sarcasm.

He chuckled. “You’ll do, indeed.”

She rolled her eyes. “I do clean up, well.”

“You do, indeed.”

She frowned at him. “Do you think you can stop using the word
indeed
?”

He laughed and it was then she realized how Phoebe had fallen for him. When Callum forgot to be a hardnosed businessman, he was downright sexy. “I’m sure my wife will allow me to escort you down.”

Phoebe stepped up behind her. “Of course, but I think Anice and I want to see what happens.”

She frowned at them, then took Callum’s arm. “Let’s get this over with.”

“Ah, words every man likes to hear at the beginning of a date.”

She looked at him. “This isn’t a date. It’s a job.”

He winked.
Callum Lennon winked
. “Sure it is.”

As they started down the stairs, her heartbeat accelerated. She hadn’t been this nervous on the job since her first one when she had been fourteen. She could do this, no problem, but facing Angus…that was the problem.

They were halfway down the staircase when Angus stepped into view. Holy Mother, he was wearing a kilt. She had never really been that interested in them. She didn’t like things that tied her to the past, but now she knew why women swooned at the sight of a man in one. Especially this man.

She followed the path from his exposed legs, up to that chest, and then to his face. He looked, stunned.

“My bet’s on you, lass,” Callum whispered in her ear.

She glanced at the stoic man, the one who rarely showed an emotion, and wondered.

“Ah, I see I’ve confused you.”

She nodded.

“See, I’ve seen that look on a man before, the one he gives you when he doesn’t think anyone is looking.”

“You have?” she asked wondering at where the conversation was going.

“Yes. I wore that same look with Phoebe.”

She snorted at that. “Your cousin wants nothing to do with me now that he found out what I truly am.”

“Come now, I thought you were smarter than that, Maggie. And he does, but like any smart man, he doesn’t want to need you like he does.”

She rolled her eyes. “First, you barely speak to me and now you’re making as much sense as Jack does at times.”

“Men never want to accept their fate with a woman. By accepting it, they accept the fact that losing you could be the death of them. That, love, isn’t something any sane man wants to accept. Now, go steal us that emerald. And then you can sort everything out.”

He timed it perfectly that they stepped off that last stair.

“I ask again why Angus gets to go,” Fletcher said, eyeing her. “I’m better at social situations.”

Angus still said nothing. He was still staring at her as if she had grown horns on her head.

“That’s enough, Fletch. Let it be,” Anice said to her brother as she walked around to stand beside him.

“We can’t have you there,” Maggie said with a smile.

“And why is that?” He frowned.

She tore her attention away from Angus to his cousin. “You’d spend too much time trying to bed anything that moved, I’d have to do everything on my own.”

Anice laughed and clapped her brother on the shoulder. “She’s got your number.”

“I think we best go now,” Angus said. When she glanced at him, he was still staring at her with an odd expression. Just then, Jack came tearing down the hall, skidding to a stop before hitting Angus.

He motioned with his hand for Angus to lean down. He complied. Everyone shared strange glances as Jack whispered in his ear. Angus pulled back and looked at Jack. For a long moment, they shared a look. Then, Angus gave him a nod.

When he straightened, Maggie asked, “What was that about?”

“Man stuff,” was all that Angus said. And with that, he whisked her out of the mansion into the car.

*  *  *  *

The moment they arrived in front of Sweeney’s house, nerves popped out of nowhere. It wasn't like her at all. She would always get a little nervous before a job, but nothing like this.

"What's wrong?"

She turned to look at Angus. She hated that distant sound in his voice. But what did she expect. He would never understand what she had done and she should have never expected anything to come of their dalliance.

"I don't know. It isn't like I've had a problem like this before. I didn't normally do jobs like this with lots of people around. I snuck in at night."

"I thought you did a little grifting."

She shrugged and watched as they pulled up to the front of the line. "I did when I was younger, but usually with a female partner or two."

The door opened. Maggie drew in a deep breath and stepped out of the car. The moment she did, flashes of light hit her first. Bloody hell, she was blinded by it. Angus must have sensed her confusion. He took her by the elbow and led her up the wide staircase.

"I should have warned you the press would be out tonight."

She was still blinking when they made it to the top of the steps. "They just never paid attention to me before."

"Being with a Lennon usually comes with lots of photos. Of course, it is usually Callum."

They walked through the door and it felt as if she were stepping back in time. She remembered walking through those doors, watching Ian...then flipping the switch to the alarms and sending a blast of a spell that strangled him.

"Maggie, are you okay?"

She shook her head trying to push those memories away. Ian was another lifetime and she was trying to save her own...not to mention Jack's life. "I'm fine, Angus. Don't look so concerned. People will think you’re worried about me."

He had an odd look on his face and he looked like he was going to say something. But he never had a chance.

"Maggie O'Conner as I live and breathe!" A strong, female southern voice rang out. Oh, Goddess, this was not good. She turned in the direction of the voice and saw Meghan. She was walking with that slinking, come get me boys walk she had always used to gain them access to anything they wanted.

"I cannot believe you're here."

Meghan tore her from Angus and then pulled her close. Oh, bloody hell. She didn't need this now.

"We are going to have a chat you and I," she said in Maggie's ear. Then she released her, but kept her at her side. "And who is this handsome hunk of man?"

"Meghan Campbell, this is Angus Lennon."

Angus didn't look too happy with the situation. He actually looked like he wanted to pull her back to his side.

"How very nice to meet you, Mr. Lennon."

"Aye, and you too."

Meghan rolled her eyes. "I will never get used to the accents over here. Irish, Wales, Scottish, English, they just turn me to butter." She paused for effect then said, "Why don't we find a hidden corner to catch up, woman. I have so very much to tell you."

She hesitated, but Maggie knew it was best to just go along with Meg. If not, it wouldn't go well for her.

"Why don't we? You don't mind, do you, Angus?"

He wanted to say yes. She could read it on his face. But he said, "Of course not. I have some business contacts to make."

They turned away and Meg led her down a long hallway, smiling all the way. Maggie knew better than to be fooled. She was in for a fight when Meg got her alone. They found an empty room. Maggie stepped in, giving her back to Meg, knowing that in the end, her friend would never hurt her. She hoped Meg took that as a signal of her faith. The door shut with a click, muting the noise from the Gala.

"Now, Maggie O'Conner," she said conversationally. Maggie faced her, not knowing what to say. They had made an odd pair to say the least. Maggie's red hair, green eyes and slight body seemed to be the exact opposite of Meg's honey blonde hair, whiskey brown eyes, and curviness. But they had always been close since the day they tried to hit the same mark.

"Now what?"

"You better tell me just where in the hell you have been in the last five years or I swear I will tear out every red hair from your head. Including your eyebrows."

For a second she said nothing, then she laughed. Soon though, the sound of it took on a hysterical bent.

“Maggie?”

She took a few gulping breaths and tried to calm herself. “I’m sorry. It is so wonderful to see you.”

“Then why did you leave?”

Maggie sighed. “Ian.”

Meg shoved some things back on the desk and sat on it. The woman might be dressed like a million pounds, but she still acted like the poor orphan girl. “Losing him must have been tough.”

“It was worse for the reason.”

Meg nodded. “I know you were on the job.”

She shook her head. “I killed him, Meg.”

“Oh, now you know how pigheaded that man was.”

“No. I killed him. I mean…I used a spell and stole his breath and then left him to die.”

There was a moment of stunned silence from both of them. It was the first time she had willingly given up the information.

“What did that bastard do?”

“He and Dylan were going to kill me. It was as simple as that. I accidently heard them because I came home from the doctor’s—”

“You were sick?”

“I was pregnant.” She swallowed, then took a chance on her old friend. “I have a little boy, Meg.”

“Oh my goodness. That is just…” tears popped up in her eyes. Meg was always one for crying at the drop of a hat. “That is just fantastic.”

She took her in her arms again. When Meg let her go, she smiled down at her. “You know who would like to tell you
I told you so
?”

“Rena. Thank Goddess I haven’t seen her since.”

A beat of silence followed and a sinking feeling enveloped Maggie. “Don’t tell me she’s here.”

“Okay, I won’t but she is my plus one.”

“Wait, you were invited?”

Meg laughed. “Oh, sweetie you have missed a lot. I’m rich, disgustingly so. I get invited to all this stuff. Rena was in town mumbling about needing to be here for some reason, so I made her get dressed and come with me.”

“So, you brought a very powerful and scary Faery—“

“Half-Fae.”

“And dangled all these people in front of her? You know just how bad she is. She’ll pick one to toy with to pass the time.”

Meg laughed again.

“What?”

“She finally picked a last name.”

Maggie didn’t care about that. What she cared about was Rena running around the mansion with Angus out there.  Maggie was up and moving out of the room before Meg could say anything else. Rena was as deadly as she was beautiful and she didn’t need her messing with the entire operation. It would end in disaster.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“Enjoying yourself?”

Angus turned around and found himself face-to-face with one of the most gorgeous women he had ever seen in his life. She was English from her accent, tall, almost as tall as he was, with skin the color of soft cocoa. Her stunning blue eyes watched him as if she was thinking of all sorts of horrible things to do to him and, no doubt, he would enjoy some of them.

“Yes.”

“So, that’s why you’re here on the balcony hiding from people.”

He tried to come up with a reason, then shook his head as he chuckled. “Busted. I’m not one for crowds.”

All of a sudden, the air shifted, and he realized she was closer. How did that happen? She hadn’t stepped forward, but she was now only a few inches away.

“Then why are you here?” she asked, her voice floating over the words.

“He came with me, so you better back off, Rena,” Maggie said from behind the woman.

If he hadn’t been watching her so closely, he would have missed the look of surprise, then delight and relief, before her eyes turned cold again. She turned.

“So, little sister, when did you start dating a faerie?”

Indignation marched down his spine. “I am
not
a faerie.”

All three women ignored him. “What does it matter to you? All that you should know is that you and Meg need to leave. Now.”

The new woman settled her hands on her hips. “Is that right?”

Finally, the woman who had dragged Maggie off stepped out on the terrace. “Girls, do we really need to do this here? Maggie is on the job and we can be mean to her later. But, you know how she is about her men, and this one is hers.”

Rena looked back over her shoulder at him. “But…he’s not a witch.”

Thank God she didn’t repeat that he was a faerie, even though she made it sound like he was undesirable.

“No, I’m not,” he said, stepping around her and then in front of Maggie. “But I think you need to step back and cool your tone when you’re talking to Maggie.”

She said nothing for a moment, just continued to stare him down.  Then, she smiled. “It’s about time you found a man with a pair of bollocks.”

“Well, we have work to do,” Maggie said.

“And we can help you. We don’t need to know what it is, but admit it, we can help with whatever you are doing.”

He looked at Maggie and he saw the resignation on her face and knew what she was going to do.

“You can’t be serious?” he asked.

She nodded. “I might not want to need them, but both of them can help with distractions. It will give us more time to get the jewel and get out of here.”

“Looks like we’re in business,” Meg said, rubbing her hands together.

“Yes,” the other one said. She held out her hand for him to take. She laughed when he hesitated. “Again, you picked smartly this time, Maggie. I’m Serena Fay, but my friends call me Rena.”

“Now, Maggie, tell us what you’re up to,” Meg said. “And please, tell me I get to play with humans.”

"Interesting group of friends you have there, Maggie," Angus said. She didn't respond because she wasn't in the mood. They didn't have time to mess around and try to figure out just what her friends were doing there. There was no way that her friends were there on a whim. Not with Rena being there. Her old friend had more premonitions than Jack did.

"Thank you." She grabbed a glass of champagne and pretended to drink from it. The group was swelling to almost hitting the limit of the ballroom fire codes. Now was the time to really put the plan into motion.