Desire by Blood (37 page)

All three cousins looked at each other. Angus, the one who
had always been their spokesperson said, “I don’t think that is a good idea.”

“I didn’t ask.”

Callum sensed that Angus wanted to say more, but nodded
instead.

“I need some privacy to get this done so I can meet Dr.
Chilton for dinner. The sooner she gets it translated and decoded, the sooner
she is gone.”

Anice, the peacemaker, stepped in. “And the sooner we will
be able to start working on a resolution to our problem. Come on, boys.”

Fletcher curled his lip. “I take offense to being called
‘boys,’ especially at my advanced age.”

But he followed his sister just the same. Angus looked to
argue again, but Anice said, “Come on, cuz. We have a meeting with department
heads, and we’re already late.”

When the door shut and Callum was blessedly alone, some of
his tension eased. He stared out at the garden again, watching the wind blow
the naked limbs this way and that. He knew the feeling, the loss of control to
outside forces—the impotence over the failure to shape your own destiny. He’d
sworn never to feel that way again.

If it meant he had to resist a golden-haired angel with the
temper of the devil, so be it. He would ignore the momentary loss of control
and find another woman to satisfy his needs. Angus was right. Tupping the help
would not only be bad for business, it could dash any hopes the other four
had.
 
That and he still didn’t trust her.
This diary could hold the secrets that could save them—or doom them to the hell
they now suffered. He couldn’t chance it. Regret shifted through him when he
realized he would enjoy sparring with the woman and slowly conquering her. But
even as a surge of fire lit through his blood, Callum ordered his body and soul
to ignore it.

The clan was all that mattered.