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“Aye,” Freya agrees. “Norse Garden Estate it is.”
“I could make you a seal of the house if you’d like,” Fiona offers shyly.
Freya reaches across the table, smiling as she puts a hand over Fiona’s. “We’d love that, Fiona.”
Our housekeeper, Kathy, pops into the room, holding the bulky white cordless. “Phone call for Fiona.”
“Who’s calling,” I demand.
“Her da,” Kathy says.
Fiona gives me a hopeful look. “Can I take it?”
“Aye,” I say, giving a nod.
“I’m sorry you had to trek over here for me, Kathy.” Fiona eyes me. “Life would be much simpler if I had my cell phone.”
I had her phone taken from her first thing when she arrived. “Phones are traceable and seriously dangerous. Take it in the library if ye want privacy.”
Seeing the look on my face, she nods, thanking Kathy as she takes the phone and scurries away to the library.
We can hear the door softly closing behind her.
I have secret pathways leading into the guest rooms and hidden cameras in my halls, kitchen, and garage bays. I use only landlines. I trust my team, but I can record any conversation had on my property.
In Fiona’s absence, Freya raises a brow to me. “Why can’t she have her phone? It can’t be that big of a risk.”
“‘Tis. It’s for her safety. She’s lucky I gave her father the number.”
“Why did you?” Freya sizes me up. “Was it because you knew she’d be worried about him?”
“Freya, your sense for reading other people’s minds, especially my own, is not only annoying but uncanny.”
“Why do you think I have a ninety percent success rate for winning cases?” I start to open my mouth to correct her and remind her of a failed case, but she stops me with, “Callum Burnes, you know that one with the onions doesn’t count. Don’t even bring that up right now.”
“Something smelled off about that client from the beginning,” I joke.
“Haha. So funny. You know better than to bring up that putrid case. How was I to know the supervisor of a dehydrated spice production plant was also lying through his teeth about his injuries? What an actor.”
“The man did have a lot of layers to him.”
“Stop. Seriously.” She taps a Scrabble tile against the tabletop. “New topic. How about a wee kitten to keep her company? Something cute and fluffy to win her over?”
“You know the rule, Freya?—”
She talks over me, mimicking me with an overly deep tone I find extremely annoying. “NO ANIMALS in this house! Not after all the money we’ve put into it!”
I typically don’t take my drink with ice, but luckily, tonight, I did. I pluck a cube from my glass and toss it at her.
She waves me away. “Stop it! Anyway, back to you. I’m surprised you gave her da the number, but I’m happy you did. It’s sweet you dinnae want her worried. You do have a soft spot under that armor of muscle.”
“Not a chance.” I straighten my spine, sitting tall in my chair. “And if she thinks she’s going to be late to dinner again, she’s sorely mistaken.”
“Callum, I know it's early days, but you really must stop being such an ass if you’re going to get this girl to marry you.”
“I’m just being myself,” I say.
Freya rolls her eyes. “Exactly.”
