Thankfully, Julia didn’t say anything more. She just got her cocoa, smiled broadly, and said cheerfully on her way out, “Good night.”

When they had heard her footsteps fade toward the stairway to the bedchambers, Calla let out her breath. “She knows, doesn’t she?”

“I didn’t even have to skip into the great hall for breakfast.”

Calla groaned.

***

Julia rejoined Ian in bed and he quickly pulled her into his heated embrace. “You are so cold, lass.”

“Aye, and you can warm me up.”

“So what did you learn?” He kissed her cheek.

She looked up at him, smiling. “I just got some cocoa.”

“Aye, after you heard two pairs of footsteps leave Calla’s guest chamber.”

Julia snuggled against Ian’s chest. He was too much of a wary wolf. “I don’t know what was bothering Calla at the evening meal, but I suspect it was nothing too terribly bad, or Guthrie would have said something about it to you already. They were eating sandwiches. Which made me think that Calla was okay.”

“And?”

“And?” she parroted, teasing Ian, knowing just what he truly wanted to know, just like she had wanted to learn.

“Ah, lass, you can’t hide your other reason for checking up on them.”

“I went to get a cup of cocoa.”

He chuckled and stroked her hair. “After you heard them leave Calla’s room.”

Julia let her breath out. “All right. Yes, they’re mated.”

“Good.”

“You’re glad, then?”

“Aye, no more of Guthrie being upset over losing the wrong she-wolf, and this means you’ll stop leaving me in the middle of the night to get cocoa. Right?”

“You love warming me up,” she reminded him and started kissing him, and he said something about how much he was going to love doing so.

Chapter 18

The next morning, Calla was sleeping soundly—too soundly, after making love half the night with one hot, sexy wolf—when she realized the time. Guthrie’s leg was resting across hers, his arm lying on top of her breasts, and there was no moving him.

“We…I’ve got to go to the bank. I need to shower and get ready.” Already, she was feeling blue again about the whole money situation. She wished she could take care of this on her own and not involve the MacNeills.

“Aye, lass.” He kissed her lips. “I’ll return to my room, shower, and get dressed, then meet you here.”

“Maybe we should go down separately.”

He chuckled, shook his head, and kissed her forehead. “See you in a minute.” His expression told her in no uncertain terms that he was escorting her down to the meal like her mate would. The only difference was that they still had separate bedchambers. But she suspected that would change soon.

She took a deep breath as she went into the bathroom. She just hoped Ian and the rest of Guthrie’s kin wouldn’t be too upset with Guthrie for taking her as a mate and the financial mess they would be involved in if they attempted to help her and her parents out.

She’d tried so hard to bury the worry last night, wrapping herself up in loving Guthrie and attempting to block out anything else.

She loved him. Twice, she’d woken and began to concern herself about the money, and both times, Guthrie had sensed she was awake and fretting. He assured her everything would be fine, that they’d take care of it when the banks were open, and then took her mind off it by making love to her again. And she truly loved him for it.

Now that it was time to have breakfast and afterward meet with her broker, she again wasn’t hungry. Seeing Ian, Julia, and the rest of their kin just made her feel guilty, though she swore everyone was smiling even more at them—if that was possible.

And it wasn’t just the women who were interested. Everyone was. She should have known, since Guthrie was so well liked. Then again, it was a pack mentality, and she wasn’t used to that. She’d love it, if only she didn’t have this financial burden hanging over her head.

“Calla,” Guthrie whispered to her, “eat if you can. We’ll be fine.”

She’d managed two bites of a scone, and then when Ian and Julia left the high table, having finished their meal, Guthrie quickly rose with Calla.

“I’ve got to get my coat.” She hated how choked up she sounded.

She thought he would leave her alone and go talk to Ian about her distress, but he pulled out his cell phone and said, “Ian, Calla needs to make a run to the bank. Can you see who would be up to going with us?”

They headed upstairs to her room, and he waited for her while she retrieved her coat from the closet.

“We have to go to a couple of other places too,” she said.

He raised a brow.

“My parents and I are on some of the same accounts.” God, if Baird wiped out her parents’ funds, he could sue for hers too, since her parents’ names were also on her accounts. She could be just as broke as them in a heartbeat. Ruined. When she’d always been so careful with her own savings.

Ethan and Jasper were busy with the cows, so Duncan and Cearnach met Guthrie and Calla downstairs in the foyer. He could tell from his brothers’ expressions that they knew something was up, which was why Ian had sent them and not some of their more distant kin.

Guthrie felt sick knowing Calla was dealing with something beyond her control. He guessed she was about ready to collapse in tears, yet she was fighting them, eager to attempt to settle this in her own way. He loved how tough she was, but he still wanted to make Baird pay for everything he’d done to her.