Calder Promise (Calder Saga 8)

“Poor man. Too bad Grizwold isn’t here to draw you a hot bath so you can soak away some of that soreness.”

“There is much to recommend the comforts of Crawford Hall,” Sebastian declared on an exaggeratedly wistful note.

The front door opened behind Laura, but she was too accustomed to the comings and goings of people at The Homestead to pay any attention to it. “I guess you’ll have to settle for a hot shower,” she told Sebastian. “But you’re going to need some lotion for that sunburn.”

As she turned to climb the steps, her gaze lifted. Surprise brought her to a complete stop when she saw Boone standing at the top, a dark impatience glittering in his eyes and a hint of grimness around his mouth.

Recovering from that initial shock, she glided up the steps and into his arms, all smiles. “Boone, darling. When you did you get here?”

“About an hour ago.” His hands gripped her upper arms, his look softening when he met her upturned gaze. Then it hardened once more when his glance flicked past her to Sebastian.

“Why didn’t you call and let me know you were coming?” The protest was nothing more than a ploy to reclaim his attention. “Not that it matters. I’m just glad you’re here.”

“It’s my fault, Sis,” Trey spoke. “Boone called last night to say he was flying in this afternoon. I took off this morning and forgot to leave the message for you.”

“There was no harm done. Was there?” When Laura looked to Boone for confirmation of her claim, he was staring at Sebastian.

“I didn’t think you’d have the guts to show up here, Dunshill,” Boone said tightly, then allowed a cold smile to twist his mouth. “You’re a little late, though. Laura’s marrying me.”

She laughed softly. “How very macho you sound, Boone. After you see what he brought, you’re going to be glad he came. Come on.” She linked an arm with his. “Let’s go inside so I can show you.”

She ushered Boone into the house, trailed by Sebastian and Trey, the sound of their footsteps accompanied by the jingle of Trey’s spurs. In the living room she stopped and placed a detaining hand on Boone’s broad chest.

“You wait here and I’ll bring it down.” As she crossed to the staircase, Laura threw a glance at her brother. “Give me a hand, will you, Trey?”

“Sure,” he agreed and lengthened his stride to catch up with her.

Sebastian paused in the living room and slipped off the straw Resistol. Reaching up, he combed his fingers through the sides of his hair, flattened by the hatband. All the while he visually tracked Laura’s ascent of the stairs, he was conscious of Boone’s gaze boring into him, but he chose not to acknowledge it. With each passing second the silence in the room thickened.

The instant Laura disappeared from sight, it was broken. “I don’t give a damn what you brought, Dunshill.” Boone’s low voice vibrated with anger. “You’re not wanted here. Unfortunately, Laura is too polite to tell you to hit the road.”

Sebastian smiled without humor and sent him a sideways glance. “But you are bound by no such constraints, are you?”

“Your fancy talking doesn’t impress me. Neither does your title,” Boone retorted. “We both know you’re after one thing—to con Laura out of her money. Haven’t you figured it out yet that Laura is wise to you?”

“Oh yes.” Sebastian nodded. “She’s made that abundantly clear.”

“Then get yourself on the next plane out of here,” Boone growled as footsteps and jangling spurs came from the upper hall.

Sebastian merely smiled. “All in good time, old boy.”

Laura’s reappearance at the top of the steps, accompanied by Trey carrying the framed painting, forced Boone to bite back any sharp retort he might have been inclined to make. She ran lightly down and across the room to Boone, slipping an arm around his waist and fitting herself to his side.

“Look.” With an outstretched hand, she indicated the painting that Trey held up to view. “The portrait of Lady Elaine. Isn’t it wonderful?”

“It certainly is.” A little tightness remained in the smile Boone gave her. It went with the resentment in the glance he sent Sebastian. “That was very generous of you, Dunshill.”

“It was, wasn’t it?” Laura agreed and turned a curious look on Sebastian. “Considering how desperate you are for cash, I don’t understand why you didn’t call Max. As interested as he was in acquiring the portrait, you could have sold it to him fo

r considerably more than its worth. Why didn’t you?”

“If I’d wanted him to own it, I would have,” Sebastian replied smoothly. “But I preferred that you have it.”

“I’m glad you did. I absolutely love it,” Laura declared, her attention once again on the portrait that bore such a striking resemblance to her.

“I think we should hang it above the fireplace at the Slash R, don’t you?” Boone’s remark was far from an idle one. It was a pointed reminder of his pending marriage to Laura.

“That might seem a little vain,” Laura suggested. “But we’ll find the perfect place for it.”