Taunting Callum (Big Sky Royal 3)

And now, it seems there’s nowhere else I’d rather be.

Catching Paula with her hands in the safe yesterday filled me with rage. But Aspen handled it the way she handles everything, with professionalism and class.

God, I fucking love her.

I’m walking up the path toward headquarters to meet with David, but when he comes rushing out of the building, I can see by the look on his face that something is wrong.

Bloody hell, what now?

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t accompany you today. Alice is bleeding, and I need to take her to the hospital. Nick will go with you.”

“Of course,” I reply. “Go now, and keep me informed. She’s going to be okay, David.”

“I hope so, sir. She lost a baby earlier this summer, and I don’t want to go through that again.”

“Go get her looked over,” I say, clapping the other man on the shoulder. “And take a deep breath. She’s healthy and young. She’s going to be fine.”

“Sir.” He nods. “Thank you.”

Just as he hurries away, Nick walks out to join me. Nick is Nina’s detail, but they must have made other arrangements for today.

“I hope you enjoy clearing and wiping down tables,” I say.

“It’s one of my favorite ways to spend the day, Your Highness.”

I laugh as we climb the hill to the car. “I like you, Nick.”* * *It’s been another busy day at Drips & Sips. Watching Aspen work has fast become one of my favorite pastimes. The way she moves quickly around the café, smiling and checking in with her customers, so full of energy and joy, makes me smile.

She clearly loves what she does.

I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure that we’re here in Cunningham Falls more often than not so she can continue working here. I can work from anywhere with video calls and WiFi. We will have to make appearances, but those will be scheduled in advance.

I’m convinced that we can make our schedules work, basing out of both Montana and London. It’ll just require some work and compromise, but doesn’t every marriage?

“It looks like the last customers just left, Aspen,” Nick says as he places a tray of dirty dishes on the counter.

“Excellent, go ahead and flip the lock,” Aspen replies.

Nick does as she asks, and Aspen sighs in relief.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

“I’m exhausted,” she says, rubbing her eyes. “It’s been a hell of a week. But I interviewed two candidates for the manager position today, and I think I found the right person for the job.”

“You didn’t offer it to Gretchen?”

Aspen bites her lip and shrugs a shoulder. “I mentioned it to her, but I suspect that she’ll stay when she goes back to Portland. And, frankly, I can’t blame her. It’ll be a fresh start for her.”

I walk behind the counter and pull Aspen to me, enjoying the way she fits against me. This woman was made for me.

“I’m so sorry that you came home to such a mess.”

“It could always be worse,” she says but rests her forehead against my chest. “But thank you. This helps. You help more than you realize. I’m grateful that I have you to lean on. I’m a strong person, but—”

“But sometimes even strong people need someone to lean on,” I finish for her and tuck a stray piece of red hair behind her ear. “Indeed. With Gretchen taken care of, and things calming down, perhaps we need a quiet evening tonight at the boathouse. Just the two of us. We’ll sit out and watch the lake, and just be.”

“That might be the best offer you’ve ever made me. Aside from the whole marriage thing.”

“Your sassiness is coming back, darling.”

“I must be feeling better. Speaking of, have you heard from David?”

“Yes. Alice is doing well. She hasn’t lost the baby, thank goodness.”

“That is good news.”

I nod in agreement, just as there’s a knock on the door.

“There’s a man at the door,” Nick says. “Do you want me to ask him what he wants?”

“Sure,” Aspen says, still cuddled up to me.

We both turn in surprise as someone barges in, yelling.

“Where the fuck is she? TELL ME WHERE SHE IS!” Miles is a maniac, waving a gun around, his eyes bulging in rage.

“Miles?” Aspen scowls at the man, just as Nick advances on him. Before he can reach him, Miles turns and fires the pistol, hitting Nick in the shoulder, then he swings back to us.

I shield Aspen with my body.

“Miles, calm down,” I say with a low voice, but I can see right away that there is no reasoning with this man.

And Nick is bleeding on the floor.

“Fuck you,” he sputters. “I told that cunt if she tried to leave me, I’d fucking kill her and everyone she loves, and this bitch is the first on my list. You’re the whore who kept telling her to leave me. That I’m a piece of shit.”