Finn laughed. “Direct and to the point, I like it.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she raised her other eyebrow. Finally, Finn put his hands up. “Okay, okay, I’ll stop.” He leaned in a few inches closer. “For now.”
Standing so close, she could see even more gold flecks in his eyes. His spicy male scent also surrounded her; woods with a hint of peat.
With any other strange male, she had little doubt she would be in a complete panic. However, one second ticked by and then another, but if anything, she felt a sense of peace.
Bram cleared his throat and pushed Finn away from her. “Talk, Stewart, or be on your way. Our alliance agreement doesn’t include you flirting with every female on my land.”
The Scot held her eyes for a few more seconds before looking to Bram. “Aye, well, I’ve always found humor makes everyone feel better. They say it’s the best medicine.”
Ara raised her chin a fraction. “Right, then. The thirty seconds I offered you have more than passed. Start talking business or I will insist Bram find someone else in your clan to reach out to me.”
Amusement flashed in Finn’s eyes. “Oh, aye? And here I thought Bram was the clan leader.”
Shit. She hadn’t meant to overstep her bounds. Because Bram had been friends with her brother since childhood, Bram often let her get away with more than he’d allow other clan members. She needed to fix this situation. “Bram is the leader. He and I discussed the terms earlier. I’m sure with all your flirting, he didn’t have a chance to go over the finer points of meeting with me.”
She knew Bram’s eyes were on her, but she refused to look over at him. For some reason, the Lochguard leader provoked her. No doubt, Bram would have questions. Questions she really didn’t want to answer.
After one last look, Finn’s eyes became serious. “Right, then, lassie, tell me what sort of encryption you plan to use. The dragon hunters are becoming tech savvy and the more barriers we have in place, the better.”
Ara blinked. “Do you understand the different types of encryption or shall I explain it in laymen’s terms.”
“Before becoming clan leader, I earned a degree in computer science and worked part-time with our own tech expert as a sort of apprentice. Only when the leadership position became open, did I give it up. This is more an interview for your skills than a question and answer meeting for me.”
Bram interjected, “Arabella is the finest we have. She can do whatever you ask.”
> Warmth from Bram’s praised filled her, but Ara focused on Finn. “No, it’s okay, Bram. Maybe I can teach him a thing or two and knock down his ego a notch.”
Finn’s smile was back. “I’d like to see that, Arabella MacLeod.”
His words were a challenge, a challenge she wanted to tackle. Any uneasiness or worry she’d felt upon first seeing the Lochguard leader vanished. Instead, she was determined to knock the cocky grin from his face.
Looking to Bram, she said, “I can handle it from here, Bram. I’m sure there’s lots to do before the dinner officially begins.”
Her leader searched her eyes. They asked if she were sure, and she gave an imperceptible nod. Her leader looked to Finn. “You do anything to upset her, and the alliance be damned, I’ll have your bollocks on a platter before the night is done.”
Finn raised an eyebrow. “Hurting the lass is the last thing I wish to do. After all, she’ll never flirt with me again if I piss her off.”
Ara opened her mouth to protest, but then Finn placed his hand on her back. She tensed a second, waiting for the fear to consume her, but it never came. Her dragon peeked her head out inside her mind. He won’t hurt us.
She blinked. Her dragon hadn’t spoken to her in months. She nearly asked what she meant, but the beast was back in the far reaches of her mind before she had the chance.
Finn pushed gently against her back. “Now, tell me your plans for our security, and don’t leave anything out.”
Rather than focus on all of the oddities of the evening, such as with her dragon speaking to her and Finn’s touch not inciting a panic, Arabella concentrated on her work. As she told Finn of her plans, she was just a female talking to a male without any stress or fear. Apart from Bram or her brother Tristan, she’d never experienced this sense of comfort before. It was almost as if her attack ten years ago had never happened.
Almost.
~~~
Bram watched the Scottish leader walk away with his hand on Arabella’s back and barely resisted running after him. Only because Ara seemed at ease did he stay put. For the first time since he could remember, Ara wasn’t shying away from her true self. The brief flash of dragon slits in her eyes signaled even her inner dragon was speaking to her.
As much as he didn’t like to admit it, having an outsider talk and flirt with Arabella might be good for her. Regardless, he’d keep an eye on Finn. The man flirted with everyone and he didn’t want Arabella to be hurt later on.
His dragon said, You worry too much. Arabella is becoming stronger. She is also surrounded by clan. They will protect her.
Considering how much his dragon had roared earlier to get Finn off their land, he was now defending him.
If Bram were a drinker, he would definitely start drinking