“Everyone expected to see you at the meal,” he said, watching her while petting two of the dogs. Hercules returned to her side to get more attention.
Then she suspected what had been the matter. Grant had expected her to be there, sharing a meal, conversing with him. Did he feel stood up? Tickled at the notion, if that’s what this was all about, she stifled a smile. “I’ll try to be there next time.”
“About the kiss last night…”
She started laughing.
He smiled. “You seem to be avoiding me.”
“I think it’s better to just stick to business.”
“You know there’s more going on between us, lass.” At least he looked hopeful that there was.
Before she could say anything, footsteps on a cobblestone path headed their way, and they looked to see who was coming but couldn’t see whoever it was for the trees.
“Everyone has finished eating. Would you like Maynard to fix you a plate?” Grant asked in a placating way, and she was glad he was off the subject of kissing. Though she suspected that was all because of someone approaching the pen.
“No, really, I’m fine.” She didn’t want the cook to have to make up a special lunch for her just because she couldn’t get to the meal on time.
Frederick came through the trees and smiled to see Grant and her with the dogs. “Have you come to teach me how to handle them?” he asked her, sounding enthusiastic.
“I sure have. Then I have to get back to looking over the ledgers.” She thought Grant would leave, but instead, he stayed—to get a lesson or two himself, perhaps. Or maybe he just couldn’t believe she could wield a magic wand and make the dogs behave. She pulled out her pen and clicked it. All three dogs ran over to her and sat down on their rumps, tails wagging, eyes focused on hers. She smiled.
“Where are the treats you use to bribe them?” Grant asked, sounding amazed that she didn’t offer the dogs anything for their obedience.
“I don’t always give them treats. Petting them, hugging them, praising them all work, too—they adore being loved. I used treats to first get them to pay attention. But now, I can alternate with playing with them or other ways to show how much I enjoy being with them.”
“Is that just a pen you have in your hand?” Frederick asked, sounding amazed.
“Yes. Just an ordinary pen. Though this one is rather a nice writing pen. But if you’d like, you can have it. Anytime you want to get the dogs’ attention, click it, and they’ll come running. Eventually, you can just give hand signals and they’ll respond to that.”
Frederick glanced at Grant as if he wasn’t sure if he should do this. Before Grant could tell him he could, Colleen said, “Let’s let your laird show us how easy it is.”
She swore that Grant paled to a degree. She hadn’t meant to put him on the spot—well, maybe a little—but she knew he could do it.
She gave him the pen and he cast her a look that said he would get her back. She grinned.
He clicked the pen, and the dogs looked at him but continued to stay beside her. “Maybe you’ll need the treats at first,” she said, smiling.
Grant shook his head and folded his arms.
“I’ll get them,” Frederick offered.
“Right crisper drawer in the fridge, the one closest to the oven,” Colleen said.
“Right.” He raced off.
“You’re good with dogs and kids,” Grant said, sounding as though he admired her for it.
And she appreciated that. “Thanks. They naturally sort of gravitate toward me,” she said, scratching Hercules’s ear.
“Will this really work with them—clicking a pen without giving treats?” he asked, still not sure she knew what she was talking about, as if she had some magical gift with the dogs.
“Sure, and once they’re better trained, you won’t need the pen, either.” Colleen studied Grant’s furrowed brow as she petted the dogs. “Are you sure there’s nothing you’re worried about?”
Chapter 14
Colleen hoped she would find the inconsistencies in the accounts this afternoon and get it out in the open, because she was certain now that something was wrong with them—just from the way everyone was behaving around her.
After training the dogs and having fun showing both Grant and the lad how to do it, Colleen returned to work on the charts and graphs. She was certain from the way Grant had stood over her when she was trying to convert all the data into charts earlier that he was worried about some financial mishap. And then Darby had hovered over her on another occasion, as if he was trying to sense how she was feeling—smelling the air, taking in her scent.
Maynard announced himself, startling her. “A tray, my lady.”
She couldn’t believe the cook had brought up a tray with a sandwich and chips and hot tea. “Thank you. That was really considerate of you. But you really needn’t have. It was my fault I didn’t show up for the meal.” Though she had to admit she was hungry now.
“Laird MacQuarrie believed you would wilt away if you didn’t have something to eat,” Maynard said.
She studied him, his gray eyes meeting her gaze. She smiled. She suspected Grant hadn’t told Maynard to let her know that. “Well, thanks to you and Laird MacQuarrie.”
Maynard didn’t leave and she said, “Is there something else? This will be fine for me.”
He glanced at the charts on the monitor. “How’s it looking?”
Why was he asking? Had Grant put him up to it? She couldn’t imagine the cook would have any interest in the financial matters.
“I haven’t analyzed the figures yet. It could take days.” She was beginning to think something really was wrong with the books. She would have to look more carefully at the figures since she hadn’t found any problem yet.
“Aye. Um, his lairdship would like to meet you for a walk in the gardens at five.”
She raised a brow.
“He thought you might need a break.”
She didn’t believe it. “He thought I might forget the time for the meal. Right?”
Maynard grinned. “Aye, that he did, lass. There’s no fooling you.”
“Thanks, Maynard.”
“Aye…well…I’ll leave you alone now.” But he didn’t.
“Bye,” she said, and he finally seemed to take the cue. He quickly dipped his head, then left the study.