On one leg of the journey, she sat behind a table set up at Powell’s in Portland because Ian didn’t want her greeting anyone unless she had a barrier between herself and her fans. He stood implacably behind her, arms folded and proudly wearing one of his kilts from a couple of centuries earlier that gave him an old-world appeal, even though her historical book featuring Highlanders wouldn’t be out until the next year. She still thought Ian could help market the upcoming books and was showing him off as the inspiration for her hero. Unfortunately, he could not wear his dirks or swords for total authenticity.
Her first customer was a beautiful redhead who Julia recognized at once as a lupus garou.
“I’m Cassie Wildhaven, wolf biologist,” the woman said, her smile genuinely kind. She leaned over the table and spoke low, “Leidolf Wildhaven, my mate, is the pack leader here.”
Which meant she was also.
“And we’d love it if you’d come and have dinner with us tonight at our ranch.” She looked up at Ian and smiled. “And your friends here, too.”
“My mate, Laird MacNeill,” Julia said, motioning to Ian, “and his brothers Cearnach and Duncan.” Guthrie had surprisingly made plans to be elsewhere and hadn’t even accompanied them to the hotel that night when they first arrived.
Leidolf stood close to Cassie, eyeing Ian’s brothers as if he worried that the men might take an interest in the winning redhead. But Ian’s brothers were too busy ogling Julia’s fans, who were talking to one another in line, some with books they’d already purchased while waiting to have them autographed, and others who were ogling the Highlanders right back.
Julia wasn’t sure whether any of the brothers would show up for dinner with the Wildhavens, or from the looks of it, Julia’s fans instead. Who knew? It might even help a few more sales.
All Julia knew was that when she retired tonight with the laird of the castle, he would be the only one for her.
“We’ll be retiring early tonight,” Ian said with a wink to Julia.
With books pressed to their hearts, the women standing in line started giggling when they overheard his delicious brogue, saw the sexy wink, and heard his words. They might want to go home with the laird, but he was all Julia’s. She raised her pen to autograph the next book, still smiling. If she could drag the kilted MacNeill warriors with her to every event, one of her books might just make best seller on one of the premier lists, and then maybe their financial woes would—
Guthrie headed toward them wearing his kilt, looking just as daunting and handsome as the rest of the MacNeill clansmen. She swore the women all took deeper breaths of admiration at the sight of him. Three hunky Highland hunks to choose from, she imagined they were thinking.
Guthrie nodded to Ian and then handed an envelope to Julia.
She looked up at him, questioning what this was all about.
Ian leaned down and whispered in her ear. “The money your ex-boyfriend stole from you. Family takes care of family.”
Tears filled her eyes. “But…”
Guthrie folded his arms. “He had a job. A good paying job. And the proceeds from the sale of several of his investments. He paid back every dime with interest, which is as it should be. I’m the financial advisor for the clan.” He bowed his head slightly. “Anytime you need my assistance, just let me know.”
Several of Julia’s fans looked like they wanted to wave their hands and ask for his assistance.
Julia rose from her seat and gave Guthrie a hug. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And…” She handed him back the envelope. “…you can put that money in the castle fund.”
Then the signing began in earnest because after dinner with the Wildhavens, Julia and Ian were returning to the hotel and renewing their vows. The small smile he wore and the sparkle in his dark eyes verified he was thinking along the same lines.
After romanticizing for years about what the perfect man in her life would be like, she’d finally found her storybook hero—rough around the edges, a little broke, and as sexy as any kilted warrior could be.
