The Lost - J. D. Robb [133]
“Like a baby.” He looked up to see Ross in the doorway. “Ah, Ross. Good morning.”
“’Morning.”
Aidan knew she was staring, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. He was wearing faded denims and a black turtleneck. His dark hair sparkled with droplets from his morning shower. He looked like a sleek, restless panther about to pounce on an unsuspecting prey.
She wanted to be that prey.
Cullen cleared his throat. “I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
Aidan and Ross broke eye contact and glanced over.
“The Farmers’ Cooperative is having its annual meeting. With all the excitement here, I nearly forgot. I can’t miss it.”
Ross was the first to recover. “Of course you can’t. Why is that a problem?”
Cullen shrugged. “I was hoping to give Aidan a tour of the property. But now there’s no telling how long I’ll be tied up.” He paused before adding, “Would you mind filling in for me, Ross?”
“Not at all.”
Cullen caught Aidan’s hands. “I hope you don’t mind, my dear. I assure you Ross will be every bit as thorough a guide as I would be.”
“Of course he will. We’ll be fine, Cullen. But I’m sorry you can’t be with us.”
“Can’t be helped. Well, then.” He turned away. “I’ve asked Sean to bring the car around. I’ll probably be gone most of the day.”
He winked at Bridget before calling over his shoulder, “I hope you two can make the best of it.”
“We’ll do what we can to salvage the day.” Ross watched him walk to the door.
When Cullen was gone, Bridget wiped her hands down her apron, looking flustered as always. “I hope you don’t mind, but Kathleen decided to make omelets and toast with country ham, in order to give you both time to tour the property. She said she’d be happy to make you anything more, if you’d like.”
Aidan was busy pouring coffee into two cups. “The breakfast Kathleen already made sounds perfect, Bridget. It’s as though she read my mind.”
The old woman coughed.
Aidan took a seat at the table, and Ross sat beside her. They were careful to avoid touching, sitting stiffly and looking extremely uncomfortable.
“And you, Ross?” The old woman paused beside him. “Would you be wanting anything else?”
“Not a thing. Thank you, Bridget.”
Aidan looked over. “Where’s Charity this morning?”
“Himself gave her the weekend off.” Humming a little tune, the housekeeper walked from the room, returning with their breakfast. That done, she didn’t reappear until Aidan and Ross had finished eating.
As she cleared the table, Bridget glanced out the window. “If you’re hoping to give the lass a tour of the property, you might think about doing it as soon as possible, before the rain rolls in.”
“Rain?” Ross looked up. “There’s not a cloud in the sky.”
“Not yet. But trust me. ’Twill rain.”
Ross stood and held Aidan’s chair. “I’d planned on riding this morning. How do you feel about seeing the countryside on horseback?”
“Oh, could we?” Aidan couldn’t keep the excitement from her voice. “I haven’t been on a horse since I was a kid.”
As the two hurried away, Bridget watched with a dreamy smile on her lips before returning to her chores.
“It’s all so beautiful, Ross.” Aidan reined in her mount at the top of a hill and stared down at the scene below.
The sprawling mansion resembled a castle, with its tur reted roofs sparkling in the sunlight. Around it were the graceful arboretum, green fields of sheep and cattle, and even a bee farm on a nearby incline. “I don’t know how you can ever bear to leave this place for even a day.”
“It is lovely, isn’t it?” Ross brought his horse beside hers. “I once accused Cullen of being a magician. When he first started the renovation, the lodge lay in ruins, the river polluted from an old factory and the fields around it were fallow. The village of Glinkilly was so poor there seemed no hope of ever