Kane's Reckoning. A Blackwood Series Novel. Book 1

Excerpt From

Kane’s Reckoning

A Blackwood Series Novel

Book 1

Deductive Reasoning

After spending a restless night mulling over Kane’s offer in my head, I decided to call my sister. I needed advice, and Eveline was always good at helping me clear my head whenever I had a problem. I was close with all my sisters, but growing up, Eveline and I had always had a special bond. Probably because we were so close in age.

So here I stood in my kitchen at seven in the morning, gulping down coffee while I waited for her to tell me not to do something crazy. Like traveling clear across the world to meet a total stranger. “So, what do you know about him?” Eveline asked.

I thought for a moment, trying to remember everything he’d told me, as well as what I already knew from the internet. “I know he lived in France. Until recently, that is. He just moved back to Scotland a few months ago.” Eveline, like the rest of my family, was aware of my peculiar fondness for Scotland. I had an entire shelf in my small study that was filled with books about the country, and I’d read them all. Many times, in fact. Maybe it was because I was born there. I didn’t know. All I did know, was that I was completely obsessed with everything Scotland related. Eveline and I were even planning a trip there some day. If either of us ever took any time off work, that is. Which was proving to be tricky, since we were both workaholics. But some day….  “What does he do?” my sister asked.

Oh, this was gonna send her right over the edge. “He’s an architect, and an international land developer. And apparently, a very good one. His business is quite successful. At least according to Google.”

“An international land developer,” Eveline crooned, as impressed as I knew she would be. “Very nice. So, why did he move back to Scotland?”

“He didn’t say,” I replied, deciding not to mention the considerable amount of time I had spent online Googling him. “The conversation really wasn’t all that long.”

“Uh-huh.” Eveline hummed. “And he just… invited you to Scotland?” she said skeptically. “After one phone call?”

That was Eveline. Always cynical. “Well, technically two. But yes.”

“Ok, so, after only two conversations, he just randomly invited you to Scotland? No, nice to meet ya, where ya from? Are you a serial killer? Just, please come visit me in Scotland?”

I had to admit, when she said it like that, it did sound a bit odd. “Well, he didn’t exactly say it like that, but……”

“Hang on a sec,” Eveline interrupted, “What’s his name again?”

“Kane Blackwood,” I told her, listening to the clicking sound of her fingers flying over her keyboard. “What are you doing?” I asked, although I was pretty sure I already knew.

 “I’m Googling this guy.” Eveline said, confirming my suspicions.

“I already did,” I told her.

“And now so am I,” Eveline countered sassily. “I wanna check this guy out for myself.”

I had a mental image of her squinting as she focused on her computer screen. “You get those glasses yet?”

“Shut up,” she uttered grumpily. “I do not need glasses.”

 “You know,” I said with a laugh, “if you don’t wanna wear glasses, there are these little things called contact lenses…”

“I’m trying to read here, Emily,” she mumbled dryly. And then I heard it. The gasp that told me she’d found him. “Whoa! Sweet baby Jaysus!” she exclaimed. “Girl, this man is hot!”

“I know,” I said with a sigh, remembering my reaction when I’d first seen him for the first time. “No. I mean, seriously hot!” Ev. gushed. “Like, Sam Heughan meets Jamie Dornan hot. Good Lord…. those arms. That chest! The man’s huge!”

“I know,” I repeated disgruntledly. Since there was only one photo of Kane on his company website, I knew she was looking at the same one I’d seen. The one I’d tried to get out of my head all night. With absolutely no luck.

“Those eyes are killer,” Eveline went on. “I’ve never seen eyes so green. And look at those fluffy pillow lips,” she drawled. “Talk about a panty- dropping smile.”

I raised an eyebrow as I held the phone to my ear. “Fluffy pillow lips?” I scoffed. “Really Ev.?”

“Hey, if the shoe fits. Ok, let’s see what Google has to say about Mr. Hottie here.” I stayed quiet as she read. I already knew what she was gonna find, having read the same online article not twenty-four hours ago. “Wow. This guy is seriously rich,” she muttered. “I mean like, really rich. As in, disgustingly wealthy,” she babbled, and I rolled my eyes. This, I also knew.

“Ok so, let me get this straight,” Ev. went on. “A hot, multi freakin millionaire calls you up and asks you to come see him in Scotland, a place you’ve always wanted to go... and you didn’t jump all over that? Seriously Em.?”

I let out a sigh. “Well, I was thinking about it, but I wanted to run the idea by you first. I mean, essentially, I’d be traveling to a foreign country to meet a total stranger.”

“Hmmm…true,” Eveline agreed. “Well, what did he sound like on the phone? I mean, I know you’ve only spoken to him a couple times, but you’ve always been one to trust your instincts. Bottom line, does he sound like a nut job?”

I remembered the two brief conversations between Kane and myself. Yes, he was a bit intense, and clearly he was a man used to getting what he wanted. But I really hadn’t gotten a bad vibe from him. “He sounded…very nice actually,” I told her.

“Ok. So…you think you can trust him, then?” Ev. asked.

I thought for a moment. I’d actually felt very comfortable talking with him. I’d been nervous, yes, because good Lord, the man was seriously hot and so sophisticated I felt like a stuttering idiot every time I talked to him.

But even from our short conversations, he seemed to have a way of putting me at ease. It was so strange, the effect he had on me. “Em?” I heard from the other end of the line. “You think he’s ok?”

“Yeah…” I finally said under my breath, “I think he is.”

“Then you should go.” And for Eveline, that seemed to be the end of the conversation.

“Why?” I asked. I knew I was reaching, but this was just not like me. I didn’t take chances. I didn’t take risks. It just wasn’t in my nature. So, if I was seriously thinking about doing something so crazy, I needed her to tell me it was ok.

“Why what?” Eveline asked, and I could picture her dark brows pulling together at my question.

“I’m asking you why I should go, Ev.” I said dryly. “That’s kinda why I called. For advice? Hel-lo!”

“You mean aside from the reasons I just gave you?” Eveline huffed. “Ok let’s look at the facts here. One, you have something that belongs to the man that apparently, he wants back in the worst way. Two, he’s willing to pay all your expenses to bring it back to him. Three, you get a trip to a country that you’ve been obsessed with for as long as we all can remember. And four, the man is drop dead freakin gorgeous, built like a tank, and has a sexy Scottish accent.” I could practically see her shrugging. “So honestly, it’s really just about the math.”

As I contemplated her reasoning, my nerves started to flutter. Could I actually do this? Could I go all the way to Scotland to meet my obsession face to face? Did that make me seem utterly pathetic? The notion crept into the back of my mind, but I quickly dismissed it.  Or…or,…I could think of this as an adventure.

“I say go for it,” Ev. persisted. “And while you’re there, you should have yourself a good time with that hot Scottish piece of masculine perfection.”

Shaking my head, I lifted my eyes to the ceiling of my kitchen. Leave it to Ev. to turn a simple work trip into a vacation fling. “If I go…” I replied, “and that’s a big if, I’ll be going to work, not sexually stalk a potential future client.”

I heard my sister’s exasperated huff on the other end of the line. “Oh, pa-leeze! The man is gorgeous, Emily! When have you ever seen a man that hot, that built, and has a hot Scottish accent? They just don’t exist. Not around here at least. And besides, it’s not stalking if it’s mutual.”

“I never said he was into me,” I replied. At least, I didn’t think he was. He hadn’t really sounded that way on the phone. But then, it’d been so long since I’d actually had a man, maybe my radar was off. And didn’t that just bring up all kinds of possibilities?

“If you want him to be into you Emily,” Ev. said with a sigh, “then put yourself out there. You go get him. I say you bang that man like a screen door in a hurricane, girl.”

“How very eloquent,” I drawled. “And I never said he had a sexy accent.”

“He’s Scottish Emily,” Eveline said dryly. “Have you ever heard a Scottish accent that you didn’t think was melt your panties sexy?” she sighed. “From a man I mean,” she added.

She was incorrigible. “Eveline, just because a man is attractive…”

“Hot,” Ev stated firmly. “I believe the word was hot.”

I rolled my eyes. “…and has an accent does not mean I should travel all the way to another country to see him.”

“But you want to,” Ev said softly.

I looked out my kitchen window, pondering this. There had been something about him. I didn’t know what it was, but it had touched me. “Yeah. I kinda do,” I uttered, and I had to admit, it felt good to finally say it out loud.

“So go,” Eveline said again. She sounded so sure, so positive that I could handle this, and I found myself actually considering it. But there was still that one tiny kernel of doubt. “I dunno, Ev.”

Eveline heaved an exasperated sigh. “Oh, for cryin’ out loud. You’ve always wanted to go to Scotland, yes?”

“Yeah.” I mumbled.

“And he lives in Scotland, yes?”

“He does,” I replied.

“And this guy is super hot, and he’s got that sexy Sam Heughan accent, yes?”

I closed my eyes, remembering the sound of his deep voice saying my name, and the shiver that went down my spine every time I thought about it. “He is. He does,” I replied again, my voice getting smaller as she checked off the facts.

“And who loves Sam Heughan…?” Eveline hummed.

Bullseye, direct hit. Right to the sweet spot. “I do love Sam Heughan,” I sighed, grimacing as Eveline’s laugh trickled into my ear. Still holding the phone, I stared out the window. Could I really…?

“You know you’re gonna go,” Ev. said softly, all humor gone from her voice.

My sister really did know me too well. “Maybe,” I muttered. I couldn’t believe I was seriously considering this.

“It’s an adventure, Emily,” Eveline said softly. “Go,” she urged. “Enjoy yourself. Hell, enjoy your hot Scotsman!”

“He’s not my hot Scotsman,” I proceeded to remind her, and maybe myself as well.

“He could be,” she remarked, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “So! Go buy some new clothes and start packing. It’s probably cold there this time of year, so I’m thinking layers, lots of layers. Just dress like you do here when it gets cold. Only nicer.”

“Gee thanks,” I muttered drolly, but she did have a point. While I always dressed fashionably for work, I didn’t do fancy, choosing comfort over style.

But Eveline was on a roll. “Buy a couple heavy sweaters, too. The tighter the better. Ya got great boobs girl, show those puppies off.”

“Right. Layers and boob sweaters. Got it.”

“And skinny jeans,” she advised. “you’ll need at least two or three pairs of skinny jeans.”

At this, I had to balk. “What’s wrong with the jeans I have?” I protested. The ones in my closet were practical, and comfortable. Maybe not the sexiest things I wore, but they served their purpose.

Eveline scoffed. “Girl, you have gorgeous legs, might as well…”

“Show ‘em off,” I said dryly. “Yeah, I got it.”

 “Oh, and a couple nice outfits,” Ev. went on. “In case he takes you out somewhere. I’m thinkin…a little black dress. That works with just about anything. And maybe one more outfit as a backup. Cover all your bases.”

My heart was starting to pound, and I had to pull the phone away from my ear as Ev. continued to prattle on about thongs and bikini underwear. Was I really gonna do this? Was I really gonna go to Scotland on a whim and an invitation? This was so outta my comfort zone.

Finally, I put the phone back up to my ear just in time to hear Ev mutter something about demi bras. What the hell was a demi bra? “Ya know, I still haven’t decided if I’m even gonna go,” I informed her.

“Oh, you’re going,” Ev insisted. “Even if I have to put you on a plane myself, you’re going.” I rolled my eyes. She would too. “Oh, and Em?”

 “Yeah?” I replied, distracted. My mind was already taking stock of my closet. “Leave the thermal underwear at home, ok?” Ev suggested. “I know they’re a staple here in winter, but please, they are so not sexy. And hey, who knows? Things go right, you may not even need them anyway.”

Oh God. “I’m hanging up now.”

My sister’s laugh drifted into my ear. “I’ll talk to you later. Lemme know if you wanna go shopping for the trip.”

 “Goodbye Ev,” I was so ready to be done with this conversation.

 “Bye sweetie,” she replied back. “Love you.”

“Love you more.” I was still smiling as I hung up the phone.

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Kane’s Reckoning

A Blackwood Series Novel

Book 1

Available on Amazon and Goodreads.