Grant bit back a smile. If he could deal with Colleen, who he’d thought would be the bane of his existence, and turn the situation into one that he could live with as one happy wolf for the rest of his life, maybe Guthrie’s ordeal would turn out just as well.

He saw the way Guthrie scowled.

Maybe not.

Chapter 20

Colleen wasn’t ready to take this anywhere yet. She’d mated with Grant, sure. But she had never had a wedding and had never expected to have one. It was all so sudden and…nothing she’d ever given any consideration to.

But the ladies were excited about the prospect, and everyone was asking her a million questions and offering a million suggestions. Before she even had a chance to answer all the questions.

“Be right back,” Calla said. “I’ve got to get my laptop and I’ll show you some wedding ideas.”

“I’ll go with you,” Heather said, “in case the guys try to take you hostage or anything. You know how that turned out last time.”

They looked at Colleen, and she felt herself blushing all over again. Here she was, supposed to be having an all-ladies’ gathering, and she ends up mated to a very sexy he-wolf. That had to be some kind of record.

She wondered if Calla had hoped she would have better luck if she went alone. Maybe catch Guthrie’s eye, after having stolen his underwear from his drawer and claimed him on the pirate’s pole. Colleen had been so busy meeting everyone that she hadn’t noticed if Guthrie returned the interest, even though Calla insisted she only grabbed Guthrie’s underwear so he wouldn’t feel left out.

“What does everyone’s schedule look like?” Julia asked, beaming. “We have a wedding to attend.”

***

Grant was still trying to figure out a way to coax Colleen away from her slumber party to sleep with him tonight. He shouldn’t have been so possessive and needy, but she was his mate and he wanted her with him on their first night.

They heard the back door open and then Calla say, “Okay, Heather, I’ve got fabric samples and wedding books in my car. Who would have thought our first-ever ladies’ night would turn into a wedding-planning event?”

Grant smiled, then left the men in the living room when Ian said, “Go, Guthrie. Ask her to stay with us afterward.”

Guthrie muttered something under his breath about lassies and money and how the two soon parted company.

Grant smiled, then saw the lasses near the foyer. “Can I have a word with you, Calla?”

She smiled at him, albeit her expression was a bit wary. “Aye.”

“Guthrie and I can help you with whatever you need to bring in,” Grant said.

Calla glanced in Guthrie’s direction and arched a brow.

He folded his arms. “Aye.”

“Thanks.” She and Heather headed outside.

“If you would like,” Grant said, catching up to her, “you can stay with us at Farraige Castle to make all the plans.”

“I would like that,” Calla said. “Makes it much easier to plan the event.”

Grant glanced at Guthrie, who wasn’t saying anything. Grant swore that if Guthrie had pockets in his kilt, he would have his hands shoved in them. Grant tilted his head to the side, silently appealing to him to ask Calla to stay at Argent Castle after the wedding was concluded.

Looking mutinous, Guthrie didn’t say a word.

When they reached Calla’s car, she handed Guthrie a heavy catalog of fabrics. “Since you are so braw and gallant, you can carry the heaviest of the items.”

He grunted.

She smiled, then turned and fished out a couple of bags for Grant to carry, another book for Heather, and her laptop. Once she’d emptied her trunk, they walked back to the keep. Grant cast Guthrie another look, telling him there was no time like the present. Ask already.

Guthrie scowled back at him, then cleared his throat.

Everyone looked at him expectantly.

Guthrie said, “Ian wants you to stay here after the wedding.”

Grant rolled his eyes. That hadn’t worked before, and he was certain it wouldn’t work now.

“I’ve told him and Julia no,” Calla said.

Grant had been right.

“It’s not safe out there with Baird stalking you everywhere you go. You were lucky tonight that we came to your rescue, but…” Guthrie continued.

“Aye, and I thank you. I’m not going to hide away from place to place, not doing my job because Baird and his brothers and cousins are harassing me. I won’t.”

They walked in silence for some time. Grant really thought the lass would go along with it because he suspected she did have a fondness for Guthrie.

“Unless…” Calla said and paused dramatically.

Everyone looked over at Calla, waiting for the rest of what she had to say.

“Julia wants me to plan a Christmas party at Argent Castle.”

Guthrie groaned out loud. Grant could just imagine Guthrie thinking about the expenditures for such a venture.

Calla smiled. “I’m not saying she will. She hasn’t asked, but if she does, maybe while I’m planning the affair, I can stay here for a while.”

“Christmas is too far away,” Guthrie said.

Grant was surprised he said so as they made their way around the keep to the gardens out back.

“Okay, then here’s the deal. If I stay, I have to be allowed to leave anytime I want,” Calla said. “I know Ian, and he’ll want to keep me confined within these walls until Baird no longer has an interest in harassing me.”

Guthrie said nothing. Grant couldn’t speak for Ian, or he would have said it was a deal.

“So the only way this will work to satisfy Ian’s need to keep me safe and my need to do my job is if you will accompany me everywhere I go.”

“I have a job to do,” Guthrie said quickly.

Calla frowned at him. “Aye, as do I. My terms are nonnegotiable. I don’t mean for you personally to have to escort me everywhere, but as in you—your kinsmen.”

Looking vastly relieved, Guthrie nodded. “Ian can send out others to guard you, and that should be perfectly acceptable to him.”

She pondered that and then said, “Agreed.”

Grant breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t even involved in the matter, but he did care about Calla’s safety.

“But…” she said.