“How would you know that?” She was hoping Ian hadn’t realized… Oh, brother, Julia had probably told him what she and Guthrie were up to in the garden room—and it hadn’t all been just talking about Baird.

“He’s asked to be put on permanent detail to watch over you.”

She closed her gaping mouth.

“I can’t imagine any other reason he wishes to, unless he wants to enjoy himself for a change.”

She…couldn’t believe it. “Okay. Um, well, you know I have that masquerade ball to go to and I…” She wanted Guthrie to go with her—not as a bodyguard, but as a date. She had intended to ask Guthrie, since he seemed more cheerful this morning. But what if Ian had already put him in charge of her bodyguard detail?

“Aye,” Ian said, his dark eyes watching her. “Is there a problem?”

“I was supposed to go with Baird. We would have been mated wolves by then.”

“I see.”

She wasn’t sure Ian did.

“We’ll have extra guards watching out for you in case he shows up.”

“Okay, but…”

Ian was frowning, probably figuring something was really wrong with the situation. She let out her breath. “Well, it’s just that I needed an escort.”

“All right. Cearnach, Duncan, and Oran will go as your bodyguard detail.”

“And…Guthrie?”

“He’ll be free to be your escort.” Ian smiled at her.

She rose from the chair. “Thanks so much, Ian. I’ll…give him the good news a little later.”

“Aye, lass. I’m sure he will be delighted.”

“Only if he dances,” she said, then smiled again and said her good-byes. She was only taking a wolf who would dance with her, so she really, really hoped Guthrie loved to dance.

Chapter 11

Guthrie was still smiling about Calla’s comment that he gave a great math class, not quite sure how to take her. He was feeling much better since he’d had the talk with Julia last night. He’d stubbornly resisted the notion that she had been right about his actions since Tenell had gone. But after giving it a lot of thought that evening, he had to admit Julia had been correct—about a lot of things.

He’d caught Julia’s eye this morning, and she’d smiled at him as if she could tell he’d changed. Hell, he hadn’t thought he was that transparent. Good thing he didn’t play card games.

Just coming to grips with his feelings about breaking up with Tenell had made him feel so much more lighthearted, and he really was ready to move on. At least he thought he was. The talk had made him aware of some rebound relationship pitfalls to avoid, like comparing Calla to Tenell or to the Irish lass before that. The key to the situation was determining whether one of them wasn’t ready for a real commitment to a relationship. Not in a mating, as it was for their kind, but in wanting to see just each other, forget their pasts, and move forward. Start anew. Fresh.

He could do that. Could Calla?

Calla had sweetness and spiciness, a sense of humor, and intelligence that he liked. In the future, they might even have something. If, in the meantime, he could keep his hands off her. If he couldn’t, he knew he’d just want more. She was too appealing for his own good.

No matter how much Guthrie told himself he needed to take it easy with Calla, every time he saw her, his damn heart started beating faster, and his pheromones kicked in. He immediately took note of what she was wearing and tried to capture her scent.

If anyone had asked him what anyone else was wearing, he’d have been hard pressed to answer. But Calla? A pale blue sweater that set off her strawberry blond curls and a pair of dark blue pants and snow boots. Even so, he envisioned her still wearing the white toga…and after, when she wasn’t wearing it.

She might need more time to come to grips with her relationship with Baird. Or even to see if she was interested in more of one with Guthrie. Like she had said, she needed to unwind after the party last night and it didn’t mean that she was ready for anything more serious.

Guthrie had even made the effort to find seating away from Calla this morning at breakfast. But as soon as he had taken the seat next to Duncan, Heather vacated the seat on the other side of him and Calla took her place. It had to be a conspiracy to test his resolve.

If he didn’t know better, he’d think the lass was attempting to court him. When he was trying to maintain some distance.

***

Guthrie drove Calla, Julie, Elaine, Heather, Shelley, his Aunt Agnes, and his mother into the town of Druie in their minibus that could seat as many as fifteen pack members, and they all chatted away about the places where they wanted to go. All but Calla. She was as quiet as she’d been at breakfast, but she caught his eye in the rearview mirror and gave him another of her elusive smiles.

Hell, if she kept it up, they were going back to the garden room or, better yet, her guest room or his bedchamber for a repeat of last night’s extracurricular activities.

He parked a way out so they could stroll along the sidewalks and search for the presents they wanted to pick up for Christmas. He stuck close to the group while four other pack members kept eyes on them from strategic points as the group moved to see the sights. He half listened to their conversation while keeping an eye out for Baird or any of his kin.

He and the ladies paused to watch a heavily tattooed man with a shaved head as he demonstrated swallowing a sword. Despite the chilly winter breeze, the sword-swallower was dressed in a kilt and no shirt.