Page 66 of Love Bomb

Again, his brothers stared at him until it sank in that nobody would know what a top-secret meeting was about.

“How many security guys are on the folly?” Kade asked.

“That’s something we need to figure out.” Bain glanced at Rona again. No change. She was still lost in her thoughts. “I was hoping you three would take turns scoping the place out tonight. If we can get an idea of how they’re guarding it, we might find a weak spot in their defense.”

“You want us to recon Benson Security?” Darach screeched. “I’m sure that won’t be a problem, considering we’re a bunch of tradesmen and they’re former military. Seriously, how hard could it be for us to sneak up on them or keep an eye from afar without being spotted?”

“You can borrow Da’s binoculars and sit in the car by the church,” Bain said. “Even better, borrow Da’s car too. It’s white. It will blend better with the snow.”

“That’ll do it,” Darach said, leaning heavily on the sarcasm. “A white car, parked by a church in the middle of the night, when there are no other cars around. Nobody will notice the two men inside, freezing their backsides off while they peer at the folly through some binoculars Da won in a game of dominos.”

Rona burst out laughing. The noise surprised all of them, but as one, the brothers grinned at her. Bain moved closer to her on the sofa and pulled her legs into his lap.

“I know,” Conall said. “Why don’t we borrow the church keys and watch Benson Security from inside the church? It’ll be a whole lot warmer, and we’d be harder to spot.”

“Actually,” Bain said as he absently gave Rona a foot rub. “That’s not a bad idea. Think the new minister will go for it?”

“How would we know?” Kade said. “We’re all Catholic. The only time we go to the Presbyterian church is when they have town meetings. Even then, we only turn up when we think something interesting will happen. I don’t think I’ve even said two words to the new guy. Have you?”

He looked around at his brothers. They all shook their heads.

“Who else has keys to the church?” Bain said. “It doesn’t need to be the minister.”

“Caroline McInnes for sure,” Darach said. “But she’s still in Paris at Josh’s concert, and I’m no’ sure she’d be up for giving us the keys so we could plan how best to blow up the folly.”

“No, funny that,” Bain said.

“Old Betty McLeod has keys,” Conall said, making everyone groan dramatically.

Rona laughed again and Bain smiled at her. She was definitely feeling better.

“There’s no way in hell I’m going near Satan,” Darach said, shaking his head vehemently. “Not for any reason. That woman is dangerous, unpredictable, and most likely evil.”

“She’s also about a thousand years old and uses a mobility scooter to get around,” Conall pointed out. “It’s not like she can do you any harm.”

That caused loud scoffing protests.

“She zapped Grunt,” Darach said. “Knocked him out with a Taser. Just so she could see what was under his kilt. Grunt—the guy who makes me look like a midget. Not to mention, he’s former Special Forces. And I hear it wasn’t the first time she’d taken him out either. With a stolen Taser. Apparently, she has a stash at her house filled with all the weapons she’s pilfered from Benson Security.”

“And,” Kade said, “she can’t be trusted. She’d want something in return for giving us the church keys. She always wants something. Sure, it’s usually money, but that’s not a given.” He glanced nervously at Rona before lowering his voice, like she wouldn’t be able to hear him, even though she was sitting not three feet away. “I heard she once asked for sexual favors.”

Rona erupted again. This time, she was laughing so hard, she almost choked. Bain reached over, took the mug from her hand, and gently thumped her back.

“I don’t care how much we want the keys,” Darach was saying, “I’m no’ doing any sexual favors for Betty McLeod.”

Rona was gasping for air because she was trying to cough while still laughing.

“Could you lot shut up for a minute? You made Rona choke.”

They all waited patiently until she’d calmed down.

“Thanks,” she said when she could talk.

It was her first word since they’d left the pub. A definite improvement.

With a grin, she reached into the pocket of her jeans, took out her keys and tossed them at Bain. As soon as he grabbed them, he felt like a numpty. He held them up for his brothers to see.

“Oh,” they all said in the same awed tone.