Read Online Hot Blooded by Donna Grant - Free Book Online

found Tristan.”
    Sammi couldn’t think about her mate without her blood heating. “Yes.”
    â€œI find it curious that you say Tristan and Banan are part of Dreagan instead of saying they work for Dreagan.”
    Sammi looked into Iona’s dark eyes and realized Iona was much more observant than ordinary people. “That’s because they own part of Dreagan. They do work the land with the others, but Dreagan is them, and they are Dreagan.”
    â€œI see,” Iona said softly and sat back.
    â€œWould you like a tour of Dreagan?”
    â€œYou want to show me how beautiful it is, I suppose.”
    Sammi shrugged and held her gaze. “Of course. Dreagan is beautiful. It’s also my home. However, I thought you might like a personal tour of the distillery.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI was being nice, Iona.”
    â€œPeople aren’t nice unless they want something.”
    Sammi snorted and shook her head. “You’re reading things into this that aren’t there. I’m extending a hand of friendship.”
    â€œI don’t have friends.”
    Iona said it so unemotionally that Sammi knew she was speaking the truth. “I see. That’s too bad.”
    â€œThat came out terribly rude. I apologize,” she said and grabbed one of the menus stacked against the back of the table. “Is the fish and chips any good here?”
    â€œThe best,” Sammi answered without missing a beat. If Iona wanted to change the subject, she would comply. The more she was with Iona, the more she learned about her.
    Without a doubt, Con wanted Laith to get close to Iona, and it wouldn’t be difficult. But Sammi knew there were things a woman would only tell another woman, which was why she had taken it upon herself to befriend Iona. Though she hadn’t lied. She would have befriended her regardless.
    Iona set aside the menu. “I think I’ll get that then.”
    Sammi slid out of the booth and went to place the order herself in the kitchen. She was walking out when she heard Laith’s voice coming from the back office. He would leave as soon as he was finished placing the orders with his vendors, but she knew once he saw Iona he would stay.
    Sammi walked back out to the pub and returned to the table. Iona’s ale was half gone and she was busy looking at all the photos along the walls.
    â€œIt’s been a long time since I’ve been in Scotland,” Iona volunteered.
    Sammi set down her glass after a long drink and asked, “How long exactly?”
    â€œTwenty years.”
    â€œThat explains why you don’t have the Scottish brogue.”
    Iona licked her lips. “I lost it pretty quick after two years in Kent, four in London, three in Paris, and then two in Spain.”
    â€œYou got to see a lot of the world while still young,” Sammi said, impressed.
    â€œI got to see my mother go from one relationship after another.”
    That one statement summed up Iona more than she realized.
    â€œI didn’t know my father. He’s an American who had an affair with my mother, but chose another woman to marry. He lives in the States, and has for years. Jane is the one that found me. Before her, it was just me and my mum.”
    â€œYou were close?”
    â€œInseparable,” Sammi said, sadness weighing on her heart as it always did when she thought of her mother. “She died a few years back.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    Sammi lifted the glass, but stopped short of bringing it to her lips. “Are you close with your mum?” she asked and then drank.
    Iona rolled her eyes. “Lord, no. She texts me about once a week, to let me know where she’s at. She likes men, and she likes money.”
    â€œRelationships with our parents are never as cut-and-dry as we’d like to hope.”
    Iona chuckled loudly. “No truer words have been spoken.”
    Sammi was happy to see Iona smiling again. It