The MacGregor Brides Read Online Free PDF

you see, if you manage to do it, then we’ll know we need to adjust the matter a bit. And if you can’t … well, then, I can ease my wife’s mind. She’s old,” Daniel added in a low voice, keeping an eagle eye on the doorway. “I worry about her health. We’re more than happy to pay you for your time and trouble.”
    “Do you know what the cage time is for nighttime breaking and entering, Mr. MacGregor?”
    Daniel laughed heartily. Indeed, he’d picked a rare one for his Laura. “Now, Royce, as a former officer of the law, I’m sure you’d know that well enough. And you’d know how to be sure you weren’t caught at it. I meant to tell you that I’m considering having a new security system installed here, at my home. It’s a large house, and I’d want only the best. Cost would be no object.”
    Royce leaned back in his chair and stared, meditatively, at the ceiling. “Are you bribing me, Mr. MacGregor?”
    “Indeed I am, Mr. Cameron. Are you an enterprising young man?”
    “Indeed I am. And this is going to cost you.”
    “What’s money compared to the peace of mind and safety of those we love?”
    Royce tipped back in his chair, waited a beat. “I’ve met a lot of demons and clever people in my life, Mr. MacGregor. You could give lessons.”
    Daniel’s roar of laughter had Royce’s ears ringing. “I like you, lad, damned if I don’t. Camerons, strong stock. You get back to me when you’ve checked this matter out. And we’ll arrange for a time for you to come up here and modernize my security.”
    * * *
    It was going to earn him big bucks. Royce calculated the zeros as he slipped out of the moonlight and into the shadows of the grand old trees that guarded the house.
    He stood studying the dark windows. It was easy enough for Royce to think like a thief. He’d handled countless burglaries during his years on the force. It was for that very reason that he’d decidedto go into private security. Most people had no idea how vulnerable they were while they dreamed in their beds.
    He approached the house as a thief would, using the trees and hedges for cover. The well-established grounds added to the ambience, and also blocked any nefarious enterprises from the view of neighbors and street traffic.
    If he was a smart B-and-E man—and Royce had decided he would be—he’d have already taken the time to study the house, the accesses, the security. He’d have worn khaki work clothes, carried a clipboard and come in broad daylight. No one would have looked at him twice. But instead, here he was in the middle of the night, responding to the “request” of an overly canny, overly protective Scot.
    He’d have known the alarm system was hot. Of course, if he had a solid knowledge of electronics—and Royce had decided to get into the spirit of the job and assume that he, as thief, had a degree in electronics. Amused at himself, he set to the task of undoing his own work.
    Fifteen minutes later, he stepped back, scratched his chin. He was damn good, he decided. Not quite as good a thief as he was a security expert. The system was very close to foolproof, if he did say so himself. If he hadn’t designed it personally, he would never be able to work his way through the backups and safety checks to override it.
    Since he had designed it, he could have gotten in—if he’d wanted to get in—by working another ten minutes or so. But a thief would have to be very determined, very educated and very lucky to have gotten even this far. The MacGregor, he decided, could sleep easy.
    Satisfied, he started to step back, when a light flashed on. Laura MacGregor stood in full view on the other side of the atrium door, dark hair down to her waist, a bright yellow T-shirt skimming her thighs and a Louisville Slugger gripped in her hands.
    He watched her mouth fall open when she recognized him and her eyes catch fire.
    “What the hell are you doing?”
    Her voice was muffled by the glass, but he caught the drift.