He wrapped his hand around my upper arm and gently drew me to a stop. I reluctantly met his searching gaze. “You came here for Mac. Don’t shut him out now that you’re here.”
I tugged on my arm, and Adair released it immediately. Agitated by him in more ways than I could count, I snapped, “Why don’t you just stay out of my relationship with my father? Your interference has done enough over the years.” With that unfair comment stinging the air between us, I stalked off, calling over my shoulder, “I can see myself to the studio.”
This time, he didn’t argue or follow me.
15
Lachlan
Light rays spilled across the wooden floor in Mac’s suite, the first sign of sun for days in this part of the country.
Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to make a difference to Mac’s mood.
Like the weather, it, too, was foul.
“How much bloody longer do I have to stay in here?” he snarled.
Refusing to react to his friend’s tone, Lachlan calmly took another sip of coffee as he sat on the edge of the desk at the bay window.
Mac’s head whipped toward him. “Well?”
“You’re not trapped in here,” Lachlan reminded him. “We just went for a walk.”
Mac scoffed. “Around this floor and the one below.”
“Doctor says gentle exercise. You work your way up to more.”
“I’m perfectly capable of more. I’m not a slight wee thing that can be blown over by a stiff wind. I’m strong and recovering well, and being cooped up in here with Rob—” He cut off, shoulders bowing.
He knew what Mac was about to say.
This wasn’t just about being stuck in the castle for days on end. This was about Robyn.
Of course, Lachlan had told Mac what happened between her and Stone. He was always going to because he didn’t keep secrets from his friend, but if he hadn’t, the security team would have. The men had watched the footage of Robyn’s takedown of Stone from the security cameras, and it was clear they were all impressed by her. Curious, Lachlan watched it. Jock showed him the footage running up to the event with Robyn beating the shit out of a boxing bag with a power and energy he had to admit was sexy as fuck.
But the part with Stone got his blood boiling again.
He hated seeing Stone approach Robyn as he had. Even though she’d handled it, Lachlan could tell it had shaken her up. By allowing that bastard on his estate, he’d inadvertently allowed that to happen to her. And now he couldn’t help but worry Stone might have cornered female members of his staff in the past without his knowledge. Ones who might not have been able to fend him off.
After his warning to Stone, as Lachlan had known there would be, there was quiet on that front. However, thinking of the mistreatment his friends (of all genders) had faced at the hands of powerful men, Lachlan wasn’t satisfied with merely ending Stone’s membership.
He wanted to end the bastard’s power, power he wielded over women. His sense of power came from his fame. A few whispered words in the right ear, and work might just start drying up for Sebastian Stone.
“What are you thinking so hard on?” Mac asked.
Shaking off thoughts of Stone, Lachlan considered his friend and decided to put what was pissing Mac off out there. “Just thinking you’re acting like a grumpy shit because of Robyn.”
Mac scowled. “She’s not been to see me in days.”
“She’s not been on the estate in days.” Lachlan frowned. Not since Stone.
“Lucy says it’s because she’s working. Driving around Sutherland, taking photos.” Mac didn’t sound convinced.
Lachlan wasn’t entirely either. Although it could be true that she was out taking photos for her business. Arrochar found Robyn’s photography site and Instagram account. She showed both to Mac. Lachlan, being a nosy bastard, looked too. To his shock, he discovered Robyn’s work was exceptional. No wonder she had so many followers on her Instagram account. He thought of her as a cop, not just because she was investigating the stalker/attacker case but because of her manner. But there was no denying where her true talent lay.
Her shots were interesting city perspectives on Boston and New York. And lately, incredible scenic shots of Ardnoch and Sutherland. So beautiful, in fact, Lachlan considered commissioning work from her that he could display on the estate.
“Lucy’s probably right.”
“She’s avoiding me.” Mac ran an aggrieved hand through his hair. “I’m not a stupid man, Lachlan. She was fine one second and then the next, I’m Uncle Mac with Eilidh and Lewis, and Robyn can’t get out of here fast enough.”
His brows furrowed as he remembered the moment. Robyn looked so panicked, Lachlan had instinctively reached for her. When she’d eluded him, he’d chased after her, bumping into Lucy on the way. Lucy had gone after her in his stead, but it had surprised Lachlan how concerned he’d been for Robyn. Later, when he’d inquired about her to Lucy, his friend was closemouthed. She assured him, however, Mac’s daughter was okay.
It didn’t occur to him that what was wrong with Robyn was watching Mac interact with Lachlan’s niece and nephew. Belatedly, he pieced together what Mac had perceptively already done. “She found it hard to see you being parental?”
Mac gave a slight lift of his chin in answer. Lachlan noted the way the muscle in his friend’s jaw ticked. And ticked, ticked, ticked.
Sympathy moved through him as he stood from the desk to approach the bed. “Mac, you need to give her the letters.”
“I don’t want her to think her mother is to blame for this. I’m in the wrong too.”
“I never said you weren’t. But things might have gone differently if her mum hadn’t made it so bloody hard for you.” He thought of Robyn again, looking so young and alone that morning she’d run from Mac’s suite, like savage ghosts of the past were chasing her. He found the idea of cocksure, tough Robyn Penhaligon so easily broken by Mac’s behavior oddly disconcerting. While he still wanted to protect Mac, Lachlan knew it was in Robyn’s best interests, too, to discover the truth. “Who got hurt the most in the end? Clearly Robyn. And she should know that losing you isn’t just on you.”
Mac’s eyes narrowed as if he heard something in Lachlan’s voice. “It is. I hurt Stacey.” Mac referred to Robyn’s mother. “And she hurt me back through Robyn.”
“Only to hurt Robyn too.”
“Well … it’ll be up to me to tell Robyn. If I decide to tell her. She already hates one parent. She shouldn’t have to hate two.”
“She doesn’t hate you, Mac.” Her big, wounded eyes flashed in Lachlan’s mind. “She wouldn’t be here if she hated you. She wouldn’t be gunning for the person who attacked you if she hated you.”
Mac studied him closely. “You won’t tell her. I mean it. There are things I will forgive you when it comes to Robyn…” He gave Lachlan a pointed look he pretended not to understand. “But telling her about her mother is not one of them.”
“I wouldn’t dream of interfering,” Lachlan semi-lied, even as he crossed the room with that purpose in mind. He wouldn’t tell Robyn about her mother, but he’d certainly give her a kick up the backside to come visit Mac and sort out their shit. “I’m going back to work. Arro should be here soon. Said she’d pop by to have lunch with you.”