“No,” Lucy answered for me. “Robyn is only twenty-eight. And she doesn’t look thirty-five, Leighanne.” There was a definite edge to my friend’s tone.
“Oh right, of course. I didn’t mean to insinuate you did.” The woman seemed genuinely worried she’d offended me.
“It’s cool. Mac had me young.” I nudged my father, teasing. “We get that a lot.”
“And of course, you don’t look thirty-five,” she hurried to assure me.
“Neither do you.” And she didn’t.
She beamed. “I’m a makeup artist so I know all the best skin care regimens. I’ll recommend my favorites later when we have a moment.”
Her tone was sincere, friendly, and eager.
Leighanne was nice, and I wouldn’t hold her choice of sex partners against her.
It felt like we’d barely left the estate when we pulled up to the parking lot in the center of the village, opposite the Gloaming. The parking lot was full.
The driver and Lachlan got out first, the former helping Eredine out of the vehicle while Lachlan helped Lucy and Leighanne. Dad got out and tried to assist me, but I didn’t want to put any weight on him. Instead I hopped out with ease, despite my five-inch heels, and he chuckled.
Remembering his hug and the way he’d taken my arm, I decided to be brave, to lower my guard and attempt to trust him. If we were going to do this, I needed to show Mac I was ready to be comfortable and affectionate around him too. This time, I looped my arm through his and hugged into his side. Dad looked inordinately pleased by it and patted my hand on his arm as we said good night to the driver and followed the others into the hotel.
Jock and two security guards had already arrived, and I noted they, too, wore kilts to blend in. Lachlan exchanged a few words with them. One of the men stayed outside while Jock and another strode into the hotel ahead of us. I assumed they’d take positions from inside, pretending to be guests while they kept a watchful eye.
Energetic folk music blared onto the street from inside. People milled about in the reception area, and they called hello as we walked in. Our companions turned left into the dining room where more people lingered and then took a right through a doorway that led into the back of the hotel to a large room I hadn’t visited during my stay.
The music was loud from the band on the low stage at the far end. A woman sat at a harp while two men played accordions, a man and a woman each played a flute, and a female fiddler accompanied them. There was a drummer in the back and a bagpiper who currently wasn’t playing.
It was a heady assault of fairy lights, tartan, thistles, raucous but charming music, fluttering skirts, and flying kilts as guests danced to a well-known folk dance. The scent of whisky, food, and something smoky filled the air. Chatter, laughter, and singing supplemented the joyful cacophony.
Round tables had been set up around the room’s edges for people to sit and eat and drink. Two long buffet tables sat against the wall near the entrance, blanketed with an excess of food. There was a door to my right that led down a narrow corridor to a bar beyond, a bar that heaved with people waiting to buy drinks.
I met Mac’s stare and grinned with pleasure. The atmosphere was fantastic.
He returned my smile and gave my arm a squeeze.
“You made it!” Arrochar sashayed toward us, a stocky man following at her back. Lachlan’s sister’s gaze was firmly fixed on my dad. She beamed. “You look great!” She rose on tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek, and I noted the way Mac automatically reached out to give her hip a squeeze.
As the striking blond pulled back, she and Mac exchanged a private look before Arrochar focused on me. “Robyn, you look amazing.”
She hugged me, and I returned the embrace. “Thanks. You too.”
And she did. Because I’d only seen Arrochar in sweaters and jeans and muddy boots with very little makeup, it was interesting to see her dressed up. Her smoky eye shadow made her pale eyes even more stunning, and she’d slicked her hair into a high ponytail much like mine.
It seemed the Adair men weren’t the only ones with lethal sex appeal. I’d previously noted Arrochar’s unique beauty, but I hadn’t really paid attention to the way she carried herself. Confident. Self-assured. And with her way of staring like she was seeing right through you, I imagined she might intimidate some people.
“It’s good to see you two together.” She touched Mac’s arm, looking up at him without hiding how happy she was for him.
My God.
Couldn’t everyone else see it?
Pulse racing, not quite sure how I felt about what I sensed between them, I was thrown even more when the man at Arrochar’s back cleared his throat.
“Oh.” Her smile was sheepish as she retreated from Mac and put an arm around the man’s shoulders. In her high heels Arrochar was about five eleven, six feet. The guy who I assumed was Guy Lewis, the castle chef, was a little shorter than Arro was in her heels. He was pretty-boy handsome with a small nose, pouty lips, and long-lashed eyes, but there seemed to be an effort to dilute his prettiness with his unshaven cheeks and unkempt dark hair.
“Robyn, this is my boyfriend and the chef at Ardnoch, Guy. Guy, this is Mac’s daughter, Robyn.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said in a thick Aussie accent. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Can’t believe Mac’s old enough to be your dad, though.”
I flicked Mac a look, and we shared a smirk. I guess we’d just have to get used to everyone saying that to us.
“Yeah,” I replied, reaching out to shake Guy’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
Guy cut Mac a quick look before glancing away to take a swallow of the pint in his free hand.
Arrochar shifted uneasily and threw me a strained smile. “Well, we better go say hello to the others.” She dragged her boyfriend away to greet Lachlan and company, who I noted were surrounded by people.
Mac watched Arrochar walk away. When he eventually turned back to me, he found me staring at him in silent curiosity. I didn’t ask. I didn’t pry. I just squeezed his arm and said, “I’m starving.”
He grinned, his shoulders relaxing. “Then let’s feed you, wee birdie.”
A few hours later, I was a little sweaty, full of food, and tipsy from the cocktails Lucy fed me. I wasn’t a big drinker, so I still had two untouched old-fashioneds sitting at the table we’d claimed farthest away from the band.
Lucy, Eredine, and Arrochar talked me into ceilidh dancing, and I’d done what I could without flashing my underwear at everyone. It was great fun. But not wanting to leave Mac at the table alone all the time, I made excuses to rejoin him. It turned out he was never alone. Thane, who did get a babysitter, barely left Mac’s side, and they sat talking, drinking, and laughing together most of the night.
A couple times, Lucy coaxed Thane up to dance, and as soon as he was gone, Arrochar was at Mac’s side, their heads bent together as they chatted and laughed. In those moments, I searched for Guy but couldn’t find him.
Lachlan and Leighanne danced a few times, with each other and with our friends and the villagers. Lucy was right—the villagers treated her and Lachlan like ordinary people. Lucy’s grin was so wide, her cheeks must have ached. It was wonderful to see her like that.