Relief crashed through me in a flood. “I’m so stupid for not telling you sooner.” It was like she’d lifted this weight from my shoulders.
“Oh, sweetie.” My sister sat down on the bed beside me. “It’s okay. You can have a fresh start here. And I think the job with Eilidh and Lewis will take your mind off things. They’re good kids.”
I nodded, sniffling. I’d been nothing but a watering can since arriving in Scotland.
Eventually, I pulled away, gave her a grateful smile, and got up to check my makeup. Touching it up, I caught sight of Robyn in the reflection, glaring at my luggage again.
“Wanna explain this?”
“I’m packed just in case you advised me I could take the job.” I turned to her.
“But you just got here.”
“And I’m not going anywhere. It’s just next door.”
A blank mask fell over Robyn’s face. “Fine.”
It wasn’t fine. It was far from fine, and suddenly guilt squashed my elation over the Austin news. “Thane told you it was a live-in job, right?”
She frowned. “He never mentioned that.”
“He has a guest house for the nanny.”
“Right. I forgot. I just thought with him being next door, you wouldn’t need to move out.”
“It gives us all space.” I gestured around the room. “You and Lachlan don’t want me hanging around all the time when you just got engaged.” I raised an eyebrow. “You were loud last night.”
Her lips parted in dismay, and I knew if my sister could blush, she’d be a tomato.
Worried she assumed I didn’t want to live with her, I smothered my laughter and rushed to say, “It’s not that I don’t want to live with you. I just thought for three adults, this was a better plan. And I’m right next door, which is kind of perfect. I’ll spend all my free time with you. When you’re not busy, that is, and we’ll catch up on everything. I promise. Please don’t take this the wrong way.”
At my worried expression, Robyn relaxed. “Sorry. I’m not trying to smother you. Or make you feel guilty for wanting space. You’re right about everything. Especially if I’m so loud.” She raised an eyebrow.
“Hey, he’s loud too. Very loud. Good job.” I winked lasciviously at her.
“Shut up.” My sister then continued like I hadn’t spoken. “I just … you just got here, you know. And you’ve been through a lot, and I want you to feel safe. Besides, I thought you’d be living here while you were working.”
I pulled her to her feet and into a tight hug, relieved when she embraced me in return. “You are going to see so much of me, you’ll be sick of me. Besides”—I reluctantly retreated—“you’re still going to teach me MMA, right?”
Her expression turned determined. “You bet your ass. You’re going to learn to defend yourself so the next time some asshole tries to trap you in a room, you can turn his balls to mincemeat.”
“You are scary sometimes. Speaking of, you’ll owe me a dollar for every time you bruise me during our sessions.”
Robyn made a face. “But you bruise like a peach.”
“I do bruise like a peach.”
She smiled but there was still a glimmer of sadness in her eyes. “I’ve missed you a lot.”
Emotion burned in my throat, but I grinned my way through it. “Right back at you. And I’ll be a hop, skip, and a jump from your doorstep.”
“I can’t believe you’re giving up this very large guest room for Thane’s little guest … box.”
Thinking of the huge walk-in shower, the hotel-quality bed, and the phenomenal view from my window, I couldn’t believe it either. Robyn laughed at the face I made. “You can still back out, you know.”
“Nah, Eilidh and Lewis are great. You’re right. I need this. I can’t imagine finding a better job.” Thane had emailed the contract, and whoa, the pay was good!
“You say that now before you’ve had to clean toilets.”
And that was why the pay was good.
“Party pooper.”
Robyn’s lips twitched.
“Pun not intended! Aargh. I’m leaving now.”
Despite not wanting me to leave, Robyn helped me downstairs with my luggage. I trundled my suitcase toward the front door.
“Have you told Mom and Seth you’re staying here for months?” Robyn asked.
Something in her tone made my spine straighten. I turned to her as I opened the door. “Yeah. I called Dad while you were on the phone with Autry.”
She tried to hide her surprise, but I still saw it.
I sighed. “I know I don’t want Dad to know about Austin … but everything else … I meant it when I said I was turning over a new leaf. I want to keep the people I love close, even if we’re not physically close. No more shutting anyone out, including Mom and Dad.”
“Good. I’m glad. And how did they take it?”
Remembering Dad’s hesitant silence on the phone when I told him about the nanny position with Lachlan’s brother, I slumped a little. “Dad was supportive, but I think a little sad. He’s glad I’m here with you, but I think he’s worried he’s going to lose us both to Scotland, which I told him is ridiculous.”
“Don’t go making promises, Ree. This place has a way of bewitching you.”
“I think we both know you stayed for reasons other than the scenery.”
She shrugged, a smug smile prodding her lips, but the amusement fled when she asked, “And how did Mom take it?”
“I don’t know yet. She was out. Dad said he’d tell her when she got home.”
“Brace yourself.”
Yeah, I was pretty sure my mom would be furious. “She’s never happy with anything I do.”
At my tone, Robyn reached out and squeezed my hand. “Let’s make time this weekend. Just you and me. To catch up. To talk about things. Including things you’ve bottled up that have obviously bothered you for a long time.”
“I’m fine,” I promised her.
Robyn sighed. “Regan, you can smile and charm everyone into thinking you’re the happiest person in the world, but I know better. I know our mom loves us, but I also know she’s not perfect. And it’s clear you harbor some resentment toward her. So let’s talk about it because you’re not alone. Wait until I tell you about her and Dad.”
Instantly intrigued, I leaned against the doorjamb. “Mac? What about her and Mac?”
Robyn waved me off. “This weekend. When we have time to really talk. Okay?”
“Okay.” I nodded. “Will you be all right alone? Where’s Lachlan?”
“He’s working late tonight. There was a plumbing issue in one of the guest suites at the castle.”
“Oh. He plumbs?”
She snorted. “No. He oversees.”
“Ah. Yeah, that makes more sense.” That afternoon, Lachlan had done as promised and given me a tour of the entire castle and estate. In addition to an impressive suite of reception rooms, the castle held many bedrooms and an entire staff quarters on the other side of the first floor where the kitchens, mews, and security department were located. We then took a golf cart to the separate gym and members’ homes dotted around the huge estate. I could tell by the way Lachlan talked about the place that it was his pride and joy and that he had his finger firmly on the pulse of everyday life here.