“Ooh. You’re my kind of cousin, aren’t you?” He slapped me on the back. “So, you’ve got a brother as well, eh?”
“Yeah, my brother, Kent. I wish he could have been here to meet you guys as well. I think he would’ve really enjoyed it.”
“Aye, I dare say he would’ve. Part of the MacAllister clan. You know, we’ve got a tartan and everything.”
“No, really?”
“Oh, yes. Every clan in Scotland has a tartan, and we’re part of the MacAllister clan. You’ll have to get a kilt. And you’ll have to take it back to the U.S. and wear it at your wedding.”
“Oh, well, I don’t know that I’m ever going to get married. And if I did, I don’t think I’d be wearing a kilt.”
“You’ll be wearing a kilt if I have anything to say about it.” Shamus put his arm around my shoulder and started laughing. “And you know you can’t wear any boxers or briefs, you know. You have to go commando.”
“Um, okay.”
“And you flash your bum to all the ladies,” he chuckled. “You should see your face, Dylan. I’m just joking.” He paused. “Or am I?”
“I don’t really know, but I think you’re in need of a drink as well because you’re talking some craziness.”
“I’m talking some craziness, am I, because I’m a Scottish?”
“No, that’s not what I’m saying.”
“I know. I’m just teasing you. You Yanks, you’ve got no sense of humor, do you?”
“I think you’ll find that I have a very good sense of humor.”
“Well, that’s good then, boy. The McAllisters are known for their great sense of humor,” he said, patting me on the shoulder again. “It’s so good to meet you, Dylan. You and Abby. Anytime you’re in Scotland, you must come and stay with us. No more hotels, you hear? Family is family. And family should stay with family. In fact, if you want to stay here tonight—”
“Oh, no. I don’t think Abby would want to stay tonight. All her clothes and makeup are in the hotel.”
“I’m sure that’s why you want to stay at the hotel,” he winked at me, “because of the clothes and the makeup, eh?”
“Well, you know,” I grinned at him.
“I know very well,” he said. “Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink. Say no more. Say no more.”
I chuckled. “I’m glad I came tonight,” I said. “I’m really glad.”
“I’m glad you came, too,” he said and handed me another beer.
I looked around the room and this time Abby was looking at me. Our eyes met, and she raised one eyebrow slightly, asking me a question without speaking. I nodded and gave her a thumbs up. She grinned and mouthed, I told you so. I shook my head at her and laughed. My beautiful, darling Abby. She knew me almost better than I knew myself.
As much as I loved meeting my cousins and getting to know them, I also couldn’t wait to get Abby alone so I could tear off her clothes. We’d stay for a couple more hours, and then I’d get her back to the hotel room as quickly as possible. I was insatiable when it came to Abby. I needed her more than anything. And I was going to tell her that. I don’t know if it was the bliss of the moment or a softening of my heart, now that I had some family in my life, but I wanted to tell her how I felt. I wanted to sing it to the world.
And that was such a strange feeling because I’d never wanted to sing, period, let alone sing my feelings and emotions to the world. Something had come over me.
I, Dylan MacAllister, was falling in love.
I wanted to tell her, and I prayed more than anything that she would feel the same way about me. I knew I’d been a jerk to her. I knew I’d said things that had hurt her. I’d been an asshole. But she’d seen that there was more to me than that. She made me believe that I could be more than the person I had been, that I could demand more from my life.
She made me believe that love existed. She made me believe that there were people out there who cared about others more than themselves. And she made me believe in fireflies in the sky, and butterflies in the heart, and happily ever afters. She was my one.
I was loath to admit it, but she was my soulmate, and I needed to let her know.
Chapter 40
Abby
* * *
“You’ll take the high road and I’ll take the low road and I’ll be in Scotland before ye,” Dylan was singing as we made our way to the hotel room. He was drunker—and happier—than I’d ever seen him before.
“I never knew that song was Scottish,” I said. “I can’t believe I’m such a dunce.”
“Don’t worry, I didn’t know either.” He continued singing. “Where me and my true love will never meet again, on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.”
“Well, you certainly know the song well.” I held his hand.
I loved this side of Dylan. So open, so sweet, so caring. The way he looked at me made my heart flutter.
“You should sing it with me,” he said, as we opened the door to our hotel room and stumbled inside.
“I’m not a good singer,” I said.
“Well, if you’re half as good a singer as you are a dancer …” He grinned.
“Dylan, stop it.”
“What? I haven’t even started yet.” He licked his lips.
“Dylan McAllister, don’t be a bad boy,” I said, tapping him on the nose.
“Or what, Miss Waldron? What are you going to do? Bend me over your lap and spank me?”
“I will, you know. If you push me.”
“Ooh, are you going to be my teacher, and I’ll be a naughty boy?”
“Really, Dylan?”
He laughed. “I have never felt this light before in all my life.” He stared at me in amazement. “I’ve never been this open before either. I don’t know what they put in the scotch over here, but it’s like some sort of truth serum.”
“Then I’ll have to buy bottles and bottles of it,” I grinned, “and take it home to America so I can always keep you honest with your feelings.”
“Don’t you dare. Let’s dance instead.” He pulled me into his arms and started humming a song I didn’t know as he serenaded me around the room.
“Dylan,” I giggled, “you’re drunk.”
“No, I’m not drunk. I’m high on life. Isn’t it amazing? Isn’t it beautiful? Aren’t my cousins wonderful? They’re fun. They’re really nice. I can’t believe I just said my cousins. My entire life I’ve gone without any family except for my brother, and now I have a family here and they’re good people.” He stared at me in amazement. “They’re good, right?”
“They’re really good.” I nodded. “They’re lovely, really lovely.”
“The McAllister clan of Scotland,” he said in a Scottish accent. “Can you believe I’m Scottish?”
“Yes.” I grinned.
“You know what Shamus said to me?”
“No, what?”