by Willa Blair
“Brilliant. I’ll take Holt into the village with me.” He gave Holt a grin. “Trust me, when those two lasses put their heads together, ’tis best to be as far from them as ye can be. Leave them to their lists. They’ll have plenty for us to do, all too soon.”
Holt winked at Caitlin and laughed. “I’ll take you up on that, Ian. I’ve seen Caitlin at work.” At Caitlin’s frown, he added, “She’s a whirlwind of the very best kind.”
“Decided to save yerself, did ye?” Caitlin narrowed her eyes, teasing. “We willna want the two of ye underfoot, as Ian kens fine.” She stood. “Why don’t we get settled while I wait for Lara, then ye two escape.”
Holt got to his feet and took her hand. “Lay on, MacDuff…”
Caitlin rolled her eyes, gave grinning Ian a wave, and led Holt back to the foyer to pick up their bags, then upstairs to his room. “I’m across the hall,” she told him. “There are two very intelligent, very inquisitive twins in the house who notice everything. I think we should keep our sleeping arrangements this way until the wedding.”
“They’re not here now.”
“Nay, but Ian is. And Lara will be home soon. Get cleaned up. I’m going to unpack while I have the chance.” She tugged her bag from Holt’s hand, pulling him toward her in the process.
Holt leaned in to give her a kiss, then went obediently into his room.
****
Hours later, Holt returned with Ian. As he climbed the stairs in search of Caitlin, he could hear Lara telling her husband that she and Caitlin had worked up lists of what had to be done and by whom. Ian’s low rumble became unintelligible as Holt turned a corner in the upstairs hall, and Caitlin’s voice came to him from her room.
“That's perfect. I'm so happy you can arrange it.”
Holt entered the room as she glanced around with her phone to her ear, saw him, and colored.
“I’ll speak to you later. Thank you,” she added and ended the call.
“Who was that? I heard Lara tell Ian that you two have everything organized.”
“Organized, aye. And lots to be done.” She gestured with the phone. “I'll be on this for hours until the day.” She glanced away, then lifted her gaze back to him and smiled.
Holt couldn't escape the sense that she was hiding something. Her Scottish accent had thickened now that she’d returned home, but now, on the phone, she sounded more like she had by the time they left Long Island.
“So how was your trip to town with Ian?” She tossed her phone on the bed and came into his arms. “What did you do?”
Holt held her for a moment, just soaking in the feeling of Caitlin in his arms, her scent surrounding him, her warmth heating his blood. Then he dipped his head and kissed her.
“Ah, visited the pub, did ye?”
“We had a dram. Medicinal purposes. Ian claimed whiskey is a great cure for jet lag.”
She snorted. “Ian’s blowing sunshine up yer skirt.”
Holt laughed, picturing himself in a kilt, then sobered, realizing Caitlin and her cousins might expect him to wear one to the wedding. That would be among many new experiences he suspected Caitlin had planned for him.
Caitlin leaned back in his arms, her brows drawn together. “Isn’t that your American saying?”
He kissed the crease and nodded. “You got it exactly right.”
Lara’s voice intruded as she called up the stairs. “Anyone hungry? I’ve got lunch.”
“On our way,” Caitlin replied, calling over Holt’s shoulder.
“Not just yet,” he murmured and kissed her again, this time on the mouth. “I can never get enough of this. Of you.”
With a grin, she reached down and poked him in the belly. “You need food on top of that whiskey. Kisses won’t absorb it.”
“Who said I want them to?” He laughed and released her, then took her hand. “Shall we?”
Caitlin stepped close and kissed him back, surprising him, and then led him downstairs.
****
Three mornings later, Caitlin and Holt went to the registrar for the marriage license, then Ian took Holt to find what he needed for the simple ceremony while Lara and Caitlin shopped for a dress, flowers, and accessories, then picked up the twins from school.
Once they were in the car, Amy leaned forward in her seatbelt and rested her elbows on the back of Caitlin’s seat. “Did you get everything?”
Caitlin glanced around and nodded. “We did! It’s all in the boot.”
Alex stared out the side window, expressing supreme masculine disinterest in all things wedding-related. Amy opened her mouth to ask another question, but after a glance in her rear-view mirror, Lara interrupted. “Sit back, young lady. You’ll see everything in good time.”
Amy settled back, but Caitlin could see she was still bristling with questions.
“I don't suppose anyone in this car would like to be my flower girl?”
“Aye!” Amy pumped her arm in triumph. “I will.” She poked her brother’s ribs. “I'm going to be in the wedding.”
“And Alex, would you like to be in charge of the rings?”
“Isn’t that what weans do? I’m too old.”
“Not always, and it’s a very important job. The rings are valuable, ye ken. Ye’d be helping your soon-to-be uncle Holt and your da.”
Alex poked his sister back, then met Caitlin’s gaze with his serious one and nodded. “I could do that, aye.”
She very carefully didn’t look at Lara. A grin, even a side-eye glance between them, and Alex might change his mind. “Then it’s settled. Everyone has a part to play in the wedding.”
An hour after they got home, a knock sounded at Cairn Dubh’s front door. Lara looked up to Holt from the early dinner she and Caitlin were making. “Can you get that, please? The twins are doing homework. Ian, can you help me here for a moment?”
Holt nodded and left the kitchen where he and Ian had been sitting, watching the women, and offering commentary.
As soon as he left the room, Caitlin and Lara grabbed towels to wipe their hands and gathered up Ian with a look. They arrived in the front foyer just as Holt opened the door, then stiffened.
“I heard there’s a bachelor pub crawl tonight. I didn’t want to miss it.” Doc Coats and Alice stood on the front porch. A limo driver set their luggage behind them, doffed his cap and left.
Holt grinned and pulled his father into a hug. “I can’t believe you’re here. You said you couldn’t get away from your practice. Or your bakery,” he added as he hugged Alice.
“We lied. We couldn’t miss this.” Alice reached for Holt’s hand. “I’m thrilled to be here.”
Holt’s father put an arm around Alice’s shoulders. “We both are.”
Caitlin watched their reunion with tears stinging her eyes, then caught Holt’s gaze. “Surprise!”
Holt stepped back to let the others enter the house and gathered her up in his arms. “It’s the best surprise,” he whispered in Caitlin’s ear. “Thank you.”
The next day, the whole family went to the registrar for the official ceremony tying the knot. Caitlin hadn’t told Holt she had asked Doc Coats to do the honors and give her away. She loved Holt’s reaction as they approached him.
His gaze kept shifting between her and his father. Holt’s color was high, and the glow in his eyes shone with love as he watched them. A glimmer of tears also sheened his father’s eyes when he kissed her cheek and gave her hand into his son’s keeping. Once Holt gave his father a one-armed hug and pulled Caitlin to his side, he leaned his mouth next to her ear and whispered, “Perfection.”
Ian and Lara held the reception at Cairn Dubh. Holt met Caitlin’s friends, and withstood friendly ribbing about not being able to find a suitable American girl.
“Only a Highland lass would do,” he boasted, with a smile for his new bride.
“I’ve married a wise man,” Caitlin responded. “But I already knew that.”
When they had a moment to themselves, Holt told her
, “I have a present for you, my lovely wife.” The other guests were drinking gallons of Champagne, whiskey, and gin, talking and laughing so loudly that they created a bubble of privacy around the newlyweds.
Caitlin displayed the emerald on her left hand and smiled. “Ye gave me a beauty already, my handsome husband.”
“Ah, but there’s more. I got a call this morning from my lawyers. I’ve sold my company in California. We’re free to live here or anywhere you like.”
“Holt! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I just did. It’s what I spent so much time working on the last week we were at the estate and since then. A friend bought into it. He’ll manage the company well. I still have a block of shares, but I’ve given up my controlling interest. I’m starting fresh with you. Aren’t you happy?”
“I am. I’m just surprised. Gobsmacked. You built that company from nothing.”
“And sold it for a handsome profit.”
“What will you do?”
“Besides spend hours making love to my gorgeous wife? Anything I want. Eventually I’ll start another company. But not right away. I plan to enjoy a lengthy honeymoon. If that’s all right with you.”
Caitlin stroked his cheek. “It sounds perfect.”
“Then we’ll live here, at least for now. Raise Ridley heirs, of which there will be many, now that you solved the family curse. We’ll find a place you like, a home base to return to between trips. There’s so much of the world I want to show you.”
“And so much more of Scotland I want to show you. But all that will wait. ’Tis our wedding night. I believe we already have plans.”
“Shall we bid goodnight to everyone or just slip away?”
Caitlin glanced around, suddenly eager to leave the party. “The latter, I think. They’re so far in their cups, they won’t notice we’ve gone until morning. Just be patient.”
“About being alone with you? Not a chance.”
Holt stood and took her hand, pulling her up beside him. Caitlin clung to him, not quite willing to accept that all this was true. She was married to Holt Ridley. The massive emerald on her hand tied her to him as surely as the papers they’d signed earlier that day. They would be able to live in Scotland for as long as she wished. He’d given up his company for her. What more could she ask, except that he love her for all of their very long lives together?
A movement made Caitlin glance over Holt’s shoulder in time to see Fergus appear in the doorway that led to the hallway and to the stairs to their bridal chamber. She gave the ghost hound a smile, and he disappeared back into the hall. Even Fergus thought it was time for them to leave the party. She was more than ready, and from the smile lighting Holt’s face, he was, too.
“I hope you know where we’re going,” he told her as they moved toward the door where Fergus had disappeared. “I still get lost in this wing, much less in the entire house. And when is that ghost going to show himself? I thought you said he liked weddings.”
“I know exactly where I’m taking you, husband. And Fergus was here just moments ago, agreeing with us that it was time to quit the party.”
“Smart dog.”
“Aye, he is. Now that we’re here, I’ll tell you more about him.”
“Later,” Holt advised as they mounted the stairs to the top floor and the suite of chambers set aside for them.
“Aye, later. We’re going to be busy—”
“For hours. Days.”
“Nights.” Caitlin opened the door, then shrieked with laughter when Holt suddenly picked her up.
“I must carry you across the threshold,” he reminded her. “One of my husbandly duties.”
“You’re doing a brilliant job of it.”
“I’ve had a lot of practice carrying you. I like it.”
“I wonder how you’ll manage the rest.”
He pushed the door closed with his shoulder and set her on her feet. “Once I lock this, I’ll be happy to show you.”
Don’t miss Ian and Lara’s romance in WAITING FOR THE LAIRD. Here’s an excerpt:
“Are ye okay?” Ian felt Lara’s ribs expand under his hand as she breathed.
“I am now,” she murmured. “I could have sprained an ankle, or fallen and hit my head.”
“You needn’t worry,” he answered softly. “I’ve got you.” Pressed against his hard length, right where he needed her. Though he knew holding her was a mistake, he couldn’t let her go.
Her face flushed. “You do at that. I…I…” She glanced at the ceiling, then returned her gaze to his. “Thank you…”
“You’re welcome. I don’t mind a bit,” Ian teased. Her body was firm, yet soft against his. She made no move to escape his embrace. He lowered his gaze to her mouth. Her lips were so close. So tempting.
Lara’s breath warmed his face. Her gaze met his, then dropped quickly to his mouth.
He was certain she meant to allow his kiss…and to kiss him back. He parted his lips, drinking in her scent, eager to taste her.
Something moved in the darkness below them, soundless, but stirring the cool air and whispering across his hands. The back of Ian’s neck prickled.
Lara stiffened and cocked her head, as if listening.
“Just a draft,” he murmured. Ian could have sworn it was only moving air, nothing more. He hoped. He’d grown up hearing tales about Cairn Dubh—and its ghost. If Cairn Dubh did have a ghost, this ancient space would be a fine place for it to haunt.
A word about the author…
Willa Blair is an award-winning and Amazon and Barnes & Noble #1 bestselling author of Scottish historical paranormal romance. She has been featured on and contributes to USAToday’s Happy Ever After romance blog, Savvy Authors, Romance University, and more.
Her books, available in print, ebook, and audiobook formats, have won numerous honors, including Reader’s Crown finalist, NightOwl Reviews Top Pick, Marlene, Merritt, Crowned Heart, and Historical Romance finalist, and honorable mention in InD’Tale Magazine’s prestigious RONE Award.
She has been a lifelong student and reader, stained glass artist and instructor, foreign language teacher, computer scientist, analyst, manager and executive. She has visited five continents and can get by in several languages. She loves scouting new settings for books, and thinks being an author is the best job in the world.
Get Willa’s newsletter at www.willablair.com to be the first to know about new releases, book previews, and subscriber-only contests!
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