Soon they were all seated in the kitchen, enjoying the fruits of Mam’s labors. There were fat bridies stuffed full of steak and onions, as well as cock-a-leekie soup and fish toasties. Mam had even attempted a few American dishes, including some godawful creamy concoction made of green beans with crunchy fried things on top. Logan smiled at his mother, touched at how much effort she’d put into making this meal special for Cassie.
Mam winked at him and went back to grilling Janet. “What else is new? How have you been keeping yourself busy without this loon here to pester you?”
Janet helped herself to a second serving of the disgusting green bean crunchy thing and shrugged. “I’ve taken on several new bands as clients, but I’m still doing work on Shenanigans.” She looked at Logan. “Since there hasn’t been any new content to post, I’m focusing on the archives. I created a mobile app, where fans can search for old videos.”
“Oh?” Logan asked. “I didn’t know you knew how to do that stuff.”
“I don’t. Clara is helping me.”
“The drummer?” Logan cocked an eyebrow at his sister.
Janet didn’t miss his look. “Yep, that’s the one. When she’s not banging sticks with The Mermaids, she’s a programmer. Cool, huh?”
“Oh yes, very cool.” Logan had ideas about what else Clara was banging. Well, bully for Nettie. Maybe with him out of their flat, his sister had finally decided to come out of her shell and date a bit.
Janet smiled at him, and he knew she’d picked up on his approval. Sometimes sibling telepathy could be a good thing. She glanced around the table. “Hey, where are the clooties? I thought Mam was going to make some.”
“I did, a whole mountain of them.” Mam tilted her head in Logan’s direction meaningfully.
Janet stared at Logan across the table. “You ate all of them?”
“I helped,” Cassie said. She was seated next to Logan and had been quiet through most of the meal. Though, to be fair, Mam didn’t leave much room for anyone else to get a word in.
“Oh, well, that’s fine then.” Janet grinned. “What did you think?”
“They were good,” Cassie said. “Very filling.”
“That’s nothing. You should try black bun.” Janet poured herself a glass of wine.
“Is that like black pudding?” Cassie scrunched her nose in obvious distaste.
Janet laughed. “No.” She reached across the table and filled Cassie’s wine glass, describing the merits of Scotland’s most treasured delicacy.
“This fruitcake wrapped in a piecrust is a Christmas thing?” Cassie asked.
Mam nodded. “Aye, and Hogmanay—that’s the New Year—too. Och, do you remember the year yer da stuffed a black bun full of bangers?”
Logan fought the familiar tension that rose at the mention of his father, struggling against the demons of anger, regret, and grief ready to swallow him whole. He would not give in. He would not let the demons win. He inhaled, filling his lungs in a slow, steady breath. He would stay relaxed, stay calm.
Sibling ESP in full effect, Janet cast a concerned eye his way while she continued to smile at Mam. “How could I ever forget?”
Cassie glanced around the table. “Wait, bangers … isn’t that a sausage or something?”
“Not this time, hen.” Mam shook her head. “Fire crackers. Big ones. I told you my Cameron was quite the jokester, aye? Well, at the end of one Hogmanay he had a few left over and decided to stuff them inside a loaf of black bun.”
Cassie’s eyes widened. “Don’t tell me someone tried to eat it?”
“Och, no.” Mam quivered with laughter. “The trouble was at the other end, I guess one could say.”
“What happened?” Cassie looked from Mam to Janet, who were both laughing too hard to answer. She turned to Logan.
He cleared his throat. “Well, Da had thought it would be funny to put the bangers in the bun, aye? But I don’t think he considered what he would do with the thing once it was lit. Not having much time to decide, he dropped the whole mess down the sewer drain.”
As the memory of that night filled his mind, Logan felt a rush of love for his da. The bands of iron constricting his chest eased, and he smiled at Cassie. “I suppose he thought the water would put out the fuse.”
“I’m guessing it didn’t,” Cassie said, eyes still wide.
Logan shook his head and chuckled. “No. The bangers went off, and the explosion caused the pipes to back up.”
“Poor Auntie Madeline.” Janet giggled.
Cassie looked to him again for clarification.
“The water … went up … and out…” Logan wheezed, laughter making speech difficult, “… the loo.” He made a gesture with his hands, laughing harder as he tried to mimic how the water had gushed, a geyser bursting out of the toilet Aunt Madeline had the misfortune to be sitting on.
Janet picked up the narrative. “We heard a scream and then Auntie came running out of the loo, knickers around her knees, soaking wet with bits of black bun in her hair.”
“At least, we all hoped it was black bun,” Logan quipped.
That set off another round of giggles.
“I don’t think she ever forgave Da,” Janet chortled.
“Och, of course she did.” Mam wiped at her eyes, but it was tears of laughter she shed now. “You always forgive Logan whenever he plucks yer feathers, aye? Well, yer Auntie Madeline put up with her brother’s shavies too. Life with your da was unexpected, messy at times, to be sure—I wasna happy about cleaning up after that escapade, let me tell you—but fun. Always full of craic.”
“He sounds wonderful,” Cassie said.
“He was, dear, he was.” Mam sighed and smiled wistfully at Cassie. “He would have liked to meet you.”
Abruptly, Mam turned to Logan. “You should bring Cassie back for Hogmanay,” she said, reaching across the table to pat his hand.
“Ugh, slow down there, Mam.” Janet refilled her wine glass and raised it in a salute to Cassie. “You better watch out or she’ll be planning your wedding by breakfast.”
Logan pulled the bottle toward him and filled his own glass, mouth gone dry at the direction the conversation had turned. “Or yours,” he shot back at his sister.
“Yes,” Mam agreed as she cut into the first of the three pies. “I want to hear more about this Clara girl. You know, Nettie, I still have your gran’s engagement ring set aside.”
Janet rolled her eyes. “Christ, Mam, no thank you!”
“Language,” Mam scolded.
Logan hid a grin behind a forkful of blackberry-rhubarb pie. He was off the hook for now. It was his sister’s turn for some maternal matrimonial machinations.
His plate full again, this time with a slice of ginger-peach pie, Logan considered his own life. Could he see himself settling down with Cassie? The thought made his entire body go equal parts hot and cold. Life was too unexpected to bother trying to plan so far ahead. Why spend years building a life with someone if it could be snatched away in a flash?
He wasn’t willing to face such a loss. Wasn’t brave enough to risk that kind of pain. No. Better to enjoy life one day at a time. Celebrate the moments as they come. The familiar mantra soothed him, silenced the questions. He helped himself to a slice of cherry pie. He was already full to bursting, but cherry was his favorite, and he was determined to savor the sweetness of every last bite.
CHAPTER 25
ON SATURDAY LOGAN took Cassie on a tour of the more banal, local sites of his hometown. They wandered through the business district, poking around his favorite shops. Finally, they went for a walk along the harbor, down to the pride and joy of Lochalsh’s tourism industry, the aptly named Lochalsh Hotel. The hotel had a very nice lounge attached, of a higher class than the many pubs peppering the docks.
“This is lovely,” Cassie said, as they settled into a booth with an impressive view of the loch and Skye Bridge stretching across the horizon.
Logan nodded. “A bit fancier than average, more
for out-of-towners than locals, you ken.”
The barmaid approached with two glasses of ale.
“I didna order those,” he began.
“They’re from the gent over there,” the barmaid said, tilting her chin toward a booth across the room.
Oh, Christ. Heat rose up Logan’s collar.
“What’s wrong?” Cassie asked.
“Nothing,” he bit off, turning away from the booth where Mr. Kinney sat, waving at them.
“Do you know that man?”
“No, I doona think so,” he lied.
“Are you sure?” Cassie prodded.
Jesus, lass, leave it alone, will you? “Quite sure.” He kept his gaze averted, feigning interest in the daily specials. Salmon it looked like, courtesy of Reid’s Fishery, no doubt.
“Well, I think he knows you,” she said, taking a sip from her pint.
“What’s that?” Logan glanced up.
She nodded behind him. “He’s coming this way.”
Logan closed his eyes and held back a groan. A moment later, an aged meaty hand clapped him on the shoulder.
“Mr. Reid, I heard you were in town.”
“A few days only.” He stood and shook the hand of his father’s former foreman.
“Nice to see you, Logan. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your lovely companion?”
No. Offering the man a grim smile, Logan turned and held out a hand to Cassie. “Cassie Crow, please meet Mr. Nathaniel Kinney, head of Reid Fishery.”
“Oh, so this is Mr. Kinney!” Cassie said, smiling up at the old codger.
Logan winced.
“Och, ye’ve heard of me?”
Cassie hesitated, gaze shifting between Logan and the older man. “Well, yes … Logan’s mother, that is, Fiona, I mean, Mrs. Reid … she asked us to look in on you.”
“Did she now?” Mr. Kinney’s ruddy face beamed. “And how is yer mother?”
“Fine,” Logan replied, the weight of the man’s stare pressing down upon him, suffocating him.
“I’d be happy to accompany you both on a tour of the fishery,” Mr. Kinney offered. “Whaddya say, Logan, come on down and see what I’ve done with the place? Yer father would be happy, I think.”
“That would be very—” Cassie began.
“That won’t be necessary, thank you,” Logan said sharply.
After an awkward pause, Cassie smiled at the foreman. “We’re only here a few days,” she offered lamely.
“I see,” Mr. Kinney said slowly. “I’ll leave you to it then.” He tipped his hat. “Give my regards to your mother and sister.”
The pressure increased. Logan was starved for air, his lungs collapsing. “Aye,” he choked out, gripping the edges of the table as the man made his farewell to Cassie.
“Logan?” she asked, reaching for his hand. He pulled away, grinding his fists into his thighs as he sucked in several slow deep breaths. “He’s gone now.”
He downed his ale, then raised his hand for another. “And add these to my tab,” he told the barmaid, gesturing to the pints Mr. Kinney had sent over. He didn’t want to owe that blasted man anything. The worst part was, Kinney wasn’t the problem. He’d done a grand job taking over the business and ran it in good faith. Da would be happy. And there’s the rub.
She sipped her drink quietly for a moment. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Okay…” Cassie said, voice teetering with doubt. A commotion at the front of the lounge pulled her attention. “I think there’s a wedding happening.”
He glanced over his shoulder. Sure enough, a bridal party was making its way through the hotel restaurant to the banquet room. “That’ll be the reception. The hotel hosts them often. It’s likely the couple got themselves hitched over at the castle.”
“Eilean Donan?” Cassie gaped at him. “The one we toured the other day?”
“That’s the one.”
“I’d love to get married in a castle,” she sighed dreamily.
He snorted. “Why?”
“Why get married in a castle?” She tilted her head, considering him. “Because it would be unique and special and ridiculously romantic.”
“No. Why get married at all?” The sounds of laughter from the wedding party carried across the bar. Logan shook his head. “Those poor sots have no idea what they’re in for.”
“But what if you’re in love?” Cassie pressed, voice taking on a wary edge.
“Even worse.” He thought of his mother, broken-hearted in that hospital room. “Much worse.”
She stared at him. “You don’t actually believe that.”
“I do.” He smiled with cold finality.
That seemed to knock the wind out of her sails. “Oh.” She stared at the dregs in her glass.
A fiddle began to play, a cheery tune in dreadful contrast to the mood at their table.
“Well, I believe that when two people are in love, they should get married,” she said, her chin jutting out as she met his gaze. “And someday, I know I want to get married.”
“Well, I know I don’t,” Logan countered, unable to stop himself. Something mean and spiteful curled in his chest, clawing to get out.
“I see,” Cassie murmured, brown eyes going soft as a doe’s. She blinked and shook her head, and Logan thought he caught the shimmer of tears on her lashes. Her reaction tore through him, but didn’t change his mind. Better to feel a little pain now, than be in a world of hurt later.
* * *
The moment Logan put the car in park Cassie let herself out. She didn’t wait for him, but instead rushed up the walkway and hurried inside, not caring if it was rude to enter his house on her own. She managed a polite greeting to his mother and sister, who were settled on the sofa in the parlor, before scurrying down the hall to her room.
Through the closed door she could hear Logan enter, his deep voice a heavy rumble in counterbalance to Janet and Fiona. Cassie resisted the urge to lean against the door and listen. Instead, she pulled her suitcase out of the closet and began to pack. They had an early morning flight back to Chicago. She might as well get ready.
It didn’t take her long. After all, she’d only packed for a few days, and she was almost finished when a knock sounded at the door. She ignored it at first, zipping up her suitcase and pulling off the old travel tags. But when the knock came again, she stormed to the door and threw it open. “What?” she demanded, blanching when she saw not Logan standing outside her room, but his sister.
“It’s like that, is it?” Janet raised an eyebrow, the spitting image of her brother.
Cassie gritted her teeth and turned back to her suitcase, yanking aggressively at the remaining airline tags.
Not waiting for an invitation, perhaps because one obviously wasn’t forthcoming, Janet stepped inside and closed the door behind her. “You and my brother had a row, then.” It was a statement, not a question.
Cassie crumpled the tags in her fist. “Not really.”
That wasn’t a lie. There had been no fight.
Janet sat and patted the spot next to her on the bed. When Cassie ignored her invitation and remained standing, Janet sighed. “Coming back home is always hard for Logan. I thought it would get easier with time, but…” Janet paused, her mouth working, “… to be honest, I’m not sure it’s gotten all that much easier for any of us.”
Despite herself, Cassie moved closer, her heart twisting at the look on Janet’s face.
Staring down at the bed, her fingers tracing the pattern on the duvet, Janet continued, “In some ways I think Da’s passing was a blessing.” She paused and glanced up at Cassie. “I know that’s a terrible thing to say—and I don’t mean it like that, I’d give anything to have my father back. Anything. But Da’s death forced Logan to make choices he never would have had to consider otherwise. Suddenly he had the opportunity to forge his own path.”
“You’re talking about the family business, right?” Cassie a
sked. “He was an ass to that man Mr. Kinney today.”
Janet winced. “Aye, well. Everything about that place reminds him of Da … and Mr. Kinney worst of all.” She picked at a loose thread. “Taking over the fishery never would have been a good fit for Lo. He’d have been miserable. But if Da were still alive, my brother would have done it and never once questioned it. Lo didna want anything so much as he wanted to make Da proud.” She smiled then, her face soft and wistful.
“It’s how he ended up going to St. Andrews. Da was always bragging about me, about how I’d gone on to university. Logan decided if getting a college education would make Da proud, then he’d go for it big time. He used some of the settlement money from Da’s accident to enroll in that hoity-toity school.”
“That’s where Logan and Theo became friends, right?”
“Aye, I forgot. Lo told me you met Theo in London.” Janet grinned. “Theo’s a gem.”
“He is.” Cassie nodded. “He helped me out when I, uh, really needed it.”
“I’m sure he did.” Janet winked. “If I liked dick, I’d be all over his Prince Albert.”
Cassie laughed. The sound cleansed the lingering taste of anger sitting bitter on her tongue.
“Did Lo ever tell you how Shenanigans got started?” Janet asked, lounging back on the bed, crossing her arms behind her head.
“He said it was your idea.” Cassie frowned, wondering where Logan’s sister was going with this.
“I suppose.” Janet crossed her ankles and stared up at the ceiling. “But my brother thinks the idea for Shenanigans first came to me after his streaking incident. The truth is, I thought of it much earlier.”
“What do you mean?” Cassie sat on the edge of the bed.
“It was the first Hogmanay after Da passed. We were a sorry lot, Mam, Lo, and I. The three of us mooning about and staring at the walls. Talking about everything but saying nothing.” Janet shook her head. “Painful, awkward, awful.”
Cassie sank back, settling on the pillows next to Janet. “I’m so sorry.”
“Aye, well, it sucked. But then, out of nowhere, my brother comes prancing downstairs in some outrageous costume he’d cobbled together. When Mam demanded to know what he was about, Lo grabbed her hand and told her to get her wrap because we were going out first-footing.”
Getting Hot with the Scot--A Sometimes in Love Novel Page 26