by Cali MacKay
“Are you sure that’s it?”
“Aye, love. As for hiring someone, I have time, and I’d be happy to do it. Most days, I’m done with work by mid-afternoon, and it’d keep me busy while I figure out what to do with my remaining projects.” They paused their conversation for a moment as Lara slid their food onto the table. “So what needs doing? Tell me yer plans, love.”
“I’ll do even better-let’s eat and then we’ll head over and I’ll show you.”
Chapter Seven
“Given the size of the check I wrote out, the owners were happy to give me the keys despite the papers still waiting for the final steps in processing.” Rowan hadn’t really touched the money in her secret bank account until now, and though it was a relatively large purchase, she thought it would be a good investment.
She unlocked the door with a jiggle of the key, and then pushed it open, excitement bubbling within her. The space was wide and open, with good light and plenty of windows. A fresh coat of cream paint-or taupe-would keep the walls neutral so as not to compete with the artwork.
There was a long wooden bar running parallel to the far wall, and though she had every intention of making use of the professional espresso machine, she’d likely get rid of the bar-or better yet, convert it to a display for small items, by adding glass to the front and shelving within. Track and spot lighting would have to be added to help showcase the works, and then maybe the back area could be converted to a studio.
“So… what do you think?” She looked over at Angus, hoping he’d like it as much as she did. It had been a rather impulsive buy, but it felt right and it was a lifelong dream.
“With a bit of work, I think it’ll be grand.” He stepped away from her side, wandering about while taking it in. She could see the ideas churning in his head. “Some lights along the ceiling.”
“And some spot lights strategically placed from below.”
“Aye. Something plain on the walls.”
“So it won’t compete with the artwork.” She smiled. He was having the same thoughts she was.
“A desk in the corner so you can work when it gets slow.”
“And a studio out the back. Maybe hold classes in the evenings. A ‘bring a friend, a bit of wine and learn to paint’ sort of thing. Might even get a few potter’s wheels and a kiln.”
He looked at her, surprise registering on her face. “Do ye also do pottery then?”
“Actually, it’s my first love, though I’ve experimented with just about every medium. Started working on the wheel when I was in high school and continued it in college, though it was impossible to keep up once I started travelling. Photography became a good alternative since it’s far more portable. But now? Why not? I’ve got the space in the back and I could also give lessons, not to mention it’d be one more thing to sell in the gallery.”
“Well, ye have yer first student then. I’ve always wanted to learn. It could be our little barter-I’ll help ye with everything but the electrical, and in turn, ye can teach me how to make pottery.”
He gave her a genuine smile, but she had to wonder… “It’s not because you saw the movie Ghost, is it?”
His eyebrows perked up in question, his face bland. “I wouldn’t know what ye’re talking about, my dear.”
***
Rowan put on one outfit after another, not quite sure what to wear to dinner, her nerves getting more frayed with each clothing change. Not only was she meeting Angus’s family for the first time, but she’d also be meeting her mother’s best friend-and maybe, just maybe, she’d get enough answers to start the search for her father.
Would jeans be too casual if paired with a pretty sweater and heels? Maybe. A dress? She didn’t have a whole lot, since she’d been forced to cull most of her wardrobe before moving. Not to mention it was pretty damn cold out.
Ah! She pulled out a finely knit sweater-dress with a scooped cowl neck in a pretty smoke color. Digging around, she found a pair of oatmeal tights and coupled them with a pair of knee-high boots in soft chocolate brown leather. Perfect. She’d be casual but elegant, and most importantly, comfortable.
She checked the time and then finished getting ready. Angus had insisted on picking her up, since it’d be easier than trying to give her directions to his parents’ home. Probably for the best, since she’d likely get lost or drive off a cliff while trying to stay on the correct side of the road.
Angus was on time, and she found it difficult to keep her excitement at bay. Though Angus’s mom might not have a whole lot of information to give her, Rowan just needed enough to get her search started.
Grabbing her bag and the bottle of wine she’d bought, she opened the door before he had a chance to knock and beamed up at him. “Ready.”
He took a step back and gave a low whistle. “Wow… ye look… amazing.”
Relief washed over her. “Thanks. I wasn’t quite sure what to wear, and well... I want your parents to like me.”
“Och, ye could show up wearing a sack and they’d still love ye, lass.”
She then realized Angus was wearing a kilt-coupled with a pair of Doc Martens and a comfy sweater. And damn if her pulse didn’t get erratic. There was nothing she liked more than a man in a kilt, especially when they wore it well. Even better when it was kept casual. Her smile refused to be tamed. “Nice… boots.”
He looked down and then gave her a crooked smile. “Aye. The kilt. My Da likes us all to be kilted for any dinner with guests. He’s sort of old-fashioned that way.”
“Well, you won’t hear any complaints from me.” She was grateful when a cool breeze hit her flaming cheeks as they headed towards his car. Though she had no time for a relationship, she told herself it was perfectly fine to enjoy the view. And what a view it was. A man in a kilt made her all sorts of hot and bothered. Good thing her nerves were enough to distract her from the effects of her non-existent love life.
The drive to his parents’ home seemed relatively short, distracted as she was by Angus’s banter and her nerves. When they pulled down the drive, she took a deep breath to try and calm herself. So much hinged on what she found out tonight.
“Hey…” Angus gave her hand a squeeze. “It’ll be all right, love.”
All her uncertainties seemed to wash over her at once. “And what if it isn’t? This is my only hope, Angus. I know not to expect much, but I need something to go on-something to take me to the next clue. ‘Cause I can’t stand not knowing anymore. It feels like it’s all coming to a head, and I’m going to lose it if I don’t get some resolution.”
He let out a weary sigh. “Rowan… what if he doesn’t want to be found?”
“Don’t you think I realize that? It’s not like he hasn’t had twenty-six years to make contact. Yet he hasn’t. And you know what? I don’t care. I just want a name and a face to go with it. Do you know what it’s like to live with such a big question mark in your life? Everything feels unsettled. Nothing’s at peace.” She then scoffed. “It’s no wonder Stephen went looking elsewhere. He always said I had one foot out the door.”
He brushed her cheek, but she could feel a coiled tension in his touch. “He was nothing but an arse, love. He cheated on you. How is that yer fault?”
“I could have been there more. And not just physically, either. Even when I wasn’t travelling, I held him at arm’s length.”
Angus let out a deep breath, and then brushed a stray a stray curl from her eyes, his fingers lingering. “No matter what-it doesn’t excuse what he did. If he wasn’t happy, he could have broken it off.”
“I just want to-need to-find my father. I’ll be fine then. I’ll be whole.” She blinked back tears, refusing to get all weepy and emotional, especially when she’d be heading in for dinner. The last thing she needed was to look like she’d been crying, her eyes bloodshot and lids puffy. With several deep breaths, she got a hold of herself. “We should go in.”
“Are ye sure?” He looked so worried.
“You’re a sweet ma
n, Angus.” She leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Now let’s get going before they start wondering what we’re up to.”
“Och, well, if we’re going to give them something to wonder about, then shouldn’t we at the very least be doing something awfully depraved while out here?”
She shook her head with a laugh, amazed at how he could melt her worries away with his humor. “You’re so bad, Angus.”
“Aye, love. Bad to the bone.”
She found him looking at her, his gaze holding hers, the air between them charged. She could easily kiss him, then and there-and if she was reading him right, the same thought was crossing his mind at that very moment. It’d be so easy to just lean in a little more, to brush her lips against his. Yet her racing pulse had her breaking away, not wanting to muck things up between them. With the moment gone, she gave him an uneasy smile and made her escape, leaving him to follow.
He took her hand as he led her up the walkway. The house was traditional in style, not too unlike her mother’s cottage, but much larger in size. Angus didn’t knock, but rather opened the door and wandered into the sitting room, where his father was sitting by the fire, reading a book. “Da.”
“Och, there ye are.” Hamish Macleod got to his feet. Nearly as tall as Angus, Rowan could see the similarities not only in their height but their unruly curls and bright blue eyes.
“This here is Rowan.” Angus ran a comforting hand down her back, making her grateful to have him right there by her side.
“The name’s Hamish. It’s a pleasure to finally meet ye.” When he gave her a hearty handshake and a smile that reached his eyes, the butterflies in her stomach settled a little. Just like Angus, his father was tall and handsome-and like she’d been warned, kilted too.
Feeling more at ease, she felt some of the tightness and anticipation in her chest slip free. “The pleasure’s mine.”
A petite woman walked into the room behind them. “There ye are. Rowan…” Angus’s mom, Anne, took both Rowan’s hands in hers and gave them a squeeze, not letting go, her eyes sparkling with emotion. “Ye look so much like yer Ma did back in the day. I was so sorry to hear of her passing.”
Rowan blinked back tears, not wanting to get emotional in front of everyone, but having a hard time of it. She forced a smile to her lips. “I know she missed you, even if she seldom talked about home.”
“Why don’t ye come into the kitchen and keep me company while I finish up dinner.” Leaving the men behind, they headed to the kitchen. “Grab yerself a seat. I’m just waiting for the apple pie to finish baking. We can have that after dinner with our tea.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?” She hated sitting there while others worked.
She took a seat near Rowan at the kitchen table. “Och, no, love. The pie’s the only thing left, and there’s nothing to do for it but wait.”
Unsure of how much time they’d have alone to discuss her father, Rowan decided now was as good a time as any. Her pulse picked up its pace, and her breath quickened as she fought through her unease. “Did Angus mention that I want to speak to you?”
“Aye, he did, though I’m not sure I’ll have many answers for ye, my dear.”
“I’m looking for my father-do you know who he is?”
Anne’s demeanor slumped as she looked at Rowan with sadness in her eyes. “No, dear. Yer mother ne’er did say. I’ll admit, it was a bit of a sore spot between us. We’d been the best of friends since we were bairns, and I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t tell me about him. I knew she must have had her reasons, and I eventually came around. The circumstances were hard… she was engaged to another lad, aye?”
“Was my father local, then? When did she become pregnant?” She needed information she didn’t already have.
“No, he wasn’t from around here, that I was aware of. She’d been away at university when it happened, so I can only assume it was a lad she’d met during her studies, though he could easily be from anywhere. She left for the states as soon as she could-would have been about four months pregnant with ye.” Anne let out a deep breath. “I know ye want to know yer father, but I’m afraid there’s little to point the way. Bit of a wild goose chase.”
Rowan’s mind raced through the possibilities. She could see her mother, young and independent, walking across campus to class, a handsome guy at her side. They wouldn’t be living in a vacuum. “Someone must know-even if it’s no more than who she was hanging out with. I know she lived on campus-she’d let that slip one day. Maybe her roommate met him-or perhaps he called. Did she ever mention her roommate’s name?”
“I’m sure she did on more than one occasion, though I’m afraid my memory is failing me after all these years.” She put a gentle hand on Rowan’s arm. “I’m so sorry I’m not being much help.”
“I know it’s been ages since it happened, and I appreciate you trying to help. And now that I know it happened while she was in college, I’m hoping I can track down a few more leads. I can’t thank you enough-already, it’s far more than I had to start with.” Once more, Angus and his family were there to help her. She couldn’t imagine trying to do it all on her own, and having this connection to her mom was priceless. “I truly appreciate everything you and your family have done for me. I couldn’t have made the move here without Angus.”
Though it wasn’t a lot to go on, Rowan at least knew her next step would be tracking down the people who knew her mother while she was in school. Teachers, advisors, friends, and most importantly, her mom’s roommate. It finally felt like she was getting somewhere with her search, even if she was still a long way from finding her father.
Anne pulled her from her thoughts. “Yer mother was like the sister I never had, and I hope ye know, ye’re like family. I would do anything I could to keep ye safe and see ye happy.”
Anne’s words struck at her very heart, filling it with hope. It was as if she was no longer alone in her quest. She’d tried her best to manage on her own, tried to stay strong. For the first time since her mother’s death, she felt someone lighten her load and walk by her side. And it wasn’t just Anne, but Angus. Feeling like she could finally take a moment to exhale-like she could dare hope to find her father-she let loose all she’d been holding back and let her tears come as Anne held her close in a motherly embrace.
She managed to get a hold of herself before long, not wanting to be an emotional mess. She swiped at her eyes with a smile and a laugh. “I think I needed that.”
“Och, we all need a cry from time to time, and I suspect ye’d been holding that one in for far too long.” She got to her feet and pulled out the pie, setting it aside to cool. “Now, give us a hand getting dinner to the table. I’m sure the lads are feeling like they’ve gone days without being fed-ne’er mind that they eat from morn until night, and barely stop long enough to take a breath.”
***
“That was… amazing. My compliments.” Rowan sat back in her seat, unable to eat another bite and in a damn good mood. From the pork loin wrapped in bacon and filled with onion and apple stuffing, to the apple pie topped with fresh cream, and everything in between, each bite had been a burst of flavor.
“I’m glad to hear ye enjoyed it.” Anne got to her feet to clear the dishes, but Angus put a hand on her arm.
“Sit, Ma. I’ll take care of it.” He got to his feet and Rowan joined him. Together with just a trip or two, they had the dishes in the sink, and the food on the counter. “She’ll pack it all away the way she wants-and will likely send us both home with some of it, lest we starve left to our own devices.”
“Hey, you might be managing just fine, but I’ve yet to figure out the Aga.” She hadn’t told him of her attempt to bake a casserole. It had taken her three hours to get it to cook through. “And now I see where you learned to cook.”
He leaned back on the counter, his long bare legs stretched out in front of him, his kilt all too… enticing. She knew she was staring-looking him up and down li
ke a construction worker eyeballing a blonde in a red clingy dress cut way too short and far too low. Even her breath was coming in shallow spurts, leaving her light-headed. And in the good mood she was in? Anything and everything seemed possible.
“Might have to come over and give ye a few cooking lessons.” His gaze took her in with a keen interest, his eyes all too intelligent and missing nothing, the room suddenly feeling too hot and too small.
She must be blushing, staring, and she’d likely add stammering to that list in just a moment. The lack of oxygen from those cursed shallow breaths was making her want to lean up against him for support-amongst other things.
And that kilt. Surely, he must know what a kilt and Docs did to a girl.
He took her hand and slowly pulled her to him so that she nestled between his legs, leaning against him. By the gods, she wanted him-and it was clear he knew it, if his slow smile and the amusement in his eyes were anything to go by.
Then it changed-amusement was replaced by raw hunger and passion, and he looked ready to devour her, his gaze intense as he took her in, the tension in his muscles coiled tight. Gone was the sweet Angus she knew, replaced by a hunter. He slipped one hand into her hair and fisted it as his arm wrapped around her waist and pinned her to him. He took her in a moment more as her breath caught in her chest and then like a beast let loose, his lips were on hers, taking, tasting, pulling her in. Her world was tipped upside down as she was left clinging to him and their kiss deepened towards something feral, ancient, primal.
Just as she lost herself in him completely, so that everything else dropped away, so all that mattered was the two of them in that moment, he slowed his kisses. Her heart pounded against her ribs as the aftershocks worked their way through her entire body, leaving her barely able to stand as her knees threatened to buckle.
All she could do was try to breathe-and ignore the bothered heat pulsing through her body, begging for release. When she finally thought she might manage a few words, it became clear the oxygen had yet to make it to her brain. “Do you kiss all the girls like that?”