Highland Fling (The McLaughlins)

by Shelli Stevens

  Aleck didn’t smile in response. If anything he seemed a little sobered by the conversation.

  “Aye, that part,” he muttered. “Sometimes they jump right over the line of discretion in the sand.”

  “I completely get it. I have parents too.” She squeezed his hand in encouragement as they made their way carefully over the cobbled streets. “So what’s your cousin like?”

  “Hmm. He’s a bit like Kenzie, personality wise, but with a penis.” He grinned now. “He’s blunt. Funny. Blithe. A nice bloke really. He’ll unintentionally insult you at some point tonight.”

  “I’m not easily insulted.” She glanced around the buildings they walked between. At night the old city seemed even more gothic and haunted maybe. A shiver ran through her, and it wasn’t entirely from the cold.

  Surprisingly, it was quiet with only a few people out and about, even though it wasn’t yet seven.

  “Are you tired?” Aleck asked softly.

  “No, I’ve got a second wind now. I’m too excited to be here. And I think I got enough sleep on the flight to hold me a few more hours.”

  “Me too. Actually, one moment.” He stopped suddenly, causing her to nearly stumble on the uneven streets.

  “What is it?”

  “This.” He backed her up against a cold, craggy building and caught her mouth with his own.

  Her breath caught and she looped her arms around his neck, her tongue slipping out to stroke against his. The kiss was lazy and unhurried, as exploratory as it was gentle.

  There was something so utterly romantic and whimsical about kissing someone in a foreign city. Especially a fascinating medieval city like Edinburgh.

  When he lifted his head, her heart was skipping a bit quicker and happiness was riding through her blood.

  “That was nice,” she said softly.

  “Aye.” He brushed another light kiss against her lips. “I’ve missed kissing you.”

  “You kissed me when we arrived at the flat.”

  “That was this morning.” He smiled. “I want you, Lana. And if it wasn’t so damn cold, I’d likely take you in one of these wynds.”

  “What’s a wynd?”

  “The alleys between these buildings, luv.”

  “I see. And, no, you wouldn’t.” She shook her head and drew a finger down his chest. “You’d never risk getting caught breaking the rules. Despite your bad-boy antics, you’re a pretty good guy.”

  “Bad boy, you say?”

  “Mmm.”

  “You think I’m a bad boy?”

  “I don’t know, would a straight-and-narrow guy screw his employee on the pool table?”

  His eyes closed and a shudder ripped through him. “Christ, Lana, I’d rather not go see me cousin with a bloody hard-on.”

  “Me cousin?” That distracted her. “Off the plane not even a day and your Scottish dialect is already back in full force.”

  “It tends to do that. And look how brilliantly you changed the subject.”

  “Well…” She shrugged innocently and glanced down at his crotch. “I was trying to play nice and not get a rise out of you again—”

  “Not helping here.”

  She stood on her tiptoes and nibbled on his earlobe. “Let’s go check out your cousin’s pub, and I promise to take care of your hard-on later.”

  “Lana.” He hissed.

  Laughing, she tugged at his hand and they started off down the street again.

  Shite, but this woman kept him on his toes. Kept him always hungry for her, and enjoying life in a way he hadn’t in, well, maybe ever.

  Aleck led her through the small, quiet streets of Old Town Edinburgh and finally to the pub inside one of the buildings.

  Fortunately, the last few minutes—and imagining hairy, mean nuns from his childhood—had brought his erection back under control.

  They opened the door to the pub and walked inside, and it was only seconds before they were spotted.

  “Aleck McLaughlin.” His cousin’s voice rang out. “You dos cunt! Welcome home.”

  “Did he just call you a cunt?” Delonna whispered, looking stricken. “Because I’m about to be genuinely offended on your behalf.”

  “Oh, don’t be, luv. It’s an endearment,” he said briskly.

  “Seriously?” She shot him a look of disbelief. “What the hell kind of endear—”

  “Ted! How the fook are you, cousin?” Aleck released her hand to give his equally tall and burly relative a hug.

  “I’m very weel. Life is good and I can’t complain. So good to see you abandon your Yankee life for a bit to come see family.” Ted’s smile widened as he looked at Delonna. “And who’s this lovely lass? You’ve gone and got yourself a girlfriend, have you?” The man demanded, his gaze sweeping over her. “Not bad. Not bad at all.”

  Delonna blinked, and then said, “I am right here, you realize.”

  “Aye, you are. I can’t quite stop looking actually. That jumper does lovely things to your—oof.” He broke off as Aleck smacked him in the back of the head.

  Christ, if Delonna had picked up the fact that Ted was about to compliment her breasts, she showed no sign of it. Maybe just a little amused, actually.

  “Stop while you’re ahead, Ted. It’s fookin’ good to see you, man. Been far too long. Now pour my arse a whisky. Neat. It’s been a long day of travel.”

  “Not a problem. And you, lass, what’ll you have?”

  She scanned the menu above the bar. “I’ll take one of your ciders, please.”

  “A cider and whisky for the lovely couple.” Ted moved behind the bar and prepared their drinks.

  “Not so different than our pub, hmm?” Delonna murmured, glancing around. “Although…Aleck, there are dogs in here.”

  His lips twitched. “Aye.”

  “Not like medical dogs, but like regular pets.”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  “Do you see that?” She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “There’s a super fat pug that I’m pretty sure is sharing an order of fish and chips with a dude back there.”

  “Aye, we allow dogs in the pub,” Ted said with a grin, returning with their drinks. “It’s not so uncommon here, you see.”

  “Apparently.” She took a sip of her cider and made a sound of content. “Even better when you’re drinking this while in Scotland.”

  “Not a dog person, is she?” Ted asked Aleck. “More into the cats?”

  Aleck shrugged. “I think she swings both ways.”

  Delonna eyed them both suspiciously. “Did this conversation just get dirty?”

  “Dirty?” Ted slid a round glass that matched Aleck’s her way. It was filled two fingers high with an amber liquid.

  “She’s a filthy mind, Ted. Best not go there.”

  “I do not have a filthy mind,” she sputtered, elbowing him in the ribs. “Okay, maybe a little. What is this?” She lifted the glass. “Aleck ordered the whisky, not me.”

  “Scotch whisky, lass. Highland Park. We’re all having a toast.”

  She raised a brow. “This is classy stuff.”

  “Aye, only the best for me cousin and his new lass.” Ted winked and poured himself a glass. “Cheers, mates.”

  Aleck lifted his glass. “Cheers.”

  Delonna echoed the toast and then they all sipped and enjoyed their whisky. No amateur hour of tossing it back like the customers at the pub back on the island.

  “That was fantastic.” She set the glass down a moment later. “Thank you, Ted.”

  He nodded. “Glad you liked it.”

  “And I actually am a dog person, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go say hello to that pub-crashing pooch.”

  They watched her stride off and kneel beside the dog, having no problem striking up a conversation with the owner, it seeme
d.

  “Well if she isn’t a wee cheeky thing.” Ted shook his head. “Pretty as fook too, cousin.”

  “Aye.”

  “You’d better marry her quick, or someone else will.”

  Aleck froze and he curled his fingers around the empty glass. Why did it always come back to relationships? To marriage? Then again, he shouldn’t have expected anything less when he’d brought Delonna to Edinburgh.

  He’d never even brought a girl to dinner until last week when Delonna had come along. But then he’d had a reason then. To keep her safe. And that was also the reason he’d brought her to Edinburgh. Well, part of it. The other part was him imagining over a week without her in his bed.

  “No marriage,” he said with a brief smile. “We’re not that serious, really.”

  “No? You’re quite certain?” Ted looked amused now.

  “Aye.”

  “Hmm. Then you’ll not mind that Jeffrey seems quite taken with her.”

  Jeffrey? Aleck swung his attention back to where Delonna seemed more interested in the dog’s owner now. She laughed at something he said and pushed her blonde braid over her shoulder, reaching down to pet the dog again.

  The bastart Jeffrey kept talking, but Aleck didn’t miss the way the man ran an interested gaze over her. Lingering on her large chest that Ted had nearly pointed out earlier as well.

  Fook it all.

  “She’s just the friendly sort,” Aleck muttered, trying to keep his words casual.

  They were sleeping together, that was it. It shouldn’t bother him the least if she chose to flirt with another fellow.

  “Aye, I can see just how friendly she is. Chatting with about five blokes now.”

  The hell she was. Jaw going tight, he reluctantly glanced over his shoulder again. Sure enough, there were six, not five, men crowded around Delonna and laughing. It was as if this Jeffrey wanker had invited his mates over to join the fun.

  “How long are you here for?” Ted asked. “Will you have time to drop by and see me family?”

  “We’re here for just a week, but yes, let Marie know we’d love to come visit.”

  “She’ll be thrilled. Give us a moment, while I help this fella.” Ted moved down the bar counter to talk to another customer.

  Aleck didn’t mind, because it gave him a moment to glance back at Delonna. She was laughing and interacting with the men quite easily. He’d always assumed her friendliness was just part of the job, but clearly her personable chatter went beyond bartending. He shouldn’t have been surprised.

  As he continued to watch, the bloke who’d just been up at the bar ordering something from Ted returned to the group and handed Delonna a drink.

  Another bloody man joining the group and trying to get her tossed. He heard her weak protest, but the man brushed it off, and a moment later she accepted the beer.

  “Careful, Aleck, your jealousy is showing.”

  “Jealous?” He gave a hard shrug. “Delonna’s a grown woman, she’ll do as she pleases. At the end of the night, I know whose bed she’ll be in.”

  Ted winced. “Och, but that’s a bit crass. Even for you.”

  It was, and he hated that he’d said such a stupid remark aloud. He hated even more that his cousin was right, and he was experiencing a remarkable amount of jealousy for someone he was supposed to just be sleeping with.

  His cousin began to whistle, and though not completely familiar with pop music, Aleck was pretty certain he recognized that Beyonce song about “putting a ring on it” or some such shite.

  Scowling, he tapped his glass on the counter and muttered, “Stop winding me up and pour me another one of these, you dos cunt.”

  His cousin threw back his head, laughed, and then went to grab the whisky.

  Maybe she shouldn’t have accepted that drink from the new guy, Delonna mused.

  What was his name? Kevin? She’d drunk the whisky, and then that cider, and now with a beer she was starting to feel really good. Like, really good.

  She sat in a chair with the men, listening to them joke and chat. At first she’d felt a bit guilty at not returning to Aleck after going to visit the dog. But when she’d seen him laughing and chatting with Ted, she figured he’d probably want a few minutes to catch up with his cousin.

  Besides, these guys here were harmless. Talking about their dogs, whisky and of course, asking questions about America and how did she like Scotland. Oh she liked it just fine, even though she’d only been here for a half a day and hadn’t seen too much.

  She didn’t mind keeping dialog light and just listening to them talk though. She could pretty much close her eyes and hear a Scot talk all day. Their accents were fabulous. She told them as much after her third drink.

  “We’ve no accents, you’ve the accent, lass,” one protested with a loud belly laugh.

  “Aye,” another chimed in. “I knew she was American the moment I heard her at the bar.”

  “Yes, my apologies.” She grinned and rubbed the doggy behind the ears again. The pug had shockingly abandoned his fish and chips in favor of her attention.

  It was a different dynamic than the regulars at McLaughlin’s Pub. Not that she didn’t love McLaughlin’s. She did. But there was something a little more down to earth at the pubs around here. Personable.

  She was having a blast. Though a quick glance back at the bar counter found Aleck was now watching her, and he didn’t seem all too pleased. Maybe it looked bad. Like she had a male harem or something.

  “Well, thanks for letting me hang out for a while. I’d better get back to my…” Was she allowed to say boyfriend? Was Aleck her boyfriend?

  No, idiot, sleeping with someone does not make them your boyfriend. You’d need to have “the talk” first.

  “Aleck McLaughlin? She’s Aleck’s girl?” one of the men asked, disappointment lacing his words.

  “I’m here with Aleck, yes.” It was a safe response.

  “Och, there goes any chance you had, Ernie.”

  As the general ribbing continued, Delonna made her way back to the bar and sat down on the stool next to Aleck.

  “Having fun?”

  “Yes,” she answered, completely honest. She gave a slow laugh and shook her head. “A hell of a lot of fun, actually. I love it here. You run a fantastic pub, Ted.”

  “I do, don’t I?” Ted grinned and slid a—crap, another one?—cider her way.

  “The energy in this pub is incredible. These locals are so friendly.”

  “It’s no so different than yours, aye?” Ted asked Aleck.

  “They have their similarities,” Aleck agreed. “We’re a bit more unforgiving on the no dogs rule.”

  “You guys have the best job in the world—owning a pub. I can’t wait until I can say the same.”

  “You want to open a pub?” Ted asked.

  She froze, realizing what she’d said. She’d never mentioned her dream to Aleck, but the cat was out of the bag and she saw no use in hiding it now.

  “Yes,” she admitted hesitantly. “I mean, someday.”

  There was silence to her right, and she snuck a glance over to find Aleck’s brows drawn together.

  “You’ll open a pub of your own?” Aleck repeated.

  “Pub or bar. Something of the sorts. I can’t pull off the Scottish thing.” She gave a nervous laugh. He wasn’t smiling. “The McLaughlins pretty much staked that niche market on the island.”

  He looked flat-out distressed now. “You’ll be leaving me.”

  “Not you, the pub,” she teased gently. Clearly he was just worried about losing his best bartender. “And this isn’t anytime soon, this is a someday thing. It’s one reason I’ve been so careful saving money. I wanted to find a location to lease and get the ball rolling.”

  He didn’t look reassured. “Are you not happy working for me?”<
br />
  “Right then. A customer is waving me down,” Ted said with a forced laugh. “I’ll be back, oh, how about when this awkward little moment is over?”

  Alone now, Delonna turned to face Aleck. “I love working for you. I love being a bartender. I’ve told you that.”

  His jaw flexed and clearly he was struggling with his temper. “You enjoy working for me, so I fail to see the problem.”

  “Well, there is the problem,” she tried to explain. “I don’t want to just be an employee anymore, I want to have the place be mine. To have a stake in it. I want more than just saying I work as a bartender at a pub, I want it to be my home away from home.”

  “Does it not feel like home? My pub?”

  “It does,” she agreed with a small smile. “But that’s just it. It’s not mine to feel that way about. It’s yours. And I’ll just be Delonna, the bartender, easily fired if you get the whim to do so.”

  His gaze darkened. “I’d never fire you on a whim, Lana. You know that.”

  “I do.” Her heart ached for a moment and she took another swig of cider. “Because I’m your best damn bartender.”

  “Aye, you are, but that’s not why. I’m not a complete bastart, luv. You’ll always have a job for as long as you’ll need it.” He sighed and shook his head. “But if your dream is to have your own pub, then I can understand that.”

  A bit of relief slid through her. “Can you?”

  “Aye. It’s what I wanted as well at your age.”

  Your age. Like she was some damn kid. God it pissed her off when he spoke to her that way.

  “It’s why my parents let me take over their pub.” He met her gaze. “You realize it’s a lot of responsibility.”

  “I know. I’ve seen how sometimes the weight of it on your shoulders can nearly bring you to your knees some days.”

  He smiled faintly and caught her hand. “You keep me on my feet, though.”

  “You’re going to be so screwed when I leave.” She’d meant the line to be flippant and cute, but it was somewhat heavy and depressing.

  As much as she’d dreamed about opening her own place, she didn’t want to think about leaving McLaughlin’s Pub right now. It symbolized her entire world. It meant leaving Aleck. The idea of that last one stung more than it should’ve.