“She is, and that’s why I’ve asked her to be my wife.”
“Oh praise be.” Jenny places her palms together and brings them to her face, murmuring something that I can’t hear. “When?”
“Next month.”
“Oh, Lorna. Douglas and Edin are in heaven smiling down on us right now. Your mother told me on more than one occasion that she would be so happy if Leith and you ended up together. And your father would have been so proud to give you to Leith.”
“I think so too.”
Jenny reaches for my hand. “Oh my. That is a ring.”
“I know and I love it.” I look up at Leith. “He bought it four years ago and kept it all of this time.”
“Four years?”
“I’ve loved this woman for a long time.”
Jenny gasps. “Leith! What happened to your arm?”
“It’s just a little cut.”
“That looks like more than just a little cut.”
“He got into a brawl with Neil Rutherford.”
“Neil Rutherford has always been a bastard just like his father.” I can see that the Duncans’ opinions of the Rutherfords run family deep.
“He insulted Lorna. I couldn’t let him get away with that.”
“Of course, you couldn’t. A man defends the honor of his woman. I hope you kicked his arse.”
“Leith broke his nose. A second time.”
Jenny chuckles. “Good enough for him but I doubt that he learned a lesson. He’s acting just like his father, and I suspect that he’ll continue to do so because he’s never been taught any other way to behave.”
“He’s lucky he was able to get his hands on that broken glass to cut me; I was so out of my mind with rage that I think I would have choked him to death.”
“Hume Rutherford and your father brawled at the bar once.”
“Over what?”
“Me.” Jenny giggles. “I was waiting tables at Duncan’s and Neil’s father stepped out of line with me. Cam wasn’t going to let him get away with it. He came over that bar and yanked Hume out of his chair and beat him to a bloody pulp. It’s funny how history has a way of repeating itself.”
Jenny was a server at the bar? “I didn’t know that you ever worked at Duncan’s.”
“I was head barmaid.”
This new information can help me argue my case. “See, Leith? Your mum worked at Duncan’s. I can too.”
“Sorry. I’m not giving in, Lorna. The bar is no place for my wife. Even Mum will agree with that.”
“Leith’s right. The brothers drink and get rowdy. They sometimes forget, or maybe don’t care, that you are the wife of another brother. Leith would be brawling all of the time. You don’t want that for him.”
I hated seeing Leith on the floor with Neil Rutherford. I hated seeing his blood everywhere. And I really hated being the cause of it.
“No, I don’t want any more repeats of what happened today.” My heart couldn’t take it.
“You’ll forget all about working at the bar when you have a bairn, just like I did when Leith was born.”
“A baby would certainly keep me busy.” But the start of our family might not happen for a while. What am I supposed to do with my life until then?
“Leith, you need to give Lorna a baby.”
He smiles at me. “We’ll see what happens.”
You should wait a while.
You need time together as husband and wife before you have a child.
Your marriage will never be the same after you have a baby.
A lot of women would be shocked to hear that we’re already talking about a baby. But we aren’t your typical people. And we don’t owe an explanation to anyone for wanting something that seems outside of the norm.
“I wish we could stay longer, but we need to get back to the bar and relieve Kenrick. He opened this morning, so he’s been there all day without a break.”
“I get it. I’m no stranger to understanding how that place runs.”
“Clear your social calendar for Tuesday night. There’s a party at Sin and Bleu’s to announce our engagement.”
“Don’t worry; this proud mother will be there.”
* * *
“I wonder what tonight’s announcement is going to be about.”
The comment comes from behind me. That marked Scottish burr is a clear indicator that the man is from northern Scotland. And only five men here tonight are from the north.
I turn around and I’m face-to-face with Maddock Hendry and nowhere to escape. Shite, Leith is going to flip the fuck out if he sees him over here talking to me.
“Maddock…”
“Lorna…”
“It’s nice to see you again.”
“Is it? Because the look on your face says otherwise.”
Does he have any idea what this party is about? “I’m sorry. Seeing you here is awkward. I don’t know what to say.”
“You could start with thank you.”
“Thank you for what?”
“Sin called to let me know that you were no longer available. Is it safe to assume that my interest in you was the driving force behind your man’s marriage proposal?”
He knows. “It helped speed things along.”
Maddock chuckles. “Well, then that worked out quite well for you. But for me, not so much.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m happy to have played a part in bringing the two of you together.”
My eyes meet Leith’s across the room and he smiles. Until he sees Maddock standing beside me.
Oh shite. Here he comes. And he looks mad as hell.
I open my mouth to try to calm him but he steps between Maddock and me. “Do you really think that it’s wise for you to show up at a Fellowship event and corner my fiancée after you’ve been told that she’s no longer available?”
I wrap my hand around Leith’s upper arm. “Don’t, Leith.”
“I had no idea that you and Lorna were in a relationship. I would not have pursued her if I had known.” Maddock holds out his hand. “Please accept my congratulations and well wishes on your marriage.”
Leith looks at Maddock’s hand for a moment before reaching to take it. “Thank you.”
“And so my search for a wife continues.”
“All of the single Fellowship women are in attendance. This could be the night that you find her.”
“That would be all right with me. Any suggestions?”
Three loud thumps thud through the speakers when Sin taps the microphone. “May I have everyone’s attention please?”
The murmurs among the crowd die down.
“Thank you for being here tonight. Bleu and I realize that the invitation was short notice, but our guests of honor didn’t want to prolong their announcement any longer than necessary.”
Sin signals for Lorna and me to come forward.
“This is their night, and I’m going to let them take it from here.”
I had thought that news of our engagement would spread following the fight between Leith and Neil, but all I see are confused expressions in front of us.
I suddenly have the jitters; I’ve never been keen on public speaking, and I’m terrified that some asshole is going to mouth off about me the way Neil did, and I’ll be humiliated in front of everyone.
“Do you want me to do the talking?” Leith asks.
“Please.”
Leith slips his hand inside of mine. “All right. I’ve got this.”
He brings the mic to his mouth. “All of you are aware that Edin Frazier and my mother were best friends. They did everything with each other and that included raising their children together. Lorna has been a part of my life since the day she was born. She irritated me by playing with my toys and annoyed me by trying to be the tag-along when I was playing with my mates. I would tell her to go away. And reluctantly, she would. But then I would miss her, and I’d run back to see her if only for a minute. That was how we grew up. And t
hings didn’t change a lot after we became adults. There has been a lot of push and pull in our relationship.”
Leith squeezes my hand and I do the same in return.
“When we were children, I loved her like a little sister. And then my feelings for her developed into something so much bigger. We grew up and I fell in love with her. And because I’m a dumb arse, I screwed it up and we spent years apart. But still, I never stopped loving her for a second. She’s always been the only woman in my heart, and I’m happy to say that I’m no longer that same dumb arse. I’ve learned from my mistakes, and I won’t ever let her get away from me again.”
Leith brings my hand to his mouth and kisses the top. “She is mine. I’ve claimed her, and we’ve notified the district registrar of our intent to marry. She will become my wife as soon as we have approval.”
The crowd begins to applaud and I’m at a loss for words. Leith’s speech was so beautiful and heartfelt.
“Do you have anything you’d like to add?”
I shake my head. “I think that you said it perfectly.”
Sin returns to center stage and takes the microphone. “Leith and Lorna have waited a long time to be together. Too long. And it is with a joyful heart that the leadership council grants them our blessings and well wishes.” Sin lifts his glass, continuing, “A toast to Leith and Lorna. May you have a long and happy marriage with many healthy children.”
I look over the sea of faces—men and women—and their confused expressions have transformed into smiles. Our people are happy for us. And it’s such a relief. Until I see one particular face at the back of the crowd.
Greer.
Narrowed eyes. Intense glare. Nostrils flared. Lips pressed into a hard line. The sight makes a chill run down my spine.
My girls surround me when I step off of the platform. “Here, Lolo. Have some champagne,” Bleu says, holding out a flute of golden, bubbly liquid. “Enjoy it before you have to give it up for nine months.”
I glance back at Greer but she’s gone.
Westlyn stares at my glass. “Tell me about it. I could go for some of that champagne so hard right now.”
Ellison puts her hand on Wes’s belly, rubbing the side. “Hang in there, sweetie. Not much longer.”
“Says the skinny woman who isn’t carrying the offspring of a Hendry.” Westlyn places her hand above Ellison’s at the top of her stomach. “Have you seen my husband? He’s enormous. And this baby is going to be huge too. I can barely breathe because he’s taking up all of the room in there.”
Ellison moves her thumb and index fingers across her lower stomach. “So you get a zipper if the baby is too big for your body. Problem solved.”
“A zipper?”
“A cesarean.”
“I don’t want a cesarean.”
“I didn’t want one either but the cesarean wasn’t so bad,” Bleu says.
I don’t care for the thought of having my abdomen sliced open. “I’ll pass, thank you.”
“You and Leith can’t wait too long to start having babies. You have huge reproductive responsibilities.”
“What kind of responsibilities?”
“You’re the only ones from within our inner circle of friends who aren’t Breckenridges or married to Breckenridges. I need you to have daughters for my sons to marry.”
The boys are only a year old. “I think we have a little time.”
“Ohhh… shit.”
When am I going to get used to hearing Ellison and Bleu say shit instead of shite. “Oh shit, what?”
Ellison nods in the direction of Leith. “What is she doing?”
She.
Greer.
“Maybe she’s congratulating him?” Westlyn. Always the optimist.
“Not likely based on that ugly face she’s making. Lorna, you need to go douse whatever that is before she causes a scene.”
Chapter 11
Leith Duncan
“What bullshit! She’s always been the only woman in my heart. Are you fucking kidding me, Leith?”
I can’t believe that Greer wants to hash this out here and now. “Lorna was and always will be the only woman that I love.”
“Really? Was she in your heart while your cock was in my mouth?”
I grab Greer by the upper arm and pull her away from prying ears. “Stop being vulgar.”
“Oh? You didn’t think that it was vulgar while I was on my knees sucking you off, but it is now?”
Tonight is supposed to be about my future with Lorna. Not my past. “Don’t do this. Please. Not during this special time for us.”
“Would your wedding be a better time?”
No. She wouldn’t. Surely, she wouldn’t.
Would she?
“You need to stop this juvenile behavior.”
“I will… after everyone knows what you did to me.”
The band begins playing and I’m glad. The volume of this conversation is escalating quickly. “What have I done to you?”
“You made me believe that we had a chance to be together.”
Is she fucking kidding me? “I never said anything that would have led you to believe that.”
“We were together a lot, Leith.”
“We had sex.” I look around to see if anyone is looking at us. “That’s all it was. Nothing special.”
“It happened almost every day for six months. You were developing feelings for me. I could tell.”
She was an easy hookup. A physical act to get off. That’s all. “It was fun and it felt good in the moment, I can’t deny that, but I never felt love for you.”
“I think you did but you won’t admit it because of her.”
She’s delusional if she believes that I loved her. “Did I ever bring you to my flat?”
“No.”
“Did I ever go home with you?”
“No.”
She often suggested that we get together at her place or mine, but I wasn’t interested.
“I fucked you in my office but never brought you to my home. Never brought you to my mum’s. Never took you on a date. What did you think that meant?”
Greer’s hand comes up to her forehead and she pushes her hair back. “Lorna was right there when we were together. She saw every time that you took me into your office. How could you be with me if you were so in love with her?”
Okay. That’s a legitimate argument, and I see how it could be misconstrued. “Lorna and I had separated. I was in pain and I thought I’d never have her again.”
“Oh my God. She had to have known what we were doing.”
“She knew. And it hurt her.” And I hate myself for doing that to her.
“You fired me because of her.”
“I fired you because you couldn’t take no for an answer.” Greer was forever touching me and trying to seduce me into having sex with her again. It was exhausting and I grew tired of telling her no over and over. But also, I didn’t want Lorna to believe that we were still shagging.
“You’ve ruined me with the brothers. I’m tainted now.”
Oh no. She doesn’t get to pin that on me. “You aren’t ruined with them because of me. I wasn’t your first.”
Greer was very experienced at sex. She hadn’t given her virginity away and then moved on to me. She knew exactly how to please a man.
“I wasn’t a virgin, but there was no reason for the brothers not to think otherwise. As far as they knew, I was untouched. Until they saw you taking me into your office over and over again. And now I’ll never find a brother who will marry me.”
“You made that choice knowing what the outcome would be.”
“I made that choice because I was in love with you. But I see now that you were just using me.”
“There’s no innocent party here. We used each other.”
She reaches out and takes my hands in hers. “I can make you happy. I would make a wonderful wife for you.”
I pull my hands away from hers. “I’ve chosen my wife and it’s
not you.”
Her eyes narrow. “I won’t let you get away with treating me like this.”
This has gone on for long enough. “Leave this party on your own or I’ll have you thrown out.”
She laughs. “Walk out quietly and let you win? Or humiliate you by being carried out kicking and screaming? Hmm… I think I choose the latter.”
She gains nothing by being carried out of here like a madwoman. “You still have a chance to find a husband but not if you cause a scene for all to see. No brother will have you after that. You might want to reconsider.”
Lorna appears at my side. Shite, I didn’t see her coming. “Leith is right. Don’t do that to yourself.”
Greer glares at Lorna. “Shut. Your. Mouth.”
“Come on, Greer. We were friends.”
“Only because I didn’t know that you had him wrapped around your little finger. I had no idea that while he was fucking me, he was thinking of you. Do you have any idea how that makes me feel?”
“I can assure you that it doesn’t compare to what I felt every time I saw you go into his office and close the door.”
Hearing Lorna say that makes me feel like shite.
“Good. I’m glad it hurt. And guess what? It’s going to hurt a whole hell of a lot more before I’m finished with him.”
Lorna looks up at me. “We love each other and we’re going to be husband and wife. There’s nothing you can do to stop that.”
“I guess we’ll see about that.”
* * *
“I’m so sorry, baby.” I can’t stop saying it.
“Stop, Leith. Don’t keep apologizing for Greer’s actions. They are her own, not yours. What happened tonight wasn’t your fault.”
“It wasn’t your fuckup that was interjected into our lives only moments after we announced our engagement. It was my past. That makes it my fault and I feel like shite about it.”
“We’ve had this conversation and made our decision about it. Forget the past. Let it die.”
We’ve left a trail of clothing from the front door to the bedroom. I’m completely naked when Lorna shoves me down on the bed and crawls on top of me, her mouth coming down hard against mine. My lips immediately pulsate from the not-so-gentle assault.
We just left our engagement party. I thought Lorna would be feeling romantic. Romance is her thing. I expected her to want me to make love to her.
Redemption: A Sin Series Standalone Novel (The Sin Trilogy Book 6) Page 14