Fuck, that looks bad.
I release my hold on Neil and he falls to the floor. I’m not sure if he’s breathing. I don’t give a fuck if he’s not.
Lorna tightly wraps a bar towel around my wound and within three blinks the white cloth is turning red.
“Give me your belt, Kenny.”
She wraps the strip of leather around my arm until it’s tight.
“Should we call Jamie?” Kenrick says.
“Oh yeah. Tell him we’re on the way to the infirmary because Leith needs stitches. A lot of them.”
I feel a wee bit woozy on the way to the car.
“God, you look pale. Do you feel okay?”
“I’ve felt better.”
Lorna reaches for the handle before me and opens the passenger door. “In you go, brawler.”
“I can drive.”
“I’m sure you can, and I’m also sure that you need to keep that arm still and hold that belt in place around that cut so you don’t bleed out.”
I think she’s being a little dramatic. “I’m not going to bleed out.”
“You sure aren’t. At least not on my watch.”
No need to argue with her. I can see that she isn’t going to let me win this one. And it’s not really even worth the debate. “Fine.”
This reminds me of another time when Neil and I fought. Broke his nose that time too. “This feels like déjà vu.”
“Your brawling with Neil seems to be becoming a habit. It hasn’t been that long since he cut you.”
“Neil didn’t cut me last time. I cut myself.”
Lorna briefly looks away from the road. “What?”
“Neil and I fought because I was defending your honor. I beat his arse but didn’t have a scratch on me. I knew you wouldn’t come to the infirmary to check on me if I wasn’t injured. So I injured myself.”
“You shithead. You duped me.”
“Yes, I did. And it worked.” She even beat me to the infirmary and had to wait for me to arrive.
“You cut yourself and then had the gall to ask me to drive you home. Of course, I said yes because I felt so bad that you had been injured on my account.”
“Sin and Jamie told me that I should put the alpha moves on you that night. And I was going to. Mate you don’t know how close I was to grabbing you and kissing the fuck out of you. But I panicked last minute and couldn’t do it. I was afraid that pulling a stunt like that might make things worse.”
“That’s why you sat in my car for so long before getting out?”
“Aye.”
“To save face I might have acted like I didn’t, but I wanted you to kiss me that night.”
“Well, I would have if I’d known.” I probably would have done a lot more than kiss her.
“You never have to second-guess it again; I will always want you to kiss me.”
“Same.”
“I’m sorry this happened.”
“It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do this.”
“You told me to let Kyla serve them because you knew something like this would happen. And you were right. I should have listened to you.”
“It’s okay. Just means that you have a spanking coming to you, lass.”
She giggles. “Do I now?”
“You do.”
“A spanking. Mmm, maybe I should make a habit of not listening to you.”
“I suppose you could. Or you could reap the benefits of being an obedient wife.”
“I think I should try both and see which I like better.”
Either way I get my hands on her. “That can be arranged.”
Chapter 10
Lorna Frazier
Fifteen sutures, some of them internal.
Leith’s injury was serious. I didn’t realize how severe it was until Jamie removed the towel, and I saw the flesh that should have been covered by his skin. The gore of it was enough to make me lightheaded.
“You must be in pain.” Leith wouldn’t take pain pills or any kind of shot to numb his arm. I don’t understand why brothers do that. Going through pain proves nothing.
“It doesn’t feel great.”
“Are you sure that you want to go to your mum’s now? You just got fifteen stitches.” Shouldn’t he be resting or something?
“Kenrick can hold down the place for a little longer.”
Word about our engagement will probably spread since Leith fought Neil over me. I certainly wouldn’t want her to hear about our engagement from anyone else. “You’re right.”
Leith stops his SUV in front of his childhood home and leans over, pressing a sweet, soft kiss to my mouth. “Come on, beautiful. Let’s go make my mum’s day.”
Jenny can usually be found in her favorite rocker in the reception room but not today.
“Mum?”
“Be right there, a bhobain,” Jenny calls out.
A bhobain. Darling rascal. I giggle to myself when I hear Jenny’s endearment for Leith. Hearing that name brings such warm and wonderful memories to the forefront of my mind. And the name is still so fitting: Leith was, and still is, a rascal. A darling one.
Jenny comes into the reception room and stops when she sees Leith and me. “You’re together. Has something happened?”
“Yes, Mum. Something wonderful. Lorna and I have recently…” Leith stops and looks at me, a smile growing on his face. “We’ve reconnected.”
Jenny brings both of her hands to her mouth and smiles behind them. “I’ve never known what happened between you, but I always knew that the two of you would one day come back to each other.”
“Leith said nearly the exact same thing.”
“Because I’ve been telling him that for years. Now you see that I was right?”
“You were right, Mum.”
“It’s been the same since you were children. Leith would go off to play with Sin and Jamie, but he’d never stay gone for long. He’d always find a reason to come back to check on you, even if only for a minute, just to let you know that he hadn’t forgotten about you.”
“That sounds just like Leith.”
Considerate. Thoughtful. Attentive. Those were the qualities that always drew me to him even before we became lovers. And after we became lovers? I craved alone time with him on a different level. And he didn’t disappoint. He was the generous lover that I knew he’d be, and that kept me coming back for more.
God, how I wish that I’d never involved Sin and Jamie.
Jenny comes to me and places her hands on my face. “A leanbh, nothing makes me happier than seeing you and Leith together again.”
A leanbh. Little one. She gave me that name when I was born because I came early and was so small. She’s called me that ever since.
“Being with Leith again makes me happy too.”
“Let’s sit down; we have more to tell you.” Leith slides his hand inside of mine. “Lorna and I are more than friends. I’ve loved her for years.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Of course. A mother can see when her son has fallen in love. I knew that you loved Lorna before you knew.”
That sounds just like Jenny. Always so intuitive.
“You’re meant to be together. Lorna is your past, present, and future. It doesn’t matter what happens between you, good or bad, she will always be in your heart. There isn’t a woman on this earth who will ever be able to take her place because she’s ingrained within your soul. She is your intended, and you are destined to be together forever.”
“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 things 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.”
Complete Sin Box Set Page 124