Hamish gives me a wave, and I don’t make him hug me. “Gavin’s in the kitchen,” I tell him.
“Of course he is,” Hamish says with amusement.
“You could join him,” Ruby tells him. “Learn a few things.”
Hamish’s red eyebrows lift. “My wife, my best friend, and my cousin are all excellent cooks. I have no need.” He brushes copper hair from his face, then heads outside, presumably for more bags.
Ruby rolls her eyes but laughs.
Rhys puts his arm around my shoulders and gives me another squeeze. He’s tall, with dark hair, and has on a thick sweatshirt. “It’s good to see you, Cal. How’re you holding up?”
“I’m fine.” I shrug, giving a little shake of my head that tries to communicate just how unbothered I’ve been the last few daysin isolation with the most attractive man in all of Scotland. “We’ve done okay here on our own.”
Rhys’s smile is friendly. He’s always had the ability to put me at ease. “Glad to hear it.”
“Done okay?” Luna asks, skepticism dripping from her tone.
I’m almost afraid to look at my sister, but I brave it out. Oliver wiggles to be set free and she puts him down. If I open my mouth now, I know I’ll give myself away, so I plead the fifth—internally, of course, gotta keep that mouth shut—and wait her out.
She’s patient, though, and presses me for more information. “What does that mean? Has it been better than you expected?”
The door to the kitchen swings open. Gavin blows in, running a hand through his hair as he smiles at the group. His cheeks are pink from working over the oven, but the effect looks more like a blush, lending further credence to the possibility that we might have something to feel guilty about. “Welcome, everyone. Hiya, Ruby. Luna.”
Gavin circles the room, hugging the women and giving the children massive high-fives, making them leap in the air to reach him.
“It smells amazing in here,” Ruby says.
“I hope you’re hungry. I’ve got a roast on.”
“Practically a whole cow,” I add.
Violet wrinkles her nose. “An entire cow? I don’t want to eat a cow.”
“You can just have the roast, then,” Ruby says. “You already love roast.”
She looks relieved. “I do.”
“Are there more cases to bring in?” Gavin asks.
Rhys shakes his head. “Hamish is fetching the last of it now.”
“Right then, I’ll show you to your rooms.”
We all gather bags and babies, then follow Gavin up a flightof stairs. He shows each of them their rooms, then Hamish carries in a rectangular bag and sets it on the floor with a thud. “Here’s Poppy’s cot.”
Gavin claps him on the back. They might be cousins, but they don’t look at all alike. “Welcome, Hamish. Can I fetch you anything?”
“A bit of peace wouldn’t go amiss.”
“We’ll get dinner on, eh?” Gavin says. “Fill their mouths with food.”
Hamish looks grateful. “I think they’ll be asleep shortly after.”
Gavin shoots me a look and ducks his head. “Come down when you’re ready to eat.”
“I’ll help,” I say, slipping around the suitcases and reaching for Oliver. “Want to come with us?”
He leans into his mom, which I try not to take great offense at.
