"All eight rooms in the main house are booked," he answered. "Most of the guests are out sightseeing today."
"Ian hired a local tour guide to take some of the work load off," Lucy said. "And two of the other cottages are let for the week as well. Ian and Dev are working on getting the others in shape."
"And once the farm is back in working order," Hamish added, "we'll start selling hay and cattle and sheep."
"There's one more brother, right?" Kate recalled Lucy had mentioned that Ian had two brothers.
"Aye, that'd be Jamie," Hamish answered. "Was here for a few weeks on leave. Won't see him again for another six months or so."
"James is the last one in the military," Lucy explained. "Devin and Ian are out now. And once James is done, he'll move to the estate."
"Are ye involved with anyone back home, lass?" Hamish asked, leaning back in his chair with speculation. He was so obvious, Kate couldn't help but smile. His accent was thick at times, making it hard to follow, but he had spunk and she liked that about him.
"No, no one special. And not in the market either, which is too bad because I hear from Lucy that the other MacLaren boys are a pretty good-looking pair."
Fran and Hamish laughed. Ian's brow lifted and Lucy shrugged. "What? It's true."
Ian rolled his eyes.
"You're miles above, babe," Lucy said, then paused. "Well, maybe not miles. Yards. No, feet." She was grinning at him.
"Light years," he clarified.
Kate thought it was the sweetest thing in the world, seeing her dreamer of a cousin find such an amazing man, in such an amazing place.
As they pitched in to clean up lunch, the door to the mudroom opened and closed. Kate paused, dirty dishes in her hands. In walked the hot Scot from the barn. In the flesh. As big and sexy as she remembered. Her stomach flipped and the dishes in her hands wobbled. She was glad the table put some distance between them.
As greetings were thrown around, he finally turned his eyes on her and froze.
Soon, everyone in the room stopped. Kate could feel them staring. Heat flooded her face. She scowled at him. He cocked his head and lifted a brow, a faint smirk on his face, telling her exactly what he was remembering from their last encounter.
"Good to see you again, lass," he said, his mouth twitching. "I'd like my shirt back when you get a chance."
Kate's eyes narrowed to fine points. She heard someone gasp and another let out a soft chuckle. Ian cleared his throat. "I see you've met my brother," he said.
"Not really."
The man in question stepped closer and reached across the table. "Devin MacLaren," he said with a daring glint in his eyes.
Oh, he was trouble all right. And the last thing she needed was trouble. Kate set the plates down and shook his hand. It was rough on the palms, calloused, and warm. And big. "Kate Walker. Lucy's cousin."
Devin straightened. "Ah. Should have made the connection."
"So you two…" Lucy fished.
"Ran into each other on the road yesterday evening," Kate supplied quickly before he could say anything. "No big deal."
"Well, sit yourself down, lad," Fran said. "I'll make you a plate."
Devin washed up in the sink. His shirt stretched across his back as he leaned over. Lucy bumped her with her shoulder, and Kate jumped as she gathered the dirty plates back up from the table. "Cute huh?" Lucy said under breath.
Kate let out a snort. "A teddy bear is cute. That . . . is something else entirely."
Devin finished, dried his hands, and made for the table. He filled the room. Took up all the space and oxygen. Kate didn't appreciate that at all. She deposited the plates by the sink and thanked everyone for lunch.
"Oh, wait," Fran said, turning around from washing the dishes. "Dev, weren't you saying Hildie's off her food?" He nodded, mouth full. "And don't you work with dogs, Kate?"
"Yes. Well, I mean I used to. Pet sitting. Grooming. Some training, that sort of thing. I'm not a vet or anything."
