Page 10 of A Highland Family Affair

He turned to face her, his head resting on the sofa back. ‘This song… the lyrics… They say how I feel about you… about us.’ He reached up to stroke her face and a wide smile tilted up her lips. He rolled his eyes and covered them with his hand. ‘That sounded so much better in my head. You think I’m pathetic now, don’t you?’

She reached up and pulled his hand down. ‘Not at all. I agree. It could’ve been written for us,’ she whispered.

He leaned forward and kissed her. ‘I forgot to say that the contractors are booked to mend the slipped slates on the west wing of the castle. He said that there has been some water ingress in the attic rooms, but I think Innes said that he was sure all the valuable and sentimental things had been moved prior to Lady Freya’s death.’

Olivia sighed. ‘Oh, gosh, I really hope so. When will we be able to get in there and check?’

‘It’s all weather dependent really, but they are hopefully doing the repairs next week.’

She kissed his chin. ‘Thank you so much for taking all that stuff on. I really appreciate it.’

He smiled. ‘No thanks needed. I’m happy to be getting involved. I feel like I’m really part of the place now.’

‘You are part of the place, Brodie. You always have been as far as I’m concerned.’

‘That’s so good to hear.’ Then, as if to change the mood, he announced, ‘I’m taking you out on Saturday night.’

Olivia’s heart skipped. ‘You are? What’s the occasion?’

He shrugged. ‘We haven’t been out in a while. And I figured with Bella leaving, Skye being all tied up with decorating her new house and Harper being all the way over in New York you might like a night out to cheer you up. The only downside is you’ll have to put up with me instead of your best friends.’

She snuggled back into his side again. If this was going to be a proposal, he was giving nothing away. ‘You’re my best friend too. So, where are we going? Or is it a surprise?’

‘I’ve booked the Glenmoriston Town House for seven thirty. Is that okay?’

It was a venue she had always loved. Sitting on the banks of the River Ness, the pretty bay-windowed building was only a short walk from the city centre she loved dearly. She smiled. ‘That’s perfect. Thank you.’ She was relieved that if this was his proposal, it meant he hadn’t booked some elaborate, ridiculous and embarrassing event. Although she would’ve been happy if he’d proposed to her on the number 307 bus to Inverness if truth be told.

He pulled her around into his lap. ‘I think you should wear that navy-blue dress with the lace across the top. I love you in that dress.’

She rested her forehead on his. ‘I might just do that.’

He grinned. ‘I might just like it if you do. And I might just enjoy helping you out of it at the end of the evening.’ He pulled her down and kissed her passionately, and she closed her eyes as her whole body tingled. He ran his hand up and under the fabric of her sweater and caressed the bare skin of her back, sending shivers down her spine.

The door opened and Olivia gasped and almost jumped from Brodie’s lap like a kid caught with her hand in the biscuit barrel.

Kerr’s eyes widened, and he gasped. ‘Shit, sorry, I… I was just coming to ask if it’s okay for me to have some of the stovies Mirren made earlier,’ he said as his face turned cerise.

Brodie scowled and snapped, ‘Ever heard of knocking, mate?’

Kerr held up his hands. ‘I’m really sorry, I didn’t think. I’ll… I’ll go.’

Olivia sighed. ‘It’s okay, Kerr, and yes, you can have some of the stovies.’

He gave a brief nod and left the room.

Brodie laid his head back on the sofa and ran his hands through his shaggy dark hair. ‘Jeez oh. That could’ve been very embarrassing.’

Guilt tugged at Olivia’s insides. She reached up and stroked the soft, dark beard on Brodie’s chin. ‘I’m sorry about this. About him being here like this.’

He pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around her, so her head rested on his shoulder. ‘No, don’t be. It’s my fault for forgetting he was here. I should have been more considerate. And he’s your brother. Technically this is his home too, more so than mine.’

She pulled away. ‘Hey, that’s not true. This is your home now. I want you to feel at ease here. We should be able to get a wee bit carried away in our own home.’ She paused for a moment. ‘I think I’ll ask him to move back to the town house. There’s no reason he should be here, not really.’

Brodie sighed deeply. ‘No, don’t do that, Liv. Maybe let’s put down some ground rules instead. I get the feeling he needs to be here at the moment, maybe to help his recovery. I mean he has issues that need to be addressed. I think we should give him a few days to decompress and then maybe talk to him about seeking some help for his gambling and alcohol addictions.’

Olivia nodded. ‘Yes… yes, I think that’s a good idea.’

Brodie shuffled to the edge of the sofa, grabbed the remote control and turned off the TV then stood, holding out his hand. ‘Now, maybe we should head up to our room and finish what we started.’ He smiled that sexy Keanu Reeves smile that turned her insides to jelly.