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“That is a disgusting analogy, Grandda. And I was an idiot back then, remember? So pardon me if I decline to fall back into old ways in order to charm a woman who is absolutely not interested in me.”
“Are you interested in her?” Graeme unexpectedly asked.
Grant’s brain momentarily stumbled. “Er . . . of course not.”
His brother tilted a skeptical brow at his reply.
Grant finally waved an impatient hand. “It doesn’t matter. Whatdoesmatter is that I help you with your problem and then return home where I belong.”
Angus leaned forward to fetch a spill from a brass container by the fireplace. “Yer a terrible liar, laddie boy.”
“He’s actually a very good liar,” Graeme said. “It’s just that we know him and can see through it.”
Grant slapped his hands on the arms of the leather club chair and started to push up. “Right. Since we’re now going in circles . . .”
“It’s because of yer da, I reckon,” Angus said. “He’s in yer head again. That’s nae good for ye, son.”
Grant’s entire body froze. His mind froze, too. “What does my father have to do with any of this?”
“It’s all that guilt ye still carry around. Grant, ye were just a wee lad back then. It was a terrible thing, but there was nothin’ ye could have done to change the outcome.”
Grant slowly sank back into the chair as that terrible memory filled his mind. He could still see the blood and hear the sounds of an animal in distress. For a moment, he could even smell the damned heather in the damned field.
Then he slammed the door shut on the memories, as he always had.
“I know that,” he said in a calm voice. “I am perfectly fine.”
“That’s my line, old son,” Graeme said.
Grant met his twin’s gaze and saw nothing but sympathy and understanding. He also saw the shadow of a long-ago sorrow, one that should definitely be left in the past.
“I’ve made my peace with it, Grant. So should you,” Graeme added.
This time, Grant did stand up. “By talking about it? No, thank you.”
His twin shook his head. “All right. You win. No need to get fashed about it.”
“I’m not the one who gets fashed—that’s you and Angus.”
Graeme held up his hands in mock surrender.
“And we’re clear that my purpose here is to help you get this mess sorted, correct?” Grant added. “Not court young ladies or any other such nonsense.”
“Absolutely clear, old man.”
Grant shifted his focus to Angus, who was now making a show of lighting his pipe. “And you, Grandda? You won’t be causing trouble on that front either, correct?”
Angus puffed away, all but enveloping himself in smoke. “Of course not, lad. I’m just a frail old man, ye ken. Couldna cause nae trouble even if I wanted to.”
Oh, hell.
“Have another drink?” Graeme asked.
Grant sank back into his chair. “Possibly two.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Are you warm enough?” asked Sabrina as she and Kathleen stood at the bottom of the kitchen gardens. “It can get nippy this time of year, even with all this glorious sunshine.”
