AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"If that's what you really want." She clambers off my lap to sit beside me. "Sorry I inadvertently helped your brother get his way."
"Doesn't matter." I let my head fall back on the sofa, my hands slack at my sides. "Lachlan would've gotten his way, eventually."
"I can relate. Gavin is always positive he knows best when it comes to my life."
"Lachlan's the same." I drape an arm across her shoulders, and she cuddles into me. "My family thinks I'm incapable of taking care of myself."
"Your brother said you're skint. Are you unemployed?"
"I like to say I'm between opportunities." I almost smile, but it fades away. "Told you I had a construction company, but the business dried up and now it's gone. I'm bankrupt. My bank accounts are almost empty."
She twists her head around to look at me. "Aidan, I'm so sorry."
"Doesnae matter."
Calli rests a hand on my chest, over my heart. "Um, I hope you won't take this the wrong way…"
"Just say it." I let my hand fall over her shoulder. "Ahmno sensitive."
"Yes, I've noticed that." She hesitates, but then plows ahead. "I'm wondering why you're on the hunt for a wife, with the intention of starting a family, when you're bankrupt and unemployed. If you're looking for a rich woman who'll support you, I have to tell you I'm as poor as you are."
I stiffen, but keep my hand on her shoulder. "I am not looking for a rich woman. And I didnae plan anything. Acted on impulse is what I did." I clench my jaw, averting my eyes. "Begged Lachlan for a loan to finance my trip to America, but I wouldnae take more than I needed, and I insisted on staying at Erica's house in Chicago instead of a posh hotel. Had to give in a little, since Lachlan refused to help me at all unless I flew here in his jet. But I will pay him back for every penny I owe him."
"And I made sure you owe him even more, thanks to you accidentally agreeing to let him do more for you."
I tug her closer, sheltered under my arm. "I told you, Lachlan usually gets his way in the end. Being the oldest, he thinks it's his right and duty to shove his nose into the lives of every one of his brothers and sisters. And he's right, more often than not."
"He isn't one of those greedy people who won't help out their relatives."
"Definitely not. He loves spending money on us. You should've seen how much he spent getting Erica cleared of embezzling charges after her former lover set her up. Lachlan is the most generous person you'll ever meet—except for Rory. They're tied for the title."
She rests her chin on my shoulder. "You love your brothers, don't you?"
"Course I do. Love all my brothers and sisters." I kiss her forehead and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear. "I hope one day you'll tell me what's going on with you, why you're hiding in the woods."
"It's a very long, very tedious story."
"Doubt that." I whisk my hand up and down her arm in a gesture meant to comfort her, and she settles her head on my chest. I murmur, "Nothing about you is tedious."
"You either. But you have to take my word for it that you probably wouldn't like it if you knew everything about me."
I lean my head against hers, my breaths ruffling her hair. "No judgment from me. Made plenty of mistakes, some worse than others."
Silence falls between us for a moment. My curiosity keeps pestering me to ask her more questions, but I don't want to make her uncomfortable. She's convinced I won't want her anymore if she tells me all her secrets, but there's nothing that could ever make me walk away from her.
Calli lifts her head, and her lips curl into a sweet little smile. "Should we take a drive today? I can show you my favorite parts of the scenery."
"I'll go anywhere with you. Anywhere at all." I place a palm over her hand, on her lap, and thread my fingers through hers. "I'm easy to please."
Chapter Nineteen
An hour later, we're preparing to climb into Calli's car when the crunching of tires on gravel draws our attention to the long driveway, where it winds through the deep woods toward the house. The vehicle gradually comes into view as it passes through the deepest shadows and into a stretch of intermittent sunlight, then finally, into the full sun. A blond-haired bloke sits behind the wheel of the red sports car. He parks it alongside Calli's car, which she calls a beater. My hired car is stowed on the opposite side of her vehicle.
The blond bloke shuts off the car's engine, swings the door open, and hops out with a big smile on his face. He turns to me, offering his hand. "Mr. MacTaggart?"
I look at the lad warily, a wee bit confused, but I shake his hand anyway. "Aye, I'm Aidan MacTaggart. Who are you?"
"Billy, from the rental agency."
