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"From the what?"
"The car rental agency. Your brother called about getting you an upgrade."
"Upgrade?" My confusion crumbles away, replaced by the light of understanding. "Ah, Lachlan said he was going to get me a better car. I almost forgot."
And aye, I wish my brother had forgotten. Lachlan is going overboard again.
Billy hands me the keys to the cherry-red vehicle. "It's a convertible, by the way, perfect for beautiful summer days."
I accept the keys, but my gaze veers to Calli. "Mm, perfect for enjoying a beautiful lass on a beautiful summer day."
"Exactly," Billy says, seeming oblivious of the innuendo in my words.
No, I wasn't talking about making Calli laugh. I mean to shag her in the convertible.
I hook the key ring over my middle finger and flip the keys around it once, making them jangle. "Billy, how are you to get back to wherever you came from?"
"I'll take the other car. The one you rented yourself."
"Of course." I extract the keys to that vehicle from my pocket and toss them to Billy. "Do I tip you? I'm new to this country, and I don't know all the etiquette."
"No tip required, sir. Your brother took care of everything."
My mouth warps downward at one corner, half annoyance, half humor. "Naturally, he did. Lachlan takes care of everything for everyone, whether you want him to or not."
Calli slips her arm around mine, leaning into me. "Brothers. They can be presumptuous, but they do it out of love."
Billy glances back and forth between us, his brows furrowed. "Sure, I guess they do. I should get back to work. Have fun with the car."
The lad all but runs to the other hired car, apparently put off by our conversation. He must've been confused by our interactions, though he seemed oblivious to the innuendo dripping from every word I said to Calli. As the rejected vehicle roars off down the gravel drive, spewing dust and gravel in its wake, Calli rests her cheek on my upper arm and gazes up at me.
"So," she says, "shall we take your gift for a drive?"
"Yes." I straighten, rolling my shoulders back. "I planned to take you for a drive, and I intend to keep my word."
"Actually, it was my idea." She steps away from me to skirt around the front of the sports car, approaching the driver's side. "Cool, it's a Mustang."
"If Lachlan could've hired an Aston Martin, I'm sure he would have."
"Here in the U.P., you aren't likely to find a rentable luxury car, especially not one as expensive as an Aston Martin."
"Lachlan owns two of them." I pucker my mouth. "He keeps trying to give me one."
"Oh, don't be so petulant about it. Your brother's only trying to help." She walks back to me and loops her arms around my neck. "I think it's nice your rich brother wants to help out his family. In my experience, a lot of people who have money don't like to share it with anyone. Or if they do share, it comes with chains attached."
"Chains?" I crook a finger under her chin, tipping her head up until our gazes meet. "You say the oddest things at times. Have you known someone who—"
"Let's not talk about serious things." She tightens her arms around my neck, pulling her body snug against me so I feel her lush breasts crushed to my chest. "Let's take advantage of this wonderful summer's day."
"We will." I peel her hands away from my neck, clasping one of them as I lead her toward the Mustang's passenger door. Then I hold the door open while she climbs inside and settles into the plush leather seat.
She skims her hands over the upholstery. "Ooh, this is nice. I could get used to the high life."
I can't stop myself from frowning. "Guess Lachlan should be dating you."
Before she can respond, I slam the door shut and stalk around the front of the vehicle, hurling the driver's door open, and throw my body into the seat. I yank the door shut with a huff.
Am I being petulant? I suppose I am, but I have good reason. My brother can give his wife anything she wants, and I have nothing to offer Calli. Now Lachlan has paid for a much nicer car for me—and he's giving me money too, despite the fact I don't want his help.
