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“I know.” Lia sighed. “That’s the problem. I just got here. I can’t fall for the first sexy Scotsman I see, no matter how much I wanted to invite you up last night and have my way with you. It’s just…I need to focus right now.”
Well, now, how was a man supposed to come up with a coherent sentence after I’d been trying so hard not to think of Lia, naked, writhing beneath me. And then she’d just dragged my mind right back to where I was so desperately trying to stay away from.
“You think I’m sexy?” Nice one, Munroe. Way to focus on the important bits. However, something in me needed to know.
“Oh please.” Lia laughed and nudged her shoulder against mine like we were buddies. “Everyone under the age of eighty with somewhat good eyesight can see how hot you are. Even those over seventy.” She said the last part as though she was annoyed at something, and I couldn’t quite figure out what. Either way, I cheered up quite a bit. Even if Lia didn’t want to pursue anything right now, I’d learned two new things about her. The first? She thought I was sexy. And the second? She had already thought about making love with me. My day brightened considerably.
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. When you walked through the pub door, my heart skipped a beat, and all I could see was this stunning vision walking toward me. I don’t think I could even draw a breath or think clearly. It was like being visited by an angel. Except one with a wee bit of an edge and great lips.”Did I just say that out loud?This would have been an opportune time for my shyness to kick in and shut my damn mouth.
“Oh my God, Munroe. You’resogood for my ego. I’ll take the compliments, greedy bitch that I am, but I just am not in the space for this at the moment.”
Why? Had someone hurt her? I wanted to know more. From what I could see, we had a fighting chance here if we could get to know each other better. Why not give it a go? What was holding her back?
“How long are you here for?” I asked instead, steering the conversation into what I hoped was a more neutral territory. “Do you have other stops on your itinerary?”
“Ah, well, I’m not sure,” Lia said, turning away. I waited, hoping she would tell me more, and when she continued to walk up the path to the castle, I followed. The sun broke through the clouds, and Lia pulled off her jacket and tied it around her waist. The pink shirt she wore hugged her curves and made me think of the blush that had tinged her cheeks the night before when she’d been embarrassed.
“You’ll probably have to get back to work, I’m sure.” I wondered what she did for a living. What would draw the attention of this woman who seemed so cagey with the details of her life?
“Do you really think you’ll open a distillery here?” Lia asked, turning to look back at where little Loren Brae hugged the banks of Loch Mirren. “It’s pretty as a picture, isn’t it?”
We’d climbed our way up the hill that led to the castle and had just begun to walk along the path next to a wall of tall hedges that hid the castle from view. From here, you could look out across Loch Mirren and just see the tips of the second row of hills hidden behind those nearer to the shore. Puffy clouds dotted the sky, and a light breeze brought the scent of rain. I noticed that Lia had changed the subject quickly, something she did whenever I asked for more details about her life, and I wondered what she was hiding.
Maybe nothing, you bloody eejit.You just met the lass. She doesn’t owe you anything.
A shrill bark was our only warning before a terrorist fuzzball of a Chihuahua rocketed across the grass, followed by a slightly larger puppy.
“Sir Buster!” a woman shouted, and I smiled to where Sophie, Lachlan’s girlfriend and all-around good human, raced after the dogs. The second dog, one I hadn’t met yet, landed in a ball at my feet, and I instantly scooped the puppy up.
“Who is this wee one?” I demanded, laughing as the puppy licked my face earnestly.
“Lady Lola. I can’t decide who is more of a dictator—her or Sir Buster. But they’re currently waging a serious war to see who top dog is.” Sophie turned to smile politely at Lia, clearly waiting for an introduction from me. A growl sounded at my feet, and I peered over the fluff in my arms to where Sir Buster glared at me, clearly affronted that I had picked up Lady Lola and not him. Like I needed to lose a finger? That dog was ten inches of murder wrapped in fur.
“He’s lying to me,” I pointed out to Sophie, leaning over to drop a kiss on her cheek, while Lola snuggled more deeply into my arms. “Look at him wanting my attention, but you know he’ll rage if I try to pick him up.”
“Don’t I know it? Cantankerous beast. God, I love him.” Sophie laughed and turned to the woman. “I’m Sophie, by the way.”
“Oh.” A startled look crossed Lia’s face. “Nice to meet you.” Lia dropped to her haunches and crooned to Sir Buster who immediately danced over to her and put on his best flirt.
“Would you look at that? I’ve only ever seen him do that with Hilda when she has chicken for him.”
“Dogs love me,” Lia admitted, picking up a trembling Sir Buster and cuddling him close. “I think it’s because they know I have access to food. I’m Lia, by the way, and I think you might be—”
“Lia!” Sophie exclaimed, clapping her hands together in excitement while I looked between the two women.
“Do you know each other?” I asked, as the two women sized each other up. This did not feel like a meeting between women who were friends.
“Not yet. But we will. Lia is our new chef. We stole her from a prime restaurant in Boston. Oh, Lia. Why didn’t you tell me you were here already? Where is your luggage?” Sophie turned in a wide circle while my thoughts scrambled to catch up.
A chef.
A newly employed chef.
At the castle.
Here in Loren Brae.
Which meant…Lia was staying. If the Kelpies didn’t scare her off. Burying my smile in Lady Lola’s excited licks, I couldn’t help but feel that maybe, just maybe, I’d finally met the woman I’d been waiting my whole life for.
