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I could only hope that she’d give me a chance to show her that I could be the type of man who would stand by a powerful woman’s side and help her fly. Her success would be my own, and, crap, yeah…here I was going so far down the line that I could barely think straight.
“Are you going to ask her out?” Lachlan asked, as we turned back toward the castle. Storm clouds gathered low on the horizon, dark and threatening, and the wind carried the scent of rain with it.
“Ask her…” My brain was still fixated on a future with her. I was so focused on the outcome that I’d forgotten the steps required to get there. “Right, a date. Of course.”
“Because the way you’re looking at her? It’s like a wee lost puppy desperate for love.”
“I am. For her love,” I admitted before I could try and hide it. “She’s everything, Lachlan. I see a future with her.”
“Och, mate. Slow down there. You’ve only just met the lass.” Lachlan gripped my shoulder, and I stopped in my tracks, turning to meet his eyes with a level look.
“How long, Lachlan? How long did it take with Sophie?” I asked because I knew,I knew, he’d fallen fast for her.
“Bloody hell,” Lachlan said. He scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed. “Right, if that’s the way of it then you need to do it properly. It’s a date you’ll be taking her on then.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’ll get it sorted.” My eyes caught on a stone and wooden building set a ways back from the castle. “Hey…I don’t think I remember this building. What is it?”
“It used to be one of the stables. It’s empty now though.”
“Can I take a look?” My curiosity piqued, I left the others to walk toward the building, ignoring the first drops of rain.
“Nae bother,” Lachlan said, changing course and accompanying me to the stable. There, he pulled a ring of keys from his pocket while I studied the structure. The walls were in good condition for their age, made of stone, though the roof needed repairs. I jumped as a grasshopper landed on my hand. For a moment, I blinked down at it, amused as it studied me with its big eyes.
“New friend?” Lachlan grinned at my hand.
“Och, he just landed on me. Haven’t seen one in ages.”
“Loads around here. Must not be out in nature much. Too busy pushing papers,” Lachlan said. Turning, he trundled the door open, startling the grasshopper, and the insect bounced into the bushes at my feet.
“You’re not far wrong,” I admitted, shaking my head and stepping into the space.
“It’s not wired with electrics, but it’s a pretty space. I wouldn’t go too far in, as I’m not sure of the nature of the roof, and I’m not interested in a doctor’s visit today,” Lachlan said, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Och, come on now. What happened to the lad who fearlessly climbed trees to peek in girls’ bedrooms?” I laughed.
“He’s grown up and has a woman who prefers his limbs in good working order.”
“Fair enough.” I, too, wasn’t interested in a roof falling on my head so I only wandered a few feet farther into the structure. It was a cavernous space, light filtering through a few cracks in the roof, and accompanied by a musty smell of damp and earth. But the stone walls were beautiful, and some of the original wood beams could be saved. If Lachlan felt like it, he could make this quite the space. “Ever consider doing weddings here?”
“Here?” Lachlan cocked his head and studied the space. “I can’t say I have. It’s been brought up, quite often, for the castle, particularly the garden. But then they go off-site for the reception.”
“Could be another avenue for income,” I mused, wandering back outside. I wouldn’t mind getting back to the castle before the brunt of the storm hit. “It’s a great space.”
“I’ll add it to the list. Restaurant first.” Lachlan locked the door behind me, and we picked up our pace, the rain intensifying as we neared the castle once more. “That way we could offer catering packages if Lia was amenable to it.”
“She’s doing well, I think. Taking this all in her stride. It’s a lot to throw at a body, isn’t it?” I asked. We both began to jog as the rain picked up.
“It is. But much like Sophie, Lia seems to have a good backbone. Maybe it runs in the blood, or maybe the lasses like a bit of adventure, but we’ve lucked out if Lia can hold her own here.”
“I don’t think she’ll let you down,” I said, reaching the steps first.
“I hope not. That being said, we’ve a ways to go before we restore the Order to its full glory. Only then will Loren Brae be protected again.”
“Christ, Lachlan. It’s a hell of a thing, isn’t it? I can’t believe this has been going all these years, and you’ve never said a word.”
“I didn’t want to believe it. I couldn’t, not really.” That old sadness crept into Lachlan’s eyes, and I clapped a hand on his shoulder, immediately contrite.
“I’m sorry. I keep forgetting how closely this ties in with your mum. I’ll try to be more respectful in the future.”
