AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Pretty sure I would like all of Duncan’s intentions.
“Very tough,” I confirmed.
“I’m safe as kittens.” His glower disappeared, and his face relaxed. “I have a good crew. I couldn’t do anything without them. I get to do what I enjoy and still have the freedom to travel and meet fascinating women in the process.”
Hmm.Women. Plural. My brain wanted to ask questions, but my body saidLet it slide.
He watched me with an intensity as though he saw me in a way no one else did. His eyes were so bright and so blue, they reminded me of the Fairy Pools. I could get lost in them and never want to find my way out again.
Hey, look at that—I’d already finished my ale.
Harlow touched my arm, bringing me out of the crystal pools of Duncan’s eyes. Ugh, I was far gone.
“Carlos and I are going for a walk,” she said. “It stays light out so long, and we don’t want to waste it. See you later.”
Carlos saluted us and ushered Harlow from the pub. A strange pang of regret corkscrewed through me. I’d intended to see as much of Scotland as I could, and here I sat holed up in a bar. For all I’d joked about cozy gardens and sitting rooms, I really did want to make the most of this trip.
“Are we wasting our time here?” I asked Duncan. His brows tugged together, and I realized that question probably wasn’t as direct as it had sounded in my head. “I mean, should we be living it up, going to look at the…” I waved my hand around in the air, searching for the word. “The scenery?”
“I don’t think we’re wasting our time, Molly.” He seemed to be talking about more than just the one evening. “Anyway, you’re getting a feel for local culture.”
“That does sound better than saying I’m just sitting around in a bar.” Pub. Whatever.
Determined not to have a repeat of the drunken night before, I got up to stretch my legs and get a glass of water from the bartender. Pubman. Publican? The place was so packed, I had to wait just to ask for water. Back home, people crowded around the bar and shouted over each other to get the bartender’s attention. Here, it seemed to be done through eye contact with the bartender. No shouting, no pushing, he just chose a person and took their order.
I wasn’t sure I was even in line.
After a minute or two, I realized a youth-hostel-looking sort of guy stood next to me.
“Having a nice night?” he asked.
Everything about him reminded me of Arnav—he looked young, a little rumpled from his travels, and his face flushed pink from alcohol.
“Yes, very, thanks.”
His eyes went wide. “Are you American?”
“Yes?” I couldn’t tell if his surprise was good or bad.
“That is brilliant!”
I’d never seen anyone so excited to meet an American before, and it felt like a bit of a trap. “Thank you?”
He gestured at the back corner of the pub. “My mates and I usually see American women on our backpacking trips, but we’ve had no luck this round. But here you are! Do you want to join us?”
“Thanks, but no. I’m with a tour group.”
“Oh yeah? What have you seen?”
I rattled off a list of things our group had seen and done in the last week. Listing them out, it made for an impressive set of accomplishments, even if I didn’t quite have all the pictures to prove my part in them.
The young man stepped closer to me. “What brings you to Scotland?”
I shook my head, unable to give one set answer. I’d wanted to see the sights but found more here than I could explain to a stranger in line at a bar. “I just wanted the adventure.”
He seemed to take that as an invitation, and he leaned even closer. “I lost my number. Can I have yours?”
“Can you—?” I needed a second. No way did he just try to pick me up using that tired line. Maybe I’d downed my ale too quickly or maybe I’d spent the last week with a man who put this boy to shame, but the stale pick-up line struck me as hilarious. Laughter burst out before I could stop it.
