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"And treat her kindly."
"Mhac na galla, Cormac."
He narrows his gaze to mere slits. "Thane---"
"Aye, all right, I swear to be kind and make things right with Rebecca."
"Good." Cormac drops me, and I fall into a heap on the ground. "Maybe I should drive you to the lass's apartment, just to make sure."
I clamber to my feet and brush the dirt off my clothes. "Dinnae need to drive me there. I will go straight to her apartment building."
Cormac nods curtly. Then he pats me on the head. "Good boy."
"I'm nearly two decades older than you. Dinnae treat me like I'm a wee bairn."
"Then dinnae act like one." He pats my cheek this time, and his grin has a touch of menace in it. "Go on, then. I filled up the petrol tank for you."
"What? You broke into my truck?"
"No. I brought a full petrol can and poured it into your truck's tank."
Everyone I know is insane. Maybe I didn't mind when Domhnall and Fiona were the object of their meddling, but now I'm caught up in their web. Dinnae like that at all.
But I dutifully trudge to my pickup truck and climb inside. In the rearview mirror, I can see Cormac still standing there, wearing his most menacing expression. He bloody well knows that won't intimidate me. I start up the engine and drive out of the car park. When I glance back again, Cormac is climbing into his vehicle. He follows me until we reach the crossroads that's halfway to Loch Fairbairn, then he turns off to head toward the far side of the loch itself. That's where Cormac lives.
I drive straight through Loch Fairbairn and continue into Fort William, turning down the street where Rebecca's apartment complex lies. As I pull into the underground garage, I see Rebecca's car further down the aisle where residents park. At least I know she's home.
After a brief hesitation, I leap out of the truck and race to the lift. I ride up to Rebecca's floor in the company of an elderly couple who want to chat. I politely respond to their queries, but I'm in no mood to blether. Fortunately, I'm good at faking interest. They seem like a lovely couple, and I don't want to insult them.
The second I step out of the lift, I burst into a sprint.
Seconds later, I knock on Rebecca's door.
A moment that feels like an eternity passes while I wait. Then, finally, the door swings open. The lass maintains a neutral expression.
"Feasgar math, Rebecca. How are you this evening? The weather is pleasant." Could I have thought of a stupider thing to say? I want to kiss her, not blether about the weather. "I said good evening, by the way. May I come in?"
She clasps the doorknob, twisting it this way and that. "You've been ignoring me. 'Running away' might be a more accurate description."
"Aye, I've done that. I'm sorry. After our encounter with Holden, I thought what I needed to do was keep you at a distance. I was wrong."
"No shit."
"Please, gràidh, give me another chance."
She chews on her bottom lip.
This isn't the time for me to be measured and calm as usual. No, I need to prove to her that I regret shunning her more than she could possibly know. That means I need to grovel.
I fall to my knees and clasp my hands. "Please forgive me. I will never again push you away, no matter what happens. You mean more to me than even I realized."
She blows out a breath and waves her hands. "Get up, Thane. Unless you're proposing marriage, you don't need to drop to your knees."
I wince as I rise. "Thank you, gràidh. My knees are a wee bit arthritic these days."
"Didn't notice that when we were having sex."
"The weather affects my knees. And spending the afternoon in the dunnage warehouse didn't do them any good. It's chilly in there." I wince again. "Not that I'm whingeing. I was only explaining that---"
