I watch as that sweet pucker forms between her brows again, her lips pressed in a thin line of worry. “Hello? Aye, Dad, I’m fine, are you?”
Her face is steely, her body wound tight as she waits for him to deliver the news. “Oh. Oh, dear,” she whispers. “My bodyguard? Aye, he’s nearby.” She bites her lip and gives me a panicked look. I reach for her hand, giving her a little squeeze, playing the part of the supportive bloke… but Jesus, that’s exactly what she needs right now, exactly what I do too.
“Is everyone alright?” She’s nodding, even though he can’t see. She shakes her head from side to side, and for some reason turns away from me. She rises, and reaches for a folded blanket, gray velour, that hangs on the back of the couch. “Just a minute, Dad.”
She hits mute and turns to me, her face stricken. “I’ll be right back, promise, I have to take this privately.”
“Of course,” I say, feeling guiltier than I ever have in my entire fucking life. “Go. Bedroom?”
She nods, trots up the stairs, and a second later, a door shuts.
I take the opportunity to clean up the dessert, packing away the ones we haven’t eaten yet. I toss the dishes in the dishwasher and check the messages on my burner phone.
William: Everything set into motion, boss.
I shove it back in the pocket of my jacket, as I hear the bedroom door upstairs open. I look up with concern as she descends the stairs. She gives me a wan smile.
“Mac.”
“Aye, lassie? Everything alright, is it?”
She shrugs. “Not so sure about that. Seems just a short time ago, there was a threat against my family home. Anonymous. No one knows where or how, but everyone’s evacuated. My father’s concerned that I’m not safe. I lied and told him I was with my bodyguard, and I’ll have to make sure we get in touch to make sure we corroborate that lie.”
I nod. This is what I wanted, exactly what I wanted.
Then why does it feel so wrong?
“But I can’t…” she furrows her brows. “I can’t go home tonight. They’re doing a bomb sweep, making sure everyone’s alright. I lied… well, sort of. And told my dad I was out with a friend and would spend the night at her house. He just doesn’t want me coming home tonight, or putting myself in danger, and he’s so distracted by Mum I don’t think he’s paying attention to details.”
She’s reached me, so I put my arms around her back and draw her to me.
“I’m so sorry to hear that. Anywhere I need to take you?”
It’s a setup. I won’t take her anywhere but back to my own family home, but I want to pretend I’ll do what she needs me to.
She shakes her head. “No, thank you. I just…” she smiles sheepishly, “need a place to stay tonight?”
“Of course. Do you know what danger you’re in, though?”
She frowns. “I don’t know who or what’s after my family, just that it’s the worst possible timing.” She blows out a breath and rolls her eyes. “I hate this.”
I smile at her, dropping the act and speaking the truth. “I’m not. I fucking love spending time with you, lass. And I love that we’ve an excuse for you not to go home.” I place my hand under her chin to hold her gaze. “I’ll tell you this, though, love.”
She nods. “Aye?”
“If your family is in danger, I want you far removed from it.”
“Do you know my family, Mac?”
“I know who they are, yes, but I can’t say we’ve had anything to do with them for some time.”
Lies, lies, fucking lies.
“And I know that if anyone’s planned an attack on your family home, that you’re not safe, even here. Even with me.”
A shadow crosses her features and she looks at me curiously. Sizing me up, I’m guessing. Wondering what it is exactly that I’m doing here with her. Does she fear me?
I wrap my arm around her and pull her over to me, telling her what I’ve been dying to say, telling her what I hope she wants to hear as well.
“I’ll protect you, lass. I’ll ensure that no one hurts you. Can you trust me?”
No. No, don’t trust me.
“Aye, of course,” she whispers. “Aye, Mac, I can.”
It’s exactly what I want, and yet why does it make me feel like crap?
“Good. Then I’m taking you back to the mountains.”
She doesn’t respond at first, then finally nods, smiling at me. “Aye. Yes, let’s do that. I’d like that. And bloody hell, how I’ve been yearning to see the Highlands. I’ve never been.”
I give her a quick squeeze.
“Excellent. Let’s go.”
“Mac?”
“Aye?”
“Do you have a bodyguard yourself? I mean, if you’re a member of the Cowen Clan…”
“Of course.”
“Are they with you tonight?”
“Not tonight, but I take them with me when I need to.”