Highland Fling (6 page)

“I called in the morning Sunday. He didn’t sound quite right, did you notice?”

“Aye.” Aleck frowned, unsettled that his brother had noticed the same thing. “I’d assumed he was tired because I woke him, but he seemed distracted. Come to think of it, Ma did most of the talking.”

“That’s what I noticed.”

“Not completely uncommon.”

“No, a bit normal,” Colin agreed with a small laugh. “But still.”

“Still. I’ll call them later and make sure everything’s all right.”

“Good.” Colin pulled his phone that had vibrated and glanced down. “And this would be Hailey, ready to be picked up from Girls’ Night it seems. I should head out.”

When his brother went to hand him money, Aleck waved it away. “You ought to know better by now. Give Hailey a kiss for me.”

“Aye, on the cheek. Her lips are mine.” Colin winked and turned away, calling out, “Thanks for the beer, brother.”

After Colin had left the pub, Aleck turned his attention back to work. CJ was holding down the bar, and Theresa and Betty were working the floor.

It was slow enough he could potentially offer Betty the opportunity to go home early.

Unfortunately, he really shouldn’t send himself home, though the idea was tempting. Not that he had anywhere exciting to be. He’d killed any chance at getting laid with Melissa. Not that he really regretted it. It would’ve just been a couple nights of fun and then likely nothing else.

It was getting tiring. Boring. Colin’s words floated back to him, that maybe he’d want more.

No. He’d had more, and in the end it had given him nothing but regret and pain. Maybe it was a shallow existence, but the deep end of the romance pool was forever off limits to him.

Aleck set his jaw and went out to the floor to find Betty and offer her the choice to go home.

“You’re sure you’re okay with this?”

Delonna gave Kenzie a look of disbelief. Sarah and Hailey had gone home an hour ago, and Kenzie’s man Brett had shown up to drop something off but had ended up staying.

“I’m fine. I promise I have no issue with Brett staying the night. You crash at his place enough, I’m sure he appreciates you returning the favor. Seriously, Kenz, don’t sweat it. The walls are thick, I won’t hear anything.”

Kenzie turned slightly pink, even as she rolled her eyes. “Even if we do that we’ll keep it down.” She glanced down the hall. “Or I could just join him in the shower, right quick.”

“Now that sounds like an excellent idea.”

Half joking, she laughed as Kenzie nodded and made her way to the bathroom. She winked at Delonna, before slipping through the door.

A small pang of jealousy swept through her. Not necessarily at the sex her friend was about to have, but just that Kenzie had found someone she was so absolutely in love with.

Love. She wanted it some day. The romance. The husband and babies. But right now she was married to her future. Still, the idea of having someone was nice.

Turning to make her way back to her room, Delonna grabbed a small folder from inside her dresser. In it she pulled out her five-year plan and sighed. It was going to look more like seven years with the way things were going.

She closed the folder and leaned back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. She’d just have to rebuild her savings, and this time in an actual savings account. It had been stupid to hoard that kind of money in a coffee bin, no matter her reasons.

The sharp pealing of the doorbell had her glancing to the hallway with a frown.

It was nearly midnight. Who was that?

Grabbing the baseball bat she kept in her closet, she made her way to the front door. A quick glance through the peephole showed no one outside anymore, but a bouquet of flowers on the porch.

Interesting. They were probably not for Kenzie since her man was currently in the shower with her. Had Aleck sent them?

Leaning the bat against the wall, she unlocked the door and then the deadbolt. She swung it open a moment later and took a step out to retrieve the bouquet.

The hand that wrapped around her throat cut off her shocked gasp. She was shoved back against the door so hard she saw stars. In the dark she could barely see the shadowed gaze that peered at her through the ski mask.

“You tell your boyfriend I want the rest of my money,” a voice rasped. “Fifteen hundred isn’t going to cut it.”

She tried to choke out a reply, but he’d literally cut off her air supply with his gloved hands. Breathing was her number one goal, even as fear roared through her.

She clawed at his hand to try to free herself, but his grip didn’t ease a bit.

“He has until the end of the week. Next time I’m not going to be so polite while asking for my money.”

This was polite?

Her head began to feel light and her vision blurred. Then she was free. Crumbling to a hump on the porch and dragging in air as he ran off into the night.

Crawling to the door, she grabbed the handle and twisted, before falling inside with a ragged cry. The shower was still running, though, and she knew they wouldn’t hear her. She stumbled to her feet, the terror still so sharp she shook from it.

Tears blurred her eyes and she touched her sore neck, knowing there’d probably be red marks if she looked in the mirror.

Fuck
. James clearly owed someone money, and whoever the violent ass-clown was, he had just decided to come after her.

She knew why. Because he couldn’t find James either.

The shower turned off and a few minutes later the door swung open. Luckily Kenzie glanced her way and saw her crumpled on the floor.

“What the hell?” Kenzie rushed forward, tightening the towel around her body. “What happened?”

God. She didn’t want to do this. She
really
didn’t want to do this. “Can you…dammit. Can you call the police?”

“Aye.” Kenzie’s eyes sharpened with realization and shock. “Brett, I need you.
Now
!”

Chapter Six

Delonna was just finishing up giving the officer her statement when there was another sharp knock on the door.

Kenzie caught her eye and waved as she made to stand. “I’ll get that, it’s probably one of my other brothers.”

Another one? Colin had already shown up along with the sheriff’s deputy. How that had even happened, who knew? He wasn’t even on shift.

Maybe because Kenzie had been the one to place the call and the McLaughlin men were probably kept apprised on everything that went on with their sister.

“What the bloody hell happened?”

Delonna cringed, recognizing Aleck’s voice before he even rounded the corner. Another brother was right. The deputy raised an eyebrow at his arrival, but continued making notes. Maybe Aleck was no stranger to him either.

When Aleck entered the room, his gaze immediately sought her out. His eyes were bright with concern as he slid his gaze over her from top to bottom.

A tremor ran through her, and it had nothing to do with fear this time.

“Lana?” His tone sharpened.

“It’s over now,” she said quietly. “We’re fine, Aleck.”

“That’s not what I asked.” He strode toward her and crouched down where she sat in a chair. He missed nothing as his focus turned to her neck. “What happened?”

Her pulse quickened because she knew he’d see the faint bruises there. His mouth became a grim slash and he shook his head. “You were attacked?”

Like she could deny it. “Yeah. And how does word travel so fast on this island?”

He ignored the question. “Any idea who the bastart was?”

“I think this guy here is actually doing the questioning.” She gestured to the deputy, who just made a small grunt of amusement, but didn’t look up.

Aleck glanced at his sister. “It’s not safe here. You’ll be staying at Brett’s house tonight?”

Brett, who stood close to Kenzie, gave a nod. “With the new circumstances, yes, sir, Kenzie will be coming home with me now. And I have an extra room for Delonna—”

“No,” Delonna cut in. “Thank you for the offer, Brett, but you don’t need to take me in. I’ll be fine.”

“You’ll be fine,” Aleck said, “because you’ll be staying with me.”

Her heart full-on lurched now at how nonnegotiable his statement had been. Then lurched again at the idea of actually staying under his roof.

Absently, she shook her head. “I don’t…no. No I’m not.”

“Aye, you are.” He strode out of the room and she opened her mouth to argue with him again, but the deputy asked her another question and distracted her.

A few minutes later she was signing off on something and seeing the deputy out. Unfortunately he
also
recommended having someone either stay the night or that she consider staying elsewhere. The word “elsewhere” being spoken with a pointed glance to where Aleck had disappeared down the hall.

Clearly he was team Aleck.

After the deputy had left, and Kenzie and Brett were watching her with matching concerned expressions, Delonna sighed.

“It’s fine, guys. You’re probably better off going to Brett’s just in case.”

“So you’ll stay at Aleck’s then?” Kenzie prodded. “Because we’ll not leave otherwise.”

Crap. “Sure. Yeah, I’ll go there.”

Not a chance. She wasn’t letting some intimidating asshole drive her out of her home.

“Good.” Aleck reappeared. “I’ve packed you an overnight bag.”

She stilled, even as her blood pressure spiked. “I’m sorry, you did what?”

“Ah shit,” Kenzie muttered. “We’d best go, Brett. There’s no help for it now.”

Delonna barely noticed them leaving, she was so intent at staring Aleck down.

“I think you just crossed a line,” she finally managed. “I’m not really okay with you pawing through my underwear drawer.”

“Purely clinical mode as I did so, I assure you. Though I was partial to the tiny white knickers with the pink stars so I put them in there. Anyway, shall—”

“No, we shall not
anything
. I’m not going with you.” If anything, she was about to punch him in the stomach. The idea of him handling her panties was enough to make her current ones get in a bunch.

“Not going with me?” He watched her for a moment, and then nodded. “Fine. I’ll stay here then.”

He dropped the bag with her stuff on the ground. Her teeth snapped together.

“Look, before you try and rip me a new one,” he said gently, “just answer me this. Would you feel safe alone here tonight? And the truth, Lana.”

Just like that her anger died. No. She wouldn’t. She’d be in fear all night of her attacker returning, intent on further threats or harm. Aleck must’ve seen the answer on her face because he made a small grunt of awareness.

“I see. Then make your choice.”

For a moment she was tempted to tell him to crash here, because the idea of going with him and being at his house was a little overwhelming. For more than one reason.

She let her gaze drift around the house, before settling on the door. The image of being attacked on the front porch flitted through her head and an icy chill slid down her back.

Whoever was looking for James knew where she lived and seemed to be holding her equally accountable. She wasn’t safe here, no matter how much she wanted to believe otherwise. He’d said she had a week, but what if he changed his mind? Wanted to up his threat a little?

“If you’re sure—” she swallowed her pride, “—then I’d like to go to your place. And please don’t take that as a come-on, because I’m too damn tired to flirt.”

“Understandable. I’ll treat you as I would my sister tonight, I swear it,” he murmured solemnly. “Come. Lock up and we’ll be on our way.”

Thinking of Delonna as a sister was much easier said than done. Not that she was being suggestive or sexual around him. Quite the opposite.

She was curled up in his recliner, legs bare below the pink boxer shorts. The gray sweatshirt she wore was oversized and fell off one shoulder.

Her hair was in a messy bun-type thing on top of her head, and her hands were wrapped around a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Her nails were still decorated with chipped blue polish, which she’d painted last Sunday for the Seahawks game.

When she pursed her lips and blew on the hot chocolate, the blood in his veins heated. There was something so damn down to earth and sensual about her. He wanted to take the mug from her hands and then pull each article of clothing from her body.

What fascinated him most at this moment were her legs, long and pale, so completely on display. It was nearing November and chilly as fook. Shouldn’t she be wearing long fleece pajamas or the sort?

“I like your place,” she murmured, glancing around over the top of her mug. “How long have you owned it?”

“My parents bought it when they moved here from Edinburgh and we all lived here at some time or another. When they moved back to Scotland, they sold me the house for a very decent price, with the understanding that it’d be a home to my siblings should they need or want it.”

As her brows drew together and he saw the question brewing on her lips, he continued. “And it’s not something I resented or felt blackmailed into. I love my family. Love my brothers and sister. Our parents. We’re all quite close, and as you know, Kenzie lived here until she moved into your house.”

“Well, not really mine. I rent. But yes, I remember that. I thought it was…kind of sweet really. How protective you were of her. How you all still are.”

“We’ve every right to be. Trouble has always found a way of following Kenzie.”

Kenzie’s past included being nearly raped. Twice, actually, and by the same guy. Fortunately he was behind bars now.

“You’re going to have to ease up on that overly protective brother stuff, though,” Delonna teased. “She’s got an equally loving protector now.”

“Aye. I quite like Brett. I think he’s a perfect match for Kenzie, and I completely trust her in his hands.”

“It’s fascinating seeing you McLaughlin guys with the women in your lives. Whether it’s your sister, or your girlfriends, or your wives. Like there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for them.”

“And there’s not,” he agreed.

“It has a very Highlander feel—sorry, generalizing here, I’m sure—just very old-fashioned and primitive.”

“Highlander?” Amusement pricked through him. “You’re referencing my ancestors now, aye?”

“What can I say? Ever since I saw you in that kilt for the bachelor auction, it’s hard to get that image out of my head.”

She said the words lightly enough, but there was a gleam in her eyes that made him think there was some truth to her words.

“And why should you? I look quite decent in a kilt,” he teased.

She laughed and rolled her eyes. “And you’re not at all humble about it.”

“Not even a little bit. You ever been to Scotland, lass?”

“Lass? Breaking out all the Scottish words. Careful, you’re risking getting me all hot and bothered.”

She was full-on flirting now. Often harmless, but when she was underdressed sitting in his house late at night, a bit more chancy.

“Och,” he lowered his voice an octave, knowing the female response to the deep bass tone. “You donna say.”

Her laugh was breathy this time and she shifted in the seat, sliding her gaze away. “Oh
aye
.”

The distance between the chair and couch seemed like yards, rather than feet now. The urge to walk over, scoop her up and carry her back to the couch and his lap was hitting strong.

“And, no,” she continued, somewhat tartly, “I’ve never been to Scotland. And I doubt I ever will because it’d be so damn pricey. Have you seen how much airfare costs?”

“Aye.” He nodded. “I’ve gotten quite good at spotting the deals.”

A wistful smile crossed her face. “I’d like to go. I’m just…pretty stingy with my money.”

“A Scot at heart.”

“Absolutely.” She lifted the hot chocolate to her lips to take another sip but yawned instead. “Oh man, I should just go to bed. I’m exhausted and probably will be crappy company soon, if I’m not already.”

“You’re charming company.” And she was. The idea of her heading off to bed already disappointed a bit, but he couldn’t blame her for wanting sleep. “You remember where the room is?”

“Pretty sure I can find it.”

“It’s just one room down from mine.”

Her gaze flitted to his over the rim of her mug, and he saw the consideration in her eyes. As if she were considering maybe not going to bed after all. Or not alone, that was.

Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

She set her mug down and walked over to him. His heart began a slow thud and the blood in his veins rushed south. When she stood over him and then leaned down slightly to brush her lips over his, his cock leapt in anticipation.

But before he could appreciate the softness of her mouth, or the hint of her perfume, she’d lifted her head and stepped back.

“Thank you for letting me crash here,” she said softly. “You really are a nice guy, boss boy.”

And then she was gone in a blur of bare legs.

Shite
.

He let his breath hiss from between clenched teeth. That little kiss had done nothing but get his body and mind a bit more excited. And then she’d walked away. But when he weighed the possibility of not having had the kiss or having it with a lasting hard-on now, he chose the latter.

He’d have Lana in his bed. Maybe not tonight, maybe not tomorrow, or even the weeks to come. But they
would
sleep together. The sexual tension between them swelled more each day, and he knew she was equally aware of it. Fought it.

He suspected them ending up in bed together was as inevitable as rain in Seattle. And when he thought about it, he could acknowledge that really, she was the perfect person to get involved with.

Delonna was confident with her body and sexuality. She was quite young still, not even twenty-five, and just out of a relationship. She wouldn’t be looking for anything serious. Which was perfect for him.

Standing up to turn off the lights, he tried not to think about what it’d be like having her beneath him. Being inside her. Having those amazing breasts in his hands. His mouth.

Fook
.

Going to sleep was going to have to wait a bit for him. First on the agenda was a cold shower.

“You think maybe I should go home tonight?” As Delonna asked the question, she pretty much knew what his answer would be. The irritation and dismay that flashed across Aleck’s face just confirmed he thought it silly.

“Let’s err on the side of caution and keep you at my place for at least a bit longer.”

She nodded, and didn’t bother to hide her sigh. The night was winding down and the pub closed in less than an hour. They’d carpooled to work, which made her question equally ridiculous. Still, she hated being dependent on anyone, or feeling like she was imposing her presence on someone.

“I realize it’s inconvenient.” He moved past her to rearrange several bottles of hard alcohol. “And you’d rather not be stuck staying with me, but I’m concerned—”

“It’s not that.” She shook her head. “It’s just that it’s your house, and I’m sure my being there makes it a little hard if you wanted to bring someone…” She broke off, wishing she hadn’t gone down that road.

“Bring someone home?” He arched a brow. “Truly? You think I’m entertaining the idea of bringing another woman home with me?”

“Well, you’re a guy.” It sounded a lot lamer aloud than it had in her head.

“Ah, so that means I should want to bury my cock in any available hole at all possible times?”

She choked and shot a glance around the pub, glad most of the people had already left for the night and no one had heard him.

“Well, if you want to be crude about it.” The words
had
been crude, but said with a tone of amusement. Unfortunately, her mind had put visuals to his statement, and it made something hot slide through her blood.

“Really. ‘You’re a guy.’ That’s such a completely shite statement, and really, Lana, I expected better from you.”

She huffed out a breath. “Look. You’re a very attractive man, who, from what I’ve seen, has never had a problem attracting female attention. I don’t want to put a kink in your love life.”