Free Glasgow Grace by Marion Ueckermann Page A

almost finished cleaning up, leaving almost no trace that a celebration had taken place. His gifts, one from his parents, another from Tavish, and the third from Skye, were packed ready for him on a table near the door.
    Skye and Tavish were nowhere to be seen.
    ~*~
    “Thank you for driving me home, Tavish. I couldn’t wait for Callum. I’m too angry and upset to see him now.” Skye blinked away another tear that threatened to spill over her lower lashes. She looked back at Callum’s brother. “And thank you for driving in the opposite direction so he wouldn’t see us leave.” The image of Katie and Callum huddled in her vehicle filled her with a fresh wave of anger and hurt.
    Tavish patted her leg. “Aye. It twis nae borra.”
    “You’re sweet.” She managed a weak smile. I can’t believe he didn’t tell me. But had she really thought after all these years, Callum would still be pining after her?
    Tavish drove the luxury car slowly down the white roads. More snow had fallen while they’d enjoyed their Christmas fare.
    Skye pushed thoughts of Callum and Katie aside and snuggled into the soft leather seat. Cozy. “Does this car have seat warmers?”
    Tavish nodded and grinned as he waggled his eyebrows. “Tis great, intit?”
    “It certainly is.”
    “Yi shoud see ma other caur—she’s a classic.”
    Who would’ve thought that Tavish would be the one to turn out successful? A luxury car, and a classic. I wonder what he does for a living.
    “Hame, sweet hame, ma lady.”
    Skye looked up as they pulled into the hotel parking. “Already?”
    “Aye.”
    The trip between McGuires and the Crowne Plaza had seemed far longer in the Beetle. Probably was.
    “Wull yi lookit that?” Tavish leaned in closer to Skye.
    “What?” She looked around, trying to see what he was talking about. She still struggled to understand him, but the patter was coming back.
    Before Skye could stop Tavish, he’d unclipped the silk flower from her French knot. Her hair tumbled down over her shoulder.
    “Tavish!”
    He made no attempt to move his arm, which rested on the back of her seat. His grin crammed with mischief as he fiddled in his coat pocket. What was he up to?
    “An wull yi lookit this?” His clenched hand emerged from the fabric that had hidden it moments before and hovered above her head.
    “What?” Skye looked up as his fingers unfurled, realizing too late what he had hidden behind his fingers. Has he not given up his mischievous childhood ways?
    Tavish’s grin widened as the object dangled from his fingers. Mistletoe. He moved closer, determined to capture her mouth.
    Skye backed up hard against the car door and fumbled with the handle. Locked. “What are you doing?”
    “Mistletoe, Skye. Yi knaw the rules. Yi hivtae kiss me. Jist a wee wan, fur Christmas.”
    “I don’t have to do anything. Stop it now. This isn’t funny.”
    “Yi knaw whit wull happen if yi dont…nae wan wull ask yi tae marry them fur a year.”
    Skye placed her hand flat against Tavish’s chest. “I’ll take my chances.” He might have money, but he certainly didn’t have manners. Callum would never force himself on her like that.
    Tavish backed off and sat upright. “Yi cannae blame a fella fur tryin’.” He stuck out his hand. “Nae hard feelins?”
    She’d not seal that with a handshake. No telling what Tavish might do once he got her in his grasp again. “No hard feelings.”
    Looking at the distance to the hotel entrance, and then calculating the risk of Tavish following her up to her room, Skye made a choice. “Would you mind driving around to the front drive-through and dropping me off there? It’ll be easier—no snowy asphalt to cross.” Only a few steps from there and she’d be inside. There was always a bellman at the entrance, too. Tavish would only be able to drop her and go.
    “Sure.” He started the car and drove across the parking lot, stopping the BMW where Skye had asked him to drop her. Leaning to