Free MacLarens of Balmorie 05 - Once Upon A Time In Scotland by Kam McKellar Page B
Authors: Kam McKellar
Tags: Highlanders
with a deep sigh. “Sometimes it feels like never,” he said honestly.
As gruff and dangerous as Malcolm appeared, Liam saw the weight and weariness in the man's eyes. “I can lend a hand if that'd suit.” He wanted to help, but he also saw the silver lining. The more he stayed busy, the less he'd run into Abbie or think about her.
Malcolm frowned and stared at him with a suspicious eye. “ Dinna get many offers of the like, lad,” he said slowly. “I canna pay.”
“Aye. I can see that.” He rolled his eyes. “You're family. Mum's favorite the way she told it.”
A rare half smile appeared through the dark beard. “ Yer mum said that about each of us,” he said, referring to him and his elder brother. Even after all these years it still pained Liam to think about the circumstances of Robbie's death and the effect it had on the entire family. But no one more so than Malcolm.
Robbie and Malcolm's young wife had engaged in an affair. Cathy had felt so guilty and was so horrified when Malcolm caught them that a week later, she'd tried to kill herself. Robbie had found her just in time to lunge for the gun. In the struggle, he'd been shot in the stomach. Robert MacLaren had died on the way to the hospital. In the span of a week, Malcolm had been betrayed in the worst way possible by his brother and his wife. And then he'd lost his brother.
“Send Ian up with the agreements, and I'll let the two cottages on the border. The other...I'll think on.”
“Sounds good enough to me.”
Liam pushed off the lumber pile.
“Have ye eaten yet, lad?”
Liam stopped, stunned by the question. Malcolm wasn't known for inviting anyone to spend time with him. Quickly, he shook the astonishment away and said no even though he'd had a huge breakfast in Fran's kitchen just before driving to the abbey.
Malcolm rose, setting the frame down and then walking into the restored part of the abbey.
Liam smiled and shook his head before following his uncle inside.
CHAPTER 10
A few days had passed since Abbie dropped to her knees in front of Liam MacLaren and done something she hadn't done in four years. Every time she thought about it, her cheeks went hot. The man had totally upended her good sense. Her modesty. Her focus. Her purpose. Everything. She hadn't flown all the way to Scotland to give out blow jobs, for God's sake.
A groan escaped her. She removed her eyeglasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
What a nightmare. And, honestly, he wasn't to blame. Her actions were all her own. Her rational mind said one thing, but her body and emotions refused to behave.
The words on her laptop blurred. With a heavy breath, she leaned back in the kitchen chair.
After her little porn show in the woods, she'd holed up in the cottage and had begun writing furiously, intent on blotting out all images, memories, and emotions having to do with the sexy Scot. Her tale had begun with her main character arriving in Scotland for a conference and finding tales of murder and ghosts in the small Victorian manor house she'd booked for the week. Of course, as her heroine investigated the old tales, events in present day began to mirror those of the past. It seemed murder and mayhem at fictional Blackwich Manor had awakened once again...
The words were flowing.
In a weird way, she had Liam to thank for that. Shaking her head, she pushed the chair back and went for another cup of coffee. She was tired, her head hurt, and her eyes were no doubt bloodshot. Silly of her maybe, but she was pushing herself to exhaustion so that when her head hit the pillow, she'd actually sleep instead of thinking about Liam—because every time she did think about him, she found herself trying to find ways to make a relationship possible.
Only it wasn't possible.
A glance in the wall mirror told her what she already knew. Eyes bloodshot. Hair had seen better days. Shadows under her eyes. She took a long drink from her cup, eyeing her reflection
As gruff and dangerous as Malcolm appeared, Liam saw the weight and weariness in the man's eyes. “I can lend a hand if that'd suit.” He wanted to help, but he also saw the silver lining. The more he stayed busy, the less he'd run into Abbie or think about her.
Malcolm frowned and stared at him with a suspicious eye. “ Dinna get many offers of the like, lad,” he said slowly. “I canna pay.”
“Aye. I can see that.” He rolled his eyes. “You're family. Mum's favorite the way she told it.”
A rare half smile appeared through the dark beard. “ Yer mum said that about each of us,” he said, referring to him and his elder brother. Even after all these years it still pained Liam to think about the circumstances of Robbie's death and the effect it had on the entire family. But no one more so than Malcolm.
Robbie and Malcolm's young wife had engaged in an affair. Cathy had felt so guilty and was so horrified when Malcolm caught them that a week later, she'd tried to kill herself. Robbie had found her just in time to lunge for the gun. In the struggle, he'd been shot in the stomach. Robert MacLaren had died on the way to the hospital. In the span of a week, Malcolm had been betrayed in the worst way possible by his brother and his wife. And then he'd lost his brother.
“Send Ian up with the agreements, and I'll let the two cottages on the border. The other...I'll think on.”
“Sounds good enough to me.”
Liam pushed off the lumber pile.
“Have ye eaten yet, lad?”
Liam stopped, stunned by the question. Malcolm wasn't known for inviting anyone to spend time with him. Quickly, he shook the astonishment away and said no even though he'd had a huge breakfast in Fran's kitchen just before driving to the abbey.
Malcolm rose, setting the frame down and then walking into the restored part of the abbey.
Liam smiled and shook his head before following his uncle inside.
CHAPTER 10
A few days had passed since Abbie dropped to her knees in front of Liam MacLaren and done something she hadn't done in four years. Every time she thought about it, her cheeks went hot. The man had totally upended her good sense. Her modesty. Her focus. Her purpose. Everything. She hadn't flown all the way to Scotland to give out blow jobs, for God's sake.
A groan escaped her. She removed her eyeglasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose.
What a nightmare. And, honestly, he wasn't to blame. Her actions were all her own. Her rational mind said one thing, but her body and emotions refused to behave.
The words on her laptop blurred. With a heavy breath, she leaned back in the kitchen chair.
After her little porn show in the woods, she'd holed up in the cottage and had begun writing furiously, intent on blotting out all images, memories, and emotions having to do with the sexy Scot. Her tale had begun with her main character arriving in Scotland for a conference and finding tales of murder and ghosts in the small Victorian manor house she'd booked for the week. Of course, as her heroine investigated the old tales, events in present day began to mirror those of the past. It seemed murder and mayhem at fictional Blackwich Manor had awakened once again...
The words were flowing.
In a weird way, she had Liam to thank for that. Shaking her head, she pushed the chair back and went for another cup of coffee. She was tired, her head hurt, and her eyes were no doubt bloodshot. Silly of her maybe, but she was pushing herself to exhaustion so that when her head hit the pillow, she'd actually sleep instead of thinking about Liam—because every time she did think about him, she found herself trying to find ways to make a relationship possible.
Only it wasn't possible.
A glance in the wall mirror told her what she already knew. Eyes bloodshot. Hair had seen better days. Shadows under her eyes. She took a long drink from her cup, eyeing her reflection
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