6. Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Popping the Big Question
Lachlan was much relieved to find the lass doing so well and recovering from her ordeal, but what niggled in the back of his mind was the awareness that relief wasn't his primary emotion.
There was something more than concern or common courtesy, but Lachlan couldn’t identify exactly what it was. Every time she pinned him with those beautiful eyes, he felt a visceral connection that defied logic. He always made eye contact when speaking with someone, but with Violet Munro, it felt intimate somehow. It wasn’t something he could wrap his mind around. Needing to look somewhere else, he made the mistake of dropping his eyes to her mouth, and his dream about their almost-kiss slammed back into his thoughts.
Instantly, he felt like a creep. The last thing in the world he should be thinking about was snogging the lass. It was wrong on so many levels. Just when he thought he’d sorted himself back out, she asked to give him a hug. It was not like he could say no, nor did he want to. Lachlan was a hugger. He hugged many women friends and men friends, too—this shouldn't be any different.
A cuddle between friends. Lachlan was a pro at the friend cuddle. This was certainly the right occasion for it. Christ, he’d been so worried for her, and they’d been through a traumatic event together. A cuddle seemed the most natural thing in the world, right up until she was in his arms, nestled against him. Part of him, the Lachlan part of him, appreciated the moment for what it was: two people who’d gone through an ordeal finding comfort in a warm embrace. But then there was another part of him that seemed to be channeling his brothers’ mindsets—Drew and Alex. That part of him was aroused beyond measure.
It was not like him. Not like him at all. This was wild and needy and far too carnal, but ironically, he didn’t want it to stop. The poke of her perky breasts against his torso scorched him. The soft sound of her contented feminine sigh was like a stroke on his cock.
In the back of his mind, he knew that he shouldn’t pull her closer—knew he shouldn’t feel his heart race as he touched the curve of her back. He held Violet Munro tight to him, and when she finally pulled away and stepped back from him, he felt disoriented.
Schooling himself, Lachlan stared down at her, trying to understand why his reaction to her was so visceral. He cleared his throat. “Can I get ye anything?” he offered, cutting the tension that sparked between them as thick as New York cheesecake.
“I—” she hesitated.
He looked at her expectantly, sensing she needed something from him, and, by God right now, he was damn-near willing to do anything she asked.
“Could you stay with me for the next twenty-four hours?” She blurted out in a rush. She wore a vulnerability in her expression that was different from last night but no less compelling. However, that was the last thing he expected to hear, and he had to stop himself from instantly saying, hell aye. Thoughts racing, he forced himself to slow down a minute.
“Right, hmm. I was thinking along the lines of a cuppa tea or perhaps a warm blanket,” he teased lightly, but he felt bad when she looked down awkwardly. Her cheeks and neck flushed a pretty shade of pink. He hadn’t meant to embarrass her.
“It’s okay.” She sighed, leaning back onto the edge of the bed. Her eyes were cast to the puddle grey, utilitarian floor. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking,” she said, shaking her head.
Lachlan studied her, wondering why she wanted him to stay with her. She must have a good reason for asking. Christ, it was like his horny arse brothers had taken over his mind because suddenly, he conjured the idea that she wanted him as her sex slave for the next twenty-four hours. He felt tension crush between his brows, mortified by the direction of his unbidden salacious thought. What on earth was the matter with him?
Pulling himself together, he went for the straightforward approach. “Tell me, lass, what do you mean? Why do ye want me to stay with ye?”
Shifting herself back onto the bed and neatly pulling her legs up under herself, she sat cross-legged and had the look of a school girl trying to solve a math problem.
“It’s just that… Well, I’m permitted to leave the hospital now.” She rubbed her forehead and winced when her hand scraped over her bruise.
Lachlan had to stop himself from reaching out to comfort her. Fortunately, she quickly recovered.
“The problem is, the doctor said someone needed to stay with me for the next twenty-four hours. Actually, he made me promise that someone would.” She sighed, obviously unimpressed with the doctor’s orders. “Apparently, I could have a seizure or something,” she muttered like it was the stupidest thing she'd ever heard. “I don’t know, but I guess, at night, there’s more of a risk for it.” Her slender shoulders slumped on a sigh.
Even slouching, she had a swan-like grace about her.
“Why dinnae they want to keep ye in the hospital then?” Concern pricked his thoughts.
Violet gave an exaggerated shrug. “Who knows? But to be quite honest, I’d really rather not stay here if I don’t have to." Her pert nose wrinkled. "The doctor said the seizure thing is rare but can happen, so apparently, I need a babysitter.”
Lachlan’s lips twitched in a half-smile at her less-than-thrilled description and the juxtaposition of the irritated frown on her china doll features. “Well, that makes sense. Ye dinnae want to risk something happening if yer alone. But dinnae ye huv somebody who’d be willing to stay with ye?” Surely, the lass must know somebody who'd be more suited to keep watch over her. They didn't even know each other.
“Nope,” she muttered, leaning back with her hands on the bed behind her. “I just moved here. Hmm, what is it? Two days ago now. I don’t know anyone. Except for you. And you… Well, you’ve been so nice and helpful, I just thought… Oh, God. Never mind.” That alluring pink crawled up her neck and face again.
“Ye moved to Scotland and dinnae huv any family or friends here? No one?” he ventured, attempting to understand the situation.
“No one.” She shrugged as if it had never really occurred to her. “It’s just me here. All by myself,” she said, apparently at ease with her situation.
Lachlan wondered what had brought Violet Munro here to Scotland alone. But he didn't feel it was his business to ask at the moment.
“Och, lass, what a way to start.”
“Ha, right?” she muttered.
“I didnae mean to sound insensitive.”
“Not at all. You're right. Definitely an unexpected start." She shook her head. "But I supposed life happens no matter where you are, and despite what happened last night, I’m glad to be here." Her lips tugged in a smile.
And Lachlan found himself admiring her positive take on it. He could only imagine that if it was Anna, the complaining would never end. He caught his spiralling thoughts and pushed them aside to focus on the dilemma at hand. Lachlan was more than a little surprised by Violet's request. As odd as it was, he wasn’t opposed to it. Being that she was by herself in his country, it made sense now why she’d asked for his help. That, and they'd formed an unlikely connection, he supposed.
With Anna out of town, he’d intended on a quiet weekend to focus and work on some upcoming projects and, of course, get a jump start on the new client file. He was also supposed to be deciding on his current living situation and whether or not his girlfriend was moving in. Och , he really didn't want to be thinking about that.
Staying with the lass would put a dent in his plans for the weekend, but it was only for twenty-four hours. And how could he in good conscience say no? Violet needed a friend—a helping hand—and he’d always prided himself on being a good friend and a gentleman.
He’d be remiss, though, if he didn’t consider his unexpected reaction to the lass. He had to admit he was attracted to her. The truth was they'd shared in some heightened emotions given Violet’s accident. The attraction was likely due to the remnants of those emotions, he reasoned. Now they’d had a cwtch between friends, he was sure it would be fine. He was good at being friends.
Then there was Anna. He had to consider her too in this. Hmm. She didn't seem the jealous type, but she might not be totally keen on the situation. He tried to be pragmatic. As bad as it sounded to spend the night with another woman, the reality was the circumstances were completely innocent, and truthfully, what kind of arse would he be if he said no to the Violet? She literally had no one else to help her.
“All right then,” he said, his mind made up.
“What all right then ?” she asked as if she'd forgotten what she'd asked him.
“All right, I’ll stay with ye,” Lachlan confirmed. “Be your watch for the next twenty-four hours.”
“Oh.” Her eyes grew wide.
“Is that a good, oh ?” he hedged.
“Yes, yes, of course.” She leaned forward with her legs still crossed under her and ran her fingers through her long golden hair, pulling it over one shoulder. “Sorry. I’m just surprised that’s all. And grateful. I’m very grateful.” She exhaled with a smile.
He felt glad as he watched the tension drop away from her pretty features. “Are ye ready to get oot of here then?”
“Definitely!”
Making sure her phone and earbuds were in her stretch pant pocket, she picked up the bouquet from the bed and stood up. Her chivalrous knight stepped toward the door and held it open, gesturing for her to step through.
“Thank you.” She smiled softly up at him as she moved past him. Despite it being a short stay and being grateful for the medical care, Violet was very glad to be getting out of the hospital. It had been a long night.
For a minute there, she was afraid she'd offended the handsome man who'd come to her rescue. When Violet had asked him to stay with her, she almost laughed at the shocked look on his face. She was sure he thought she was nuts. He was her only hope, though. It was him or an all-night café. It was a huge relief that he’d actually agreed. She truly needed his help, but at the same time, she didn't mind in the least that she'd get to enjoy his company for the next twenty-four hours, including that crooked smile that was the perfect combination of adorable-nerdy-shy guy and I-know-I'm-hot sex god.
“Did you tell me your name?” she wondered, not knowing if she'd inadvertently forgotten it from last night.
They walked side by side down the corridor to the elevator.
“I don’t think we got as far as that yesterday.” A smile tugged the corners of his mouth, and he looked down at her out of the corner of his eye. “Lachlan Mackenzie.”
“Lachlan.” She sighed lightly. “Do you know my name?” She looked up at him uncertainly.
“I do.” There was warmth in the timbre of his voice. “It was one of the first things I asked you.”
“Oh yeah,” she said exaggeratedly as the memory of it flooded back to her. “I remember your eyes,” she said thoughtfully.
They stopped before the elevator, and Lachlan pressed the button, then turned to gaze down at her. “My eyes?”
With his attention full on her, Violet felt timid and almost wished she hadn’t said anything. But he looked at her in a way that implored her to tell him. Her voice was quiet and sobering. A wave of emotion hit her out of nowhere, and she looked away from him. Crossing her arms around herself, she absently stared out a nearby window, recalling the intimacy of the connection she’d felt with him.
“I remember your eyes felt like a lifeline. I felt like the confusion would drown me, but something about your eyes holding mine kept me afloat. It’s like you were connected to me somehow, willing me to be okay.” She ventured a glance back up at his handsome face, worried she'd confessed too much.
He stared down at her with the intensity of fire. His nostrils slightly flared, and she noted the slight tick in his clean-shaven, chiseled jaw. Without a word, strong arms encircled her, pulling her in close to him, and she felt him drop a kiss to the top of her head. She sighed in wonder, feeling so safe and protected with his arms around her. This man she barely knew.
“I’m glad, lass,” he murmured into her hair as the door to the elevator opened.
By the time they got out to the parking lot, Violet was feeling exhausted again. It shouldn't have surprised her. Dr. Campbell said it might take a day or two before she got her energy back.
“Ye feeling okay, lass?” Lachlan’s hand briefly touched the small of her back.
Violet had to reign in her girlish reaction to it. The man was certainly perceptive. “Yeah, just going to take a bit for my energy to come back, I guess. So silly, such a short walk and it’s drained me.”
Violet’s attention was drawn to the glossy jet-black Maserati that Lachlan was opening the passenger door to. Wowza . He gestured for her to get in, and she gingerly slid into the tan leather seat, instantly noting the way it gently held her in all the right places. Lachlan’s car seat was literally more comfortable than any bed she'd ever slept in.
A memory from her childhood surfaced. Sitting beside her two little sisters and her dad at the dining table. While her mom, animated with her frosted pink lipstick, told them of another new home-based company she’d signed up for. And how this one was different. This one was going to make them rich. It would take hard work, but she was going to get to diamond status. And if she could reach diamond status within the first six months, the company would give her a brand new sports car. Violet couldn’t recall what sports car, but she could still clearly see the sheer thrill in her mother’s cool mint green eyes. And the weariness and feigned excitement in her dad’s warm hazel ones.
Letting the memory fade, she settled back further into the seat. Guess Lachlan must have achieved diamond status. A sardonic smile quirked her lips.
“I should have picked ye up at the door. I didnae think. I’m sorry, lass,” Lachlan said as he slid into the driver’s seat beside her, pulling her from her thoughts.
“Oh, no, don’t apologize. It was probably good to walk a bit and get some fresh air.”
He eyed her meaningfully. “Well, as long as I huvnae worn ye out. I take my responsibilities very seriously, lass.” That crooked smile tugged at his lips.
Violet giggled. “Good to know.”
The engine made a beautiful purring sound as Lachlan started the car. Violet balked that she’d even noticed such a thing.
“Your car is ridiculous,” she stated matter-of-factly, completely changing the subject.
“Sorry?” A confused crease appeared between Lachlan’s brows.
“I mean, it’s awesome—like ridiculously awesome,” she quickly clarified.
He chuckled. “That’s good then, aye?”
“Yes, definitely good.”
She could barely tear her eyes from his I-know-I'm-hot-as-a-sex-god crooked smile as he pulled out of the parking lot.
“So where to, Violet? Are ye hungry? Do ye want to go fer breakfast? It’s only just nine o’clock now.”
“Actually, would you mind if we went to my Airbnb first?” she asked sheepishly, not wanting to impose or take advantage of his generosity. “I could use a shower and some clean clothes.” She wrinkled her nose as a fresh wave of self-consciousness rolled over her.
“Aye, of course. Which Airbnb is it?”