38. Chapter 38
Chapter 38
No Regrets
Lachlan stood at his kitchen counter, looking out at the stormy white caps smashing in the sea. He raked his fingers through his hair. Last night with Violet played through his mind. Being with her, being intimate with her, was well beyond what his mind had conjured up these past months. He had never experienced such strong desire for someone. In the light of day, it was a bit overwhelming to realize just how intense his feelings had become toward her. He took a sip of his coffee. His hardened cock was a constant reminder of how much he’d wanted her over these past couple of months, but he never imagined that it could be like what it was between them last night.
During the short period of time they’d spent together months ago, he’d fought his physical desire for her. He had no intention of taking advantage of the situation. He prided himself on being a gentleman. That was who he was to the core. Lachlan had always been disciplined and always had self-control. It wasn’t really something he thought about. It was just his character. He wasn’t the guy who cheated or took advantage of a woman. Those were things that would never change. But he never would have imagined himself crossing the line with an employee.
The thing was, he didn’t think of Violet as an employee—not really. In many ways, he'd come to rely on her as a business partner. Not that crossing that line was any better. But here he was the morning after, and regret was definitely not one of the emotions running through him. Violet made him feel alive. She brought out something in him he didn't even know existed. It was something raw and authentic.
It was foreign for Lachlan to feel so many urges he'd never felt before. Sure, he was a guy like any other. Of course, a beautiful, intelligent, sweet woman was tempting. He would have to be dead not to feel some kind of pull. But this felt like the pull of the moon on the ocean’s tide—massive.
After that first weekend Lachlan had met Violet, he mistakenly assumed his fires would cool as soon as they’d parted ways. That the part of him she'd cracked open would seal back up and disappear without a trace. He couldn't have been more wrong. Every moment with her, the crack deepened, splitting wide open and somehow setting him free.
Last night, everything had built up. Instead of the Scottish gentleman Lachlan was used to being, he felt like a feral highlander, and god help him, it felt good. Lachlan was already feeling things toward Violet that he’d never imagined. Their business relationship had grown and become one that Lachlan was incredibly grateful for and enjoyed. But when he saw Violet at the gala, she was positively jaw-dropping. Watching her was his complete undoing. He hadn’t intended any of what had happened, but this morning, he regretted nothing.
Having sex with Violet had been one of the most intense moments of his life. The only regret he felt was that they got interrupted before he could give her sweet release. He wished he could have done things differently after they'd come up from the barrel room.
After meeting with the first minister and his wife, Orlagh came and told him how she'd overheard Anna talking down to Violet. It utterly incensed him, and when he'd asked Anna about it, she'd tried to downplay it. Her biggest mistake was the moment she tried to imply that Violet was somehow unworthy of him. Lachlan hadn’t held back when he told her that Violet had more class in her perfect little pinky finger than Anna would ever dream of having and that she could take her money ram it up her arse.
A few months back, he never would have imagined saying such a thing, but Christ, it felt good. It was freeing not to have to say or do what was expected of him and to stand up for Violet and himself. He'd do anything to protect Violet—anything.
Sally barked excitedly, pulling him from his thoughts. He recognized Orlagh’s voice loving up his mutt, and then the two bumbled into the kitchen.
“Put the kettle on then. It’s freezin’ out there," she ordered through cuddles and kisses with Sally.
“What are ye doin’ here so early on a Sunday morn’ anyhow?” Lachlan asked while filling up the kettle with water and turning the knob for the gas stove burner. He turned back to his baby sister, who was settling in at his kitchen table.
“The Gala went well," she began.
He nodded. “Yes, very well. I haven’t got the final numbers for the silent auction, but I think we raised a lot of funds. Minus the check from Anna, I was sure to give that back to her.” Lachlan poured the boiling water into Orlagh's favourite blue argyle mug, stirring in a blob of honey and a splash of milk. He topped up his black coffee and brought the two mugs to the table.
“Wait,” Orlagh stopped Lachlan just as he was about to sit. “Do ye huv any bickies?” She looked like a blue-eyed cherub about to fall happily from grace.
He smiled knowingly. “Uh, yes, how could I forget?” he said, walking over to the cupboard.
“Any with chocolate should do," she instructed.
“Right,” he replied flatly.
His sister’s sweet tooth was rather infamous. Lachlan didn’t often eat biscuits and sweets, but he always kept some on hand for when his sister popped ’round. He grabbed a side plate and filled it with plain oat biscuits, a chocolate covered version, and also a cream sandwich style and brought it to the table.
“Ooh, lovely jubbly,” Orlagh said, reaching for a cream sandwich one and dipping it into her tea.
“Out with it, Rolo.”
She looked at him under her lashes for a moment, munching her biscuit and reaching for another. “Oh, all right.”
Lachlan clearly knew her all too well.
“Well, firstly, I'm proud of you for the way you handled that dreadful woman. I'm so glad you came to your senses and dumped her arse.”
Lachlan gave her a warning look from under his brow.
"All right, all right. Never mind all that. But I am glad ye put her in her place.”
"Aye, right. What else? I can see there is something else going on in that head of yours.”
"I had a delightful little chat with Violet last night.” She grinned through chomps of biscuit.
Lachlan sat up a little straighter. “Did ye?” he said, trying to stay cool even though the very mention of her name had his pulse galloping like a horse when a gate gets left open.
“I brought ye this. Thought maybe ye would want to give it to her.” Orlagh handed him a large, brown paper shopping bag. He peered inside and pulled up a folded soft wool tartan. He looked at his sister, confused.
“Why would I want to give Violet our family tartan exactly?”
Orlagh munched on another biscuit. “Because it was her favourite item at the auction last night. She even bid on it.”
“Really?” Lachlan was surprised, but he also felt oddly gratified that Violet liked their clan tartan and wanted the blanket for her home.
“Seriously, Lachlan, she loved it, and it would be a romantic gesture for you to give it to her.” She spelled it out for him.
“And why exactly do ye think I need help in the romance department?”
“Oh my God, Lachlan, just give it to her—she’ll like it.” Orlagh huffed. “Please tell me ye at least talked to her last night?”
What? Aye, aye, of course, I did. Why?”
“Brother, ye huv it bad. Did ye ask her out?”
Lachlan took a sip of his coffee, thinking back to being in the cask room with Violet. “No' exactly.”
“Lachlan, ye need to get on with it already. Lassies like Violet dinnae come around every day, ye ken. Please, please, dinnae get stuck in the friend zone with this one.”
Lachlan almost spat out his coffee. There was no way in hell that was happening. “What are ye implying?” He arched his brow.
Orlagh rolled her eyes at him. “Oh, Lachlan.” She sighed, shaking her head.
“Ye dinnae huv to worry about my love life.” He knew what his sister was thinking—that he’d mess things up—but if his yelling heart was any indication, she needn’t worry.
“Och, did ye just say love, Lachlan Rory Mackenzie?”
It was Lachlan's turn to roll his eyes, although, in fairness, he didn't mind Orlagh's ribbing this morning.
"Ye huvnae stopped thinking about her since ye met her—admit it—and ye sing her praises all the time.”
“Well, she’s amazing with the business. I've told ye she's become my right hand.” He knew damn well what his sister was trying to say, but he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction. It was far too much fun to let her stew.
"God, Lachlan, sometimes, ye're such a numpty. Dinnae ye think ye owe it to yerself to at least see where it could go?”
Lachlan was silent for a moment. Pensive. “Aye."
Orlagh stared at him, bewildered, before she jumped up, clapping her hands together.
"Ye're going to ask her out then? Och, I like her Lachlan, and I huv such a good feeling about the two of ye." She sat back, grinning at him.
Lachlan smiled reluctantly. Orlagh and her feelings . “Right, well, ye best let me get on with it then,” he said, getting up from the table and taking their mugs to the sink.
“Oh, right,” she said, jumping up and taking her cue to leave. “Keep me posted.” She grinned as she sauntered out of the kitchen. “And don’t forget to give her the tartan!”
Lachlan chuckled, took a deep breath, and headed upstairs to shower.