Chapter 11 #2
“Well, you have me and Eredine now. And I’m not going anywhere.
Sex with a guy in the South of France is easy to come by.
Friends I actually connect with? Not so much.
Which is why I’m staying, even though”—a cloud darkened her eyes—“this person is starting to give me the willies. Not knowing what’s going to happen next …
especially since it looks like it’s someone close to Lachlan. ”
Protectiveness surged inside me at her display of vulnerability. “Lucy, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Her expression lightened. “I believe you.”
“And I promise, I’m constantly thinking about this case.
I will figure out who is behind it.” At the moment, I was leaning toward McCulloch and his granddaughter, Sarah.
They seemed the most obvious choice. Occam’s razor: the answer that requires the fewest assumptions is usually correct.
“How much do you know about Sarah McCulloch?”
Lucy braced against the hood of the SUV, seemingly as uncaring as me about the drizzle dampening our respective hairdos.
“The housemaid. I mean … housekeeper.” She grimaced.
“Lachlan admonishes me for calling them housemaids.” Her voice lowered to a gruff brogue.
“They’re housekeepers, Lucy. How many times do I have to remind you that you can’t call them maids? ”
Smirking at her impression, I nodded. “Yeah, the housekeeper.”
Lucy gave me a look. “I’d say you’re on the right path if that’s the way you’re thinking. She has a serious thing for Lachlan.”
“How serious?”
“Like every time I’m with him and turn around in that castle, she’s scurrying out of sight like she was watching us. She blushes and stammers around him, all googly-eyed and adoring.”
I grunted at the idea of anyone acting that way around Adair.
Lucy chuckled, apparently reading me like a book. “You don’t like him, huh?”
“I’m not going to disparage your friend.”
“But …?”
I couldn’t help myself. “He gives off this vibe like he thinks he’s better than me.
” I winced, hating how juvenile I sounded.
“It’s … I’m not good with people who lord their superiority over others.
Considering I’m pretty epic, I take offense to someone thinking I’m not good enough.
” Beneath my bravado, there was that kid who’d been abandoned by her father, who worried that maybe she wasn’t good enough.
“Girl, you are epic, and I love that you know it.” Lucy pushed off the hood and gave me a coaxing smile. “So few of us are brave enough to admit our awesomeness out loud. But be nice to Lachlan. He’s my friend, and my friends should be treated well.”
Hearing the edge of admonishment in her voice, I looked away.
Lucy prompted, “I take it Lachlan told you that he and I …”
I shifted uncomfortably, hoping me knowing wasn’t a problem between us.
“I get that for this case, you had to ask him about past relationships with anyone on the estate. Easy to work that one out, and I am more than a pretty face.”
I turned back to her. “I know that.”
The teasing sparkle was gone from Lucy’s eyes. “It was strictly casual, my thing with Lachlan. Great sex with someone I felt safe with. But not at any point did I let my emotional guard down because I knew I’d get hurt. When he suggested we end things, it surprised me how relieved I was.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
She snorted. “Because one, I don’t want you thinking I’m moping after him and leaving dead deer carcasses in my wake.”
“Fair enough.” I chuckled.
“And two, it wouldn’t surprise me if his inability to let someone in, truly in, is why he’s in this mess. Lachlan is charismatic, kind, and patient—”
The huff of disbelief burst out of me before I could stop it.
Thankfully, Lucy just laughed. “He is. And if you aren’t smart, like me, a person could find themselves longing for something they can’t have, reading him wrong, thinking there’s more between them than there is, and getting pretty pissed about it when Lachlan doesn’t fulfill the fantasy they’ve created in their heads. ”
I edged closer to her. “You think this is a scorned lover?”
“Or someone who wants to be his lover.” Her expression was pointed.
Sarah McCulloch.
It was about time I found a way to talk to the young housekeeper so I could get a sense of her myself.
With the promise of seeing one another tomorrow for another MMA lesson with Eredine, Lucy and I parted, she to the estate and I into a quick shower before my daily drive to Inverness.
The shower stall in the trailer was so narrow, I banged my elbows against the walls every time I turned.
Trying not to remember the luxurious bathroom I’d spotted in Lachlan’s suite days ago, I hurried through the routine I usually enjoyed and reminded myself the trailer was temporary.
Mac told me not to come to the hospital until tomorrow for his discharge because it was a two-hour round trip. But I had to see him every day.
My worry compelled me to see for myself he was alive and well and healing.
Somehow I’d managed to avoid Lachlan, not just at the hospital but at the estate, these last few days too.
Lucy had shown me around Ardnoch Castle and Estate, giving me a real tour of the place.
It teemed with luxury. The wine cellar in the basement seemed to go on forever, and the Michelin Star restaurant was run by Arrochar’s boyfriend chef, Guy, whom I had yet to meet.
And five minutes from the castle, two larch-clad contemporary buildings, designed by Thane Adair, housed a spa and salon (Lucy explained Lachlan had hired professionals from all over the globe to run it) and a state-of-the-art gym.
There were a couple of boxing bags inside the gym that I eyed longingly.
I had one in my apartment at home, and a workout on it was a great stress reliever.
Finally, the heated indoor pool made a person want to dive right in.
My envy of the club members only grew when I saw the large but cozy castle library.
I wasn’t a big reader but I didn’t need to be to find the space alluring.
Wall-to-wall dark oak bookshelves, a large, open fireplace, comfortable armchairs, footstools, and sofas.
Floor-to-ceiling windows on either side of the fireplace let light in so it didn’t feel too dark.
The plethora of table lamps aided in chasing off the gloom too.
Luxurious velvet curtains at the windows pooled on the wooden floors, most of which were covered in expensive Aubusson carpets.
I’d caught a glimpse of Lachlan’s stage office, which was a smaller version of the library. Lucy also grabbed a golf cart and took me across the large course and into the woodlands to tour the private residences.
“One of these days, I’m going to buy one of these beauties,” she’d said as the woods disappeared behind us and we emerged onto an open clifftop overlooking the water.
Sand dunes fell dramatically toward the beach, making it a steep jump to get down to it.
I’d gaped at the four large homes dotted along the coastline.
“And it’s going to be one of those.” She’d continued and then pointed, “See the second closest to us?”
“Yeah?”
“That’s Wesley Howard’s summer home. Well, his summer house in Scotland. He has homes all over the world.”
“The director?”
She’d nodded and again I’d been reminded I was visiting another world here. Wesley Howard was on par with the Spielbergs and Scorseses. “He’s a board member. He and Lachlan are friends.”
Wow.
“But he rarely uses the house. Someday I’m going to be able to afford to buy it off the bastard.” Lucy grinned at the thought. “And I’ll live here anytime I’m not working on location.”
“You love it here, don’t you?”
“You get why, though, right?” She’d motioned to the soft but wild scenery.
I did get it. Lucy enjoyed a semblance of normal life here in a beautiful place.
It was not surprising that Lachlan was scarce that day, and the next day, and the day after that. He was most definitely avoiding me, and I couldn’t care less.
Shoving the irritating man from my thoughts, I stopped outside Mac’s hospital room and paused at what I witnessed through the window panels.
Arrochar Adair. Sitting beside Mac, her hands clasping one of his as she leaned over the bed.
Mac sat up, the color back in his cheeks, and he looked at Arrochar …
My breath caught as they laughed together, staring deeply into each other’s eyes.
Then Arrochar pressed her lips to the back of Mac’s hand, and this pained look crossed my father’s face. He tugged gently on his hand to release it, and Arrochar reluctantly let go.
Whatever she’d said to him, however, brought his gaze to her mouth.
A flush of heat scored my cheeks.
I pushed into the room and watched as they both jerked away from each other. “Hey.”
At the awkward silence, I decided not to jump to conclusions about what I’d observed and pretended I hadn’t interrupted anything. I smiled at Mac and then Arrochar. “Hey, it’s nice to see you again.”
Her pale cheeks flushed as she stood. “You too. But I was just leaving. I have to return to work.”
“I’ll walk you out.” The words fell from my mouth before I could stop them.
She gave me a tight smile and then said to Mac, “I’ll see you later.”
He nodded, expression carefully blank.
Arrochar narrowed her eyes ever so slightly and then walked away. I followed her, throwing over my shoulder at Mac, “Be back in five.”
Falling into step with Arrochar, I asked, “How is he today?” At her questioning look, I continued, “Sometimes I wonder if he’s not telling me how he really feels.”
She nodded in understanding, and I studied her. Arrochar Adair wasn’t a typical beauty, but she was certainly striking with her unusually pale-blue eyes, high, sharp cheekbones, and slightly pointed chin. Her lips were heart-shaped, adding to her overall fay features.
I imagined she had no trouble turning heads.
I just wasn’t expecting that one of those would be Mac’s.
I struggled to remember her age but thought it was close to mine.
Perhaps a year or two older? That made the age difference between them fourteen to sixteen years.
I knew my dad was young when they had me, and forty-four definitely wasn’t old, but still—
Robyn, stop.
I could absolutely be jumping to conclusions.
“Mac is hardy.” Arrochar yanked me out of my troubled thoughts. “He’s healing well,” she assured me. “He’s happy you’re here.”
“Why do I get the feeling you’re not?”
“Oh, I am.” She hurried to say, flushing slightly. “I just … I worry about him.”
Yeah, everyone was worried about Mac’s feelings. I got it. But a little understanding for the kid he walked out on might be nice. “You’re dating the chef at Ardnoch, right?”
I think she was as surprised as me by the question. “Uh, yes. Guy. We’ve been dating for the past few months. Why?”
Scrambling to think of a reasonable reason for asking, I blurted, “Does it bother Fergus?”
“Fergus? Fergus Ray?”
I nodded.
“Why would it?”
“Because you dated him.” I lowered my voice. “I’m helping Mac investigate the stalker at Ardnoch.”
“And you think Fergus is the stalker?” She laughed, a musical, sparkly sound that made her eyes darken to a warmer shade of blue. “God, no. Fergus wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“But you dated?”
“Yes. When we were kids. He was my first boyfriend. My first …” She raised her eyebrows. “Well, you know. But as sweet as he is, he’s immature.”
“That’s why you broke up?”
Arrochar made a face, like she couldn’t believe I was this nosy, but I genuinely did want to know about Fergus. “Um … that, and he had a gambling problem.”
That was new. “Gambling problem?”
“Online gambling.”
“Does he still?”
“I don’t think so. I think if he did, he’d have nothing left financially, and he’s got his flat that he rents and a good job on the estate …”
Still, I tucked that little note about him aside to put on my pin board later.
“Fergus isn’t behind the attacks. He’s like family. He and Brodan are best friends. He’d never hurt any of us.”
I also noted that, but he was still on my list. “Okay.”
Arrochar studied me like I’d just studied her. “You have Mac’s eyes.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“We should have dinner together.”
I raised an eyebrow at the abrupt change of topic. “We should?”
“Absolutely. Eredine has been talking about you nonstop, and you are Mac’s daughter. We should get to know each other.”
Considering what I may or may not have walked in on between her and Mac, I decided she was right. “Sounds great.”
Once we’d exchanged numbers and promised to arrange something, I returned to Mac’s room.
He gave me a soft, tender smile that caused an ache deep in my chest.
“Hey. How are you feeling?”
“Like you didn’t already ask Arro?”
I chuckled, sliding into the seat she’d vacated. “Okay, I did.”
“I’m fine.” He assured me. “Feeling much better and ready to get the hell out of here. Tomorrow can’t come soon enough. You have no idea how awful it is to be in here this long.”
“Actually, I do,” I blurted out.
Mac’s eyes sharpened, his face clouding over. “Robyn?”
I hadn’t come here that morning with the intention of telling him the truth.
That conversation was supposed to happen later.
But after talking to Lucy about how cowardly I’d felt ever since I’d arrived in Scotland, the words just spilled out before I could stop them.
“I’m not a cop anymore because last year, I was shot in the line of duty. I almost died.”
My father turned a worrying shade of chalk.