Chapter 24 Mac
MAC
“It’s been a tough week.”
Iona tilted her head to study me. “Why is that?”
“Arro’s avoiding me. Last week, I understood. But another week has passed, and she hasn’t reached out. She hasn’t returned to my class either.”
“And how does that make you feel?”
I sighed impatiently. “Irritated.”
“And?”
“Agitated.”
“Mac”—Iona’s lips twitched—“what’s beneath the agitation?”
Leaning forward, elbows on knees, I stared out at the River Ness. “I let myself hope after we’d had an honest conversation. I thought maybe there was a chance. But her avoiding me just preys on all my …” I hated even saying the word. “Insecurities.”
“Have you been practicing the techniques we discussed?”
“Aye.” I looked back at her. “They help. But this week, I’ve had a lot of moments when I had to catch myself from falling back into the bad habit of convincing myself she’s better off without me.”
“But you caught yourself? The techniques helped?”
“Aye, but it’s tiring.”
“It is,” she agreed sympathetically. “And worth it. Now … how do you know Arro’s avoiding you?”
I frowned. “Because I haven’t seen her.”
“Has she not been taking your calls?”
“Eh, I haven’t called her.”
Iona shrugged. “Why not?”
“I thought she needed space to think about everything.”
“Did Arro tell you she needed space?”
“She said she needed time.”
“Time and space are related, but they’re not the same thing. Arro might well be able to process your relationship while still spending time with you. If you’d like to see her, Mac, all you have to do is ask. She might not agree to it, but at least you’ll have taken a step to move things forward.”
I’d almost forgotten how busy the club could be during the summer months.
Last summer was quieter than usual because of the chaos Lucy had wreaked on us all.
Lachlan had canceled his annual summer solstice ceilidh, but it was going ahead this year, and there were people completing tasks all over the estate to prepare for it.
Club members who owned private residences had flown in to spend their summers here, and the castle was soon to be near full capacity.
Most members couldn’t stay longer than a few days, but they’d all flown in for the ceilidh.
I’d been in the kitchen talking to the estate chef, Rafaella, because her sous chef was convinced supplies were missing from the pantry and fridge.
We went into her small office off the kitchen to discuss the possibility one of her staff was stealing, and I told her we’d check the kitchen’s security camera footage.
I further offered to speak with Lachlan about installing a discreet camera into the pantry and refrigerator area.
Lachlan called at that moment and told me he needed me down at Loch Ardnoch, a private loch on the estate where Lachlan had built several cabins, one of which Eredine ran her Pilates, yoga, and mindfulness classes from.
I strode past the great hall, glancing into it, so used to the grandeur of its sweeping staircase, stained glass windows, and medieval fireplace that I barely noticed it now.
Except on days when it was busy like this.
A few members chatted on the chesterfield sofas by the unlit fire, while the company Lachlan had hired to decorate were up on tall ladders, taking measurements along the galleried balcony.
Housekeeper Sarah McCulloch, granddaughter of local farmer Collum McCulloch, and another housekeeper named Mallory were on hands and knees working a stain out of one of the expensive red carpets.
I was about to slip down the corridor to our offices and through a side exit door that led directly across the golf course toward the loch when my path was blocked by Hollywood actor Iris Benning. Halting, I raised an eyebrow at her sudden appearance.
She’d only recently become a club member after garnering her second consecutive Oscar nomination. Tall, athletic, apparently talented (though I wouldn’t know because I hadn’t seen any of her films), the brunette held herself with a confidence that belied her years.
And considering I knew her to be only twenty, the look in her eye made me a wee bit uncomfortable.
“Ms. Benning, is there a problem?” I kept my tone neutral, professional.
Her dark eyes glittered with a come-on that was as unnerving as it was unmistakable.
She stepped into my personal space, uncaring if anyone was watching.
“Please, Mac, call me Iris.” At my silence, she smirked.
“You know, I’ve been here for four days, and I’ve been watching you, but you’ve been too polite to watch me back. ”
I wasn’t even aware of her existence beyond her name on our member roster.
“Ms. Benning, I’m on my way to a meeting. Is there something you need? I can call on Wakefield.”
She frowned at my continued flatness. “Okay, maybe I need to be more forward with you Scottish guys. I think you’re hot, and I want to fuck you. When can we do that?”
I blinked, surprised anything could still shock me. Not that women hadn’t spoken plainly to me like this before or that club members (of all genders) hadn’t tried to slip their room cards into my hand … but Iris Benning was barely out of childhood. It was disturbing.
Using the same bland but diplomatic tone I’d used with previous members who’d wanted to sleep with me, I said, “Ms. Benning, as head of security for Ardnoch Estate, that would not be appropriate. Have a good day.” I moved to walk past her, but she wrapped her hand with her long, spiky nails around my forearm. Fuck.
“No one needs to know, Mac.” She closed the gap between us again, her too-sweet perfume irritating. “Please.” Iris pouted in a way I assumed she thought was seductive. “I have all these daddy fantasies running through my head I’m dying to act out with you.”
Shuddering in horror, I pulled my arm from her grip. “Aye, nope. Not going to happen.” I shuddered involuntarily again and strode away.
“Ooh, playing hard to get,” Iris called loudly enough for anyone to hear. “I like it!”
I grimaced.
Save me from bored film stars.
Taking a deep breath, I marched left down the narrow staff corridor and toward the side exit. I burst into the humid summer air and tried to forget about the odd interlude as I made my way down to Loch Ardnoch.
Less than ten minutes later, I spotted Lachlan on the pathway at the top of the loch. The sun glinted off the placid water, and its stillness created a calm. Eredine’s studio was in cabin one, and I could see her walking past the gabled end window.
“What’s happening?” I greeted Lachlan.
My friend raised an eyebrow. “You took your time.”
I sighed, crossing my arms over my chest. “Iris Benning accosted me.”
“What?” Lachlan scowled.
“Ach, it was nothing either of us hasn’t dealt with before.” I considered that. “Okay, this was a wee bit more upsetting than usual.”
“What the hell did she say?”
“She was … blunt.”
“Need me to have a word?”
“’Course not. I’ve just added her to my ‘know when they’re here so I can avoid them’ list.”
Lachlan chuckled and turned back to the water. “Angeline Potter still on that list?”
“Still top.” The British actor tried to corner me almost every time she visited the estate.
“Oh, how awful it must be,” my friend teased, “to be wanted.”
His words hit with deadly aim. After taking Iona’s advice, I’d tried to call Arro, but it went straight to voice mail. So I’d texted her this morning instead to ask if she’d like to meet for coffee tomorrow. No response. Fucking crickets.
“Sorry.” Lachlan studied me. “Didn’t mean to piss you off.”
I told him about Arro.
He sighed heavily. “Give her time. And don’t let her catch an oversexed starlet barely out of high school flirting with you.”
“That would require Arro to be in the same room as me.” I glowered.
Lachlan opened his mouth to reply, but agitated, I decided I no longer wanted to discuss his sister. “Why did you need me here?”
“Oh, right.” Lachlan gestured to the loch. “I think it might be nice to create a party area here for the ceilidh. Somewhere quieter, romantic. Light lanterns across the loch, have a deejay play mood music, have a bar here, that sort of thing.”
“And?”
“And I thought we could set off the fireworks here instead of up at the castle, but I wondered if that would affect the anti-drone perimeter?”
“The fireworks shouldn’t be a problem, but maybe there’s an alternative to fireworks … though, the cost would be exponentially higher.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Drone displays. We’d need to make sure the display was well within the perimeter so as not to set off the anti-drone system, but they’re more environmentally friendly, and I know you’re working toward making the estate greener.”
Lachlan tilted his mouth in consideration. “I’ve seen them. They’re quite effective. How much are we talking?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know offhand, but easily six figures.”
He cursed under his breath. “For a light show?” But I knew Lachlan’s expressions enough to know that the idea intrigued him. “Maybe I know someone who can get me a discount.”
“Maybe.”
“I’ll look into it. It would be something different, and you know I’m always looking for ways to keep the members surprised and satisfied. I could …”
My phone buzzed in my jacket pocket, and Lachlan’s voice faded into the background at the sight of Arro’s name on my screen. I clicked on the notification.
I can do coffee. Flora’s tomorrow at noon?
I felt so fucking euphoric, you’d think she’d just agreed to marry me. I quickly typed back I’d meet her there and that I was looking forward to it.
“Arro?”
Glancing up from my phone, I found Lachlan smirking at me. “What?”
“She texted you back?”
“Aye, how did you know? Also, I don’t know about you, but I still find it strange discussing this with you.”
“Well, get over it because if she forgives you, this will be our lives moving forward. And I knew because you’re grinning like a Cheshire cat.” He smacked me on the back as he strode toward the castle. “You’re a lost cause, man.”