Chapter 2 Arran
ARRAN
Months of waiting and waiting for planning permission to come through, and finally, we had holes in walls and an addition going up in the back of the Gloaming.
I strode through the construction site that was the old restaurant, bar, and hotel, my hard hat in place, my hands itching to do some demo. However, I’d promised Lachlan I’d leave it to the professionals. As such, I served as the project manager to liaise with our contractor instead.
My phone rang, and speak of the devil. I grinned as I answered. “Checking up on me?”
Lachlan chuckled. “Just wanted to see how things are going.”
“So, checking up on me. It’s looking good. I’m sure we’ll run into a problem at some point today, but we’re making nice progress.”
“And the windows?”
We had to special order windows to replace the old ones.
In Scotland, you could only replace sash-and-case windows in historical buildings like the Gloaming if they were beyond repair.
Unfortunately, all of them were, which meant replacing every single window with as close a match to the originals as possible.
That was expensive business. We also had to match the new windows in the rear addition.
I wanted to make sure we found the right people to do it.
“I’ve narrowed it down to two companies. ”
“We need to order them pronto, so try not to take too long deciding.”
“You said you trusted me to do this,” I reminded him, my tone teasing, but truthfully, I needed to know my big brother had faith I could manage this renovation.
It had shocked me when Lachlan proposed buying the Gloaming together.
Gordon Wallace owned it for years, his father before that, so it had become a staple of Ardnoch, a much beloved local haunt.
I knew a few people in the village were uncertain about my family taking it over and renovating, but I was determined to prove we were honoring the old girl.
That Lachlan even considered me for a joint business venture, too, was humbling.
He was finally treating me as the man I’d become versus the reckless wee shit I’d once been.
I wanted to prove that his faith in me was not misplaced.
But I also needed him to prove he trusted me.
“I do, I do.” He sighed. “I just know what renovations are like after doing it with the castle. Time pulls away from you. Coordinating a renovation on a historical building is a juggling act.”
“I know. But I’ve got this.”
“Good. Well, call me if you need anything. You coming to dinner Sunday?”
Lachlan and Thane took turns hosting weekend dinners every other week. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
It was true.
I couldn’t believe it was true, but coming home had turned out to be exactly what I’d needed all along.
We hung up and I pulled out my tablet to mull over the window companies before my contractor, Bill, found me to ask about the plumbing in the addition.
Eredine leaned against the side of that ridiculous car, staring up at the Gloaming as if lost in thought.
I hadn’t been joking this morning when I told her that sometimes the very sight of her dazzled me.
She was the most stunning person I’d ever met, inside and out.
There were many things I didn’t know about Eredine, things my curiosity itched to discover. She discomfited me a wee bit.
Yet, having met so many people on my travels, I could say with certainty that despite her many secrets and mysteries, Eredine Willows oozed a goodness, a kindness, a gentleness that renewed my faith in humanity.
She reminded me of the softness and light in this world.
Even if she hadn’t been stunning to look at (which she was), Ery would still be the most beautiful woman I’d ever met because of that light inside her, a glow never diminished by the haunted look in her eyes.
I knew something had existed between her and my brother Brodan. I didn’t know if anything physical happened or if feelings had been exchanged, but I’d witnessed a spark between them at Lachlan’s wedding. For months, I’d been trying to build the trust between me and Ery so I could ask her.
Yet, as much as I loved and owed Brodan, if they had a past together, it wouldn’t stop me.
Whatever was between them, he was foolish enough to leave her behind.
As far as I was concerned, that told me everything I needed to know.
I knew my brother, sometimes even better than he knew himself.
And if Brodan truly wanted her, he’d be here.
But he wasn’t.
I was.
And if it took me another six months to make my way past Ery’s defenses, enough for her to let me in, to tell me what she was running from, to convince her to go on a date with me, then I was here for it.
Because I’d never felt this drawn to a woman before.
Eredine was worth whatever tension might arise between me and Brodan when I made my move … but we’d get through it. My brother and I had survived worse.
Something in me settled as I approached Ery. Those gorgeous hazel-green eyes dropped to meet my gaze. She gave me a small smile, and a wee swoop of nerves buzzed in my gut. Not that I’d ever admit that to anyone, especially not my siblings. I’d never hear the end of it.
This morning I’d been a bit too nosy, wandering into her bedroom under the guise of bringing her a protein shake, but I wanted to know everything about her.
And watching her get ready for the day had been extremely satisfying in an unnerving, possessive way.
Very few people, and not any in the last few years, as far as I was aware, had the privilege of seeing Eredine in her bedroom doing her hair and makeup.
Now I had. And as I’d sat and watched her, I couldn’t help but imagine having that pleasure in the mornings after making her come.
“That is quite an intense look on your face,” Ery teased as she pushed off her car and sauntered toward me. The feminine sway in her hips killed me more each day. “What were you thinking about?”
“You don’t want to know.” I winked at her, and she rolled her eyes, already turning to walk down Castle Street.
Falling in beside her, we’d stepped away from the car park outside the Gloaming, which served as the main car park for the village, when a Range Rover slowed beside us.
I curled a hand around Eredine’s elbow, drawing her to a stop as I was unsure where the vehicle intended to go.
It halted beside us, and the passenger window rolled down to reveal a vaguely familiar youthful face.
I guessed she was one of Lachlan’s club members.
Peering past her at the driver, I didn’t recognize her.
The passenger flicked a look at Eredine before turning her attention to me, smiling flirtatiously. “You’re an Adair, right?” she asked in an American accent. “I’m sure I saw you at Lachlan’s summer party thing last year.”
Something about her tone bothered me, but she was a guest, so I gave her a respectful nod. “Yes, I’m Arran. Can I help you with anything?”
Her gaze moved past me to the Gloaming. “We heard this place did good food, but it looks closed.”
“It’s under renovation at the moment.”
“Right.” She glanced at her companion. “Inverness?”
“There’s An Sealladh, Ms. Benning,” Eredine offered. “A restaurant about fifteen minutes outside the village, right on the water.”
Ms. Benning?
I knew that name, and I knew the young woman’s face, but I couldn’t quite recall her first name. What I did know was I didn’t like the way she zeroed in on Ery, tone haughty. “Aren’t you the little Pilates instructor?”
What the fuck? Her condescending tone when she said little made me grind my teeth.
Eredine’s expression never wavered as she politely answered, “I’m the Pilates instructor for the estate, yes.”
Benning’s eyes flicked to me and then back to Eredine. “Huh.” She sighed heavily, her nose wrinkling like she was annoyed. “Un Shalag, did you say?”
“No.” I shook my head at her butchering the Gaelic. “An Sealladh.” I spelled it. “You’ll find it on your sat nav. Your GPS.”
She beamed at me. “Thanks. There must be something in the water here because all of you Adair boys are spectacular. And of course, there’s Mac. What I wouldn’t give for an Adair/Mac sandwich.” She laughed flirtatiously while I tried not to shudder at the thought.
“Right. Well …” I placed a hand on Ery’s back to lead her away. “Enjoy your day, Ms. Benning.”
“Hey, if you see Mac, will you tell him I was asking for him?” she called out as the Range Rover moved slowly past us.
“Only if you want Arro to eviscerate you,” Ery muttered under her breath.
Mackennon Galbraith, the head of security at Ardnoch Estate, was my sister Arro’s fiancé.
It hadn’t surprised me, after observing the two of them upon my return to Scotland, that they’d ended up together.
Mac was thirteen years older than Arro, which had proven a sticking point for a while, but they were perfect for each other. The age difference didn’t matter.
I laughed at Ery’s response because it was true, and gave the woman a nod out of respect for Lachlan before the SUV drove down Castle Street well over the twenty-mile-per-hour speed limit.
“I rarely say this, but I really dislike that woman,” Eredine confessed as we continued to Flora’s Café for lunch.
“Who is she?”
She quirked an eyebrow in surprise. “You don’t know? I thought you knew.”
“She’s familiar, but I can’t place her.”
“Iris Benning. Hollywood’s latest darling.
She’s been nominated for two Oscars, and this is her third visit to the club in the past year.
She was in my class just this morning, and I overheard her talking about Mac like he was a piece of meat.
” Ery scowled. “One of the other guests told her that Mac was engaged, and she said she didn’t care. ”
“Mac can take care of himself,” I assured Ery.
“It’s not the point. Mac has told her himself that he’s not interested, and she’s still going for it like she’s entitled to him just because she wants him. That’s harassment.”