Chapter 2 Arran #2
Suspicion prickled the back of my neck at Eredine’s passionate response to Iris Benning.
“You’re right,” I agreed. “But like I said, Mac won’t put up with it, and Lachlan won’t either.
” One thing I admired most about Lachlan was that he didn’t give a shit who someone was or how much money they had—if they crossed the line with someone he cared about, he wouldn’t put up with it.
His wife, Robyn, told me he’d thrown the actor Sebastian Stone out of Ardnoch, ending his membership, for accosting Robyn on the estate.
Then about eight months ago, Stone hit the global headlines when several women came forward to accuse him of sexual assault.
The Oscar winner had been canceled, losing the part of a title character in an upcoming TV show as he awaited trial.
I’d wondered if Lachlan had a hand in unearthing those women, but he wouldn’t admit to anything. After finding out he’d cut Arro’s ex-boyfriend off from the culinary industry for assaulting her, however, I wouldn’t put anything past Lachlan when it came to avenging his family.
“I know.” Ery brought me out of my musings. “Mac won’t stand for it. He’s so in love with your sister, he wouldn’t allow anyone to jeopardize that.”
Hearing something akin to longing in her tone, I studied her profile as we walked. “Do you want that?”
She looked at me in confusion as we stopped outside Flora’s. “Want what?”
“What Mac and Arro have?”
Eredine smiled, that sweet, perfect fucking smile. “No one will ever have what they have. It’s something truly special.”
I furrowed my brow. “Don’t you think my brothers have that with Robyn and Regan?”
“What they have is special, too, of course … but Arro and Mac …” She tilted her head in thought.
“It’s literally like they’re two halves of a whole.
When she moves, he moves and vice versa.
It’s always been that way. I was so afraid they’d never find a path to each other because I knew they’d never be complete until that moment. ”
Something a little like shame filled me because I’d seen it, too, on the rare occasions I’d come home. Deep down, I knew Arro was miserable without Mac. But I’d stayed away. I hadn’t talked to her about it. I’d left her.
Thank Christ it had all worked out for her in my absence.
“Hey, you okay?” Ery asked.
“Fine,” I lied. “Let’s eat before our lunch break is over.”
Holding the door for Ery, I waited for her to enter the café first, and she thanked me with a small, secretive smile I wanted to kiss right off her lips.
She smelled of the same perfume she wore every day—light and floral, not overpowering.
I’d fantasized about waking up to that perfume on my bedsheets too many times to count.
Letting go of the door, I moved to her side and drew to an abrupt halt at the redhead walking toward the exit we blocked.
She faltered, too, her big eyes round with surprise. “Arran?”
I shook my head, sure I was seeing things.
But nope.
There she was.
Monroe Sinclair.
“Roe?” I gaped at her.
Monroe swallowed nervously, staring up at me. She was still short, curvy, and bloody adorable. In fact, she barely looked older than the last time I saw her, which was … shit … eighteen years ago. “How … how are you?” she asked.
Letting out a surprised chuckle, I moved toward her and lifted her into a hug.
Monroe let out a shocked gasp, but thankfully, it petered into a giggle as she hugged me back.
Placing her on her feet, I turned to find Ery watching us with a frown.
“Ery, this is Monroe. She was Brodan’s best friend growing up, and I haven’t seen her”—I turned back to Roe—“in eighteen years.”
Roe frowned, stepping out of my embrace. “It has been a long time, hasn’t it?” Her focus moved to Eredine. “So nice to meet you.”
“Eredine.” She nodded at Roe, her bland smile uncharacteristically unfriendly.
Confused by Eredine’s cool greeting, I looked back at my old friend.
A quick glance at her left ring finger told me she wasn’t married—surprising—considering that was all Monroe had wanted when we were kids.
To be a teacher, a mum, and a wife. She’d called them simple desires.
Yet, as I knew well, nothing in this life was simple. “What brings you back?”
She tucked a lock of her gorgeous red hair behind her ear. “I … I got a job at the primary school. Mrs. Welsh retired, so a position opened up.”
“They finally got rid of that old boot?” I hooted, not caring if anyone heard me. Mrs. Welsh had been a teacher at Ardnoch Primary when I was a child, and she was an auld witch. Apparently, my nephew Lewis hadn’t enjoyed having her as a teacher either.
“Arran,” Monroe admonished as if we were kids again, like those eighteen years hadn’t passed.
“I only speak the truth.”
Her lips twitched. “Well, she’s gone, and I’m here. My mum hasn’t been keeping well, so the timing was right.”
“Sorry about your mum. But I’m glad you’re home.” I wondered if anyone else knew Roe was back. If anyone had told Brodan. Guilt filled me, and I unconsciously took a step away. Her gaze flickered to my feet and then to my face. Her smile grew strained.
“Okay, well, I need to get going. It was nice to run into you. And nice to meet you, Eredine.” Monroe walked around us.
But I couldn’t just let her walk out like that. “Does Arro know you’re back?”
She glanced over her shoulder. “You’re the first Adair I’ve bumped into.”
“Arro would love to see you, Roe.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” Her smile fell before she briskly turned and marched out of the café.
“Can I get you a table?” Flora’s voice drew my head around.
Shrugging off the unexpected trip down memory lane, I gave Flora a big smile. “Bonny Flora. We’d like the best seat in the house.”
She tittered, cheeks flushing. “Och, you. This way.”
I pulled Ery’s chair out at the small table near the window and then took the seat opposite. Our feet touched beneath it as her eyes narrowed. “There’s definitely a story there.”
“Where?” I pretended to peruse the menu.
“With the beautiful redhead who just ran away from you like the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels.”
I glanced around the café, finding more tourists than locals, but still. Looking back at Ery, I answered quietly, “Not here.”
She nodded in understanding and looked down at the small menu.
I wanted to breach the distance between us and smooth away the frown between her brows.
Who did she think Monroe was to me? Did Roe make her jealous?
I didn’t want Ery to be jealous. There was no reason.
But I felt an annoying tug of satisfaction at the thought of her being possessive over me.
Because I sure as hell wouldn’t have liked it, I realized, if she’d hugged a man the way I’d hugged Roe.
Fuck.
If it wasn’t bad enough that something might exist between Brodan and Ery, Monroe Sinclair, the girl I was pretty sure Brodan had once loved, was back in Ardnoch. A girl I’d slept with because I was a selfish kid who hadn’t realized just what she’d meant to Bro.
What a clusterfuck.