Chapter 3

Because Robert wanted his place to be in keeping with the period of Edeen and Lachlan’s manor house, he had his home constructed in a similar design on the outside—same kind of old stone, same kind of roofing materials, but he had a double front door with large iron knockers. His house didn’t have two separate living areas like Edeen’s, but its four bedrooms had en suite bathrooms, so if he ever did want to rent out the rooms, he could without jeopardizing privacy too much. He didn’t plan to rent them out though. He figured that, instead, someday he would mate with a she-wolf and fill the house with their children. He was glad Edeen was having her children first so he would have time to practice babysitting hers. Which made him think of the beautiful she-wolf in the ocean.

He kept thinking about catching Maisie with his hook. He had been trying to figure out a way to make it up to her. Once she’d removed her wet suit hood, her dark-brown hair had cascaded down to her shoulders. Beautiful hair to match her beautiful blue eyes.

He walked into his house and found all the appliances had been installed.

He heard Edeen’s car pull up. He was so pleased that everything was done, he was beaming when he joined her outside.

“You must be thrilled with the way they finished things up—you’re smiling.” Edeen gave him a hug.

“I am. And it is beautiful. I’ll move in this afternoon and have lunch and dinner with you and Lachlan.”

“Absolutely. Lachlan will be busy buying some more cows, so it will be just the two of us. I don’t have any pressing garment orders, so I can help you move over here too. Are you sure you’re alright after being so chilled with the swim in the ocean earlier?”

“Aye, I am, like it didn’t even happen.” As wolves, they all recovered much more quickly from illness and injuries. “I worry about Maisie though.” He led Edeen into the house.

“You’ll need to call and check on her. You can borrow my phone anytime.” She looked over the kitchen. “The appliances are beautiful. I love the stainless-steel ones. You do realize you’ll have to make us meals now too.”

He smiled. “I’ll be glad to.” He had a big, covered patio so he could grill for the family even on days with inclement weather.

“You know we’ll have to have an open house so everyone can see the place now that it is completely finished. Since we’ll have so many of the wolf pack members there, Chef Maynard will order all the food items, and he’ll bring his portable grills to make the grilled foods.”

Robert laughed. “I’m not used to being part of a pack yet.”

“I know. Right? You’ll have to invite Maisie and her sister to the party. You know, because of her using your vet services. It doesn’t hurt to encourage business.”

“You’re not trying to matchmake, per chance, are you?”

Edeen laughed. “Whatever made you think that? It’s just good for business. Maybe even for mine too. You never know. Both sisters might end up needing a kilt or something else I can make for them. I looked up their inn and photos featured them wearing kilts on occasion.”

“True. I had an established business in Edinburgh. I’m not used to, uh, reeling in vet patients.”

She smiled. “I knew you had. I love you. You’re not the only person who has ever hooked someone with a fishhook. Remember my good friend, Tilda? Her boyfriend hooked her in the arm, and she had to go to the hospital to have it removed. At least you were able to remove it without any trouble, right?”

“Aye. I was more concerned about the boat hitting her in the head.”

“I hope she doesn’t feel bad from that, but if she does, she can get ahold of you. Speaking of which, when are you going to replace your phone?”

“I really need to do that right after lunch. I’ll pick up some groceries then too.”

“But you’re still having dinner with us. Lachlan will want to know the details about what happened to you.”

“Did Maisie tell you what happened?” Robert was certain Edeen would have gotten the details out of Maisie one way or another.

“She didn’t tell me. I guessed, and she said I was right.” Edeen let out her breath. “As to the business of the sword fighting—which I know you’re somewhat fretting about—Lachlan said he would mentor you any time you’re free, so you can get some private lessons.”

Private was more Robert’s style until he got the hang of it. On the other hand, if everyone was busy fighting each other, maybe no one would notice how inept he was. He guessed the reason he was worried about it was because he’d always been so studious, never really involved much in sports, except for archery, and he’d been ribbed about it when he was younger.

“Oh, and don’t worry about getting everything ready for your house party. Colleen and I will help you get it all set up. Or, hmm, maybe not Colleen because those babies are due any day, but someone will step in to help us. Lachlan for sure. I know you’re not used to having big parties. Well, neither you nor I were, but the MacQuarries will all help.”

“I guess we could do it on Saturday.”

“Perfect. Once you open your vet doors, you’re going to be busy.” Edeen walked through the house looking at all the details. “I like how you have a modern, open plan yet kept a lot of the warm country-estate vibes with the oak-wood floors and tapestries, the soft couches and chairs, and the beautifully hand-carved oak-wood coffee table.”

“After working long hours, I want to relax in style.”

“I agree.”

They walked into his bedroom, and she smiled. “I love your black-and-white decor. A king-size bed is perfect for when you have a mate. You need a picture over your bed though.”

“I haven’t found the right one yet.”

Edeen peered into his closet and chuckled. “Wow, now this is perfect. His and her spaces, and you actually didn’t even use ‘her’ space up.”

“If I did and I found the right she-wolf for me, then she would think I didn’t have enough room for her. Besides, everything I wear fits perfectly fine in one-half of the closet. If I began shopping just to fill up the other side, I wouldn’t ever have time to wear all those clothes.” He was totally pragmatic about it. If he didn’t wear something that wasn’t used only for special occasions after a year, he would find a new home for it.

Edeen peered into his bathroom. “Ooh, I love your bathroom. Nice big whirlpool bathtub with jets for two.”

“Um, for getting the kinks out when I have to pull a calf during a difficult delivery and my back needs some extra loving care.”

“I sure love it. I’ve told Lachlan several times about your tub, though seeing it when it’s installed and surrounded by tile is really beautiful.” She laughed. “I’m hoping we do a bathroom remodel so we can put one in also. After a day of hauling babies around, I could see relaxing in a tub like that.”

“Yeah, I agree. If you want me to help convince Lachlan you need one, just let me know.”

“I’m sure when he sees yours, he’ll feel the same way as me. Do you want me to go with you when you buy your new phone?”

“Sure, if you need to pick up some groceries also, I would welcome the company. I need to buy a lot of staples.”

“Absolutely.” She looked over the other bedrooms, though only one other had been furnished as a bedroom. One had been turned into an office, and the other he would furnish when he knew what he needed it for. “Everything is so homey and just lovely.”

“Thanks. I’m really pleased with it. I never thought you would end up buying the property from our great uncle, mate a wolf next door, and I would end up opening a practice here.”

“Are you ready for lunch?” she asked.

“Yeah. I’m starving.” They got into her car and parked it at her place, then they went inside to make lunch. They were greeted by a menagerie of pets. “Mittens is going to miss all the company she has had for the last couple of weeks.” Robert joined Edeen in the kitchen to help his sister make lunch.

“You can always take the other animals with you, and they would be happy to keep you and Mittens company,” Edeen said.

“If you need me to take the three dogs for a while to help simplify your life a bit once the twins are born, I can do that.”

“Sure, that would be good for a couple of weeks. I can see all the dogs getting underfoot while we’re trying to manage two babies at the same time.” She began making cheese toasties while Robert fixed a salad. “I kept thinking you were going to get together with Lana more often.”

Lana Cameron was Heather’s baker at the pie shop and really sweet, but they just hadn’t really connected in a way that said he wanted to have more of a relationship with her.

“We had a great time at last year’s Christmas party. But I think she and I just don’t have what it takes to make it for a long-term relationship.”

“What about Veronica?” Edeen asked.

Robert was amused. His sister had asked him repeatedly why he wasn’t dating either of the women. “Even though Veronica is with the MacQuarrie pack, she is always running off to England to visit her friends. I think she might be seeing someone there.”

“Hmm, that may be so.”

After lunch, they went shopping and Robert purchased a replacement phone. Even though he wasn’t taking calls for new pet patients yet, if the MacQuarrie or MacNeill clans needed his help, they would call on him to take care of them, which meant he really needed a phone.

His contacts were all added, and Edeen made sure to add Maisie’s phone number too. He called her as Edeen drove them to the grocery store.

Immediately, she answered. “Robert,” she said as a greeting. “You have a new phone already.”

“Yeah. I wanted to make sure you knew you could call me now, in case you were feeling bad.”

“I’m fine. I don’t have any headaches, nausea, or blurring vision. And my arm is already healing up nicely, courtesy of our faster healing abilities.”

“You don’t know how glad I am to hear it. Uh, I’ll be having an open house on Saturday once I can coordinate it with the MacQuarries. Everyone who wants to can check out the vet clinic also. I would love to have both you and your sister come to it too.”

“Sure, that will be lovely. We’ll have to make arrangements for someone to watch the inn while we’re both there, but we look forward to it. How are you feeling?”

“Great, thanks. About your wet suit—”

“Don’t worry about it. Anne and I already fixed it. Are you going to the castle for lunch tomorrow?” Maisie asked.

“Aye, and weapons training. I’m not really that great at it.”

“My sister and I have done some Highland demonstrations at our inn. If you ever need any tips, let me know.”

“Certainly.” He wasn’t too proud to accept tips from anyone who knew how to fight properly, though he did worry he might hurt her accidentally if they practiced together.

“Well, save me a seat at lunch, then. I’m going to be there to start training Conan.”

“Yeah, sure.” He was so thrilled she would be there.

“Well, I’ve to go. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Maisie said.

“I look forward to it.” Then Robert and she said goodbye. Despite the wild turn of events they’d already shared, he was delighted to be having lunch with Maisie tomorrow. Maybe fishing had brought him real luck—not in catching a fish, but something much more important. Only time would tell.

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