Chapter 3
Nairie
A few days later, Lindsey took a turn for the worse.
She was less responsive, her breathing became erratic, and the part-time hospice nurse confirmed it was time.
I called Elspeth’s extended family, inviting whoever could come to say their last goodbyes.
I rang William and Angus as a courtesy, knowing they’d never be able to make it in time, but I wanted to save Elspeth from having to break the news.
Neither picked up, so I left a voicemail and continued to sit beside my friend as we watched her once effervescent mother peacefully drift away one Saturday afternoon.
I held Elspeth as we silently cried together, knowing neither of us would be the same.
The days leading up to the burial flew by and slowed to a standstill at the same time.
Elspeth tried to put on a brave face, focusing her full attention on the bar.
I didn’t fight her on it. I just let her do what she needed to do.
I cooked her favorite dinners and let her choose whatever Netflix show she wanted to watch.
At night, whenever I would hear Elle crying from the other room, I’d hold her until she’d fall asleep.
I grieved, too, but couldn’t take much time off work at my parents’ jewelry store.
They liked Elspeth and her mom but didn’t understand how I’d become so attached to a family outside of our own.
Armenians were a tight-knit community, and everyone who wasn’t in it was considered “outsiders.” But my parents still respected Lindsey.
They knew she was a good woman and a great mom.
The night before the funeral, I organized the house so we wouldn’t have to worry about coming back to a messy space after the wake.
We were waiting for dinner to finish cooking and drinking tea on the couch when Elspeth reached over and grabbed my hand. “Hey, have I ever told you how amazing you are?”
I looked over at her and smiled. “Yes, every day.”
“Well, I’m saying it again. Thanks for taking care of me and Mom. I really don’t know what I would have done without you.”
I smiled and hugged my friend. We’d been through everything together, and I knew Elspeth would do the same for me.
“You’ve been so strong, but I want you to know it’s okay to lean on me, too. I feel like you take on so much.”
I shrugged. “I’m good. I can handle it.”
Elspeth looked at me with doubt. “Well, when you’re ready to talk, I’m here. In the meantime, I thought of the best way to repay you.”
“Ugh, you don’t owe me anything. How many times do I have to tell you?”
“Too late. It’s already here.”
There was a knock on the door, and Elspeth motioned with her head for me to answer.
I called over my shoulder. “I swear if it’s a vibrator from , I’m going to kill you.”
I pulled open the door, and William stood before me looking tired, surprised, and hot as hell all at once.
He was far different from the twenty-one-year-old I saw last. He had a beard now, and his brown hair was grown and curled behind his ears.
William was twenty pounds heavier with muscle, and his tall, broad stature towered over me in the doorway.
He still had the same dark green eyes, except now his nose was slightly crooked, and he had a scar above his left eyebrow.
Not to mention the plethora of tattoos that spanned across his arms and hands.
The term biker pirate came to mind as I stood with my mouth open and quickly closed it.
His strong jaw clenched, and he cleared his throat.
“Nairie?” His gravelly voice rolled my name in his Scottish brogue.
I blinked, dumbfounded. “Hi, William. I’m so sorry I didn’t recognize you for a second.”
“Thought I was the delivery driver?”
If I could evaporate into nothingness at that moment, I would. William had overheard me talking about vibrators.
I grimaced. “Uh . . . yeah.”
“Can I come in?” He waited expectantly.
Fumbling, I stepped aside. “Of course.”
His big boots thumped across the floor as Elspeth ran into his arms. Her strawberry-blond hair cascaded over his dark clothing like a ray of sunshine. His big hands clutched at her back, and I watched as he closed his eyes to savor the hug.
The last time I saw him was when he was twenty-one, and he’d had a couple of months off from duty.
Suddenly, a flashback of sixteen-year-old me gawking at William washing Lindsey’s vintage car replayed in my mind.
“The Stroke” by Billy Squier was playing on the radio as sprinklers ricocheted behind him. He was lean and muscular then, with a shadow of stubble on his strong chin.
I breathed heavily through my mouth, mostly because of my sinus infection but also because of his hard body. It was getting slick and shiny with soapy water.
I’d never seen rippling muscles and tattoos in real life before. His jeans rode down a bit as he reached over the hood. I felt tingles I didn’t know what to do with and bit down on my lip, revealing my shiny row of braces.
I shook my head to clear it of the memory.
Elspeth’s voice was muffled by his massive shoulder. “You’re here!”
“I’m here.”
Even the timber of his voice made my knees weak.
“How was your flight?”
“Bloody long, but I’ve been through worse. How are you doing?”
Elspeth shrugged. “As good as you can be when your mom dies.”
William looked at her with such tenderness I thought my heart would break.
“Aye. What can I help with?”
Elspeth ushered him into the house, and he set his bags down on the couch as they made their way to the kitchen.
I followed and went to grab William a plate as I stared at his tight butt in his dark jeans.
I made one of my grandmother’s famous dishes tonight and scooped up the fragrant rice and meat, setting the plate down in front of him.
His eyes flicked up to me. “Thanks.”
I silently nodded and went back to serving Elspeth’s and my plate.
Elspeth got us drinks from the fridge and sat next to William. “I need your help with the pub.”
William took a spoonful of my food and let out a grunt of approval.
Elspeth said with pride, “Good, huh? Nairie’s been cooking our dinners.”
William looked over at me again, and I quickly smiled and looked back down at the pot to hide my blush.
“Yeah, it’s great. Of course I can help with the pub, but what about the funeral?”
“Oh, Nairie and I have it all figured out. She’s been a lifesaver this past year. Helping take care of Mom with me.”
“That’s right. Well, we can’t thank you enough for stepping in, Nairie.” He said my name in a damned sexy purr.
I clenched my legs and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, joining them at the table. I couldn’t keep looking at him or I’d combust, so I kept my eyes down at the table.
“Of course. I’d do anything for you. I mean for the family.”
Elspeth snorted. “Yeah, except sing karaoke at the pub.”
“Hey, that was for everyone’s benefit.”
Elspeth smiled. “Maybe a concert would help get us out of the red. I didn’t want to worry either of you, but the pub is doing worse than I originally thought.”
William’s eyebrows furrowed. “What do you mean?”
Elspeth sucked in a breath. “If we can’t turn a profit in the next few months, I’ll have to sell.”
I nearly spit out my water. “Oh my god, Elle! Why didn’t you tell me?”
William sat back and wiped his mouth. I hadn’t realized he had eaten his plate clean.
“You were already helping me so much with Mom, and you have your parents’ shop to worry about. Plus, William is here now.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll figure this all out.” William took a sip of his drink, and I watched his throat with rapt attention. “My mum’s got the inn taken care of, and we’re finally in a good place with all the renovations.”
I gathered my courage and decided to initiate a conversation for once. “Elle told me you guys had a big property out there.”
William gave me his direct attention, and I tried not to squirm. “Yeah, after I served, I spent the next four years helping Mum renovate this old manor we inherited. Some distant uncle died and gave it to her in his will. Now it’s a pretty successful bed-and-breakfast.”
Elspeth looked at me excitedly. “We have to go see it this year.”
I got up to replenish William’s plate. Our fingers brushed as I took it from him, and my skin tingled from his rough texture. “Maybe, yeah.”
Taking time off work at my parents’ store was another battle waiting to happen. I never traveled, and they’d be relentless in finding a “chaperone” or would buy a ticket to follow me themselves if they had to.
I returned with another full plate for William and tentatively broached the subject. “I called Angus. Is he coming?”
William’s nostrils flared, and his jaw ticked. “I wouldn’t know. Haven’t spoken to him.”
Elspeth paused with the fork midway to her mouth. “What do you mean? I knew you guys weren’t super close, but he’s really not coming?”
William looked at her with pity. “I’m sorry, Elle. He’s been a cunt for most of his life. More so in the last several years.”
“Well, I want to get the full scoop, and if you won’t share, I’ll just call your mom. Anyway, I’ll show you to your room. It’s right across from Nairie’s. She’s here almost every day. Except once or twice a week when she goes back to her parents for the night.”
William arched a brow and looked at me.
“They just really miss me.”
Elspeth snorted. “Yeah, it’s kinda annoying, and I hate that you have to ping-pong between us all the time. Anyway, while she’s here, it’ll be like Three’s Company!”
I smiled and looked at William, but he had a scowl on his face. He didn’t look too pleased with this arrangement, and I scurried away from his glare by cleaning up the plates and shooing them away.
Once they both disappeared, I let out my frustration on the dirty dishes in the sink. Why did he look pissed about me living here? It’s not like I was the same annoying ten-year-old. We weren’t going to force him to paint his nails or play dress up. Well, Elspeth might.
I was about to start washing the bigger pots and pans when I felt someone staring.
I turned around, and William was leaning against the doorframe in a new outfit.
He must have changed into something more comfortable since he was sporting a pair of sweats and a tee that stretched across his broad frame.
I could see the ridges of his thick abs behind his shirt, and his feet were bare.
I held my breath to hide my whimper. Seeing William so casual was almost too intimate.
I clutched my chest. “Jesus, you’re incredibly quiet for someone so big.”
William smirked and moved toward me. “Go on and get ready for bed.”
“Oh, it’s okay. You had a long flight. This won’t take long.”
William was across from me now and leaned against the counter. His big tattooed hands gripped the marble, and I wondered what they’d feel like grabbing my ass.
I looked up into his dark features. He was so different, yet when I stared into his eyes, I could still see the same boy I fell in love with all those years ago.
“I’m not going to say it again. While I’m here, you can cook, but I clean. Deal?”
Either lack of sleep or insanity, I have no idea which gave me the balls to challenge him. Maybe I was still annoyed at him for scowling at the thought of living here with me.
I pointed a spatula at him mockingly. “Or what?”
He smiled darkly and snatched the spatula. “Or I’ll bend you over my knee. Now scram.”
“If that’s true, I’m going to need that package a lot sooner.”
The words were out before I could stop myself. After realizing what I’d just said, my eyes widened, and I could feel my cheeks warm.
William looked at me in surprise and cracked a grin. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and watched me silently for a moment.
Instinctively, I glanced down at his package and noticed how well his sweatpants displayed God’s gift to women everywhere.
Out of sheer embarrassment, I turned on my heel and sputtered, “I’m going to get ready for bed now.”
William chuckled with his deep voice, “Mm-hm.”
What the hell was that? I never had a retort readily available, let alone sexual innuendos.
Staring at his dick was also probably not the smoothest move.
Must have been the wine. In any case, a long cold shower should take care of the warm, tingly sensations that hadn’t left my body since he walked back into my life.