Chapter Sixteen
“This is going to be so cool.”
Sarah lifted her gaze to glance at Emily in the rearview. Her daughter was twisting again in her seat, obviously excited as she stared out the window at the passing trees.
“What’s this thing we’re going to called again?”
“The Highland Games.”
“Awesome. Is it like the Hunger Games?”
Sarah laughed at the mention of the popular book-series-turned-movies that so many people loved.
“No, because then we’d have a bunch of men in skirts trying to kill each other.”
Her daughter giggled. “Do the boys really wear those skirts?”
“Yes, some of them do. And I was kidding—they’re not called skirts. They’re called kilts.”
“Have you been to the Highland Games, Mom?”
“Yes, but not for a long time. Since before you were born.”
And now she was going again. Anxiety was a hardened knot lying in her belly. While her mom and Emily had devoured the banana pancakes and slices of thick bacon Sarah had made, she’d barely touched her food.
A couple bites of pancakes and three cups of coffee meant she was running on food fumes and a lot of caffeine to make the hour drive to Bellingham.
After Sarah had given her mom the update about today, Ana had decided to skip the Games and planned to spend a few days with an old friend who lived on the island.
“So, Em, what do you think of Ian?”
“The man from yesterday?” Emily shrugged. “He was nice, but not very good at math.”
“What do you mean?”
“I told him I’d be a teenager in three years, and he thought I should’ve said five years. I mean, duh. The difference between thirteen and ten is totally three, not five.”
Sarah stared at the road and frowned. Ian wasn’t stupid; of course he knew how to subtract.
It clicked. He’d just been subtracting the wrong years. She’d told him Emily was eight. And if Emily made some kind of countdown to being a teenager comment—which she was becoming famous for—that’s probably when he’d figured it out.
“I like Kenzie too. She let me get two scoops of ice cream, Mom. Chocolate peanut butter and bubble gum.”
“Sounds…delicious.” Or not. “We’re going to spend some time with all the McLaughlins today, Em.”
“There’s more of them here? Cool.”
Oh just two uncles, one aunt, and your dad. By the end of the day Emily would know about them all.
Would she be upset? Be excited? Go all tween-drama on her? Or would Sarah be the only one a complete mess after the conversation?
When they were parked and walking toward the entrance to the games, her heart skipped a bit faster.
“Do you hear that?” Emily exclaimed, quickening her pace. “That’s bagpipes, right?”
“Yes. Sounds like they’re warming up.”
Her phone buzzed in her purse and she dug it out to find a text from Ian.
I paid admission for you and Emily. Just give the man at the gate your names. I’ll be at the caber toss when you get inside.
“Who texted you, Mom?”
“Ian,” she replied absently. “He paid our admission.”
“Cool. Yeah, I definitely think he’s pretty nice.”
He was. He seemed determined to try and take care of her, even more so now that he knew Emily was his daughter.
Last night flashed through her head. He’d pretty much proposed out on the wharf. It had almost been comically endearing, and she hadn’t taken him the least bit seriously. Until she’d realized he wasn’t kidding a bit.
Then she couldn’t have been more stunned if he’d pulled out a ring. Well, okay, maybe that.
“Glad you girls made it.”
Emily pulled away with a squeal and launched herself at Kenzie, who’d approached from the side.
Kenzie’s eyes closed as she drew Emily into an embrace, squeezing tightly. And Emily hugged her back. As if she somehow sensed the connection.
Kenzie opened her eyes and met Sarah’s gaze over Emily’s head. There was no anger or condemnation in Kenzie’s expression, but the disappointment there was almost worse.
Kenzie was another victim of her secret—she was obviously still coming to terms with the fact that Emily was her niece. Though she didn’t say anything to Emily, which meant Ian had probably warned her that Emily didn’t know yet.
Sarah attempted a half-smile. “We’re excited to be here this morning to support you all.”
“And I hear they have cool swords you can buy,” Emily added and slid away from Sarah. “I like your outfit, Kenzie. It’s so cool.”
As always, Kenzie looked beautiful in the Highland Dance costume that consisted of a blue-and-red tartan kilted skirt, matching hose, and a white blouse with a black velvet vest over it.
Her makeup was darker than usual and her strawberry blonde hair was twisted up in a bun. Sarah could well understand why her daughter was enraptured. Just wait until she watched the dance competition.
“Do you get to do any games?” Emily asked.
“No, I’ll not be doing any games, Emily, but I do dance. In fact, I was just on my way over. Would you like to come watch?”
“Yes, yes, yes! Can we go, Mom?”
“We wouldn’t miss it.”
Kenzie met her gaze again, and gave a faint smile. “Good. Let’s head over then.”
Sarah went to catch her daughter’s hand, but Emily had already run up beside Kenzie to chat her ear off.
Obviously that ice cream yesterday had won Emily over. Though Sarah knew it was much more than that. Kenzie was a bright light that drew everyone to her. Not only was she beautiful, but she radiated fun and humor as well.
Soon Sarah and Emily were seated in the row in front of the small stage watching Kenzie and a handful of other women and girls dancing.
“This is so cool,” Emily whispered.
It really was. Sarah had always enjoyed watching her friend dance. The art of Highland Dancing was fascinating. It almost seemed like an upbeat ballet. They danced on their toes, jumping and kicking to the bagpipes that played off stage.
The Highland Dance blended athleticism and grace, and the fast pace had Emily bobbing in her seat and her gaze locked on the dancers.
This was part of Emily’s heritage, Sarah thought with growing realization, and she didn’t even know it.
The hand that descended lightly on Sarah’s shoulder made her jump and she glanced over her shoulder.
“Ian.” She returned his small smile, flushing slightly at the intensity of his green stare.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thank you for paying our way in. It wasn’t needed—”
“You’re welcome. It was my pleasure.”
“Would you like to sit? We can scoot down one.”
Emily seemed to become aware of their conversation at that point and turned to face Ian.
“Hi! You can sit next to me.” She patted the empty seat beside her.
Ian’s gaze rested on his daughter now, and Sarah could see the range of emotion in his eyes. His chest rose visibly and then he released a shuddering breath.
“Well thank you, Emily. I’d like that very much.” Ian scooted past Sarah to sit in the empty seat.
As he passed, Sarah couldn’t help but check him out. How could she avoid it? Nearly six feet of muscle decked out in traditional Scottish wear? Beneath his black Highland Games shirt was a broad chest she could envision beneath her hands again. Would always fantasize about brushing with her lips.
Ian was all man, and seeing him in that kilt made her heart do all kinds of funny things.
Where was his entourage of women that all the McLaughlins had seemed to have? Or had that faded over the years?
She glanced over her shoulder. A group of four women who looked to be in their early twenties sat giggling just a few rows behind him now.
All right, maybe the entourage hadn’t faded. Her lips quirked and she shook her head in amusement.
Emily seemed to be in true form by chatting non-stop with Ian, but he seemed thrilled by the attention and joined the discussion with animation.
He would gesture to the stage and point out different facts about the dance and Kenzie.
Again, Emily was visibly fascinated. Both by the dancers and Ian.
After the Highland Dancers finished and Kenzie had joined up with them, they all made their way over to the games where Ian and his brothers were set to compete.
They spent a good while watching several games being played. The “weight over the bar” event where men attempted to toss a fifty-six pound weight over a bar with just one hand. Or there was the fascinating “stone put” where the athletes threw a large stone as far as possible.
But what drew the biggest crowd was the caber toss. Women, men and children of all ages lined up to watch the event.
“Look at them all.” Kenzie gestured to the athletes set to compete. “You’d swear it was Christmas, they’re so excited.”
Sarah focused again on all the burly men lined up. Most with large upper bodies and thick calf muscles, no doubt from being constant participants in these types of games.
They were chatting and friendly, but obviously in competitive mode. Almost all wore kilts with some kind of T-shirt—some of the guys had even ripped the sleeves to show off more muscle.
And there was no lack of muscles among them. But then, they’d have to be fairly muscular to lift a nearly twenty-foot pole that weighed close to two hundred pounds.
The three McLaughlin brothers stood together, wide grins on their faces as they chatted and watched the other contestants.
“I’m just saying, I wouldn’t kick any of those McLaughlin boys out of my bed for eating crackers.”
Kenzie snorted and Sarah turned to stare at the group of women passing by. One had to be close to seventy.
“I see they’ve still got their fan club,” she murmured.
Kenzie rolled her eyes and turned back to the field. “They always will. Not like it goes to their heads or anything.”
Sarah didn’t miss the sarcasm and laughed softly. Maybe it did go to their heads, but for the most part the McLaughlins were a down-to-earth bunch.
“What did those ladies mean by that, Mom?” Emily asked. “Toss them out of bed for eating crackers?”
Yikes, she’d heard that too, huh?
“It’s just a saying, dear. Oh, look, Ian’s about to compete next.”
“Oh, really?” Just like that her daughter’s attention was diverted. “Come on, Ian, you can do it!”
Ian glanced over at them, his grin expanding as he waved. He blew them a kiss and Emily squealed appropriately.
Sarah couldn’t help but shake her head, but when he met her gaze and winked, there were definitely butterflies in her stomach again.
And then Ian turned and went to take his position. Once the long log was hoisted upright, he squatted down and placed his hands low on the log.
Even though she’d seen this done in the handful of games she’d gone to when she was younger, it was different now. More intense and somewhat scarier when the man you loved was participating in the dangerous game.
That last unfiltered thought reverberated through her head and she blinked in dismay.
She loved Ian. Again.
Before she could fully angst over that realization, her attention returned to him as the crowd around them began to scream in encouragement.
Her breath caught as he lifted the long log off the ground.
Emily poked her in the side. “It’s like he’s carrying a telephone pole. He’s really going to throw it?”
“Aye,” Kenzie answered for her.
Good thing too, because Sarah couldn’t have spoken or looked away from Ian at this moment.
He took a moment to steady the caber against his shoulder, before moving forward quickly. With a roar he tossed it up and outward. The crowd burst into screams as he successfully flipped it end over end.
“That’s good, right?” Emily asked, bouncing up and down.
“That’s very good,” Kenzie agreed with a laugh. “I have very strong brothers.”
Instead of returning to the line of competitors, as most of the men before him had done, he strode toward where Sarah, Kenzie and Emily were.
Her heart skipped a beat and as he came closer she could see his eyes bright with excitement and pure male pride.
She wasn’t sure what she expected. Maybe a high five to them all, or a quick chat, but it wasn’t what he did next.
He leaned over the rope and caught the back of her neck, pulling her forward just enough for his mouth to claim hers.
Hot giddy pleasure rushed through her. That he was so blatantly claiming her as his. And then her eyes snapped open when she realized he’d done this in front of Emily. And Kenzie. And pretty much everyone at the Games.
He pulled away, winked and then returned to the line of competitors.
“Mom?” Emily’s voice rose in disbelief. “Ian just kissed you! Does that mean he’s your boyfriend?”
Crap. First Ian had thrown the perfect caber toss, and then thrown them both past the point of no return.
*
What had driven him to do it?
Ian ignored Colin’s questioning gaze and kept his attention on Aleck, who was taking his turn in the toss.
Even though he watched his brother, his mind was on Sarah. He’d kissed her in front of everyone. He’d been on a high from such a successful toss. And everything male and primal inside of him had wanted to celebrate it by kissing his woman.
His woman. He’d officially started thinking of Sarah as his again. When? After learning about Emily? No, it had been before that. Even if he’d tried to deny it to himself.
He slid his gaze away from his brother and looked at Sarah again. She was looking right back at him and shaking her head. Her look clearly screaming what the hell was that?
The bouncing figure of his daughter caught his attention next. Her face was plastered with a huge smile, and she kept pointing his way. When she noticed him watching, she waved and then gave a thumbs-up.
Apparently Emily approved of the kiss. Which might not be a good thing depending on what decision Sarah chose to make about their future.
He gave her a thumbs-up and a grin, before watching Aleck make a fantastic toss of the caber. Colin went next and did equally well.
The rest of the day passed quickly. After the Parade of Clans he explored the grounds with Emily and Sarah. To his surprise Emily didn’t say one word about the kiss—which he assumed meant Sarah had instructed her not to.
“Can I have a sword?” Emily plucked a play sword from a stand at one of the vendors and waved it in the air.
“I’ll get it for you.”
Sarah arched a brow and leaned toward him. “Spoiling her already, I see.”
“Of course,” he whispered back, not that Emily would’ve heard them with the way she was swinging her sword around at an invisible opponent. “I’ve got a lot of years to make up for.”
He’d meant it to be a joke, but the flash of guilt in her eyes made him realize it had been kind of a crap thing to say.
“Sorry.”
“No need to apologize. You’re right.” She gave a brief smile. “And she’ll love the sword.”
He’d just finished paying for the toy when someone slammed into him from the side.
“Well hello, young lovers.” Aleck’s booming voice drew several glances from people nearby.
Not about to let go of the friendly attempt to knock him down, Ian gave him a forceful nudge right back, but his brother didn’t move an inch.
Ah, but then he hadn’t been caught off guard.
“You did great in the caber toss. All you guys did.” Sarah’s tone bordered on shy, as if she were a bit embarrassed with the visible shift in her and Ian’s relationship.
All because you kissed her. Ah well, it wasn’t as if his family hadn’t known he and Sarah were heading in that direction, right?
His brother’s attention turned to Sarah. “Well thank you, luv. I’m glad you could make it out today. You brought Emily, I trust?”
Ian nodded and gestured to Emily who stood a few feet away, swinging her sword at a metal pole holding up a tent.
“Emily, come meet Aleck.”
She lowered the foam sword to her side and bounced over.
“Hi.” She lifted her head to stare up at him. “Who are you?”
“I’m your uncle.”
Shite!
This time Ian did succeed in shoving his brother hard enough to stumble.
All the while Sarah’s mouth hung open a bit and she’d lost a shade of coloring.
“My uncle?” Emily repeated, looking from Aleck to her mom. “No you’re not. I don’t have any uncles.”
Aleck cleared his throat. “Uhmm…”
“You just told a lie, and that’s totally not good.” She laughed and rolled her eyes, before skipping back to look at the tent full of goodies.
“We’ve not told the lass yet, you daft idiot.”
Aleck’s brows rose as he glanced between Ian and Sarah. “You haven’t? Any reason why?”
“We wanted to give her an afternoon to get to know you all without any pressure,” Sarah explained. “To let her see what the McLaughlins were about.”
Aleck grinned. “Beyond whisky and troublemaking you mean?”
“Aye, beyond that.” Ian glowered at his brother. “We’ll tell her soon, though.”
“I was thinking tonight would be good,” Sarah murmured.
Ian hadn’t been sure she would be ready yet, but one glance in Sarah’s eyes showed her resolve.
“Tonight? You’re sure?”
“Yes. I’d like to have you back for dinner. Chicken Tikka Masala? It’s an Indian dish we love.” She lifted a shoulder in a shrug, an impish smile flitting across her face. “Though I cheated and made it in the crock pot this morning since I knew we’d be gone most of the day.”
“It sounds amazing, and I would love to come back for dinner.”
“Ian’s coming for dinner?” Emily bounded up to them again. “Awesome! My mom’s a good cook—you’re going to love it.”
“I know I will.”
“Did someone say Indian food?” Colin joined the group, rubbing his belly. “If so, how do I get an invite?”
“You don’t.” Ian cast him a warning look.
“And who are you?” Emily asked.
“Are you teasing me already, kid? I’m your—”
Ian drove his fist into his twin’s side. “Colin. This is Colin. He’s my brother.”
“He looks exactly like you. Except you got that funny line running down the side of your face.”
“Emily!” Sarah’s admonishment was laced with horror.
Unfazed, Ian murmured, “Aye, I do. I was a naughty youth and found myself in more than one fight.”
Emily’s eyes rounded. “Did you win?”
“Some of them.”
“But not that one, huh?”
“Actually, yes, even this one. It’s hard to best me.” He broke off into a gasp as this time Sarah’s elbow drove into his side. When he glanced at her, her gaze clearly said it was time to shut up. “But fighting is bad. Quite bad, actually.”
“Well duh. Everyone knows that. Except you, I guess.” Her nose crinkled. “I’m sorry you got hurt, though.”
“Thank you, Emily. I try not to fight anymore.” His gut clenched as a dark memory threatened to surface.
Colin squeezed his shoulder. “Aye, well sometimes there’s no choice, brother.”
“You guys all talk funny. I can tell you’re related.”
As are you, little one. He bit his tongue, knowing that little tidbit would come out tonight with just the three of them. It was bound to be emotional and surely Emily would have a bundle of questions.
Colin seemed to have gotten the hint, just as Aleck had, that Emily hadn’t been informed yet.
“We’ll let you be then,” Aleck said. “But why don’t you all join us for lunch tomorrow at the pub? Say, eleven, before it opens?”
“Can I even go to a pub? Is that like a bar?” Emily asked.
Ian laughed, surprised she knew what either was. But then she was ten, maybe he shouldn’t have been. “Yes, somewhat. During the day children are more than welcome to come and have lunch.”
“Because at night the adults get drunk?” she asked. “That’s what Neil would do.”
“Emily.” Sarah shook her head, and gave their daughter a warning glance. “That’s not appropriate.”
Neil had been a drunk? Hmm. Ian scowled, and tried to meet Sarah’s gaze, but she wouldn’t look at him. This guy was sounding more and more like a piece of filth. Hadn’t Emily said something about him making Sarah cry too?
“Sorry, Mom.” Emily looked at the ground, kicking her sneakered feet into the dirt.
“So lunch at the pub tomorrow?” Ian confirmed. “That’ll work for me.”
Sarah nodded. “Us too.”
It was an unspoken acknowledgment that by then Emily would understand the McLaughlins were her family.
“Great. Tomorrow at eleven then.” Aleck reached down and ruffled Emily’s hair. “Nice meeting you, kid.”
If Emily was taken aback by Aleck’s gesture, her dismay grew visibly when Colin did the same thing and then winked at her.
Then his two brothers disappeared back into the crowd. Who knew where Kenzie had vanished off to?
Emily stared at their retreating backs. “I think I like them. But I’m not sure yet.”
Ian laughed and resisted the urge to ruffle her hair too. Something about the two ponytails today made it so tempting.
Glancing at Sarah, he asked, “Are you ready to head out?”
She folded her arms across her chest, looking suddenly nervous. “Don’t you want to stay for the closing ceremonies?”
“Generally, I’d say aye. But not today.”
The truth felt like a heavy weight upon his shoulders, and more than anything he wanted everything out in the open. He wanted to be back in Sarah’s house, just the three of them. Enjoying a lovely dinner, and a much-needed conversation.
Understanding flickered in her gaze, and she nodded. “Then we should go.”
“Is it all right if I catch a ride with you? I drove with my brothers.”
“Of course.” Sarah glanced over at Emily. “Ready, kiddo?”
“Yeah. I wanna go practice my backward handsprings in the front yard again. That’s the best yard ever.”
They made their way toward the entrance and had just left the fair grounds when someone stepped in front of their path.
Son of a bitch.
Knowing another confrontation was unavoidable, Ian faced it head on.