Page 85 of Loched in Love

With a calm and steady smile, I let her see that I’m entirely unbothered by the daunting line of men outside. “Well,” I murmur softly, “shall I go introduce myself?”

“Just remember,” Elena says quickly, her hand flying to the door handle but pausing as her gaze flies wide as she looks at me. “Andrew’s the eldest, so he thinks he’s the boss and he’ll try to give you a death grip handshake. Mark is the quiet one, but he judges everything. Collin literally has no filter and he’s the one I’m closest to and then there’s Luke. Well, Luke’s a cop, so he’s going to look at you like you’re on the most wanted list, but just be yourself. It’ll be great.”

I give her a reassuring nod. “Don’t worry Elena, I have faced angrier clans than this.”

I push my door open and step out onto the driveway, and the moment my foot touches down, the atmosphere among the brothers shifts instantly as their synchronized tough guy poses evaporate. They’re all a few inches shorter than I am, and I practically loom over them like a giant.

The tall one trying to look the most imposing can only be Andrew, and his arms drop to his side as he looks up at me, his jaw slackening just a fraction. Next, Mark’s gaze tracks up and up until he’s looking into my face. Collin blinks rapidly, his arm tensing as he stares, but Andrew is the first to recover. He takes two steps forward, planting his boots firmly on the pavement as he looks at me and tries to maintain an intimidating scowl.

“So,” Andrew barks, his voice tight as he forces an aggressive step into my personal space. “You’re the guy who’s been keeping our little sister hidden away in Scotland.”

Before I can answer, Elena hops out of the driver’s seat and slams her door. “Andrew, stop it. You look like a disgruntled chihuahua.”

Collin bursts into a loud, booming laugh, and the tension instantly evaporates, making everything easy between us. “She’s right man, give it up. He looks like a lumberjack that could use your head to buff the hood of that car.”

Andrew’s tough guy scowl cracks, a broad grin breaking across his expression as he steps forward and extends an outstretched hand. “Yeah, all right. Fair enough, I’m Andrew and welcome to Massachusetts, man. I was going to try the alpha male handshake, but I actually value my hands.”

I chuckle as I gently engulf his hand in mine and give it a good shake. “Lachlan. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Andrew.”

Luke the cop steps up next, shaking his head with a grin as he taps a finger against my bicep which is rather large in comparison to their average male builds. “Man, if you ever need a job, our department is hiring a tactical entry specialist, and we wouldn’t even need a battering ram. If we have you, we could just throw you through the wall.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, pretty amused by the immediate shift in their demeanors from overly protective and defensive to openly warm and affectionate.

They’re just like her.

Mark, the quiet one, steps forward with a knowing smile and gives me a firm nod before a shout goes up.

“Hey, Lachlan,” Collin chimes in, slapping my shoulder, and squeezing it lightly. “Tell me you brought some of that high-end Scottish whiskey from home. Because if you can drink us under the table, you’re officially my new favorite brother-in-law.”

“Collin,” Elena gasps, blushing furiously, though she looks profoundly relieved as she walks over and loops her arm through mine.

The simple touch grounds me, and I can feel a happy wavelength bounce through the bond between us.

“I do happen to have quite a substantial collection of single malts currently being… processed by a carrier,” I tell him with a conspiratorial wink, thinking of Maren’s magical smuggling operation. “I’ll see if I can get my mitts on some of it and promise we can all share a glass or three.”

“He’s in,” Connor shouts, turning back toward the house. “Mom, Elena brought a big Scottish Highlander home, and he’s got booze!”

“You should have told me your brothers could be easily bought with a bit of whiskey, Elena, I’ve a whole cask of it under the ship back home,” I whisper to where only she can hear.

The four brothers start jostling each other as they head up the porch steps, loudly debating on who gets to sit next to me at dinner so they can ask me about Scottish castles. I glance down at Elena, whose smile is so wide that her cheeks must ache, and all the heavy, lingering worries vanish entirely into the cool, welcoming air.

I’m completely out of my element, but as Elena squeezes my arm, I know I’m exactly where I belong.

Chapter 35

ELENA PIERSON

The moment we step across the threshold of my childhood home, a rich and buttery scent greets my nose, the smell of baking garlic bread and roasted meats wrapping around us like a gentle hug from the kitchen.

The entryway is a chaotic blur of kicked off boots, old framed family photos, and the lively clatter of pots and pans from where I can hear my mom rummaging around inside the kitchen.

Before Lachlan can even take off his jacket, she comes rushing down from the hallway and stops dead in her tracks, her hands flying up to her cheeks as she gets a look at Lachlan.

Mom has to tilt her head all the way back to make eye contact with him as short as she is, and I feel my cheeks begin to ache with the force of my grin.

“Oh my goodness,” she gasps, her gaze going wide and saucers. “Elena, you weren’t exaggerating. He really is a big boy, my goodness. Do you fell trees in your spare time?”

“Mom, this is Lachlan, and no he’s not a lumberjack,” I say, my face instantly bursting with a strong heatwave of embarrassment. “Lachlan, this is my mom, Mary.”