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“Stay with me. Stay all the nights with me.”
Stay all the nights with me. Every second of every day.
Stay.
With.
Me.
“I won’t charge you. I want to get that straight. This is about us. All of us.”
It will probably piss off my brothers, but I don’t care.
I feel so deeply for you, and I don’t know what to do with this feeling. I’d be an idiot if I confess I’ve fallen for you in one day.
A beautiful watery smile returns. “Lachlan MacLeod, you might just be the nicest man I’ve ever met.”
“I don’t know about that.”
But for you, I want to try.
I kick at the toolbox. “More like the most selfish. What better way to monopolize your time than by keeping you in my bed?”
“Now you’re talking.” She smirks. Her hands land on my shoulders and she makes soothing hums that relax my body in seconds. My leg stops tapping.
“If Momma didn’t pack one of my favorite pecan and peach pies, I’m going to make you one myself. That way, you’ll know what’ll be waiting when you come visit me in Texas.”
Pie should be my only incentive. I remind myself that there are no happy endings. I’ve never stuck with a relationship, nor have Knox or Finn. Our parents screwed us up.
I know she’s not staying. She just bought a house and got the promotion she’s longed for. Even though we only have nine days left, I want her to have the best happy ever after for the time she’s here.
Chapter Sixteen
KNOX
Finn passes me a whisky. All three of us are here celebrating Georgia’s first day at work. Finn being here was a given. I’ve wanted to know about her first day and would break any fucker who made her life miserable. We’re not open for another half an hour. The peaceful sound of the pub steals through to my bones. Ale, whisky and smoke oozes from the bones of the building.
“My co-workers are so nice. We had a pub lunch, and I had a ploughman’s lunch which was amazing.” Her dark eyes sparkle.
“You haven’t tried my ploughman’s,” Finn grumbles. “Best fucking Scotch eggs in the universe.”
“So a hunk of cheese, rye bread, chutney is the shit?” I swirl my glass.
“It really is.” She turns to Finn. “I haven’t had a Scotch egg. Hit me with a Scotch egg my man, anytime.” A grumpy grin on Finn’s face which she reads. “All washed down with a Guinness.” She brings her whisky to her lips and sips. My gaze pulls to her creamy throat.
“I can make you fucking lunch,” Finn complains. He brightens. “Better yet, I’ll bring it to you.”
It made my jaded heart pang that she’d taken to a simple pub lunch, like what was served here. She’d been animated about the work. I’d zoned out when she started talking about some tax law I already knew but zoned back in when she asked me about a complicated algorithm. My brain fired up, and my dick throbbed when we delved into the complex formula. She’d given me a quick brush against my lips before I could pull back. I blinked, surprised by the softness of her lips and the surprise sneak attack. She doesn’t know I don’t kiss women, but damn, for once I want to haul her into my arms and kiss the life out of her, show her what I can’t say, what I’ve never had with a woman.
Intimacy.
“She almost got you.” Finn whips a cloth over his shoulder.
“She won’t,” I quip.
The doors are now open and as always, the place is packed. Live music has started, the tables are filling and I nod to Finn who nods back. With the money we’re making, we’ll be able to buy more pubs. More pubs equals more security. Something I’ve been fighting to achieve for my brothers since our parents exited stage right in a cloud of vapor. I’ve never told my brothers, but I hired a private detective to find out where they were. If they were alive. I’m a curious fucker. Turns out they’re in Oban. Four hours on the train. Own a small hostel. They take in guests for the night and look after them. The irony is not lost on me.
I’ve wondered if they’d turn up over the years. If they’d heard we were doing well and want a cut.
