The Dragon's Discovery (Lochguard Highland Dragons 6)

But Uncle Angus increased the volume and started jogging away.

She had to give her uncle credit for never missing a note as he disappeared from her sight.

Her family didn't pay any attention to her runaway uncle. Her gran waved her hands above her gray-haired head. "Donnie, hurry yourself along. I want to hug my granddaughter."

Deciding that the sooner she could get her family out of the airport the smaller the chance they would be banned for life, she finished walking out the door and into the arms of an aunt, grandparents, and even two cousins.

The instant they released her and she could breathe again, Donella drawled, "I'm not sure this is a big enough welcome party."

As always, her grandmother chose to ignore her sarcasm. "Everyone else will come to Tobermory for your birthday next month. We even closed the restaurant for the day to celebrate your arrival. The Campbells will owe us a favor for the business."

Oh, great. Her gran would now have another thing to hold over her head. "There was no need to do that, Gran. The high tourist season's in full swing."

Her grandmother clicked her tongue. "Of course we needed to. It's been years since I've seen my oldest granddaughter, and we need to give you a proper welcome."

Not favorite or funniest. Or, even smartest. No, Donella was always just the oldest.

The mention of a celebration made her wary. The Spencer shindigs were infamous, or so her father had said many times over in the past.

Aunt Flora spoke up. "It's just too bad your brother couldn't make it. Such a handsome lad. He'd be the star of the island."

Andrew had laughed for a full three minutes when she'd suggested he come with her. The bastard. "Andy has to work, Auntie. You know that."

Aunt Flora waved a hand in dismissal. "Americans work far too much. Besides, the air on Mull will add years to your life. Not to mention it's where you and your brother both belong and where you should've been born."

It'd been thirty-two years since her dad had moved permanently to the US with her mother, and her dad's family still held it against him. Memories were indeed long in Scotland.

Gran patted her arm. "I have plans of how to get your brother here. But for the moment, let's head home, aye? There are too many people in Glasgow for my liking."

Considering the Isle of Mull where her family lived had fewer than 3,000 people on it, a shopping mall would seem crowded to her gran.

As she followed her family out of the airport and to the parking garage, it took everything she had not to take out her cell phone and text her best friend back in the States. Her family had been nice enough to pick her up from the airport despite the combined four-hour car and ferry ride. She could smile and nod for a few hours.

The avoiding and ignoring would happen later.

Her granddad had been silent so far, but he elbowed his way to Donella's side and grunted. "Humor your gran and I'll see what I can do about the rounds tomorrow."

She frowned. "Rounds? What rounds?"

"She plans to take you to every shop, restaurant, B&B, and hotel on the island before your birthday party."

She blinked. "The entire island? That will likely take days, if not weeks."

Her granddad gave a one-armed hug. "I hate to break it to you, but she has your entire month planned almost to the hour, Donnie."

She held back a sigh. There went any hope of relaxing and staying under the radar. Her grandfather could work magic with her gran, but he wasn't a god. Gavina Spencer would have her way more often than not.

Uncle Angus appeared from around a corner. He'd given up playing the bagpipes, but not jogging. Slightly out of breath, he shouted, "I'll ride with the wee ones."

The wee ones were his twin children, who happened to be twenty-one years old and were far from wee. Both towered over Donella.

Shouting came from the corner Uncle Angus had just rounded, which spurred her uncle to run out of sight. Two security staff stopped and looked around. One of them shook his head. "I think we lost him."

The other said, "As long as he's out of the building and not playing those bloody bagpipes, I call it a success."

The two headed back to the main building, throwing one last look over their shoulders as if to memorize her family for future reference.

When it came time for Donella to return to the US, she made a note to keep her family away from the airport and instead use public transportation. Her dad would never forgive her if they were all arrested for giving Donella the send-off they thought she deserved.