There with You (Adair Family 2)

The historical architecture and design was amazing. Prior to coming here, I’d stalked Robyn’s Instagram for her new photos, so I’d seen Ardnoch through her lens. But seeing it in real life was even better. I knew from my sister’s photo captions that all the buildings here predated the mid-twentieth century, and dominating it all, near the Gloaming—the town’s biggest hotel, right on the square—was a medieval cathedral. The main thoroughfare of Ardnoch was called Castle Street. Guessing it was so named since it was the road that led out of the village toward Ardnoch Castle and Estate.

Castle Street was an avenue of identical nineteenth-century terraced houses with dormer windows. A lot of the homes had been converted into boutiques, cafés, and inns. Off Castle Street were identical row streets with fewer converted businesses. Still, I left no stone unturned and walked the four-block radius before it became apparent the rest of the buildings were residential.

No one was hiring.

It was the end of the summer, and soon they would let go the temporary staff they’d hired for the tourist season. How could an entire village not need new employees? No servers, no shop assistants, no cleaners, nothing!

And after the increasingly awkward and tension-filled interactions with Robyn over the weekend, there was no other option but to get a job and move out of Lachlan’s house. I knew she wanted me to stay, but I didn’t think it was a good idea.

Lachlan was a quiet one. I still hadn’t figured him out. All I knew so far was that he watched over Robyn like a man ready to take a bullet for her. With me, he was a different kind of watchful. Sometimes, it was like he saw too much.

Like how much of a coward I was.

I still couldn’t bring myself to broach the subject of me disappearing on Robyn. At least now she was talking to me. What if she really hated me after I explained what had been going on in my head? She might think it was as pathetic an excuse as I did.

She’d see once and for all how codependent I was.

How not brave I was.

It wasn’t easy being a coward and even more difficult when your big sister was fearless.

Except she seemed to tiptoe around the elephant in the room as much as I did. That realization made me even more nervous. But at least it was all a giant distraction from the bastard who’d plagued my life for eight months.

The thought juddered through me, and I immediately threw it out.

The sound of an engine at my back helped with the disposal of bad thoughts, and I glanced over my shoulder to see a green Defender moving slowly toward me. Wondering who it could be, I stepped into the grass at the side of the road and leaned as far back as I could to allow the vehicle to pass. Instead, it slowed, a blond woman at the wheel.

She rolled to a stop and I heard, “Regan!” from the back seat.

Eilidh pushed her face between the blond woman’s seat and the empty passenger seat. Lewis’s head hovered above hers.

“Hey, guys.” I grinned. “How’s it going?”

“I got Best Drawing today!” Eilidh beamed.

I leaned against the passenger door. “Great job! I’m not surprised. Superstars tend to win a lot.” She giggled at my wink, and I turned to Lewis. “Hey, buddy. How are you?”

He shrugged but gave me a small smile before he gestured to the woman at the wheel. “This is Aunt Arrochar.”

The sole Adair sister. I’d been curious to meet her after hearing Robyn speak so fondly of her.

“Hey, I’m Robbie’s sister, Regan.”

Arrochar leaned over and popped open the door. “Get in.”

“Thanks.” I hopped in and noted her gaze on my feet. “Wrong shoe choice. I walked from the village.”

She raised light blond eyebrows above striking, pale-blue eyes. “If you intend to stay here, we’ll need to get you proper walking boots.” She stuck out a slim hand. “Like Lewis said, I’m Arrochar. Lachlan and Thane’s sister. It’s nice to meet you, Regan.”

I shook her hand and felt a tap on my shoulder. Eilidh grinned cheekily at me.

“I told my friends about the fairy dust in your cheeks. Anna says her big sister Rosie has the same ones in her cheeks, but no one told her about the fairy dust. She can’t wait to tell Rosie.”

I chuckled. “I’m sure it will come as a surprise to her.”

“Eilidh, sit back, sweetie, we’re not home yet,” Arrochar ordered quietly. Her niece did as she was told.

“Where’s Thane?” I asked the aunt. From first impressions, we couldn’t be more unalike. Her platinum-blond hair was so much lighter than the sandy color of her siblings that I’d guess it was dyed. It was the only thing about her that suggested appearance was important. I’d dressed in an impractical short dress in the mod silhouette I favored, my makeup and hair done. Arrochar had her long hair pulled back into a messy ponytail. As far as I could see, she wore only mascara, and her clothes were definitely utilitarian. Jeans, lightweight blue-plaid shirt with a white T-shirt beneath, and Converse.