There with You (Adair Family 2)

Seeing my genuine anxiety, Robyn grimaced. “I’m sorry. I should have known it would freak you out. I’ve just accepted that Lachlan is crazy generous. Um … okay, here’s what we’ll do: you’ll follow me carefully to the school, and then once we’ve dropped off the kids, I’ll take you for a driving lesson.”

“I have household duties.”

“You’ll get them done. If you’re going to be driving the kids around, I’m sure Thane would agree it’s important that you know what you’re doing. Especially on roundabouts.”

Trying not to freak out, I nodded. “Okay. Okay. Right, well, we need to get the kids to school.”

Once Eilidh and Lewis were happily loaded into the back of the luxury vehicle with its black leather seats and new car smell, I went to get in the passenger side. “Nice start,” I muttered to myself, rounding the hood. The next problem occurred, however, when once I’d gotten my seat and mirrors adjusted, I didn’t know how to turn it on.

“There’s a big button by the wheel.” Lewis pointed at it from the back.

Great. A seven-year-old was offering driving instructions.

Finding the engine start button, I pressed it and nothing happened. Except a message binged on the fancy little screen behind the wheel. I needed to put my foot on the brake, it said, before starting the engine.

Sweat gathered beneath my arms and in my palms. Finally, I got the car going and put a thumb out the window to let Robyn know we were ready.

To be fair, the fancy SUV drove like a dream, so quiet, and glided down the narrow country road. While Lewis was silent, Eilidh chattered constantly but thankfully was happy for me to just make agreeable noises now and then as I concentrated on following my sister and sticking to the correct side of the road.

It was so weird!

When we slowed on approach to a roundabout, my pulse leapt. Robyn switched on her right turn signal and I followed suit, and we drove onto the circle the wrong freaking way! Except it was the right freaking way here.

“Oh my goodness,” I said under my breath.

“Are you okay?” Lewis asked, interrupting Eilidh’s monologue about how her friends were going to react to her hair.

“Fine, fine,” I assured him. The kids didn’t need to know the person looking after them didn’t know how to drive in Scotland.

To my everlasting relief, less than ten minutes later, we arrived at the school. It felt like a year.

Robyn turned into a large parking lot adjacent to the school and by a miracle found us a few spaces.

Sweaty and a little shaky, I got out of the car and unbuckled Eilidh while Lewis got himself out. “Come around my side,” I called to him, and he did so. Giving him a tender smile, I turned to Eilidh and lifted her out of the car. She threw her arms around my neck before I could lower her to the ground.

“Can you come to class with me?” She pouted.

I was pretty sure that face got her anything she wanted, but unfortunately, she couldn’t have this. “I’m sorry, gorgeous, you know the rules. No parents and no besties older than five allowed.”

Her frown was so deep, a person could arrange coins along the ridge in her forehead.

I snuggled her close. “But I’ll be here to pick you up from school, and guess what I’m making for dinner tonight?”

Eilidh’s eyes lit up. “What?”

“Chicken nugget mash.”

Her voice deepened as she pressed her forehead to mine. “Chicken nuuuuuuggets.”

As I laughed, the tender pull in my chest was so deep, it hurt.

And I realized something scary.

It was the first day on the job … and I was already in love with these kids.

* * *

“This is wrong,” I said as Robyn and I got out of our SUVs. We’d parked them on the main square outside the Gloaming after the driving lesson. “I’m supposed to be working.”

“And you will work,” Robyn promised. “But first, you’re having coffee and breakfast with your sister.” Suddenly, she frowned as we walked down Castle Street. “Is that … how can—Dad?” she called out.

Following her gaze, I saw Mac walking down the street toward us. “I thought he was on a trip.”

“I thought so too.” She picked up the pace and I hurried alongside her.

A woman ahead of us passed Mac with her stroller and glanced over her shoulder at him, obviously checking him out.

I chuckled, and Robyn groaned. “Seriously. It’s everywhere we go. Women fall all over him.”

“You have a hot dad.”

“Don’t say that.” She shoved me playfully. “He’s like a stepfather to you. That’s like me saying Seth is hot.”

“My father is very handsome,” I replied defensively.

“Yeah, he is. But there’s a difference between noting a father or father figure’s handsomeness versus his hotness.”

I nodded in agreement. “I won’t say Mac is hot again.”