There with You (Adair Family 2)

While the adults groaned at the insinuation, I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt. “It doesn’t bother me like it bothers you. But I appreciate the effort.”

“Damn you.” She narrowed her eyes, trying not to laugh.

“I have no idea what’s going on.” Lachlan turned to Thane for answers.

He shrugged. “Don’t look at me.”

“Just sister stuff,” Robyn assured Lachlan.

“So … is there another present in the bedroom?” He raised his eyebrows in expectation.

“Isn’t there every day?”

Lachlan grinned. “Yes. My mistake.”

Robyn gave him a sassy nod. “You know it. But yeah, there is actually another present in the bedroom.”

“Is it a cuddly toy?” Eilidh asked.

Shooting my sister a look for speaking in innuendo in front of the kids, she blanched and smiled apologetically before turning to Eilidh. “Yeah, sweetie. That’s exactly right.”

“I want to see!”

“Some other time, Eils.” Thane cuddled her close. “It’s Uncle Lachlan’s present, remember.”

“Right, well.” Mac stood and handed over a tall, slim gift bag to Lachlan and another to Thane. “What do you get the men who have everything?”

It turned out expensive whisky, which they both were extremely happy about.

More gifts were shared. Lachlan got a tie from me, a sweater from Arro, a kilt pin from Eredine, and new earbuds and an arm strap for his phone from the kids so he could listen to his music while running. It was Lewis’s idea, I informed Lachlan, and his nephew couldn’t look more pleased by how “chuffed” his uncle was.

Lastly, Thane gave his brother a compass.

“It was Dad’s. Do you remember? He said it belonged to our great-great-grandfather. I found it in the attic a few months ago when I was clearing stuff out. A guy in Inverness restored it.”

The gift obviously blew Lachlan away, and the brothers did that guy thing where they were all gruff about their emotions and battered each other on the back when they hugged to lessen the sentimentality of it all.

It was kind of adorable.

And then it was Thane’s turn. He got a matching kilt pin from Eredine (which I thought was cute), a different sweater from Lachlan’s from Arro, a swanky beard grooming kit from Robyn, and a fancy watch from Lachlan.

“For your new start back at work. Turn it over,” his brother said.

Thane did so and read, “Novis Initiis.”

“New beginnings,” Lachlan explained.

As he looked at his brother, Thane’s eyes brightened. Something only they seemed to understand passed between them. “It’s great. Thank you.”

Now my gift seemed weird in comparison. Instead of handing over the entire gift bag, I delved into it and took out the present from the kids. I gave it to Lewis to give to Thane.

“Happy Birthday, Dad.” Lewis hopped off the couch to lean into his dad’s legs. “It was my idea.”

“Mine too!” Eilidh frowned deeper than any human had ever frowned before. She turned to her father with that ferocious scowl. “Mine too, Daddy.”

Thane kissed her forehead. “I know, Eilidh-Bug. Now let’s have a look and see what it is.”

“It’s LEGO,” Eilidh announced, squirming excitedly, and we all couldn’t help but chuckle. “Can I play with it too?”

Desperately trying not to laugh, Thane nodded as he ripped open the wrapping. “Of course.” He studied it, his eyebrows lifting. “It might be a wee bit difficult.” He looked at Lewis. “I didn’t even know LEGO did this stuff.”

It was adult LEGO. A complicated set with plans for a contemporary, all-white architect’s studio. “I thought it would look great in your office once it’s built. And it’s supposed to be a stress reliever.”

Thane flicked me a look. “Right.”

“Ree-Ree might have helped with the idea too,” Lewis admitted.

Their dad gave me a vague look of thanks.

I tucked his gift from me behind my legs.

* * *

Thane and Lachlan swapped stories about their misdemeanors as teenagers; Lewis and Eilidh were in Arrochar’s TV room watching a movie because they’d gotten bored with the adults. Mac helped Arro clean up the kitchen. Even Eredine joined the warm conversation between my sister and the brothers.

I wasn’t really in the mood. Abandoning my spot on the sofa, I thought I’d go check on the kids and passed through the hallway to do it. A glance in the kitchen, however, stopped me in my tracks. Arro and Mac were standing near the sink, side by side, but they were pressed together, heads turned to each other, murmuring in conversation. Mac stared down at Arro with such tenderness, I felt like I was intruding upon something.

Their body language was not the body language of two friends.

Oh my God.

How the hell had I missed that?

Probably because you’re obsessed with your asshole boss.

Hurrying away before they caught me watching them, I tucked this revelation away and considered asking Robyn about it later. Or maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe no one else knew. Maybe I was making something out of nothing.