“I wouldn’t do that to you—make you keep secrets from him. And anyway, there’s nothing to tell.”
She seemed frustrated. “Arro … I am the greatest bullshitter in the world. I even bullshitted myself when it came to Austin. I convinced myself that what he’d done wasn’t as bad as it really was because it was easier than facing reality.”
“Regan,” I whispered her name in sorrow, hating what that son of a bitch had put her through.
“So I know a fellow bullshitter when I see one. I know when someone is in pain and bottling it up. If you won’t talk to me … please, please talk to someone.”
Eyes wide, my emotions bubbled to the surface, and I could only nod.
She started to say something else, but the front door opened and shut and Regan’s lips pressed together. Thane sauntered into the kitchen carrying two shopping bags.
“Arro.” He smiled.
“Hi.”
“Just in time.” Regan grinned at him. “Lunch is almost ready.”
“Smells great.” He leaned in to press a quick kiss to her lips, and I watched her relax and reach for another. Thane smiled happily at her eagerness, kissed her, and moved around her to put the groceries away. “Oh, by the way, the reason Keelie texted is that her sister has bought a plot of land and is looking for an architect. She wondered if she could send her my way.”
Regan grinned at me where Thane couldn’t see, and I loved my brother for giving her that, despite his earlier irritation. “Ah, okay. That makes sense.”
Thane shot a smirk at her back. “Aye, imagine that.”
Regan made a face at me, and I struggled not to laugh.
“Are you going to take the job?” I asked him.
“Too busy.” He shook his head. “I’ll refer her to a colleague.”
I wondered if that was true, or if Thane just wanted to distance himself from Keelie for Regan’s sake. He would never cheat, but Keelie was a reminder of a time when he’d hurt Regan. I knew my brother well enough to know that no matter what, he’d protect Regan from anything, big or small, that hurt her.
She looked over her shoulder at him, and their eyes met. Something passed between them. Something intimate.
They were good.
Minor argument forgiven and forgotten.
But I couldn’t forget Regan’s words of wisdom before Thane had walked in.
Because I knew she was right.
I’d kept so many feelings locked up for so long to protect Mac, and while I knew myself well enough to know I wouldn’t betray him, I had to find an outlet. I had to let go of the hurt, or I’d be swallowed by a pit of depression. It was so much easier to avoid it altogether rather than try to pull myself out of that darkness once I was in it.
5
Mac
The last place I wanted to be was Lachlan’s stage office, but we’d agreed as head of security, I’d work with Wakefield, the estate butler, and Agnes, the head housekeeper, to run Ardnoch while Lachlan was on his honeymoon. Playing Lachlan’s part meant being available to club members. They knew if they had any issues to come to Lachlan in his stage office.
Spring rain battered the grounds outside the tall windows. Without a lit fire, the room was chilly, but I was too focused on the pile of work Lachlan had left me. My brows creased as a headache throbbed behind my right eye. Christ, I’d known there was a lot involved in his job, but the minutiae of it was unbelievable.
I read the email from the head groundskeeper, coordinating with the land estate manager about the plans for summer and the quantities of materials he planned on ordering for daily maintenance and special events we staged through now until autumn and decided this one would have to wait. I did not know if Lachlan would approve of the groundskeeper’s plans. The only time I consulted on estate groundskeeping was when I was concerned any additions might interfere with security cameras, anti-intruder alarms, and our anti-drone perimeter.
The desk phone ringing brought my head up. The light over the security tab on the phone set blinked. “Galbraith,” I answered gruffly.
“Mac, it’s Pete.” One of my security guards. “There’s a man at the gates claiming to be a friend of yours. Billy Carson.”
Shock moved through me. What the hell was Billy doing all the way up here?