Lachlan (Dangerous Doms 5)

I can still remember the first day we met.

I was only a child. Thirteen years old, trapped in the hovel of a kitchen in my home, surrounded by squalor and filth. He came in with his brothers, fellow men of the Clan. He barely fit in the doorway, and his eyes met mine across the room. He’d come to rescue us.

“Hey,” he said. “Name’s Lachlan. What’s yours?”

I’d never talked to such a hot guy before. He was a powerful, masculine force of nature, handsome even then, long before he grew into the man he is today.

I opened my mouth to speak, then looked to Sheena. Could I trust him?

“Go on,” Sheena said to me. “It’s okay.”

“Fiona,” I whispered. It took effort to say my name.

“’Tis a beautiful name.”

It was a brief conversation, but I never forgot it.

“Happy birthday, Fiona.” Lachlan’s voice is hollow and distant, and my belly twists into knots. What’s wrong? Why isn’t he Lachlan, my friend, the guy who taught me to drive and protected me from bullies, who made sure I was safe and oversaw my guard all the way through school? Why is he acting like this?

“Thanks.” My voice mimics his. Distant and hollow. I wish I hadn’t come over to see him. I turn away, inexplicable hurt making my eyes water. I don’t want him to see. I’m shaking, and I don’t know why.

Maybe I expected things to be different between us now that I’m eighteen. Maybe… maybe I’ve been lying to myself about the way he feels about me.

“I got you a present.”

His words arrest me. I turn to look at him, my head inclined to the side.

“Oh?”

He bows his head, and for one moment, I see the boyish look that makes my heart flutter. He takes something out of his pocket, a small package wrapped in plain white paper, taped to an envelope.

I feel oddly stricken. A part of me wants to take that present from his hands and throw it as far as I can into the Irish Sea.

“Here,” he says, handing it to me. Our fingers touch. My eyes go involuntarily to his when awareness travels between us.

Lachlan takes care of me. He protects me. But we never, ever touch.

He pulls his hand away and scowls at me.

“Thank you,” I say out of habit, but my temper’s barely in check.

“Don’t open it front of me,” he says, his voice rough and husky. “Wait until I’m gone.”

I look up curiously at him.

What?

“Why’d you even come?” I snap.

I watch as his eyes grow heated, and he clenches his jaw.

“What are you talking about?”

“You clearly don’t want to be here.” My anger’s rising, and I know I should stop it, but I can’t. I want his approval so badly I could cry, not… not this cold detachment. I know I’m baiting him, but I’m angry and hurt. He’s not like this cold, detached man. This isn’t him, and I don’t know what to make of it.

“It isn’t that,” he says through clenched teeth. “You don’t know everything there is to know.”

I scoff and toss my head back. “Of course I don’t.” I grit my teeth. “Because I’m only a child. Right?”

As if he’s old enough to be my father.

As if.

He winces as if I struck him, and I’m instantly remorseful. I open my mouth to apologize, but I don’t know what to say.

“I wish,” he whispers. Then to my shock and horror, he bends down to me. My heart hammers, and my mouth goes dry. I’ve never been so close to him, and he smells a hundred times better than I imagined, strong, masculine, and powerful. Is he going to kiss me? Oh, God, right here on the lawn with everyone here?

I’m stock still as if frozen in ice when his lips brush my cheek. My skin tingles where we touch. He whispers in my ear, his voice low and deep, sending shivers down my spine. “Happy birthday, Fiona. Open it alone, please.”

Then he turns and leaves. I watch him go, a part of my heart going with him. I look down at the little gift-wrapped package in my hand, and when I look up again, he’s gone.

“He moved heaven and Earth to be here tonight, you know,” comes a voice from behind me.

I look to see Sheena standing behind me.

“What do you mean?”

“He’s on his way to an international job.”

I swallow hard.

Why is Keenan sending everyone I love away?

“Where?” I ask, trying to be brave and not cry.

“Not sure,” she says. “It’s often confidential, isn’t it? All I know is that he’s got a job to do. Was supposed to leave night before last, but he told Keenan he wouldn’t go and miss your birthday.”

Well, now I feel like a total jerk.

“Oh.” Such a small word for such big feelings.

“What’s that?” she asks, gesturing to the package in my hand.