Here With Me (Adair Family 1)

Unlike the security cameras outside, the interior cameras dotted around the castle’s common areas were discreetly hidden so the members didn’t feel like they were being watched. Most bedroom corridors didn’t have cameras on them, but Lachlan had a camera installed on his because of the stalker and one on Mac’s for the same reason.

“But a key card is required to access my floor,” he insisted.

“This will do,” Lachlan maintained.

See, this was why Lachlan and I were not a good idea.

“This is fine,” I assured Mac. “Thank you for coming to get me.”

Sensing my desire to be alone, Mac hugged me tight, kissed the cheek that wasn’t swollen, and told me he’d see me in the morning. Jock patted my arm in a friendly, “I’m glad you’re okay” gesture, and they walked to the door together.

Mac looked over his shoulder at Lachlan who hadn’t moved from his spot near the wardrobe. “Are you coming?”

“In a minute.” Lachlan gave him a reassuring nod, a long look passing between them.

My dad glanced at me, expression unreadable, and then reached for the handle and closed the door as they departed.

I’d understood that look between Lachlan and Mac.

Despite our earlier silent conversation, Lachlan was breaking things off. The truth was in his gentle, apologetic look.

Why, when only seconds ago I’d concluded our affair was a bad idea, did I feel pissed and hurt?

And rejected?

“You don’t have to say anything.” I gestured to the door. You can leave now.

He strode toward me, and the urge to go to him, to forget the whole horrid incident through his drugging kisses and touch, was so strong, I wanted to retreat. I worried if he came any closer, I’d lose myself to this addiction for him.

Crossing my arms over my chest, I wore a mask of indifference as he stopped less than a foot away.

Lachlan studied me, the regret in his eyes making me feel like crap. “I’m sorry this happened to you. More sorry than I can say.”

“It’s not your fault.”

He snorted bitterly.

“Adair.”

“Back to that again?” he murmured.

“Aren’t we?”

“I suppose so. We have to end this, for your safety.”

The sensible thing to do was to agree, to watch him walk out of the room, and move on. But all I kept thinking was, why did he put me in the room across from his if he didn’t want me anymore? “I’m not the kind of person who allows herself to be bullied by the actions of others. This is what these people want.”

“Christ, Robyn, I’m not worth your goddamn life,” he snapped, running a hand through his hair as he turned from me.

“Oh, get over yourself, Adair. It’s about more than that. I refuse to be pushed around by these assholes. I do not make decisions based on fear. Ever.” I motioned to him as he turned back to me, glowering. “But clearly you do.”

“How dare you,” he said gruffly. “This person or persons are after me, but it’s the people I care about who are being tormented. Mac, Eredine … and now Mac’s daughter.”

Mac’s daughter.

I wasn’t a person he cared about.

I was just the woman he wanted to fuck but who happened to be the daughter of a person he cared about.

Message received.

“I put you in danger, and if anything happened to you because of me, it would destroy Mac. He’d never forgive me.”

Wow, the hits just kept coming. I laughed bitterly. “So if anything happened to me, it wouldn’t matter to you other than it would hurt Mac. Good to know.”

His anger dissipated. “I didn’t mean … but this was just sex. We agreed.”

“We did. And believe me, the more I get to know you, the more the attraction remains physical.” His eyes flashed dangerously, but I didn’t care if I hurt his feelings. He was pretty adept at hurting mine. “But I guess, before this conversation, anyway, I assumed that even though our affair was casual, there was a level of care and concern for one another simply as two human beings.”

“Robyn—”

“But if all I am to you is something to stick your dick into, then, no, you are definitely not worth my life.”

Lachlan’s face darkened. “Something to stick …” He gave a huff of unamused laughter. “You always assume the worst in me, don’t you? You take my words and twist them.”

“No. I just listen to what you don’t say.” Suddenly exhausted and sad and disappointed, I waved wearily to the door. “Can you just leave?”

“What do you want me to say?” he bit out as he crossed the distance between us, leaning into but not touching me. “That when Mac told me you’d been attacked, I felt like I was coming out of my skin, and if I find the bastard, I will kill him? You have no idea the day I’ve had, Robyn. Women I care about were hurt by men that I should have protected them from!”