Can't Tie Me Down! (Sinclair Sisters 1)

“And the comb?”

“I’m going to use it to seduce her.” Keir stuffed everything back into his bag.

Sean ran a hand over his face. “I take it back. You might be older, but you don’t have a bloody clue. While Mairi’s on her date, I’ll get you sorted out. And don’t even tell me she isn’t going. You couldn’t stop her if you tied her to the bed. She’s got exotic clothes and a curry to tempt her, there’s no way she’ll trade that for tatty scones.”

He had a point. The bedroom door opened and Mairi bounced out. “What do you think?”

Keir pressed his hand over his heart and staggered a small step back. Something that, thankfully, Mairi didn’t notice. She was stunning, and it wasn’t just the clothes. She was glowing, absolutely glowing, with joy. And for the first time since Keir hatched the plan to save her by marrying her, he wondered if he was doing the right thing. He wondered if he should step aside and let the boys try to win her. It was obvious from the look on her face, and her delight in the date Amir had planned, that she deserved everything the guys were trying to do for her.

“You look gorgeous,” Sean said as he came to stand beside Keir. “Don’t even think it,” he whispered to Keir as Mairi spun in a circle.

“Think what?” Keir whispered back.

“About giving up,” his brother said, and narrowed his eyes.

“Keir?” Mairi said as she came to a stop. There was a touch of vulnerability in her eyes that made him swallow anything negative he might have said.

“You are beautiful.”

Her face lit up at his praise. And she was beautiful. Her hair was wild and curling around her shoulders. The blue and pink suit brought out her peaches-and-cream complexion and made her eyes appear even bluer. She was stunning.

And she wasn’t for him.

He cleared his throat and reached into his back pocket to pull out the phone he’d picked up for her in Campbeltown. “Here. I programmed in all the numbers I could think of, and it’s fully charged.” He handed it to her. “Call if there’s even a hint of trouble, and I’ll come get you.”

Mairi looked at the phone, then back to Keir. She seemed stunned. “This is the new iPhone.”

“You need it for when you get back to work.”

She stared at the phone for a minute, and then chewed at her bottom lip as though she was trying to figure out what to say.

There was a knock at the front door and Mairi looked over to it. “That’s probably Amir.”

“Probably.” Keir stepped back.

There was another knock.

“Mairi,” Amir called.

Sean shook his head and sauntered over to answer the door. He swung it wide.

“Mairi,” Amir said in utter awe, “I have never in my life seen a more beautiful sight.” He clasped his hands over his heart and beamed at her. There was nothing hidden, the guy wasn’t keeping anything back; he was genuinely pursuing Mairi. And from the smile on her face, he was doing a helluva job of it.

“Where are we going?” Mairi headed for Amir, still clutching the phone Keir had bought for her. “When can we eat?”

Amir laughed. “Soon.” He reached for her and stopped midway. “May I take your hand, Mairi?”

“Of course.” She held Amir’s hand, and they turned to go down the stairs.

“Don’t forget,” Keir called, “call if you need to.”

“I will.” Big blue eyes looked back at him, as she walked away with another man.

“Why are you letting her go with him?” Sean asked as they watched them disappear down the stairs.

Keir could hardly answer; his chest was so tight. “Maybe that’s what I should have been doing all along.” He turned his back on the open door. “I’m going downstairs to work on the Beetle.” And then he headed in the opposite direction of the woman he loved.

???