Always You (Adair Family 3) - Page 36
My pulse raced as I hurried back to the living room to face the man I’d almost confessed my love to while I dry-humped him on my couch.
I couldn’t believe that had actually happened. That Mac hadn’t resisted. What did that mean?
Hope blossomed—
And deflated like a popped balloon as soon as I walked into the living room. Something like resentment filled me to find the Christmas tree lights out and the fire off. In the spill of light from the hallway, I saw Mac lying on the couch, blankets over him, either asleep or pretending to be.
PRESENT DAY
* * *
I couldn’t stop thinking about that night with Mac last Christmas. The reason I couldn’t stop thinking of it was because I’d dreamed about it last night. Not of the scary, threatening copycat note. Not a nightmare.
But of Mac.
Again.
He’d toyed with me, whether he meant to or not.
I blinked out of the bitter thought to find Lewis and Eilidh grinning at me over their cereal bowls.
“Where did you go, Aunt Arro?” Eilidh asked, genuinely curious.
“I was thinking of next Christmas, and how I can’t wait for our weekend together.”
“But it’s so far away.” Lewis frowned.
I supposed to a kid, it did seem far away.
“It’ll be here before you know it,” Regan said. “But for now, eat up.”
“How long are you staying, Aunt Arro?” Eilidh asked. Her face glowed with happiness. “Is it forever? Are you and Uncle Arran staying forever?”
That the thought filled her with such excitement melted my heart, and I hated to disappoint her. “No, sweetie. It was just for one night. As for Uncle Arran—”
“I’m staying until we know more about the note.” My brother’s voice filled the space as he walked out of the utility room and into the open-plan kitchen. He was staying in Thane’s annex while I slept in the guest suite upstairs.
Eilidh cheered at the thought, and I raised an eyebrow, noticing Regan’s surprise too.
“You’re staying?”
Arran gave me a serious look as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. “Until I know everyone’s going to be okay.”
It meant a lot to have him back, and I couldn’t help the sting of tears. While I was trying not to panic about the note, and I didn’t want to change my life because of it, I had to admit—it was more than nice to have Arran home, that he was willing to stay for me.
Arran saw and hugged me harder into his side, something a lot like guilt filling his expression.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
He shook his head. “You don’t need to thank me for staying.”
9
Mac
The phone rang, the noise filling my office and stretching my nerves to a breaking point.
Then her voice mail. I closed my eyes. “Hi, you’ve reached Arrochar. I’m probably in a forest somewhere with no signal, so please leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”
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