Page 34 of Kilt Trip

Taking a deep breath, Addie packaged up all those feelings with no intention to return to them, like a dusty memory box she couldn’t quite part with, tucked away in an unused closet.

As Gemma wrung out the cloth, laid it on a wooden cutting board, and sprinkled it with flour, she gave Addie a running commentary on Hogmanays past. “When the boys were little, Logan would follow me around the kitchen begging to help. I’d pop him up on a chair and give him little jobs. Reid and Neil would spend hours on puzzles. And Jack always wandered off and got into one kind of mischief or another.”

“That tracks with what I know of Logan and Jack.”

Gemma smiled. “Those two have always been the best of friends. I worry about them now, if we pushed them down paths they didn’t want to take.”

“What do you mean?” Addie asked.

Gemma wrapped the dough and cloth into a dumpling-shaped ball, securing it with butcher twine. “Jack seems to only be finding himself now. And Logan puts so much pressure on himself. He’s so afraid to disappoint Neil, even though he never could.”

Addie wished Gemma hadn’t mentioned Logan and his fears. She couldn’t unsee that glimmer that he might be a bit scared of everything she represented and not thwarting her in the name of immaturity. He was simply fighting like hell to keep his business—that was also family—safe.

Wasn’t she doing the exact same thing?

Without permission, her mind cast him in a light which was entirely too warm and golden for comfort. As much as she cringed at that damsel-in-distress moment last week, he’d rescued her from sheep on a moment’s notice. She’d seen the joy in his eyes at the Torchlight Procession, the lightness in him around Jack and Elyse.

It couldn’t change anything—she had a job to do and people who depended on her to do it—but Logan cared deeply about his business, and she couldn’t help but respect that.

“We only want what’s best for them.” Gemma gestured to bring the clootie dumpling, and Addie lowered it onto a down-turned saucer in the middle of the pot.

“They’re lucky to have you. Not everyone has such caring parents.” She smiled, trying to cover up the revealing implication about her dad.

Gemma patted Addie’s arm and said, “As parents, we do the best for our kids, but we’re human, too.” The way she tipped her head made it clear she wasn’t only talking about her and Neil. A flicker of something akin to guilt settled low in Addie’s stomach. Brian had always been larger-than-life to her, but maybe that was an unfair standard to hold him to.

The front door banged, and Logan called out a hello in his deep brogue. Addie’s heartbeat perked up. She wiped under her eyes and smoothed her hair back.

Another voice rang out. “Don’t start without us.” A young man blew into the kitchen like a winter storm, tugging off his hat and combing his fingers through his sandy blond hair. The family resemblance between the brothers was strong, but where Logan gave off pro rugby player vibes, Reid could only be described as dapper in his dove-gray vest.

He bent down to kiss Gemma on the cheek and then moved toward Addie, hand outstretched. “You must be Addie.”

“Nice to meet you,” she said, shaking his hand, but her attention snagged on Logan’s appearance in the doorway. He came in wearing the hell out of a black sweater and jeans. But she was immune to him. Absolutely.

“Mum, you put her to work? She’s our guest.” Logan set a bouquet of red berries and eucalyptus on the counter, and as he stepped into Gemma’s embrace, he studied Addie. If she didn’t know him so well, she’d swear there was concern etched around his eyes. Then all at once, suspicion took over his features. “What are you doing here so early?”

Addie’s heart lurched, and she wiped her hands on her apron. Dammit. She’d gotten so caught up in the past, she’d forgotten all about Neil.

12

After Gemma shooed Addie from the kitchen—at Logan’s insistence that she come enjoy herself—he swept out his arm for her to precede him into the living room. His smile said Aren’t I a doting host? but his eyes said I’m watching you.

Gemma handed Logan a charcuterie platter. “Help me set the food out, will you?”

Gemma for the win. Addie headed straight for Neil who was mixing drinks behind a wooden bar cart in the corner, rattling the cocktail shaker like a kid with a snow globe. It’d been a long time since she went to a party that wasn’t a mingler, but she had a sense that conducting business tonight would be a faux pas. Especially after their guests arrived. She was running out of time.

“Can we talk a minute?”

“Of course, of course.” Neil poured amber liquid into a cut-crystal tumbler, dropped in a sprig of rosemary, and handed it to Addie with a stately bow. His gaze cut to something behind her. “Oh, Reid, you’re here, too. How’re the repairs coming, son?”

Addie stifled a groan as Neil’s attention was pulled away.

Reid plunked down a whisky bottle on the bar cart. “I reckon I’ll have everything up and running by the time I’m a hundred and fifty or so. But a man can dream.” He flashed her a charming grin and began rolling up the sleeves on his button-up shirt.

Neil poured another concoction into the silver cup and shook it wildly above his head. “Reid’s renovating a distillery,” he said, filling Addie in.

“Wow.” Addie opened the black hangtag looped around the neck of the bottle. “Is this yours?”

“Och, no. He’s selling you a lemon. The place is a bit of a rubbish heap. Has been for about forty years now. How are the changes coming at The Heart?”

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