Page 43 of Kilt Trip

They were hardly out of Edinburgh, but she could tell Logan had this in hand. He had a way with people.

Introducing her as part of the team, not the scapegoat to blame if things went wrong, made her feel included and special. Like that first day. It was far too easy to get swept away by that feeling.

Addie crossed her arms and looked out the window.

After another half hour of their legs brushing together, she was ready to crawl out of her skin. Buses with armrests would be at the top of her recommendation list.

Logan turned to catch her looking at him. “Thinking about improvements and revenue? Shall I pass around merchandise for sale?”

“How can I focus with you in a kilt?” The words slipped out with an edge of annoyance he hopefully interpreted as sarcasm instead of the truth. He was goddamn distracting.

Logan smirked and raised the hem an inch. A measly inch.

Her stomach dipped as if they’d plowed over a pothole. Addie mouthed Oh my god and wrote Consider audio tour in sprawling letters to throw him off. And to keep her eyes off the curve of his muscular thigh.

Logan snorted and grabbed his water bottle.

She needed to get a grip. On herself and the situation. “I’m too preoccupied with your impressive shtick.”

Water flew out of Logan’s mouth, and Keith thumped the steering wheel with mirth.

“Watch the road, man,” Logan choked out. He shot her a dirty look before standing in the aisle to address the group. Addie bit her knuckle to keep from yelling, Ha! I’m not the only one affected here. She marked down Flouting safety precautions, minus 2 points, but Logan staunchly ignored her.

“Ye know the saying armed to the teeth? The expression means to be loaded up with weapons, but it originated in the Highlands. After Culloden, all weapons were banned for the Scottish people. But there are laws, and then there are laws. In the Highlands, many people still carried weapons despite the risks, but farther south the risk of jail became much too dangerous. The area where the patrolmen enforced the laws more stringently was near the River Teith. Hence, armed to the Teith. It’s been translated into many languages, but most people don’t know it originated here.”

The passengers behind them murmured with interest and delight like his story stirred up their memory-making-fervor. Addie could feel them trying to remember those details to tell their friends.

Sharing local history in a unique way, 1 point.

“I’ll let you get on with your view. We’ll be to the Ewes and Coos Farm in another hour or so.” Logan turned back around and gave Keith’s shoulder a squeeze before lounging in his seat, kicking a booted foot into the aisle. They carried on in silence, the bright landscape no competition for Logan’s body shifting next to her.

There was no way she was going to make it through the rest of the day this close to him.

15

“Fàilte don Gàidhealtachd,” Logan said, his eyes on Addie. The Gaelic words rolling off his tongue broke her points system. “Welcome to the Highlands.”

He ushered them off the bus. Outside, he stopped Addie with a hand to her arm. “Would you mind taking photos today?”

“Trying to keep me distracted?” He shouldn’t have bothered; Addie was nothing if not an excellent multitasker.

“Whatever gave you that idea?” he asked, handing her a Nikon camera and looping the strap around her neck, the brush of his fingers against her skin buzzing like live wires.

“Let me get a picture for social media. Really sell the experience.” She waved a hand in front of his body.

“You’re very much missing the point.”

“Ooh,” she said, playing dumb. “So we can sell copies to the tourists? Great idea.”

Logan’s eyebrows pitched down.

“Does fifteen pounds seem fair?”

“Give it back.” He held out his hand.

Addie clutched the camera to her chest, and Logan shook his head, turning away and striding to where the group lined up against a wood-and-wire fence.

Highland cows nuzzled hands and snorted puffs of steam into the chilly air. Their horns curved out and upwards in a perfect imitation of a shrugging emoji and red hair dangled way past their eyes.

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