Page 5 of First Light

“You can’t.”

“Is he here?” She looked around. There was no one in the yard, probably because the air was frosty and the sun was completely covered by dense clouds, but maybe someone was coming out for a smoke break. Maybe there was someone she could ask.

“Carys.” Duncan’s expression softened. A tiny bit. “Lachlan did tell me about you. He should have… He has responsibilities here.” The man would barely look at her. “You shouldn’t have come.”

“He left all his things in California. Not just his car. His passport. His bank card.”

“I’ll take those and give them back to him if you want.”

“No! He left his books and… things his wife gave him before she died. He wouldn’t have left those things behind, Duncan. No one would.”

The big man said nothing.

“Did your family…” It seemed almost impossible to think. “Did your familykidnaphim?”

“My family has nothing to do with it!” Duncan’s tenuous patience broke, and he shouted at her. “Listen, there was a lot that my brother didn’t tell you about himself. And I do understand why you’re confused. I didn’t know how to explain things to you, so I didn’t call you back. I figured you’d move on. My God.” He let out a harsh breath. “Lachlan told me about you, Carys. You’re a bright woman and a college professor. It sounds like you have a wonderful life in California. You’re going to be fine.”

Carys was momentarily stunned by the compliments coming out of the antagonistic man’s mouth. “I… Thank you?” She shook her head. “That’s not the point. IloveLachlan.”

Duncan stepped closer and stared at her. “Do you now?”

“Yes.” She’d had weeks to think about it, to examine every moment of their relationship. “Lachlan made me feel alive after a really horrible time in my life. He was kind and generous and hesawme. I love him, and I’m not leaving here until I know what happened to him because I know you’re not telling me the truth.”

Duncan moved closer still, and the heat from his body cut through the chill of the cool Scottish morning. “He wasn’t honest with you, Carys.”

Her stomach dropped. “Is… is he married? Did his wife not really die?”

Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God.Was she the other woman? Was she in love with a married man?

“No.” Duncan’s answer was emphatic. “That wasn’t a lie. Lachlan was widowed about two years ago. Seren was…” He paused and stared at Carys. “It was very hard for all of us to lose her, but Lachlan was wrecked.”

“It’s been two years.” She knew it was, because Lachlan had lost his wife right around the time Carys had been diagnosed with depression. It was one of the things that had bonded them so quickly. “Is it so wrong that he doesn’t want to be alone anymore? Is that the problem? Your family doesn’t want him to?—”

“Carys.” Duncan’s voice was harsh. “Lachlan has responsibilities here. He was supposed to be on holiday, and he took things a bit too far.”

“A bit too far? We were together for four months. He was working on getting a visa. We were going to?—”

“It was never going to happen,” Duncan said. “It’s not possible.”

“No.” She shook her head. “I want to talk to Lachlan. If he’s here, I want to talk to him.” She looked around the yard. “Where is he?”

Duncan stepped toward her. “He’s here, but he’s notrighthere.”

“So how do you know he’s okay?”

Duncan shook his head. “I knowwherehe is, but I can’t take you?—”

“Why the fuck not?” Carys was starting to feel crazy again. Duncan was acting like this was all a bad breakup, but nothing about Lachlan’s disappearance was normal. “I’m not leaving Scotland without talking to Lachlan.”

“Well, good luck.” Duncan offered her a tight smile. “You can ask around, but no one is going to help you.”

“What does that mean?”

The door to the office popped open. “Can I get you a cup of tea, dear?”

Duncan’s head swung to the open door. “She’s not staying, Fiona.”

Fiona’s eyes went wide. “Sorry,” she mouthed.

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