Page 24 of Gift-Wrapped in a Kilt

"What are you doing here?" she asked, twisting her fingers free of his.

"Rory invited me." Trevor hooked a thumb inside the ascot around his waist. "I rang him to say hello and to see if he'd help me with a legal matter. I'm buying an old distillery, thinking of turning it into a tourist attraction."

Of course. He'd come to the Highlands on business, not to see her. Not that she wanted to see him. But telling a woman he'd sought her out as an afterthought wasn't the cleverest idea.

The full import of what he'd said caught up with her then, and her mouth fell open. "Rory invited you? To the party?"

"Yes." Trevor took hold of his lapels. "When he offered, I couldn't say no. The chance to see you again was irresistible."

Footsteps clomped behind her.

She glanced over her shoulder, knowing who would be there.

Gavin's brows cinched together over his nose, etching a crease that spawned more lines across his forehead. He shoved his tongue against the inside of his cheek, making it swell outward, his attention glued to the other man positioned in front of her.

The clock in her head banged out the seconds. One, two, three…

Jaw set, Gavin swiveled his gaze to her. The question in his eyes was unmistakable.

"A friend of yours?" Trevor said. He barreled past Jamie to offer his hand to Gavin. "Trevor Langley. I'm an old friend of Jamie's."

Gavin shook the other man's hand, but he watched her as he spoke. "Nice to meet Jamie'sold friend."

"I haven't seen Trevor in five years," she blurted out, as if anyone had asked.

Trevor smiled at her again. "Letting her go was the worst mistake of my life. One I hope to rectify."

Something in his voice made her wonder about his true intentions. A sharp edge. One that smoothed out in an instant. Maybe she'd imagined it.

Gavin gritted his teeth, a muscle jumping in his jaw. His gaze drilled into Trevor with the power of a tunnel-boring machine.

"He's joking," Jamie said.

Trevor moved closer to her, claiming her hand. "It's no joke. I want you back, Jamie. No one else has ever measured up to you, and no one ever will."

A wave of cold rushed over her, frosting her skin. Her scalp began to tingle, and she suddenly realized she'd stopped breathing. What in heaven's name was Trevor on about? Five years ago, he'd denounced her as a simple Scottish girl, not posh enough for a man with dreams of grandeur. Her love of the Highlands hadn't meshed with his need to conquer the big city. Her devotion to her family had gone against his desire to whisk her away to London where they'd live the high life together.

He hadn't asked if she wanted those things. He'd assumed she wouldn't go with him, and he hadn't cared about losing her. Since then, she'd realized he'd been right. If they'd really loved each other, they would've found a compromise, a way to merge their lives. He wanted things his way, and she wanted no part of the diamond-studded lifestyle he yearned to achieve.

Now, he turned up at a family Halloween party and announced he wanted her back. He crashed into her life with no warning — invited by her brother.

Jamie scanned the crowd, seeking Rory and Emery. Her brother was deep in conversation with Iain, but she caught Emery's gaze. The vivacious blonde waved to Jamie and glanced away. Jamie, mouth agape and eyes wide, flapped her hand until she recaptured Emery's attention.

Emery gave a sharp nod, rolled her shoulders back, and marched straight toward Jamie.

The kilt-wearing vampire slayer was coming to her rescue.

Her husband trailed after her appearing slightly amused and baffled at the same time. Rory often looked that way around his wife.

Trevor stared at Jamie. Gavin stared at Jamie.

She swallowed hard. All this attention from handsome men should've made her giddy, but instead it left her scratching her arms to chase away an itch that had no physical cause.

Emery wrapped an arm around Jamie, pulling her close in a protective embrace. "What's going on over here?"

"Nothing," Trevor said. "I was talking with Jamie and meeting her new friend."

"Friend?" Gavin all but snarled. "Listen here —"

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