Page 34 of Gift-Wrapped in a Kilt

"Thank heaven for small mercies." Gavin rubbed his neck again, which suddenly ached whenever he thought about the herculean task of getting buddy-buddy with the brothers. "I'm never gonna be besties with these guys, but I guess I could try harder to make peace."

"Start with Aidan. He's predisposed to accept you, since he's married to your sister. Being nice to you makes his wife happy, and we both know how much Aidan cares about keeping Calli satisfied."

Gavin couldn't deny it. "Aidan has made Calli happier than I've ever seen her. And he'd do anything for her and baby Sarah. I have to give him props for that."

"There's your starting point."

"For what?"

Emery chuckled. "Getting into Aidan's good graces."

Gavin was supposed to tell Aidan MacTaggart he appreciated the way the Scot treated his sister and niece. Sounded easy.

The knot in Gavin's stomach belied that assumption.

He would try. No, he would do it. Whatever he needed to do, however much he had to humiliate himself in the process, he would make peace with the three Macs to please Jamie.

Then and only then might he have a shot in hell of getting her back.

Chapter Thirteen

Emery

I found my husband in his office, the old library attached to the castle tower. Rory reclined in his leather executive chair with it tipped back slightly, his feet on the desk with his ankles crossed, hands folded over his belly. When I walked into the room, his gaze swiveled from the tall windows to me.

He had the good sense to look guilty.

Swinging his feet off the desk, he straightened and coughed. "Emery, I —"

"You've been hiding from me," I said as I tromped around the desk to drop my butt onto his lap. "It's okay. I know you're a recovering uptightness addict. A few slips now and then are to be expected."

He relaxed into the chair and slipped an arm around my waist.

"I may be forgiving you for avoiding me all day," I said, turning sideways in his lap to loop my arms around his neck, "but you're still on the hook for the Trevor thing."

"Trevor thing?" He adopted a look of pure innocence.

"You know what I'm talking about." I leaned in to stare straight into his amber eyes. "Why did you invite Trevor to the Halloween party?"

"He rang me to ask if I'd help him with the legal issues surrounding his purchase of an old distillery." Rory averted his gaze to the desk. "I told him I don't have time. He accepted that answer, but then he asked after Jamie. I may have suggested he come to the party to catch up with her."

"Catch up?" I leaned in more, our noses bumping. "Are you trying to drive a wedge between Jamie and Gavin? Do you even know why she and Trevor broke up? What did you hope to accomplish with this little invitation of yours?"

"Mhac na ghalla, Emery, I was being friendly." He cast me a mulish sidelong glance. "You keep insisting I should be more welcoming."

"Swearing at me in Gaelic won't help. You're the one who decided bringing Jamie's ex to the party was the perfect way to start your friendliness campaign."

"Jamie always said they parted ways amicably. I thought she'd like to see an old friend."

I groaned. "Honey, I know you meant well. But this was a truly knuckleheaded idea."

My husband bristled. "I am not a knucklehead."

"Oh, Rory baby." I stroked his cheek. "All men are knuckleheads on occasion. It's one of the defining traits of manhood."

His lips twisted into a wry smile. "I think I should be insulted, but given my transgression, I feel the irritating need to apologize."

"Yes, apologize to Jamie."

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