Page 48 of Gift-Wrapped in a Kilt

Gavin felt oddly triumphant that Aidan didn't like Trevor. But he had to point out, "Rory seems to like the Sassenach."

Aidan gave him an analytical look as if he were sizing up Gavin. "Are you planning to let Rory decide who Jamie's with?"

"He's your brother. Aren't you on his side?"

"Not when Rory's being an eejit." Aidan plucked up a chip and consumed it swiftly. "Don't let it fash you. Emery will sort him out."

Emery. That woman had her nose deep in Gavin's business, but he couldn't muster any resentment about it. He liked Emery. Everyone did. Hard to dislike the only woman — the only person, period — who'd been able to reform the ogre of Dùndubhan. Rory may have lightened up a lot, but he still glared at Gavin at every opportunity.

Iain paused with a chip in his fingers, hovering it between his open lips. He wagged the chip at Aidan. "See what I mean? The tough-as-nails ex-Marine is afraid of Rory. It's terribly sad, isn't it?"

Aidan nodded with mock solemnity. "A shame to see a strong man crumble."

Gavin squashed his lips together and huffed a breath out his nostrils. "I am not crumbling, and I am not afraid of Rory. No way, no how."

"All right," Aidan said. "Go talk to him, then."

The food in Gavin's belly mutated into cold rocks. Not because he feared Rory, but because he feared the result of a confrontation with the man. If they couldn't work out their differences, Jamie would wind up hurt even worse than she was already.

Iain tapped a finger on the chip in his grasp. "Gavin's afraid of Rory, for certain, and he lets Jamie order him around like a slave."

"Very sad," Aidan concurred.

Gavin snatched up a chip and started ripping it up, the pieces fluttering down into the box. "What am I supposed to do? She doesn't want to talk to me about anything serious. She wants — well, it doesn't matter. We can't have a conversation because she won't listen."

Aidan scoffed. "If I'd given up because Calli told me to leave off, I wouldn't be married to her today."

"Why are you giving me advice? Jamie's your sister."

"And I should dislike you because of that?" Aidan chuckled. "I met you before you got involved with Jamie. I know you're not thebod ceannyou're acting like these days. Besides, my wife is your sister. Calli wouldn't like it if I declared war on her brother, now would she? You are Calli's hero, which means I have to be nice to you even if I think ye need a good skiting with a caber."

Calli's hero? Jesus, that was a pedestal he'd fallen off of years ago, when he'd left his baby sister to deal with the consequences of their parents' deaths.

Gavin tore off a chunk of fish and chomped it to mush in his mouth. At least Aidan didn't think he was abod ceann. That seemed like a good start to their… friendship, he supposed he'd call it. No matter what Emery said, he would not refer to this as a bromance.

One task remained for him to complete with Aidan. He got heartburn thinking about it, but the time had come to bite that bullet, even if it cracked his teeth. He set down his box of food and cleared his throat. "Aidan, I need to say something."

The other man paused with a chip raised halfway to his mouth.

"If it weren't for you," Gavin said, "Calli might still be hiding out in the woods afraid of getting arrested. You've been good for her and good to her. Thanks for that."

Aidan popped the chip into his mouth and ate it before saying, "She's done the same for me. No thanks necessary."

Gavin's phone vibrated. He pulled it out of his pocket and saw a new text message — from Jamie.

Excitement zipped through him as he read the message.My place @ 8, it said. Her place? That meant the castle owned by her brother.

Another message popped up.Rory and Emery left for Skye.

Every hair on his body sprang to attention. He'd have Jamie all to himself. Maybe he could convince her to give up this stupid sex-only plan. Maybe he could explain… what? The things he didn't understand himself?

He had to start somewhere. She'd invited him over, and he had to go.

See you then, he typed with one finger.

Jamie replied with an emoji of a winking smiley face.

Iain slapped Aidan's arm. "See how he types with one finger? This laddie's a closet Luddite, I think."

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