Page 18 of Gift-Wrapped in a Kilt

"What's funny?" Calli asked.

"Nothing," Jamie said. She took one last look at herself in the mirror. "Am I ready now?"

"You are," all three sisters-in-law said in unison.

Calli and Erica headed back up the stairs.

Emery crooked her arm around Jamie's waist and led her to the door. "Don't worry. This is a great plan. Well, the part about driving Gavin nuts with your sexiness. I'm still not on board with your other idea." At the doorway, Emery gave Jamie's bottom a light slap. "Be yourself and have a good time, okay? I'll go up first, so you can make your entrance."

Jamie nodded, suddenly unable to speak. Her throat had gone dry and tight.

Emery headed up the stairs.

Hauling in a deep breath, Jamie ascended the steps one by one, careful to plant each stiletto-clad foot firmly on the next step before raising the other foot. She gripped the handrails as she went, afraid she might tumble back down into the bedroom if she let go.

The music grew louder and then segued into a slow, sensual tune.

Jamie halted in the doorway to the long gallery. The room occupied the entire second floor, save for the other bedroom attached to the far end. Shimmering metallic balls hung from the high ceiling, their facets glinting as the balls twirled slowly. The night sky appeared inky and fathomless outside the tall windows lining one wall, though the first stars twinkled amid the darkness. Guests and family milled about in the gallery, stealing snacks from the buffet table, dancing in pairs, chatting in small groups. Most of the people here tonight were MacTaggarts — Jamie's siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, and sisters-in-law, not to mention her parents. The others were family friends invited by her three brothers and two sisters.

Catriona and Fiona caught sight of Jamie and waved, their smiles broadening.

Jamie smiled back but couldn't move enough muscles to wave. Her body had turned to stone as if she'd become a Greek statue.

Don't be a coward, she admonished herself.Go find him.

She wended her way along the periphery of the dance floor, glancing around, searching for Gavin.

A man in a tuxedo bent over the buffet table, studying the offerings.

Jamie's heart stuttered. It was Gavin.

She'd seen him in regular suits before, at the weddings for her brothers, but never in a tuxedo. The impeccably tailored suit clung to his muscular physique without seeming too tight. The ultra-black color of the pants, jacket, and bow tie contrasted with the pure white of his shirt, lending the whole outfit an ultra-chic look. Shiny black shoes completed the ensemble. His brown hair was slicked back with a hint of a glossy sheen.

Her tummy fluttered, her heart too.

Gavin Douglas, a man who preferred jeans and T-shirts and only endured formal wear when he was required to, had donned the couture elegance of a prince or a billionaire or… James Bond. That's what Erica had almost said. The ex-Marine had transformed into the sexiest, hottest James Bond she'd ever seen.

Jamie laid a hand over her belly. Lower down, sensations stirred — hot, wet sensations. No sex for three months, except for that brief encounter a few days ago, had turned her into a lust-drunk wanton.

But only for him.

He hadn't seen her yet, focused on the buffet selections.

She longed to sashay over to him, stun him with a sexy ice-breaker of the sort Emery excelled at, but her body was paralyzed again. Jamie sought out Emery with her gaze, finding her sister-in-law at the far end of the room alongside Rory. Their gazes connected, and Emery's lips tightened into a sympathetic little smile.

Jamie tried for a pathetically desperate expression, and it must've worked.

Emery mouthed, "Wait there."

Then she marched straight to Gavin.

Chapter Nine

Gavin picked up a finger sandwich, scrutinized the thin slices of cucumber inside it, then plunked the sandwich down again. Didn't they have any manly food here? With all these testosterone-laden MacTaggarts gathered in this ginormous room, the crowd must've been clamoring for real food. Red meat. A T-bone steak. Hell, he'd settle for bacon.

"The real food is on the other side of the room."

Gavin started, whirling toward the woman who'd spoken to him.

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