Page 44 of Gift-Wrapped in a Kilt

Would anyone love Jamie that much? Gavin couldn't even commit to one continent for her. Though he was staying in Scotland for now, he'd said nothing about staying for good — or asking her to move to America.

Rory cleared his throat. "I shouldn't have brought Trevor here. I'm sorry."

Jamie pushed away from the wall. "Rory MacTaggart apologizing to his little sister? Are unicorns dancing on the lawn too?"

He lifted his gaze to the ceiling and sighed. "These American wives of ours are a bad influence on the MacTaggart women."

"Are you claiming I was a wallflower before I met Erica, Calli, and Emery?"

Though his mouth opened, he seemed unable to produce words. His eyebrows cinched together over his nose.

"Well?" she said, bouncing up onto her toes. "Did you think I was a wuss-face before they showed up?"

She liked using an Emery word, "wuss-face." Her sister-in-law had a wonderfully colorful vocabulary, and the way it stymied Rory was a bonus.

"I — no — that's not —" He glanced around desperately as if praying his wife would turn up to rescue him.

Jamie laughed and slapped his chest with the back of her hand. "That's what you get for inviting my ex-fiancé to the Halloween party. It's the MacTaggart tradition of harassing each other."

Rory relaxed, nodding in relief. "Aye, it is. And I deserved that one."

"Yes, you did."

He rubbed his jaw. "I am sorry, Jamie. Emery's right, I'm a knucklehead."

Jamie pinched his arm so lightly he didn't even flinch. "We love you anyway."

Rory pulled a face. He started to speak, but something past Jamie's shoulder caught his attention and he went rock-still for a moment.

A wide and exuberant grin stretched his lips tight and exposed his teeth. His eyes sparkled.

Jamie turned sideways to Rory to see what he was looking at, beaming at, though she already knew the answer. Emery had walked into the vestibule, her arms laden with a cardboard box full of snack-food items.

Rory's wife grinned at him exactly the way he grinned at her.

Jamie's gut churned. They adored each other and weren't ashamed to let everyone see it. Had anyone ever adored Jamie that way? Maybe Gavin did, but his unnamed issues wouldn't let him show it. He might never behave the way her brothers did toward their wives because Gavin wasn't the sort to gush and moon.

Rory rushed to Emery and plucked the box from her arms. He pressed his mouth to hers for a sweet, lingering kiss that made Jamie's skin go cold.

She wasn't jealous of her brother and his wife. She wasn't. That would be childish.

"Are we ready?" Rory asked Emery.

"Yep," his wife said. She glanced to Jamie and gave her that mischievous smile. "Have fun while we're gone."

Fun? Jamie struggled to keep her shoulders from slumping. The next three weeks would be anything but enjoyable.

When had she lost her positive outlook? It had probably flown away on Rory's jet the last time it transported Gavin back to America.

Emery squeezed Rory's bicep, raising her eyebrows as she gave him an appreciative smile. When she ambled out the vestibule door, Rory followed.

He paused near Jamie. In a grave tone, he said, "Stay out of my office and the third floor."

The third and highest floor housed Rory and Emery's bedroom. What did he think Jamie was going to do in there?Silly man.

She saluted and clicked her heels together. "Aye-aye, sir."

He shook his head, smiling slightly, and left.

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