Page 85 of Gift-Wrapped in a Kilt

The Scot relaxed into his chair. "I imagine you'll be talking to Rory next."

"Eventually."

"Remember, Rory engineered that rammy on Thanksgiving. He wouldn't tell me why, though I can guess. You might want to consider the possible reasons."

"I know."

Lachlan drummed his fingers on the table, his mouth slightly puckered, studying Gavin with an analytical gaze. "May I give you a word of advice?"

"Sure, why not."

"You need to make a commitment, for Jamie's sake."

"We're engaged."

"I meant a geographic commitment." Lachlan spread his hand on the tabletop. "Either ask her to move to America with you or commit to living in Scotland permanently."

"Oh, that." Gavin sat back, hands on his thighs. "I'm staying in Scotland. Decided that the day Jamie dumped me."

"I assume you have a visa."

"Didn't need a visa to visit the UK. I need one now?"

"Yes, you'll be needing a visa if you don't want to be deported." Lachlan pointed a finger at Gavin. "Best talk to a solicitor about that."

Gavin slumped his shoulders because he knew exactly what Lachlan would say next.

"We've got one in the family, you know."

"Thanks for the solid kick in the ass," Gavin said. "Point taken. I need to talk to Rory, about a lot of things."

His need for a visa gave him an excuse to talk to Rory. He could broach the subject of Jamie and whether he and Rory could ever become friends after that. Gavin would settle for being polite acquaintances with the guy. He didn't expect Rory MacTaggart to ever become his best bud.

Gavin rose, Lachlan did too, and they shook hands to say goodbye. Calli appeared then, with Sarah on her shoulder, like she'd been listening outside the kitchen doorway. Gavin couldn't believe his little sister would do that. She'd probably stopped by to see if the men had finished their confab yet. Gavin hugged Calli again, which made her giggle nervously. Well, he couldn't blame her. In all his adult life, he'd hugged her a grand total of twice, both times today.

Right then and there, he resolved to hug his sister more often. His niece too.

He tickled Sarah's tummy and kissed the top of her head.

After leaving Calli and Aidan's house, Gavin headed back to Iain's place to prepare the big surprise he had planned for tonight. For Jamie. To make up for everything and start fresh.

To show his future wife how much she meant to him.

And tomorrow, he'd tackle Rory.

Not literally. Probably.

*****

Jamie knocked on the door of the largest room at the Loch Fairbairn Arms. When no answer came, she knocked harder, rattling the wooden door. The knob featured an old-fashioned key lock, not an electronic keycard reader. This was Loch Fairbairn, not Inverness.

The door lock disengaged with a click, and the door eased open a few inches.

One of Gavin's eyes peered at her through the gap. "You're early."

"I'm fair sick of waiting in the lobby, listening to a ninety-year-old woman blethering about her gout."

"Lucky for you, I'm ready early." He scanned her up and down. "Where's the blindfold?"

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