Page 84 of Gift-Wrapped in a Kilt

The conversation lasted eighteen minutes. Gavin timed it with his watch. He'd expected his efforts to take longer. He'd also expected Lachlan to act like Rory, standoffish and kind of hostile, but instead he acted more like Aidan. Lachlan watched Gavin with a slight smile on his lips, one arm resting on the table, one foot propped up on the other knee. He sat like that for several seconds — several silent, interminable seconds — before Gavin realized he'd have to start the conversation.

Duh. He'd asked for this, which made it his responsibility to start things off.

"First off," Gavin said, "I'd like to apologize for not being real friendly. It's totally my fault I haven't gotten along better with you and Aidan and Rory. I'm sorry."

Lachlan's brows lifted. "You're claiming full responsibility?"

"I am. Yes."

"Apology not accepted."

"Wha —" Gavin glanced around like he might figure Lachlan out by studying the air molecules in the kitchen. What did he have to do to make nice with this guy? Stay calm, that's what, and let the Scot torture him for as long as it took. Gavin sighed and leaned back in his chair. "Fine, I deserve that. I'm an ass."

Lachlan chuckled. "I'm not accepting your apology because you have no need to apologize. We're all to blame here, Gavin. Aidan always liked and admired you, though I doubt he'd ever admit that to you. Rory and I, on the other hand, weren't particularly welcoming when you visited Scotland for the first time for Aidan and Calli's wedding."

Yeah, Gavin remembered the way Rory had glared at him the entire time. Lachlan had introduced himself and his wife and baby son but otherwise had ignored Gavin. Things hadn't gotten better after that. Like Emery had pointed out, Gavin hung back during family gatherings. He didn't talk to anybody except to exchange pleasantries.

"It was my responsibility," Gavin said, "to try to fit in with your family. I screwed the pooch on that one, didn't I?"

"We all bollocksed things. Our wise American wives set us straight."

"You mean Emery meddled and got Erica and Calli roped into it too."

Lachlan chuckled again. "Aye, that's the way of it."

"Iain got sucked into it too. Guess Emery's got your whole family wrapped around her little finger. That woman's got nerves of steel."

"Which is why she's the only one who could ever get through to Rory," Lachlan said. "And that is why we all adore Emery, and why we let her meddle in our lives. She's headstrong, but she has a heart of pure, twenty-four karat gold."

"So does Jamie."

"Emery and Jamie are alike in many ways." Lachlan paused, his smile flattening out. "Jamie is different in one important way. She had three overprotective brothers interfering in her life. When she was a wee bairn, she needed us to look after her. Jamie's matured into a fine woman, and we haven't been willing to accept she doesn't need us anymore. Not in the same way, at least. I think we've stifled her, but the consequences didn't reveal themselves until she met you."

Gavin had no idea what to say to that, so he kept quiet and let Lachlan go on.

"Aidan was always Jamie's best friend, her confidante," Lachlan said. "But Rory and I were the ones who took on the task of protecting her. I was fifteen when she was born. I was at university when she started school. Rory was four years behind me, and our age difference with Jamie made us view her as a bairn always, even when she'd grown up and graduated university. What started out as protectiveness turned into two overbearing brothers who couldn't accept their little sister had become a capable, intelligent woman."

"I get that. My sister is eight years younger, and I've always been protective of her. Didn't like it when she took up with Aidan."

Lachlan nodded. "But you made the effort to become friends with him. Rory and I haven't done the same with you." He shifted in his chair, clearing his throat. "I had a talk with Jamie yesterday. She told me how Trevor treated her when they were together. I had no idea the bastard had made her so unhappy, but when she told me about it, I realized Rory and I are partly to blame. We smothered her with our protection. She never needed to stand up for herself, and so she let another overbearing man trample her."

Jesus, was that what Jamie had done? Gavin hadn't thought about it in those terms. Hearing about Trevor had made him want to deck the guy repeatedly, pummel him to a bloody pulp, grind his face into the ground until he choked on dirt. But he hadn't considered the possibility Jamie had been afraid to stand up to Trevor. Gavin had always seen Jamie as a bright light, glowing from within, strong enough to stay cheerful no matter what. How could he not have seen her fears?

Oh, he should've guessed. Jamie had never complained about their intercontinental relationship, not until he'd delivered the worst prelude to a proposal in the history of the world. Only then had Jamie asserted herself and informed him she was sick and tired of their jet-lagged relationship.

Lachlan looked Gavin straight in the eye. "You accomplished what none of us ever allowed to happen. You got Jamie to stand up to Rory. When my brother gave his outrageous performance at Thanksgiving dinner, Jamie called him a bleeding bawbag and she meant it."

"She called me a bawbag too."

"Jamie may have said bawbags, plural, but she was speaking to Rory exclusively. I've never heard her shout at anyone, much less express so much anger and passion." Lachlan pointed a finger at Gavin. "And she did it for you."

She had. God, watching Jamie lambaste her brother, her cheeks pink from the intensity of her emotions, the sight had taken Gavin's breath away. She was incredible, and she was his.

He rested his arms on the table and leaned in. "I'd like us to be friends. Not just for Jamie, but for Calli too. Is that possible?"

Lachlan held out a hand. "Consider it done."

Gavin shook Lachlan's hand. "Thanks, man, I appreciate that."

---