Page 13 of Christmas Secrets

Ainsley tossed her head and stood up as well, a sense of disappointment flicking through her. She didn’t want Dal’s attention, his reputation as a player was well known. So why should it bother her if he gave up on her?

“I said I didn’t do it on purpose. It doesn’t matter anyway, I’m only here fer a few more weeks,” she replied stiffly.

Darro walked around his desk. “The least ye can do is apologize fer nearly running him over,” he ordered softly.

Recognizing that steely tone, she nodded. “Aye, I’ll do that.” Her brother’s threat about the cheeseboard wasn’t lost on her. Worse yet, she knew he’d do it too. Better to just grasp at the apology and let the attitude go. Besides, she really did owe Dal an apology. A tiny part of her was looking forward to actually speaking to him but she tried to squash the thought. She had a boyfriend waiting back in Boston who was treating her like a princess and she really liked him. Maybe even enough to marry him one day. And he would never threaten to spank her either. That comment of Dal’s had made her furious.

In the states they didn’t have the same attitude as these highland men, thank heavens. She loved being in Boston. She and Thomas hadn’t talked about marriage, but if they did marry, she’d probably stay in the states. He always said he wanted to travel to Scotland though. Maybe he’d fall in love with it and want to set up his lawyer’s practice in Inverness. It could happen.

Maybe.

Until then it was her secret. No sense in getting her family upset when nothing was set in stone. She knew for a fact that her protective brother wouldn’t approve of her living in the states so far away from home. And she didn’t feel like arguing with him for the short time she was here.

She turned and followed Darro out of the study and down the hallway to the kitchen. Lunch duty beckoned. It was already 11:30 a.m. It had taken the last hour and a half to get the snowmobile put away, the kids calmed down, and setting them up with something to entertain them before enduring Darro’s lecture. They would all be wanting some lunch shortly.

In the cheerful kitchen, Lucerne stood at the counter pouring herself a cup of tea while she held the baby over one shoulder. He was sound asleep, his tiny little mouth slightly open and his lips pursed against her shoulder on the burp towel.

Darro walked over to her and carefully took his son. “Let me hold him while ye relax with yer tea. He should be down fer his nap, shouldn’t he? If ye hold him all the time, he won’t want to sleep alone,” he scolded softly as he nestled the tiny babe on his broad shoulder.

“I need to walk a little bit according to yer uncle,” she replied with a small scowl. “Plus, I’m hungry and was looking fer something to eat and I didn’t want to leave him alone.”

“Have a seat and I’ll whip up some grilled ham and cheese sandwiches,” Ainsley piped up. “The tomato soup is already on warm on the back of the stove.”

“Sounds heavenly,” Lucerne enthused. “Thank ye, Ainsley.”

Ainsley placed all the fixings for the sandwiches on the counter and heated up the grill that covered two burners. “How many does everyone want?” she asked, throwing some butter on the grill.

Angus appeared in the doorway of the back entry. “I’ll have at least two of whatever ye’re fixin’,” he ordered, blowing on his fingers. His cheeks and nose were red from the cold and he was in his sock feet having left his outerwear in the utility room by the back door.

“That’s a given, Angus,” she replied with a chuckle.

“Dal will be in shortly. I helped him with the north pasture sheep since the wind is pickin’ up. It’s gettin’ colder than a witch’s behind out there.” He sniffed the air appreciatively.

Ainsley nodded but her heart rate suddenly picked up. It was normal for Dal to eat most meals with them, especially when the roads were more difficult to traverse, but the pending apology she was required to make had her nerves on edge. Would he still be angry with her? When she heard the back door open and shut, she focused on the sandwiches she was toasting and refused to look at the doorway.

“There ye are, lad,” Angus boomed. “Took ye long enough.”

“I had to get the snowmobile put away. It had some ice stuck near the intake fan,” Dal replied.

Ainsley stole a furtive glance at Dal. He was standing in the doorway brushing some ice and snow out of his messy blond hair. Stocking caps had a tendency to make your hair stand on end when you took them off. He was smiling that lazy, easy grin at Angus and the rest of the table.

She couldn’t take her eyes off the muscles clearly delineated in the form-fitting cream thermal shirt with the long sleeves pushed up. She had to admit, Thomas wasn’t nearly as muscular as Dal, but then they led two different lives.

Her eyes traveled down the tight jeans and over the muscles the denim was hugging and then back up to where she realized he was watching her. The smile was no longer there and he just nodded at her as he walked to the bench table and sat down.

Ainsley could feel her cheeks turn pink. “How many grilled cheeses would ye like, Dal?” Her voice was hoarse and she had to clear her throat to fully get the question out.

He glanced at her with a serious expression. The easy smile he’d always shot her way before was still hiding. “Two, please,” he asked with stiff formality. Then he went back to smiling at the others, and especially at the baby.

The rest of lunch was awkward. Ainsley tried to act as if everything was normal and no one else seemed to notice Dal’s change of attitude except her. He was polite to her when necessary, but that was it. The expressiongiving someone the cold shouldertook on a whole new meaning. How was she supposed to apologize when he was acting like this?

As soon as Dal finished his soup and sandwiches, he turned to Angus. “So, I’m off fer the afternoon, right?”

Angus nodded. “That’s right, lad.”

“I’ll be heading into town then,” he replied. “I doubt I’ll be back fer supper.” He unfolded himself from the bench seat and picked up his paper plate.

“Got a hot date?” Darro teased.

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