Page 72 of Wild Scottish Rose

Eyes gleamed at me from a dark corner of the restaurant, making it hard for me to focus on the conversation. Every time I looked into the shadows, I could have sworn I was seeing eyes. Finally, I grew so flustered that I knew I had to talk to Lia.

I smiled at Owen before our dessert arrived and said, “Do you mind if I quickly pop through to the kitchen to tell Lia how great this has all been? I’d invite you, but I’m not sure if I can get away with bringing a guest into her kitchen.”

“No problem. I have a few quick emails to respond to anyway.” Owen pulled out his phone, and I caught a quick glimpse of the missed calls before he swiped the notifications away.

“Be right back. I won’t be long.”

“Take your time. Tell her this was delicious.”

I threaded my way through the tables, smiling at people I knew, my heart hammering in my chest. By the time I got to the kitchen, I was relieved to see there was a lull inservice, and Lia was taking a sip of wine at the butcherblock countertop.

“Shona! Don’t you look pretty?” Lia gave me a quick hug, and I pulled back, smiling at the bonnie American. She had her curls tucked under a bandana, apron on, her skin was flushed a pretty pink from the stove and a sparkly grasshopper pendant shone at her neck.

“Thank you. Dinner was fabulous, seriously out of this world. I can’t believe it has taken me so long to properly eat here.”

“It’s only been a few months since we’ve opened.” Lia laughed. “It’s fine.”

“Um, can I talk to you for a moment?” I shot a nervous look over her shoulder at the other people in the kitchen.

“Sure, come with me. Back in a minute,” Lia called to her team. A chorus of, “Yes, Chef!” met her words. Lia laughed and shook her head. “They’ve all been watching The Bear.”

“I don’t know it.” I rarely got a chance to watch television these days. Lia pulled me into an expansive pantry and crossed her arms.

“An American cooking drama. Kind of. Anyway, what’s up? You look flustered. Is it your date? I got a look at him. He’s hot. He’s the film producer, right?”

There were no secrets in Loren Brae.

“Yeah, and he’s asking questions. He wants to film the Kelpies.” I pinched my nose as Lia’s eyes widened. “I know, I know, I’m not telling him about it.”

“Why not?” Lia asked.

“Are you kidding me? Agnes would be livid. She’s worried he’ll expose us to the world.”

“Do you think he will?”

Did I? Knowing him now, I wasn’t so sure.

“I don’t know.”

“So? Be honest with him. I mean, listen, at any time anyone can see the Kelpies. We can’t hide it forever. If it happens, it happens.”

That wasn’t what I had come in here to talk about, but it did soothe some of the worries I had. Maybe I needed to stop using Agnes as a sounding board and just trust my own gut.

“I’ll think about it. Hey, not to be like weird or anything, but I keep seeing eyes in a dark corner. Is that…like is that your kitchen elf that Sophie told me about?”

“Brice, yes. Was he causing problems?” Lia whirled, hands on hips. “Brice!”

“No, no, no.” I put my hands in the air. “I was just wondering. Because I could see him.”

“Most people can’t. Unless he lets himself be seen. That’s his way of acknowledging who you are. As part of the Order.” Lia smiled, squeezing my arm, and lifted her chin toward a corner. Where it had once been empty, now a wee man sat, in overalls and a red cap.

“Brice, this is Shona.”

My eyes widened. You’d think I would have accepted seeing magickal beings, what with the gnomes and all, but still it shocked me to see a broonie.

“Pleased to meet you, Brice.” He chattered something indecipherable up at me and then winked out of sight.

I blew out a breath. And then dragged another one in. Imean, I was getting used to this whole magick thing, but truly, it was kind of wild.

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