Page 6 of Wild Scottish Beauty

“See? Wouldn’t that be nice? They could handle the phone calls, do intake forms, chat people up about what they want, and you’d only have to come out for measurements or whatever step of the process that you need to be there for.”

“It sounds like you’re implying that I’m not good at customer service, hen.”

“Um.” Sophie’s eyes darted to Lachlan’s, and she grit her teeth through a pained smile. “I wouldn’t say it’s your strong suit.”

“You just haven’t been around when I turn it on.” Pausing, I leaned over Sophie, putting one arm on the pool table behind her, and gave her a heavy-lidded look. Lowering my voice to a rasp, I moved a wee bit closer. “Is it a kilt you’reinterested in, darling? I’ve got some of the best fabrics in the world. Soft as silk against your naked skin.”

“Oh.” Sophie’s eyes widened and she fanned her face. “Matthew would faint.”

“That’s enough of that.” Lachlan hooked an arm through Sophie’s, pulling her away from me and shooting me a death glare. I bit back a smile, amused at Sophie’s response, hoping I’d thrown her off track.

“I think you need a new kilt,” Sophie said to Lachlan, dazed, and I chuckled, turning back to the pool table. Taking my shot, I won the game, causing Munroe to curse again as he handed me the winnings.

“I’m up next.” Lachlan stepped forward and put twenty quid on the table.

“Fine by me. I enjoy taking your money, you posh bastard,” I said, dropping twenty over his.

“Posh? Like Posh Spice?” Sophie asked, twirling a lock of her strawberry-blond hair around her finger, derailed from her mission. Munroe laughed, sidling over to the table to examine the snacks Sophie had brought in.

“Exactly like Posh Spice. High-maintenance yet oddly loveable.” Munroe gestured with a small mince pie in his hand.

“I am not high-maintenance,” Lachlan protested, furrowing his brows.

We all went silent, Sophie included, and Lachlan’s mouth dropped open. Whirling on Sophie, he put a hand on his hip, the very picture of an angry diva. “You think I’m high-maintenance?”

“Of course not, baby. You’re just temperamental.” Sophie patted his chest.

“Temperamental? Was I the one stomping my foot a moment ago when she didn’t get what she came in here for?”

“Yes, but I’m American. We’re very loud with our emotions.”

At that, I outright laughed, loving Sophie for Lachlan. They were entirely too well matched, and their banter was top shelf.

“Whereas us Scots like to have small explosions of our emotions through the day. Very understated we are,” Munroe agreed.

“Except for Ramsay, I hear.” Sophie turned, narrowing in on me again, and I sighed. She wouldn’t leave us in peace until she got her way. “Didn’t you make a customer storm out the other day?”

“He wanted polyester and for the kilt to be made by the end of the week. I don’t do fast fashion.”

“So you made him cry?”

“I did not. That’s just Loren Brae overexaggerating the gossip.” Okay, there had been one tear, but I wasn’t about to admit that to Sophie.

“Again, if you had an intern, you wouldn’t have to deal with people.”

I sighed, putting my pool cue against the table, and turned, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Out with it. Tell me what you want so I can kick lover boy’s arse at pool.”

“Not likely,” Lachlan grumbled.

“It’s a two-part request. First, I want to bring someone in to intern at your shop, a person with a fashion background, who will then also partner with you to create anexclusive line of kilts and other tartan accessories for MacAlpine Castle’s shop.”

The last part piqued my interest. I obviously wasn’t going to let her shove an intern in my shop, but I would be interested in designing for the castle. I’d grown up playing in its gardens, running through the halls with Lachlan, and watching as tourists fell in love with our history. It would be an honor to design for the gift shop, knowing tourists could take a small part of its history home with them.Even better, knowing that I’d created it.

“Now you have my attention.” I tapped a finger against my lips as I thought about it. “What kinds of gifts for the shop? Nothing tacky, I hope?”

“I’d leave that to you. Not only do we have historical apparel on display that you can take inspiration from, but we also have boxes of old clothes preserved in storage. I’m sure you could find some ideas there.”

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