Page 5 of Wild Scottish Beauty

Sophie screwed up her face and sighed, her shoulders slumping.

“No. But …”

“Then, no, my charity of choice is not going to be upset about a fictional amount of money that they’ve lost out on.”

“I suggest you just get to the point, darling, before Munroe wins this game. You’re distracting Ramsay.”

“Please, distract away, Sophie. I haven’t won a game yet today and money is on the table.” Munroe, owner of Common Gin and likely able to buy all of us several times over, grinned at Sophie.

“If I must.” Sophie sidled closer, her eyes huge as she planted herself in front of me. Sighing, I straightened, holding my pool cue, and looked down at her. She fluttered her eyelashes. Despite my annoyance, my lips quirked.

“What do you want?” I asked, knowing she wouldn’t leave until she said her piece.

“Have I told you how much I love your shop? The kilts you make are…” Sophie leaned in, widening her eyes, and stage whispered, “better than cheese.”

I looked to Lachlan in disbelief. “Is that meant to be a compliment?”

“The highest form of flattery, no doubt.”

“Is it a kilt you’re wanting for Lachlan then, lass? I’ve no trouble making one for a friend,” I said, the tension easing from my shoulders. That was an easy enoughwish to fulfill.

“Oh, well, now that you mention it, I wouldn’t mind getting him a new one.”

“I have plenty of kilts, Sophie,” Lachlan said.

“But we ripped that one when we were out by the stables the other day…”

I snorted and Munroe coughed, covering a laugh.

“Must not have been a Ramsay kilt then. Ours are made of the highest quality. Meant to last through battle, lass.”

“Oh…” Sophie’s lips rounded as her eyes went to Lachlan. “Through battle, you say?”

“Darling, I don’t want Ramsay to skewer you with a pool cue.” Sophie shook her head, returning to her attempt to charm me into whatever it was that she wanted.

Which she would likely get because from what I’d learned so far, Sophie was an incredibly determined woman. She’d inherited MacAlpine Castle a little under a year ago, and in that time, she’d managed to not only neatly step into the role of owner, but she’d done innumerable good deeds for Loren Brae and a cracking marketing campaign to draw new tourists to the castle. She also managed to put up with Lachlan, and he’d never been happier, so that was extra points in my book for the lovely American who now danced around whatever she was trying to wheedle out of me.

“I do love a good skewering,” I said.

“Oh right, okay, soooooo, I couldn’t help but notice how busy your shop is, yet you don’t have any help.”

“No.” The last thing I needed was someone in my shop chattering at me all day long.

“You can’t keep doing business the way you are. I heardyou turned the sign to closed for a parking lot full of customers.”

“And?”

“Ramsay! That’s a horrible business decision.”

“Those same customers came back the next day, didn’t they?”

“What are you? Playing hard to get with your kilts?”

“It’s a VIP experience.” I bent and took the shot, since it seemed Sophie wasn’t leaving anytime soon. Munroe swore under his breath as I pocketed the ball and straightened.

“It’s bad for business. If you had an intern, you’d be able to work on the kilts and they could handle the customer service. Just think…you wouldn’t have to talk to people anymore.”

That had me pausing. I tilted my head as I considered it.

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