Page 63 of Scotch & Shortbread

“Does your wife have long blond hair?” she suddenly asked.

He looked dumbfounded. “Violet? Aye, she does. Why do ye ask?”

“I saw a picture with you and her, although I didn’t know it at the time.” She couldn’t believe Alex hadn’t just been straight with her. Why would he let her think it was him in the photo? And then it occurred to her. It was a wall that he could use to keep her at bay. It stung. Just one more barrier he’d try to use to keep her away.

“Come on, lass. Let’s go have a blether,” Lachlan said gently.

“Excuse me? A what?” Quinn said, wondering what the heck he meant, but there was a kindness in his eyes that made her think he meant no harm.

Lachlan chuckled. “A blether, a chat, lass. In the pub.” He gestured towards the inn’s restaurant.

“Oh right.” She wasn’t sure it was the best idea given the state of her heart. God, before everything went wrong with Alex, Quinn would have jumped at the chance to get to know his family.

Everything felt so different now though. She wasn’t sure what to think, but there was no way her curiosity would allow her to decline Lachlan’s invite.

They sat by the window with a view of the festive street and people bustling by. Oddly enough, this was only the second time Quinn had been in the inn’s restaurant. The first time was with her girls, and that felt like a lifetime ago now. The very last thing she expected was to be here with Alex’s twin brother.

“It’s truly so lovely to meet ye, Quinn,” Lachlan said with a disarming smile.

Hmm, he definitely came across as nicer than his brother. She smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to say to him, and she was oddly grateful when the server showed up at their table.

“Hi, my name is Brittney.” Quinn didn’t miss Brittney’s once-over of Lachlan, not that she could blame the girl. She almost laughed. “I’ll be your server. What can I get you to start?” Her eyes landed squarely on Lachlan.

“Scotch?” he offered, looking at Quinn expectantly as if he hadn’t even noticed Brittney batting her lashes.

Quinn surprised herself with a nod in the affirmative. She could use a stiff drink.

“Two Taliskers, please. Neat.”

“Uh, I don’t think we have that.”

“Och, right. Well, how ‘boot an Oban then?”

Brittany shook her head no.

Realizing it may be a lost cause Lachlan finally said, “Well whatever single malt ye huv would be lovely, lass.”

Brittany blushed, naturally charmed by the handsome Scot. Quinn tried not to smile. The Mackenzie twins were seriously good-looking. Although one seemed a little more charming than the other…

“For sure.” She smiled brightly at him. “I’ll see what I can find for you.” Lachlan watched as Brittany turned and headed for the bar, and Quinn could see the doubt in his eyes.

“Well, as long as we get some kind o’ whisky at the very least,” he muttered, turning back to Quinn.

She smiled lightly at him, wondering if all Scots took their scotch so seriously or if it was just the Mackenzie clan.

“Alex was here earlier, too, but he got a work call and left in a hurry,” he said. “I assume it was something important.”

Quinn just nodded. She didn't know what to think.

“Alex had come to see ye,” he explained.

Quinn looked up at him. “Why?” she asked bluntly not even noticing the uncomfortable expression on Lachlan’s face. After the way things ended with them, she was surprised he wanted to see her at all. God, for all she knew, she'd left something at his place, and he was just getting his brother to deliver it.

“Well, I suspect ’tis better if he talks to ye about that himself,” Lachlan said gently, right as Brittany flounced up to the table, bringing them their drinks. “Jamison’s Irish Whisky.” She grinned, clearly pleased with herself for managing to find him a whisky.

Lachlan gave her a gracious smile. After confirming they didn't need anything else, she walked away. Lachlan took a sip and said, “’Tis no’ a single malt. No’ even scotch.” He shook his head, sniffing at it. “But will huv to do I suppose.”

That made Quinn smile, and she recalled thinking that Alex was Irish when he had given her that stupid ticket the day they met. It seemed so long ago now.

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