Page 31 of Long Live the King

“Then go talk tae her, talk about what men hae always talked tae with lasses all through history. The weather.”

Fraoch laughed. “And if ye run out of weather conversation tell her she is beautiful.”

I opened the door, climbed from the truck, and said through the window, “Talk of the weather and tell her she is bonny, daena talk of the arena, just be m’self, yet not a braggart, and daena speak of home as twill be confusin’.”

Fraoch and Magnus chuckled.

Fraoch said, “Tis simple.”

Magnus said, “Aye, tis… tis simply meeting a maiden, men hae been doin’ it through time. This is what Kaitlyn meant, ye hae it within ye, daena listen tae the rest of us.”

I said, “Call me as soon as ye ken of James and Sophie’s bairn.”

“We will.”

***

I headed tae the door and entered.

Twas less crowded than the night before. I glanced around and dinna see her at first, but then I spotted her across the room. She was waiting on a table, talking and laughing with the men there. I felt a pang of jealousy but then her eyes rose and fell on me, her smile was enchanting, and she crossed tae me. “Hi Lochie, you came!”

“Aye…“ I took her hand, bowed, and kissed her knuckles.

“Oh, wow, that’s… um…you want to come sit at the bar?”

I nodded and she led me there. I sat upon a stool and ordered an ale from the bartender, while she excused herself to rush around from table tae table. I sat at the bar and pretended not tae watch her. The bartender asked, “You friends with Ash?”

“Aye.”

He chuckled. “Does her boyfriend know?’

Ash walked up then, put her tray on the counter, and said, “Phew, that was a rush, but after that order I can hang out for a moment.” She looked from my face tae the bartender’s. “What are you boys talking about? Lochie, did you and Don meet?”

“Aye, we did.” Don and I shook hands across the bar.

Don jerked his head back, and asked Ash, “I was just asking your new friend here if he had met your boyfriend.”

She said, “Buck and I aren’t together anymore, and why don’t you butt out, Don?”

He grinned. “Not really my style. Also, come on, Ash, he’s got an accent, he’s not from around here. You want him to know about your boyfriend before Buck unleashes his wrath on a tourist.”

I shrugged. “I am nae usually concerned about a man’s wrath, I can handle m’self.”

Don raised his brow at Ash.

She huffed and turned her attention tae me. “Lochie, I had a boyfriend,but…” She gave Don an irritated look, then resumed, “I broke up with him, we broke up months ago, there is no reason why?—”

Don’s eyes drew up to the door. “Uh oh.”

Ash followed his eyes and turned pale.

A large bearded man, wearin’ leather strolled in.

I glanced back at Ash. “Tis him?”

She nodded. “I need to go speak to him, hold on.”

She stalked over toward him and they looked immediately adversarial, but the music was so loud I couldna make out their loud whisperin’.

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