Page 71 of Long Live the King
And then they left.
I returned to Don. “You were right, they were totally checking up on me.”
I pulled the paper out of my pocket and laid it on the bar and pulled out my phone to key the number in: Kaitlyn Campbell (Lochie’s Sister)
Don said, “Why’d she give you her number?”
I shook my head. “I don’t really know. She said something strange about ‘if anything goes down, that’s weird.’ What does that mean, you think?”
Don shook his head. “I don’t know, that’s super strange.”
“Yeah, I agree. I asked if they were in the mob, they glanced at each other. Do you think he’s in the mob?”
“A Scottish mob? Not sure that’s a thing. But I do know Katie’s husband is very rich... he owns that big house down on the south end, you know?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe they’re just a close-knit family, is Lochie religious?”
“Yeah, he prayed before he ate my um... pie.”
“I bet he did.” Don laughed. “That explains it, they’re just religious.”
“Sure, yeah.”
“You’ll need to decide, do you like him enough to put up with the family?” He wandered away to fill a drink order.
I thought,I do, I do really like him enough,and put the phone in my pocket. Lochie flashed through my mind, his smoldering look when he would say,Aye, Mistress Ash,and my hand rubbing across his chest, the way he felt against my skin,the scent of his cologne... and the way he had looked when he pressed his thumb to mine and said, ‘...I will never beguile ye...’ I finished serving the last tables, wondering where he was and what he was doing now...
CHAPTER 30 - MAGNUS
RIAGHALBANE
Quentin, Lochinvar, and I strode intae m’mother’s office, with Haggis at m’heels. “Once again, ye winna deign tae meet in mine?”
Lady Mairead said, “Why would I, when mine is so much more comfortable, forme.” She kissed us each on our cheeks and gestured toward her sitting room. “Must the dog be here? Daena he want anything else tae do? He could be off doing dog things?”
“Nae, he prefers tae listen in on meetings.”
“Fine.”
She and I took chairs, Haggis sat at my feet, Quentin and Lochinvar sat on the couch.
I said, “So fill me in.”
“On what do you mean?”
“Ye haena come tae visit in a while, it usually means something is goin’ on.”
“No news is good news, I thought?”
“Tis not yer style — what is happening?”
“Nothing, not really, a lot of the usual, but... and I daena want tae worry ye, but there has been a challenge.”
“We hae never been stronger, tis ridiculous tae challenge us. Who is it, someone we hae heard of before?”
Quentin said, “I hate those cousins who just challenge you every year as if they are trying to build a name for themselves.”
