Page 30 of Loyally, Luke
Nessa’s smile bloomed. And, to be honest, Ellie’s did too. After spending such an extended time in Crieff and the North Country, she’d fallen in love with these people, their welcome, and their many skills passed down through generations. Whether from their clannish history or more old-fashioned ways, they’d embraced her without ceremony.
And she’d truly grown into their patron in both heart and position.
“There’s such a heritage of handcrafts in these mountains, Luke. From overhearing you and Gordon, it sounds as if the people where you live aren’t too different from those of us in Crieff. Using the earth to create beautiful things. Keeping to our heritage, if we can.” Nessa raised a finger as if coming up with an idea. “You’ve not toured Crieff, have you?”
“Only seen a few shops yet,” Luke answered. “But I think I found—”
“Ellie, you should give him a proper tour of the village, especially since he’ll be staying here for some time.”
Ellie looked from Luke to Nessa, attempting to send a mental message of how bad an idea that was. “I don’t think he needs—”
“He’ll find the people friendlier and most apt to help him if he comes along with you.” The twinkle in her eyes deepened. “Everyone’s a wee bit suspicious of strangers here, you ken.”
“Sounds like home to me,” Luke said, laughing. “We’ve got a whole lot of Scottish heritage in my part of the world. Folks will be friendly enough to point you in the right direction, but they’re not quick to trust.”
“Then it’s all settled.” Nessa nudged Ellie’s arm back toward theway she’d come. “You take Luke here on a wee tour of the village, and by the time you get back I’ll have some bacon batties, scones, and tea ready for you.”
Luke narrowed his eyes for only a second as he looked at Ellie, likely for an interpretation.
With another not-so-subtle nudge or two, along with a farewell of “Now you two enjoy yourselves,” Ellie found herself outside the shop with Luke at her side.
“You don’t have to take me on a tour. I’m sure I can find my own way.”
“Are you truly suggesting I defy one of the most powerful matriarchs of Crieff?”
His grin split wide and somehow inspired her own. “Yep, this sounds a whole lot like home.”
“You have terrifying small-town matriarchs there too, do you?”
He leaned in, one brow raised in a playful way, causing her breath to stumble the slightest bit. “And there’s no crossing them, so you just do as you’re told.”
She cleared her throat and drew back. “Exactly.”
He shoved his hands back down into his jeans and blinked a few times, as if a little uncomfortable too. Clearly, he’d not meant any sort of flirtation. He’d just responded as if... as if they were friends.
Her intentions congealed around that thought.
And why not be friendly? She had no design to date him. The relationship couldn’t go anywhere because she was determined to keep to the plan—earn back her parents’ trust, and if she married, he would be Skymarian. Simple.
But friendships didn’t have the same expectations.
She gestured with her head toward the steps and he followed, moving in step with her up the cobbled lane.
“Bacon batties are basically strips of bacon on a roll. Nessa willlikely add eggs or cheese with some brown sauce, but it’s a fairly basic sandwich.”
“With Scottish flair,” he said.
“Yes.” She smiled. “That’s the part you may need to watch out for. The Scottish flair.”
He had an easy grin. “If it’s got bacon in it, I’m all set.”
“Well then, the North Country should suit you well. Bacon and sausage are found in over half the meals.”
“This place is sounding more and more like home every minute.”
“Really? I suppose I always equated America to massive cities like New York or Los Angeles. Not something like”—she waved her hand toward the cobblestone street lined with quaint little shops—“this.”
A glimmer lit his dark eyes as he arched a brow. “Do I look like I fit into a place like New York or Los Angeles?”
