Page 35 of Devotion: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 1)

“She’s always like that,” Lachlan explained.

She pulled away and added, “Only with people I like.” She had a wide happy smile on her face.

“You look beautiful,” I complimented her.

“You are the first to notice,” she replied. “Thank you. And I had some dresses delivered for you per Lachlan's instructions.”

With a surprise on my face, I looked between the two, but before anything else could be said, she pulled me along towards a large marble staircase.

“Good luck,” Colin shouted after me and laughed.

I tried to absorb all the beauty of the castle, glancing around at its antique paintings and furniture, but Ainslee was practically speed walking.

“You are in the family wing of the castle,” she told me smiling. “Your rooms are next to Lachlan's rooms and there is a connecting door.”

She winked at me and I blushed profusely. I wondered if all Scots just lacked filters when speaking their mind. Her enthusiasm was contagious but I’d never tell her that. And I certainly would not tell someone I just met they have a joining room with their boss.

We entered the rooms she pointed out as mine and I was awed in the luxurious and old beauty of the furniture around me.

“This is just…” My eyes darted from left to right trying to absorb it all.

“I know,” she agreed and pulled me. “Come look at the balcony.”

She opened the door and the view was breathtaking. Open view of the Highlands and the river stretched for miles and miles. At the furthest point that my eyes could see, it seemed heaven and earth met.

“Like it?” she asked, observing me.

I took a deep breath, fresh air entering my lungs.

“Very much,” I muttered, still awed at the beautiful nature around me.

“It’s peaceful, isn't it?” Lachlan's deep voice reached me and I snapped my head in its direction. I missed how large this balcony was and it seemed it connected his room to mine.

“All these rooms used to be for the husband and wife of the castle,” Ainslee explained. “That’s why the balcony stretches so long.”

“Hmmm,” I wasn’t sure what my answer was supposed to be.

She continued on. “But there is another connecting door to get to his rooms from your bedroom.” When neither I nor Lachlan commented, she added, “So you don’t have to come out onto the balcony in the night to go into his room.”

I shook my head. She really had no filter.

“Okay, okay,” she added in resignation. “Too much information, right?”

I nodded agreeing to it.

“Ok, let’s get you dressed. Hope you like everything I picked out for you.” She glanced behind her at Lachlan. “You better hurry up too. Your guests are waiting.”

“They can wait all day and night for all I care,” he answered, his eyes never wavering from me.

He makes me feel like I am the only woman in the world when he watches me.

I couldn’t help but like it. I liked feeling the pressure of his gaze over me. It had been a long time since I felt desirable, even before Hunter died. Last few weeks, I started feeling alive again after feeling numb for so long. Lachlan McLaren was the big reason for pulling me into the light. My body and soul came alive around him.

A pang of guilt hit me as I thought back to my son. It felt like a betrayal to feel this alive while my son was dead. Ainslee shut the balcony door, cutting Lachlan from my view and I tried to shut the door to my guilt.

Two hours later,Ainslee was finally happy with the way I looked. I, on the other hand, was exhausted. My patience was tethering on the edge but I pulled through it. She painted my nails, brushed my hair, and made me try multiple dresses. The only time I objected was at makeup time. I insisted only on the minimum amount of makeup. We finally agreed on eye shadow and lipstick.

“Voila,” she exclaimed, satisfied with her work.

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