Page 88 of Lachlan in a Kilt

Glancing over my shoulder, I see her retreating into the bathroom.

That pang I've been getting often lately throbs in my chest even harder than before. Can I leave her once we've sorted her legal mess?

I have no fucking idea anymore.

Seconds after Erica hurries out of the room, I realize I can't ring Rory to ask for his help with Erica's problems. It's the middle of the night in Scotland. I'll have to wait until morning, Chicago time. Since I can't do anything else at the moment, I head for the kitchen, intending to make something for us to eat. Something light. A wee piece will do.

When I walk into the kitchen, I notice her laptop computer sitting on the counter. That wouldn't seem strange, except that the laptop has its lid flipped up, and it looks like someone has been working on the computer. Erica just came home and hasn't had time to sneak away to surf the web.

I perch on a stool at the counter where the laptop awaits me. On the screen, I see web pages that someone has opened. It must have been Presley Cichon, though I can't imagine why he would want to rifle through Erica's computer.

My jaw starts to ache, but when I rub it, that makes it hurt even more. I gently palpate the area. I've got a swollen sore spot where thatcacanhit me.

Erica walks into the kitchen and stops when she sees me. After a few seconds of just standing there, she goes to the refrigerator and nabs a bag of frozen peas from the freezer. My gaze now fixated on the computer screen, I barely glance at Erica when she presses the bag of peas to my jaw.

I place a hand over the bag, though my gaze returns to the computer screen. "Thank you."

She climbs onto the stool across the island from me. "What are you doing with my computer?"

"Not framing you for a crime, that's for certain."

Erica sits up straighter and folds her arms on the island. She's smiling at me.

I arch an eyebrow. "What are you smiling for?"

Her expression broadens into a grin. "I was remembering all the times you beat on Presley."

"And that makes you happy?"

"Mm-hm." She swivels her stool back and forth. "Nobody's ever tackled anyone for me before. A chivalrous, attack-ready man like you must be very popular with the lasses in Scotland. No matter what we might say, women all fantasize about men who'll skelp scunners for us."

I rub my neck, averting my eyes. "I don't make a habit of it."

"Still, you must have to beat the ladies off with a caber."

I grimace, then spin the laptop so the screen faces her. "I know what the bawbag was doing here."

She squints at the screen which displays a travel booking website. "I don't get it."

"Look." I point at the middle of the screen. "Either you were planning a trip to Switzerland and paused in the midst of making the reservations to go on a road trip with me, or that filthy snake was making your travel arrangements for you."

She leans forward to study the computer screen, her brows rising.

Aye, the scunner had not only opened an account on the travel website in her name, but he'd also started the process of booking a flight to Switzerland for tomorrow afternoon.

"What's the point of this?" Erica asks. "I doubt he was surprising me with a free trip to Geneva."

"I found something else too." I hold up a flash drive no bigger than my thumbnail. "I interrupted him before he could get this back. It was still plugged into your computer. The files on here would've made it look like you had a Swiss bank account with a quarter-million dollars in it. I checked, but he didn't get a chance to transfer the files to your computer."

"That sneaky, conniving little scumbag." She stomps her foot on the stool rung. "Gah! No wonder he was so intent on getting into my house. He's not done framing me." She grips the edge of the island. "I bet he was planning another anonymous tip to the police. Hey guys, she's about to bolt for a neutral country." Erica kicks the island, wincing briefly. "My bail would be revoked. I'd have no chance of finding any evidence to implicate him."

"That will not happen." I stretch my arms across the island to cover her hands with mine. "You have my word."

"Lachlan, I can't let you—"

"Aye, you can and you will." I roll my shoulders back and look directly into her eyes. "This is not charity. I help my friends when they're in need."

"Thought I was your fling."

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