Page 7 of How to Lose a Lass

"You always know how to make me feel better, Jack. You're a wonderful therapist."

He chuckles. "I appreciate the compliment. But I haven't done anything. You just needed a sounding board, and I was glad to serve that purpose for you. Now, let's both go to bed. Aye?"

"You're right. Good night, Jack."

"Good night, Jamie. And have fun in America---if Aidan will let you. I doubt he's pleased with your plan to find an American man to marry."

"Why would Aidan care? He's Don Juan MacTaggart, after all. I expect he'll be happy about my plan. Aidan did fly to America to find a lass for himself."

Jack chuckles again. "Och, Jamie, you don't understand brothers. Good night again, lass."

By the time I wake in the wee hours of the morning, we're already flying across Michigan on our way to the Upper Peninsula. I eat a quick breakfast, then gaze out the windows, too excited to simply relax on the sofa or read a magazine. The closer we come to the Houghton County Memorial Airport, the more excited I feel. My pulse has quickened. As the jet descends, I move onto a window seat and stare out at the landscape that reveals itself little by little. I see trees, but at first, I can't make out much detail. Then it all comes into view. I have never seen a forest as lush and gorgeous as the ones here in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I watch the waters of Lake Superior as they whisk by beneath the jet and see whitewater splashing and breakers crashing onto the shore. We fly over what looks like a lift bridge too.

My American adventure is about to begin.

Chapter Three

Gavin

This morning, I feel surprisingly good. Maybe I don't like that my sister is shacking up with a virtual stranger, but that's one damn good reason why I need to stick around until I either figure out that Aidan isn't a scam artist or I've beaten him to death with a tree branch and buried the body in the woods where no one will ever find it. Yeah, it's possible I'm overreacting. But Calli is my family. She's my baby sister, and without our parents around to watch out for her, I'm the only one who can protect her.

While I lie here in the hunting shack, with only a comforter as a mattress, I reminisce about yesterday. I'd returned to the house after stashing my stuff in the shack, and I'd walked in on Aidan smooching with my sister. When I cleared my throat deliberately, Calli scuttled away from the Scottish guy. But Aidan simply gazed at me steadily, as if he had no intention of explaining himself or apologizing for making out with my sister in my presence.

Not that doing it in private would make me happy either.

During dinner, I'd razzed Aidan some more, strictly to find out what his limits are. He doesn't seem to have a button I can push to make him fly off the handle. Okay, that's good to know. He also doesn't seem to give a damn what I think, though he clearly wants to reassure me that Calli is in safe hands with him. He didn't say that outright, but I could tell that was what he meant every time he talked about his family.

The guy has five siblings. Five. The MacTaggarts have an even lineup, with three brothers and three sisters. Today, I'll meet one of his relatives---his sister Jamie.

As I'd exited the house last night, I'd called out over my shoulder, "I'll be within earshot of the house, Romeo."

"I'm known as Don Juan MacTaggart, not Romeo."

"Whatever." I raised two fingers and aimed them at him, then at my own eyes. "I'll be watching you, MacTaggart."

Aidan had smiled with no small amount of sarcasm. "That's very comforting. I'll sleep better just knowing you're there."

While he was in the master bedroom screwing my sister.

I get dressed and head for the house, ready for another round of former Marine versus cocky Scot. But I know that this morning, Calli and Aidan will be heading for the airport to pick up his little sister. They had invited me to go with them, but that seemed kind of weird. I don't know Jamie. She might feel uncomfortable with a stranger standing there beside her brother.

How old is Jamie MacTaggart? I hadn't thought to ask yesterday. She's probably a cute little fifteen-year-old who has pigtails and wears a plaid skirt. Aidan's older brother, Rory, had let his sister fly to America on his private jet all alone. So maybe she's a little older than fifteen. I'll find out soon enough.

Now, I climb down from the little shack, which has a wooden ladder for accessing the interior. Then I jog the short distance to the house and try to open the sliding glass doors at the back side. It won't budge. Calli must have locked the doors overnight. I knock on the glass.

Calli emerges from the hallway dressed in a satin robe. She halts and peers at me from across the living room.

I'm standing here with one hand in my jeans pockets and the other knocking on the glass, waiting to be admitted into the house. The puppies race up to me from behind. I'd come through the yard gate and hadn't noticed Mandy and Misty. They must've been around the corner of the house, where there's a small area that's part of the yard. Now, they jump up and down while licking my hands and pawing at my jeans. Jeez, women were never this excited to see me. Calli's puppies have always been kind of hyper.

I wave at Calli.

Finally, my sister secures her robe more tightly around herself and trots over here to open the doors.

Misty starts bouncing up and down like a pogo stick, her feet lifting several inches off the ground with every bounce. The puppy manages to slather her tongue over my hand while still pogo-sticking around me.

I grimace. Slimy puppy saliva isn't my favorite thing. Who knows what these dogs have eaten today? Might be rotting rat carcasses or smelly insects.

Calli aims an overly cheerful smile at me. She's trying too hard for sure. "Morning, Gav. Are the girls being pests?"

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