Page 4 of Kiss of Smoke

“Well, Clarissa is one of my law firm friends, so technically—”

A screech ripped from my throat, and I flew at him.

A strong arm caught me around the waist and hauled me back. “Come on, now, Chloe lass. I’ve got you.”

“Let me go!” I clawed at Alec’s—or was it Lachlan’s?—forearm. “I’m going to kill him!”

Josh’s eyes went wide, and he shoved Clarissa behind him. “Chloe, this is uncalled f—”

“Wheesht, man,” Lachlan said sharply, holding me tight. Next to him, Alec gave Josh a withering look and said, “That means shut yer trap.”

I continued twisting and fighting, but it was no use. Lachlan’s chest was like a rock against my back, and his forearm across my stomach was hard as iron. As quickly as it came, my rage fled, and I slumped in his arms.

The crowd stared. Airport food court workers leaned out from their stalls, a mix of curiosity and pity on their faces. Josh gave me a wooden look, his gaze flat and empty.

The eyes of a stranger.

My tears rushed back. As I stared at the man I was supposed to marry in five weeks, the only thing I could squeeze past my burning throat was, “Why?”

Some of the emptiness drained from his gaze, and a look of weariness crossed his face. “I don’t know, Chloe. I think I was just bored.”

The word hit me like an arrow thunking into its target. If Lachlan hadn’t been holding me, I might have collapsed. Suddenly, everything was too much. Hot tears streaked down my face, and I turned in my boss’s arms.

“Please, just…get me out of here.”

Before I even choked out the full sentence, he swept me into the air and folded me against his chest. The airport blurred, and then we were moving, his long strides carrying us away from Josh and the onlookers. As I gave into the sobs I’d been holding back, I registered that Alec had fallen into step beside us.

“I-I c-can walk,” I gasped against Lachlan’s chest.

“No worries,” he murmured. “We’ve got you now.”

Chapter Two

CHLOE

At first, I didn’t know where Lachlan and Alec were taking me, and I didn’t care. I’d always been an ugly crier. Being blond with fair skin meant even the slightest bout of tears turned my face into a red, splotchy mess. So I curled against Lachlan’s chest and put my hands over my face, part of me hoping a hole would open in the ground and he’d toss me in it.

But he kept walking, occasionally talking to Alec in a musical language I recognized as the Gaelic they sometimes used. It was beautiful, with a rhythmic flow that swirled around my brain like a cool river. Drowsiness tugged at me, and I let myself relax against Lachlan’s crisp shirt. He smelled of starch, expensive aftershave, and something that was uniquely his—a dark, spicy scent that made me relax even further.

Suddenly, the air pressure changed, and I lowered my hands to see the unmistakable interior of a private jet. Unlike the commercial airliners I’d flown on in the past, this plane had big, leather recliners with enough leg room to accommodate a giant.

Lachlan deposited me in one, exchanged a look with Alec, and promptly left.

I scrambled upright, tugging at my skirt, which had ridden up as Lachlan carried me. “Mr. Murray—”

“Easy, lass,” Alec said, sitting next to me. He pushed a handkerchief into my hand. Not a tissue, a real square of cloth embroidered with ACM in red script. As I clutched it, I couldn’t help wondering what his middle name was. I’d never seen it on any of the documents I handled at work.

“Take a moment to get your bearings,” he said. “Lachlan’s gone to speak to the pilot.”

“Are we taking off?”

His green eyes were kind. “Do you want to? We understand if the trip is too much for you to deal with right now.” His accent made now sound like noo.

“Josh cheated on me,” I blurted. As soon as I said his name, fresh tears spilled down my cheeks.

Alec made a soft tsking sound and moved closer, until his thigh pressed against mine. He pulled the handkerchief from my hand and dabbed at my tears. The gesture was so tender, my tears flowed faster, and an involuntary sob warbled from my lips.

“Chloe,” he murmured, gathering me in his arms. His chest was as hard as Lachlan’s, and his heart beat strong and steady under my ear. This was the second time one of my bosses had held me, and somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew I should push away. Even in my predicament, it was wrong to weep on their shoulders.

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