Page 54 of Refuge for Ailsa

“Maeve keeps hers braided that way because it’s so wild and long. When she takes it down and washes it, it takes forever to dry.”

“That’s what Ailsa said about hers.”

“Oh, and I’m sorry if she didn’t warn you. My wife grew up in a weird little sect and she still talks like the immigrants did in the late eighteen hundreds. That little place was like the land that time forgot. Weird little bunch of people, but they raised a beautiful, wonderful wife and mother in that one.”

“Yes, sir. She’s really sweet. I guess Ailsa told you about my parents.”

Magnus shook his head. “No, she didn’t, but Maureen did. I’m sorry, Tavish. You deserve better than that. Just so you know, you’ve got family now. You need anything, you come to one of us. We’ll never turn you away, I promise.”

“Thank you, sir. That means a lot.” Actually, there were no words for what it meant to Tavish. It was everything. Her parents liked him. Their relationship could move forward.

Other than the day he met her, he really thought he was right in the middle of the best day of his life.

CHAPTER8

Maeve had sentthem home with pie and the leftover pork roast. “For sandwiches,” she’d said. She’d hugged Tavish just as warmly when they left as she had when they’d come in. He took that to mean he was coming back.

They drove out to the house and looked around. Ailsa made a list of things they should think about doing so it could be lived in, with the rest being done in stages. The woman knew what she was doing, that was for sure.

The rest of the afternoon and evening were the stuff of Tavish’s dreams. They made love, then ordered pizza. Afterward, they fucked for two hours before they decided to watch a movie. He liked to play scrabble, but after watching her make up words for an hour, he vowed to never play with her again, which she thought was hysterical. But he wasn’t kidding.

By midnight, they were both exhausted. He held her in his arms as they drifted off to sleep, and he couldn’t remember ever being that happy before in his life. It had been an absolute dream of a day. “Did you have fun today?” he whispered to her, then feathered a little kiss on her forehead.

“Oh my god, Tav, it’s been the best day. Don’t you think so?”

“I do. Babe, I love your parents. They’re amazing.”

“They think you’re amazing too. We were all in the kitchen and my mom said, ‘Dear lord, lass, ye didn’t warn me that he was drop-dead gorgeous.’ Maureen thought that was the funniest thing she’d ever heard.”

“Of course she did. She would. She’s my sister. To her, I’m still the skinny kid with bad skin and a headful of unruly hair. I mean, come on?we’re eight years apart.”

“I didn’t realize that.”

“Oh, yeah. My mom and dad weren’t kidding when they decided they were too young to have me. They waited to have her until they were ready to raise a kid. I just kinda… grew up.”

“You’ve got family now. The MacDougal clan takes somebody in and they’re permanent. My dad thinks you’re the best thing since sliced white bread.”

He ran a finger up and down her upper arm to watch little goose bumps pop out on her skin. “Oh, yeah? He’s a pretty great guy.”

“When we start working on the house, he’ll be right there, right in the middle of it. He’ll want to help all he can. They both will.”

It was time to test the waters. “You sound like you want to live there.”

“I do. Is that wrong?”

“No. It’s very comforting to me. At the time, I couldn’t figure out why I was buying it.”

She smiled up at him in the darkened bedroom. “And now?”

“I realize I bought it for you.”

“So you want to make this permanent?”

He stroked her cheek and then her hair. God, she was a wonder. “I think we still have a lot of things we need to know about each other, but yes. I do.”

“I already know everything I need to know about you,” she huffed and gave his nipple a little pinch.

“Oww. So you think you know enough about me, huh?”

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