Page 65 of Scotch & Dreams

“I sure as heck did.”

“Fiona!” Violet was shocked.

“What? He was hot, and I haven’t had a good lay in ages.” Violet stared at her friend, unable to close her mouth.

“Why are you so shocked?”

“You left with a complete stranger?”

“Aye, I did.” Fiona grinned like the cat who got the cream.

Violet chuckled. “Well, I’m glad it went well, but jeepers, he could have been trouble!”

“Oh, he was trouble, all right.”

Violet laughed. “Oh my God. Well, good for you then.”

“Brilliant night. To be honest, we didnae actually huv sex. He's hot, but no' really my type, but I will say the man has his talents.” She grinned as if recalling the details in her mind's eye.

“So,onewild night, or are you going to see him again?”

“I doubt it. Ye ken, kinda a one-and-done type thing. Eased my dry spell.” She smiled as if she were speaking of someone fondly from her past and not the guy she’d just seen last night.

Was it one-and-done with Lachlan?She almost winced at the thought stumbling through her head. Violet wanted to be supportive, and the truth was, she was happy for Fiona—but also maybe a little surprised. Violet had a sneaking suspicion that the hot bad boy from last night wasn't her type because Fiona actually batted for the other team. She hadn't said as much, but there were little things. For example, when they were in Glasgow, she’d noticed her eyeing up the women, not the men—but Violet hadn't given it much thought until now. It would also make sense why she hadn't actually had sex with the guy last night. Not that it mattered. She didn't care which team her friend batted for. Fiona seemed happy, and that's all she cared about.

"And it was this guy who told you all that gossip about Anna MacDonald?”

"Aye. When we were leaving, we saw her looking flustered and downright pissed off. She barged ahead of us, nearly knocking into me, and she literally busted a high heel in the process. At the time, I thought it served her right for being so rude cutting us off, and when we got in the cab, Drew told me the story.”

"His name is Drew?" Violet swallowed hard. Could it be Lachlan’s brother? Violet chided herself—not likely. They were in Scotland. There were likely plenty of Drews. Although, it was a bit ironic that a good-looking guy named Drew was at the Calliach Distillery Gala, and he seemed to know the family gossip.

Chapter 38

No Regrets

Lachlanstoodathiskitchen counter, looking out at the stormy white caps smashing in the sea. He raked his fingers through his hair. Last night with Violet played through his mind. Being with her, being intimate with her, was well beyond what his mind had conjured up these past months. He had never experienced such strong desire for someone. In the light of day, it was a bit overwhelming to realize just how intense his feelings had become toward her. He took a sip of his coffee. His hardened cock was a constant reminder of how much he’d wanted her over these past couple of months, but he never imagined that it could be like what it was between them last night.

During the short period of time they’d spent together months ago, he’d fought his physical desire for her. He had no intention of taking advantage of the situation. He prided himself on being a gentleman. That was who he was to the core. Lachlan had always been disciplined and always had self-control. It wasn’t really something he thought about. It was just his character. He wasn’t the guy who cheated or took advantage of a woman. Those were things that would never change. But he never would have imagined himself crossing the line with an employee.

The thing was, he didn’t think of Violet as an employee—not really. In many ways, he'd come to rely on her as a business partner. Not that crossingthatline was any better. But here he was the morning after, and regret was definitely not one of the emotions running through him. Violet made him feel alive. She brought out something in him he didn't even know existed. It was something raw and authentic.

It was foreign for Lachlan to feel so many urges he'd never felt before. Sure, he was a guy like any other. Of course, a beautiful, intelligent, sweet woman was tempting. He would have to be dead not to feel some kind of pull. But this felt like the pull of the moon on the ocean’s tide—massive.

After that first weekend Lachlan had met Violet, he mistakenly assumed his fires would cool as soon as they’d parted ways. That the part of him she'd cracked open would seal back up and disappear without a trace. He couldn't have been more wrong. Every moment with her, the crack deepened, splitting wide open and somehow setting him free.

Last night, everything had built up. Instead of the Scottish gentleman Lachlan was used to being, he felt like a feral highlander, and god help him, it felt good. Lachlan was already feeling things toward Violet that he’d never imagined. Their business relationship had grown and become one that Lachlan was incredibly grateful for and enjoyed. But when he saw Violet at the gala, she was positively jaw-dropping. Watching her was his complete undoing. He hadn’t intended any of what had happened, but this morning, he regretted nothing.

Having sex with Violet had been one of the most intense moments of his life. The only regret he felt was that they got interrupted before he could give her sweet release. He wished he could have done things differently after they'd come up from the barrel room.

After meeting with the first minister and his wife, Orlagh came and told him how she'd overheard Anna talking down to Violet. It utterly incensed him, and when he'd asked Anna about it, she'd tried to downplay it. Her biggest mistake was the moment she tried to imply that Violet was somehow unworthy of him. Lachlan hadn’t held back when he told her that Violet had more class in her perfect little pinky finger than Anna would ever dream of having and that she could take her money ram it up her arse.

A few months back, he never would have imagined saying such a thing, but Christ, it felt good. It was freeing not to have to say or do what was expected of him and to stand up for Violet and himself. He'd do anything to protect Violet—anything.

Sally barked excitedly, pulling him from his thoughts. He recognized Orlagh’s voice loving up his mutt, and then the two bumbled into the kitchen.

“Put the kettle on then. It’s freezin’ out there," she ordered through cuddles and kisses with Sally.

“What are ye doin’ here so early on a Sunday morn’ anyhow?” Lachlan asked while filling up the kettle with water and turning the knob for the gas stove burner. He turned back to his baby sister, who was settling in at his kitchen table.

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