Page 7 of Scotch & Dreams

Instantly, he felt like a creep. The last thing in the world he should be thinking about was snogging the lass. It was wrong on so many levels. Just when he thought he’d sorted himself back out, she asked to give him a hug. It was not like he could say no, nor did he want to. Lachlan was a hugger. He hugged many women friends and men friends, too—this shouldn't be any different.

A cuddle between friends. Lachlan was a pro at the friend cuddle. This was certainly the right occasion for it. Christ, he’d been so worried for her, and they’d been through a traumatic event together. A cuddle seemed the most natural thing in the world, right up until she was in his arms, nestled against him. Part of him, the Lachlan part of him, appreciated the moment for what it was: two people who’d gone through an ordeal finding comfort in a warm embrace. But then there was another part of him that seemed to be channeling his brothers’ mindsets—Drew and Alex. That part of him was aroused beyond measure.

It was not like him. Not like him at all. This was wild and needy and far too carnal, but ironically, he didn’t want it to stop. The poke of her perky breasts against his torso scorched him. The soft sound of her contented feminine sigh was like a stroke on his cock.

In the back of his mind, he knew that he shouldn’t pull her closer—knew he shouldn’t feel his heart race as he touched the curve of her back. He held Violet Munro tight to him, and when she finally pulled away and stepped back from him, he felt disoriented.

Schooling himself, Lachlan stared down at her, trying to understand why his reaction to her was so visceral. He cleared his throat. “Can I get ye anything?” he offered, cutting the tension that sparked between them as thick as New York cheesecake.

“I—” she hesitated.

He looked at her expectantly, sensing she needed something from him, and, by God right now, he was damn-near willing to do anything she asked.

“Could you stay with me for the next twenty-four hours?” She blurted out in a rush. She wore a vulnerability in her expression that was different from last night but no less compelling. However, that was the last thing he expected to hear, and he had to stop himself from instantly saying,hell aye.Thoughts racing, he forced himself to slow down a minute.

“Right, hmm. I was thinking along the lines of a cuppa tea or perhaps a warm blanket,” he teased lightly, but he felt bad when she looked down awkwardly. Her cheeks and neck flushed a pretty shade of pink. He hadn’t meant to embarrass her.

“It’s okay.” She sighed, leaning back onto the edge of the bed. Her eyes were cast to the puddle grey, utilitarian floor. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking,” she said, shaking her head.

Lachlan studied her, wondering why she wanted him to stay with her. She must have a good reason for asking. Christ, it was like his horny arse brothers had taken over his mind because suddenly, he conjured the idea that she wanted him as her sex slave for the next twenty-four hours. He felt tension crush between his brows, mortified by the direction of his unbidden salacious thought. What on earth was the matter with him?

Pulling himself together, he went for the straightforward approach. “Tell me, lass, what do you mean? Why do ye want me to stay with ye?”

Shifting herself back onto the bed and neatly pulling her legs up under herself, she sat cross-legged and had the look of a school girl trying to solve a math problem.

“It’s just that… Well, I’m permitted to leave the hospital now.” She rubbed her forehead and winced when her hand scraped over her bruise.

Lachlan had to stop himself from reaching out to comfort her. Fortunately, she quickly recovered.

“The problem is, the doctor said someone needed to stay with me for the next twenty-four hours. Actually, he made mepromisethat someone would.” She sighed, obviously unimpressed with the doctor’s orders. “Apparently, I could have a seizure or something,” she muttered like it was the stupidest thing she'd ever heard. “I don’t know, but I guess, at night, there’s more of a risk for it.” Her slender shoulders slumped on a sigh.

Even slouching, she had a swan-like grace about her.

“Why dinnae they want to keep ye in the hospital then?” Concern pricked his thoughts.

Violet gave an exaggerated shrug. “Who knows? But to be quite honest, I’d really rather not stay here if I don’t have to." Her pert nose wrinkled. "The doctor said the seizure thing is rare but can happen, so apparently, I need a babysitter.”

Lachlan’s lips twitched in a half-smile at her less-than-thrilled description and the juxtaposition of the irritated frown on her china doll features. “Well, that makes sense. Ye dinnae want to risk something happening if yer alone. But dinnae ye huv somebody who’d be willing to stay with ye?” Surely, the lass must know somebody who'd be more suited to keep watch over her. They didn't even know each other.

“Nope,” she muttered, leaning back with her hands on the bed behind her. “I just moved here. Hmm, what is it? Two days ago now. I don’t know anyone. Except for you. And you… Well, you’ve been so nice and helpful, I just thought… Oh, God. Never mind.” That alluring pink crawled up her neck and face again.

“Ye moved to Scotland and dinnae huv any family or friends here? No one?” he ventured, attempting to understand the situation.

“No one.” She shrugged as if it had never really occurred to her. “It’s just me here. All by myself,” she said, apparently at ease with her situation.

Lachlan wondered what had brought Violet Munro here to Scotland alone. But he didn't feel it was his business to ask at the moment.

“Och, lass, what a way to start.”

“Ha, right?” she muttered.

“I didnae mean to sound insensitive.”

“Not at all. You're right. Definitely an unexpected start." She shook her head. "But I supposed life happens no matter where you are, and despite what happened last night, I’m glad to be here." Her lips tugged in a smile.

And Lachlan found himself admiring her positive take on it. He could only imagine that if it was Anna, the complaining would never end. He caught his spiralling thoughts and pushed them aside to focus on the dilemma at hand. Lachlan was more than a little surprised by Violet's request. As odd as it was, he wasn’t opposed to it. Being that she was by herself in his country, it made sense now why she’d asked for his help. That, and they'd formed an unlikely connection, he supposed.

With Anna out of town, he’d intended on a quiet weekend to focus and work on some upcoming projects and, of course, get a jump start on the new client file. He was also supposed to be deciding on his current living situation and whether or not his girlfriend was moving in.Och, he really didn't want to be thinking about that.

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