Page 8 of Scotch & Dreams

Staying with the lass would put a dent in his plans for the weekend, but it was only for twenty-four hours. And how could he in good conscience say no? Violet needed a friend—a helping hand—and he’d always prided himself on being a good friend and a gentleman.

He’d be remiss, though, if he didn’t consider his unexpected reaction to the lass. He had to admit he was attracted to her. The truth was they'd shared in some heightened emotions given Violet’s accident. The attraction was likely due to the remnants of those emotions, he reasoned. Now they’d had acwtchbetween friends, he was sure it would be fine. He was good at being friends.

Then there was Anna. He had to consider her too in this.Hmm.She didn't seem the jealous type, but she might not be totally keen on the situation. He tried to be pragmatic. As bad as it sounded to spend the night with another woman, the reality was the circumstances were completely innocent, and truthfully, what kind of arse would he be if he said no to the Violet? She literally had no one else to help her.

“All right then,” he said, his mind made up.

“Whatall right then?” she asked as if she'd forgotten what she'd asked him.

“All right, I’ll stay with ye,” Lachlan confirmed. “Be your watch for the next twenty-four hours.”

“Oh.” Her eyes grew wide.

“Is that a good,oh?” he hedged.

“Yes, yes, of course.” She leaned forward with her legs still crossed under her and ran her fingers through her long golden hair, pulling it over one shoulder. “Sorry. I’m just surprised that’s all. And grateful. I’m very grateful.” She exhaled with a smile.

He felt glad as he watched the tension drop away from her pretty features. “Are ye ready to get oot of here then?”

“Definitely!”

Making sure her phone and earbuds were in her stretch pant pocket, she picked up the bouquet from the bed and stood up. Her chivalrous knight stepped toward the door and held it open, gesturing for her to step through.

“Thank you.” She smiled softly up at him as she moved past him. Despite it being a short stay and being grateful for the medical care, Violet was very glad to be getting out of the hospital. It had been a long night.

For a minute there, she was afraid she'd offended the handsome man who'd come to her rescue. When Violet had asked him to stay with her, she almost laughed at the shocked look on his face. She was sure he thought she was nuts. He was her only hope, though. It was him or an all-night café. It was a huge relief that he’d actually agreed. She truly needed his help, but at the same time, she didn't mind in the least that she'd get to enjoy his company for the next twenty-four hours, including that crooked smile that was the perfect combination of adorable-nerdy-shy guy and I-know-I'm-hot sex god.

“Did you tell me your name?” she wondered, not knowing if she'd inadvertently forgotten it from last night.

They walked side by side down the corridor to the elevator.

“I don’t think we got as far as that yesterday.” A smile tugged the corners of his mouth, and he looked down at her out of the corner of his eye. “Lachlan Mackenzie.”

“Lachlan.” She sighed lightly. “Do you know my name?” She looked up at him uncertainly.

“I do.” There was warmth in the timbre of his voice. “It was one of the first things I asked you.”

“Oh yeah,” she said exaggeratedly as the memory of it flooded back to her. “I remember your eyes,” she said thoughtfully.

They stopped before the elevator, and Lachlan pressed the button, then turned to gaze down at her. “My eyes?”

With his attention full on her, Violet felt timid and almost wished she hadn’t said anything. But he looked at her in a way that implored her to tell him. Her voice was quiet and sobering. A wave of emotion hit her out of nowhere, and she looked away from him. Crossing her arms around herself, she absently stared out a nearby window, recalling the intimacy of the connection she’d felt with him.

“I remember your eyes felt like a lifeline. I felt like the confusion would drown me, but something about your eyes holding mine kept me afloat. It’s like you were connected to me somehow, willing me to be okay.” She ventured a glance back up at his handsome face, worried she'd confessed too much.

He stared down at her with the intensity of fire. His nostrils slightly flared, and she noted the slight tick in his clean-shaven, chiseled jaw. Without a word, strong arms encircled her, pulling her in close to him, and she felt him drop a kiss to the top of her head. She sighed in wonder, feeling so safe and protected with his arms around her. This man she barely knew.

“I’m glad, lass,” he murmured into her hair as the door to the elevator opened.

By the time they got out to the parking lot, Violet was feeling exhausted again. It shouldn't have surprised her. Dr. Campbell said it might take a day or two before she got her energy back.

“Ye feeling okay, lass?” Lachlan’s hand briefly touched the small of her back.

Violet had to reign in her girlish reaction to it. The man was certainly perceptive. “Yeah, just going to take a bit for my energy to come back, I guess. So silly, such a short walk and it’s drained me.”

Violet’s attention was drawn to the glossy jet-black Maserati that Lachlan was opening the passenger door to.Wowza. He gestured for her to get in, and she gingerly slid into the tan leather seat, instantly noting the way it gently held her in all the right places. Lachlan’s car seat was literally more comfortable than any bed she'd ever slept in.

A memory from her childhood surfaced. Sitting beside her two little sisters and her dad at the dining table. While her mom, animated with her frosted pink lipstick, told them of another new home-based company she’d signed up for. And how this one was different. This one was going to make them rich. It would take hard work, but she was going to get to diamond status. And if she could reach diamond status within the first six months, the company would give her a brand new sports car. Violet couldn’t recall what sports car, but she could still clearly see the sheer thrill in her mother’s cool mint green eyes. And the weariness and feigned excitement in her dad’s warm hazel ones.

---