Page 83 of Scotch & Dreams

"Aye, the fucking perfect one.”

"Ye are protective over the lass.”

"Aye," Lachlan admitted.

Drew shoved himself back on the stool beside Lachlan, leaning his elbows on the bar behind him, facing out to the crowded room.

“Christ, it's good to be home." He grinned.

"Got a phone number?" Alex asked nonchalantly.

"Two." Drew winked.

"What are ye boys bletherin' about?”

"Violet." Alex grinned.

“Och, right, Violet. The one we are no’ allowed to talk about,” Drew teased and turned to Lachlan, who was less than impressed with his brothers' ribbing. “Ye love her?” Drew asked, with Alex standing nearby, listening intently.

Lachlan rolled the amber liquid in his glass, not needing to contemplate the question. “Aye, I do.”

“Aye?” Drew laughed heartily, slapping his brother on the back, and Alex smiled like he found the whole thing amusing. “Bloody hell! Another round, Kian,” he smacked his hand on the bar top.

Chapter 50

The Truth Comes Out

Violetgothome,showered,and took the two-kilometer scenic walk to the local farmers market. It had become her usual on a Saturday. There was nothing better than fresh little strawberries from the market, and she always loved to check out all the vendors’ wares. She rushed through today, though, wanting to get back so she'd have plenty of time to get ready to meet up with Lachlan.

She walked back in her front door shortly before five p.m. and felt a familiar tinge of disappointment that Lachlan hadn't messaged her at all yet. Refusing to get in her head about it, she texted him.

Violet: Thinking about you. Let me know what time you're planning for dinner. Hope you've had a good day. <3

She looked at her message and hit send before she could change her mind. Her phone dinged in her hand, and her heart skipped a beat. It wasn't Lachlan, though. It was Fiona asking her about her night. Violet hadn't mentioned her plans to go see Lachlan and confront him, so she assumed it was just a generic, “Hey how was your Friday.” Part of her wanted to gush about how epic her night was, but it all still felt so tentative and surreal. It was like she didn't want to jinx it, so she typed back a non-descript response.

Violet:Good and yours?

The truth was she hadn't stopped thinking about last night and this morning. She had no idea sex could be like that, but it was so much more. She felt so cherished and safe somehow when she was with Lachlan. When they were together, it couldn't be more perfect. She sighed. It was the in-between that left her confused.

As amazing as last night was, she still wished they had talked more. Violet picked up one of the romance books Lachlan had bought for her. She was halfway through the second book. She still loved that he'd thought to get her a book. Definitely a top-notch gift in her eyes. And he'd chosen surprisingly well. She hadn't read any of Eliza Rockwood's books, but after plowing through the first one Lachlan bought, she'd already gone online to order more.

She'd finished the second book from Lachlan and was just finishing another of the Hideaway Valley series she'd ordered when her doorbell rang. She glanced at the clock, it was seven forty-five p.m.Lachlan. She almost tripped jumping up from her navy wingback chair. She flung open the door, her heart delighting that it was Lachlan. Maybe he’d meant a late dinner.

Indeed, late dinner, but not with Lachlan. Fiona stood on the other side of her door, hands full with takeout food bags, and Violet's stomach growled on cue. Apparently, she didn’t do a good job of disguising her disappointment that it wasn't Lachlan.

“Expecting someone else?” Fiona said, holding up the bags. “I brought sustenance.”

Violet felt her eyes sting with tears.

“Oh. Oh, Vi, what is it?” Fiona put the bags of food down on the little bench at the front door and wrapped Violet in a warm embrace, and that's when the floodgates opened.

Violet sobbed on her shoulder. “

What happened?” Fiona said gently, pulling back to look at Violet.

When Violet finally caught her breath, she whispered, “It’s a long story.”

She watched numbly as Fiona filled up two plates with some unidentified vegan food she'd picked up from a fancy new takeout place in town. Then she poured two large glasses of white wine, filling them to the brim. She handed Violet a glass and carefully clanked her glass.

---