Page 65 of The Wolf of My Eye

“He saved me from drowning when the boat knocked meunconscious.” Maisie slid her hand over Robert’s hand and then squeezed.

Edeen smiled. “See? You’re always protective of him. And he’s just as protective of you. Everyone figured you were meant to be together after the second mishap when you were with each other on Eilean Tioram, but I knew it was from the moment Robert reeled you in on his fishhook.”

“You knew right away. I mean, that he’d caught me with the fishhook.” Maisie smiled at her.

“Yeah. That was what the pliers and first aid kit were for. But for a moment I was disappointed that was why you were there instead of just a need to see how he was doing. Then I realized what I would have been feeling like if I had wanted to get a fishhook out of my arm, and I knew you wanted to see how Robert was doing too, though you were being quiet about it.” Edeen got them a refill for their tea.

“Exactly,” Robert said. “I was as worried about her head injury, so I was glad to see her come to the guest chamber, besides the fact I needed to rectify the fishhook issue.”

“Lachlan put off the fishing trip until later,” Edeen said, “if you’ve been wondering about it.”

“He probably wants to be in a different boat when we fish after my last fishing experience.” Robert drank some of his tea. “Do you want to go with me this time, Maisie?”

Maisie laughed. “Riding in the boat with you might be safer. But sure, it would be our first fishing trip together, and I would love to go. We can see who can catch the most fish.”

“It sounds like Maisie has a good competitive spirit,” Edeen said.

“You bet, and I love a challenge,” he said.

Lachlan came inside the house then.

“Stay for lunch,” Edeen said to her brother and Maisie.

“Absolutely,” Lachlan said. “I planned to cook. Come on, Robert. Let’s put some chicken on the grill.”

Edeen said, “Good. I thought you’d forgotten that you’d offered. Robert and Maisie want to go fishing with you.”

“Good. We’ll do it as soon as we can.” Lachlan took the chicken outside, and Robert went with him. “So you want to go fishing. I was waiting for you to say when you were ready to do it.”

Robert laughed. “Yeah, and what makes it even better is that Maisie wants to go with us.”

Lachlan got the grill started. “That’s great. It’ll be safer than her scuba diving when you’re fishing.”

Robert chuckled. “That’s debatable. But with any luck I’ll only catch fish this time.”

“Hopefully we all will. Edeen will be expecting it.”

“That’s what Edeen thought when I went fishing the last time and caught Maisie.”

Lachlan chuckled. “She was your greatest catch in the world.”

“That’s for sure.”

Once Lachlan was done cooking up the chicken, he carried it inside on a platter, and they heard the ladies laughing in the kitchen. Robert was so glad that Maisie and his sister really liked each other. They sounded like sisters and best of friends.

Chapter 18

“I bet you’re excited about going to Bali,” Maisie said to Edeen in the kitchen while they cooked the vegetables for lunch.

“Aye. I had to buy some maternity swimsuits and flip-flops and other beachwear that I don’t often need. I have bathing suits, but for when I’mnotpregnant.”

“Oh, sure. I figure you wanted to get married as soon as possible after learning you were pregnant.”

“Yeah, we should have done it sooner. I didn’t want to have to worry about making a wedding gown with a lot more fabric, but I can still take it in after the babies are born and I lose the extra weight.”

“It’s good that you’re such an extraordinary seamstress. Speaking of which, Anne and I each want to order a medieval gown for Christmas activities at the inn. We already picked them out on your site.”

“Oh, wonderful. We can look at them and you order after we eat.” Edeen dished up the beets, potatoes, and broccoli as soon as the guys came in with the chicken. “Do you know which gown Anne wants?”

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