Page 18 of Knots About You
Jeff grinned. ‘Here comes the sister-in-law.’
‘Don’t start,’ I muttered, and stood as Claire navigated between tables, ignoring the open stares her thighs commanded as she shimmied by. She stopped in front of our table and painted on a veneer of confidence. The layer she’d had ripped away before tumbling into my barrel store was back.
‘Hi.’ Claire sounded wonderfully breathless, and I clenched my pen harder at the thought of making her whisper my name just like that.
‘Hello, Claire.’ I shamelessly used that R in her name to my full advantage, and she rewarded me with a sweet inhale.
‘Sorry. I wasn’t going to come over, but it gets a bit boring sitting in the cottage on my own. Do you mind if I sit with you?’
‘We don’t mindat all,’ Isla said, shifting to the next seat over and pushing Jeff down too. ‘You must be Claire. I’m Isla, Owen’s sister and the brains of the operation.’
‘Jeff.’ He leant across the table and offered a hand. ‘Brother-in-law. Quiz team snack master.’
Dad pushed himself up to standing while stifling a groan and pulled Claire into a friendly hug. I cringed, but it made hersmile. ‘I’m Jim. Sit before Kenny docks us points for causing a disturbance.’
‘It’s nice to meet you all,’ Claire said, her cheeks pinking as she took the seat beside me, her bare thigh brushing my jeans.
‘‘We’re in the middle of general knowledge.’ It took everything in me to drag my eyes from her legs and back to the answer sheet.
‘And we’re being whacked by the Campbells because Alastair’s as old as the hills,’ Isla said, nodding toward the far table where Alastair adjusted his glasses. Morag grinned at Claire, as if she’d planned the whole thing.
I triedveryhard not to look at Claire’s legs again.I failed. The dress hit mid-thigh, and sitting, it rode even higher. Swallowing, I tore my eyes up to her face, but she looked around the pub. A loose curl of red had slipped over her shoulder and lay against her neck, enticing me to reach out and drag my fingers over her pulse point. I sat on the hand that wasn’t gripping the pen to avoid reaching out like a maniac.
‘Beer? Wine?’ I asked.
‘Whatever won’t get me run out of town.’ Claire fixed me with a sunny smile, and my knees buckled as I stood.
‘A long drink,’ Dad advised. ‘Wine makes Kenny think you’re from the city and he punishes you with music questions from the 70s.’
‘Iamfrom the city.’ Claire shrugged.
‘That’s slander,’ Kenny called over, without looking up from his sheet.
‘I’ll have a vodka and lemonade, please.’
I made my way to the bar and topped up the round for everyone. By the time I returned, I found Claire leaning in toward Isla, who whispered and giggled in her ear.
Good god.What had I done? I may as well have thrown her to the wolves. Not that Scotland had wolves, but throwing her to the highland cows didn’t quite have the same ring to it.
‘You’re allowed to whisper, but not shout,’ Isla said as I sat. ‘Owen pretends he’s not competitive, but you’ve never seen him playing Uno.’
‘Lies,’ I said, placing down the drinks and sitting next to Claire, separating her from the gossip-monger that I called a sister.
‘He’s quiet but relentless.’ Jeff reached over for his pint and winked.
‘Welcome to team Cask Force,’ Isla said, dragging the sheet toward her and scribbling.
‘That’s terrible,’ Claire laughed.
‘He named us,’ Isla said, pointing at Jeff.
‘It’s funny.’ Jeff opened another packet of crisps and stuffed a handful in his mouth.
We found a rhythm. Claire was shy at first, but by her third drink, it was like she’d always been a part of the team. A puzzle piece that I hadn’t noticed was missing. Every time I felt her eyes slide to me, I’d look over only for her to be looking anywhere else. But she didn’t move the leg that pressed against mine away. Heat tumbled from her skin, and I missed half a dozen questions, lost in her proximity. Claire smelled like sugared lemons or sherbet, and I wanted to see if she tasted the same way.
She laughed with her whole face when Dad threw out a ridiculous answer as a joke and then cackled when it turned out to be right.
Across the room, Eilidh caught my eye from her table and grinned while Morag rotated in her chair to stare openly until Alastair nudged her.
