Page 63 of Blindsided
Mac appears relaxed as he walks up to the front door and stands back to let everyone pass through. I’m last through the entrance, and I try to sneak by him, but he grabs my hand and pulls me back into him.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks, crooking his hand under my chin so I’m forced to look up at him. “Are we in a fight?”
I plaster on a smile. “Not at all. I’m fine. This is lovely!”
He’s not buying it. “You were quiet on the plane.”
“You mean the private jet?” I state with a laugh. “I was just…taking it all in. That was my first time travelling like that.”
Mac furrows his brow at me. “You’re off.”
I shake my head. “Nope. Just excited for the weekend.”
He tilts his head. “You’ll tell me if something’s wrong, right?”
“Of course, pal.” I smile brightly and smack his arm.
He looks confused but lets me go inside with the others.
God, Freya. Your poker face needs some serious work!
Mac waltzes in behind me and lets out a quick whistle to get everyone’s attention. “So there are exactly eight bedrooms, and it’s first come, first serve, except for the bunk bed room on the third floor. I’ve claimed that one for the two singles of the weekend.”
He points at me with a big, goofy smile. “Freya, if the bunk bed is rocking, don’t come knocking!”
The guys hoot with laughter at Mac’s seriously disturbing joke, which I painfully smile through. “Duly noted.” I swing my fist in front of me like a pirate for reasons I’ll never truly understand.
Mac shoots me a wink like he’s just working on a ruse and then adds, “We’re free until seven o’clock, and then we’ll be walking to the town centre for a dinner reservation I lined up. Let’s meet back down here in about three hours?”
The couples all scamper off up the stairs to claim their rooms while I turn to take in the rest of the house. It’s completely divine in all its charming, old-fashioned, grandmother-styled glory. Floral wallpaper, frilly drapes. Marble fireplace. Original crown moulding. Doilies on every end table with tiny little porcelain knickknacks. Even the lace tablecloth in the formal dining area is so quaint, I fall in love with Mac’s grandmother without having ever met her.
When I reach the back of the house, I gasp as I step into the conservatory sun lounge and take in the stunning water view.
“That’s the Isle of Arran,” Mac’s voice states as he stands close enough to my back that I can feel the heat of him.
“Quite a view,” I murmur, exhaling heavily as I take in the long, lush garden that breaks away into a sandy beach.
“The mountains of Arran are off there in the distance.” Mac rests a hand on my hip as he points to the right. “We call them ‘the sleeping giant’ because it looks like a man laid down in the water from the coastline.”
I squint at the sight. “I can see it.”
Mac’s warmth breath blows into my hair as he huffs. “Aye, on a really clear day, you can see it even better and the sunsets are really something.”
I turn to glance up at him. “It’s beautiful here.”
He tips me a crooked smile. “Of course, I grew up inland with my folks in Dundonald. But I came out here to help out on the weekends whenever I could.” Suddenly, he reaches down and grabs my bag. “This way to your chambers, my lady.” He waggles his brows at me suggestively. “Allow me to show you to our kiddie room.”
I follow him up the two levels to the loft area, where he has to duck to fit through the doorway. There’s a small loo attached and the single bunkbeds are perched on a rustic set that looks like it was made out of recycled barn wood.
“I’ll take top,” Mac says with a wink as he drops my bag on the lower bed. “Most people would look at this room and think it’s the worst of the lot. But…”
Mac walks over, grabs my hand, and leads me to the long, narrow window. He stands behind me and holds my waist as he positions me in front of the pane glass. “It has the best view of the house for some people.”
I look around blankly for a moment before my jaw drops. “Whose horses are those?” I ask, pressing my hand to the glass and staring out at the big hulking animals grazing in a small paddock off in the distance.
Mac’s body shakes with silent laughter. “The barn and the pasture belong to the property here, but my grandad rents it out to a local farmer with horses.”
“Oh my God, can we go see them? Please?”
