Emma dragged herself back to the matter at hand and looked at Sunny’s sister. “You know, on second thought—”
“Oh, no,” Sunny said cheerfully, “you don’t want any of those. Come on, this will be fun.”
Emma held on to the handle of the suitcase she shouldn’t have packed in such a rush. “I’ll be okay,” she said firmly. “I’m already paid through the week here and—” She had to take a deep breath, because she simply couldn’t bring herself to finish that sentence.
She was paid through the week, damn it, and she didn’twant to spend the money to double book herself into another place, especially since she hadn’t asked for a refund at her current spot. She hadn’t dared. Mrs. Southerton had checked her out, then tapped herNo refunds, no matter the reasonsign meaningfully. Emma had realized there was no point in arguing.
That she’d even had to contemplate arguing was, in short, devastating. One of her less savory reasons for having come to Scotland had been to get away from a rather messy past—more particularly her ex-boyfriend, who had contributed so heavily to that messy past. That he should be continuing to make life miserable for her shouldn’t have surprised her. That he had tried to get her kicked out of her accommodations surprised her even less. What baffled her was how he’d known where she was, but that was maybe something she could think about later.
She took a deep breath and looked at her companions in turn. “I honestly do appreciate the rescue, but I can handle this. I had a moment of weakness there, but I’m fine now.”
Madelyn touched her arm briefly. “Emma, let us help you, just this once. Sunny and I have both been where you are.” She paused. “Well, Sunny might not have been, because she’s had the good sense to date great guys, but I understand completely what it’s like to be involved with someone who turns out to be the world’s biggest jerk.” She smiled. “When I came to Scotland to take my dream vacation, my ex-fiancé got here first and just about ruined my life.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’ll happen,” Emma protested, in a last-ditch effort not to impose. “Sheldon’s annoying, but I can handle him.”
Madelyn looked at her in surprise. “Sheldon? Sheldon Cook?”
Emma knew she was wearing the same look. “Yes, actually,” she said in astonishment. “Do you know him?”
Madelyn reached over and took Emma’s suitcase from her. “I’ve had a few legal dramas with him. Please, let me have the chance to make his life miserable.” She shook her head. “How in the world did you ever get mixed up with him?”
“It’s a long story,” Emma began.
“Fabulous,” Sunny said, taking her backpack away from her. “We have plenty of time. My husband’s in London, so I’mcamping out with Maddy. You can fill us both in over dinner.”
“Then we’ll deal with finding you somewhere else to stay.” Madelyn looked at Sunny. “Jamie has that little place not far from the lake that he bought last year. Wouldn’t that be perfect?”
“It would be,” Sunny agreed. “Great location.”
Madelyn looked at her sister blankly, then she smiled faintly. “Well, I understand the view is excellent.”
“That’s what I’ve heard, too,” Sunny said with an answering smile.
Emma suspected something was going on, but she didn’t bother to pry. Her own sisters were famous for inside jokes between themselves, so she understood how that went.
“I know my brother-in-law has been looking for someone to stay in the place and air it out,” Madelyn said. “I’d honestly be very surprised if he didn’t pay you to do him the favor.”
“But you don’t even know me,” Emma said. She looked at Sunny. “I only took your class for a few months—”
“And wasn’t that a fortuitous crossing of our paths?” Sunny said with a smile. “You need a place to crash, Jamie needs a property manager, and Maddy wants to give grief to some scumbag lawyer I’m guessing annoyed her back in Seattle.” She slung the backpack over her shoulder. “Everyone wins.”
Emma attempted a smile, but failed. “I don’t know what to say.”
“No need to say anything,” Madelyn said cheerfully. “We’re thrilled to have company. Oh, there’s Pat parked over there. Let’s get home and get dinner started.”
Emma would have attempted a last protest that their help was just too much for her to accept, but she found herself too busy trailing after the Phillips sisters across the garden and over to the side gate. Emma guessed that was indeed Madelyn’s husband getting out of that SUV parked there. He opened the back up, then turned to look at them.
She almost had to sit down.
He looked so much like the guy she’d seen before in the medieval costume, she could have sworn they were brothers.
“Pat, this is Emma Baxter,” Madelyn said. “Emma, my husband, Patrick.”
Emma shook his hand and babbled something she hopeddidn’t sound completely unhinged. It took her a moment or two to rein in her surprise.
“Do you have a brother?” she asked, because that sounded more reasonable than asking him if he himself routinely dressed in a kilt and faded in and out of mist in the woods. She wasn’t sure how wondering the same about a potential brother was any different, but she was really reaching for anything that sounded remotely normal.
Patrick MacLeod looked slightly startled. “One, aye. Do you know him?”
