A frown crossed his face. “What became of your man? The one who left his clothes here?”
At his tone, she stiffened, then opened the linen closet to grab two towels and a washcloth to hide her discomfort. “It didn’t work out. We wanted different things.”
He made a sound in the back of his throat, but refrained from saying anything else.
“What of my plaid?”
Daisy wrinkled her nose. “That needs to be cleaned before you can wear it again. It’s covered in grime and it smells like something died in it.”
“Will ye put it in the wash?”
“No. It feels like wool, so I think we need to take it to a dry cleaner. We’ll drop it off today.”
He nodded. “As ye say, lass.”
Unwilling to touch the stinky kilt, she pointed to the kitchen.
“There are bags in the cabinet under the sink. Put it in a bag and we’ll take it with us.”
She stopped at the bathroom door. “I’m going to shower and then we’ll be on our way. Try not to break anything.”
But she said it with a smile and he grinned at her.
“Nay, I canna promise ye that, lass.”
CHAPTER 8
As they stepped out of the apartment and into the sunny day, Callan wasna sure about riding in the horseless carriage. A horse did what he bade the animal, but this—this little green car, was beyond him.
“’Tis so … so… green.” He settled on, dubiously eyeing the small car.
“Don’t say anything ugly about my little Kia Soul. She always gets me where I need to go.” Daisy patted the black dashboard.
Callan frowned at the car. Would he fit inside? ’Twas verra small. He shook his head. “Nay, I would not trust my life to such a thing.”
“Just get in.” She laughed, seeing the apprehensive look on his face.
The carriage, as he thought of it, moved at a good pace. The only thing he did not like was all the people on the road with them. Not knowing what they would do or if they would swerve into their lane had him clutching the seat and handle on the door as Daisy drove, oblivious to his rising panic.
“’Tis not natural to be traveling at such a pace with so many people so near to us.”
Daisy snorted. “I’m going twenty miles an hour, and we’re on a residential street. Take a deep breath and enjoy the ride. It’s nice to spend time together.”
“Lass, we have been together since ye offered me a place to stay.”
She nodded. “I know. Isn’t it great?”
The lass had not let him out of her sight except when he went to the bathing chamber. Mayhap she was lonely, with no man to provide for her or any family nearby. He knew what it was like not to have any family left and to lose a parent.
A few moments later, Callan unclenched his fists as she turned onto a less crowded street and parked. They had dropped off his plaid with a man who promised to care for it and see it returned to him.
The lass was talking about everything she wanted to show him as she had decided Callan had addled his wits, and seeing no reason to say otherwise, he went along with her.
But when she stepped out of the car, still talking, a man running past them, dressed in tiny red shorts and a red and white shirt so tight Callan wondered how the man could breathe, crashed into Daisy, sending her sprawling on the ground.
Before she gained her feet, Callan lifted her up, made sure she was whole, then whirled on the man.
“Apologize to the lass.”
