Chapter Four
Rhodes held open thedoor to the Italian restaurant and Mairi entered, smiling at the hostess.When he placed a hand on her lower back, they were escorted to a table partly obscured by a potted fern.The low lighting provided an intimate atmosphere she wasn’t sure set the right tone of the conversation she was about to have with him.
The waitress came over and took their drink order, and when she came back, she brought a sliced-up baguette and olive oil to dunk the pieces in.Mairi took a deep breath.
“That’s not a good look,” he teased.
“Yeah, there’s something I need to talk with you about.”
“Okay,” he said.He dipped some bread in the oil and then ate it, not looking disturbed at her declaration.“Does this have something to do with the Scottish wolf?”
“I guess I don’t have to explain that part.”
He smiled at her.“Esmeralda has been telling every person who walks into the diner about the man with the brogue.And since you have a more delicate one, figured it wasn’t a coincidence.”
Mairi rolled her eyes.“Of course, she did.I swear, she’s the biggest gossip.”
“I take it he’s here for personal reasons.”
She nodded.
“Andyouare his personal reason?”
Again, she nodded.
“Why don’t you start from the beginning?”
“His name is Tavish MacAlary and his grandmother and mine were great friends.His grandmother insisted he get a wife to gain controlling interest in the family business, and mine offered me up.”
“I see,” he remarked.The waitress returned with their order and when they were alone once more, he cocked his head.“You married him.”
It wasn’t a question.“Aye,” she affirmed.“By proxy.”
“Proxy?”he asked, sounding surprised.“You’re telling me, as gorgeous and as sweet as you are, he didn’t even show up for the wedding?”
“Neither of us wanted that.”
He cocked his head.“I don’t think so.You wanted the romance.”
