“Almost four years,” Luna says, blushing a bit. “I’m not sure if I’m wildly fertile or the MacTavish swimmers are Olympic level swimmers, but…”
“Likely a mixture of both,” Arabella chuckles, “I think we got pregnant the first time we tried.”
“I am impressed and possibly a little freaked out,” I admit.
“While it may not appear that way,” Arabella says, “the MacTavishes are big on family planning. As in, thewivesdecide when they’re ready to have children.”
“That’s refreshing.” I tried to keep away from my dad’s business, but I’d heard many stories about young arranged wives getting knocked up immediately, and repeatedly. Sam told me once that it was a grotesque method of control, that women were less likely to try to escape their miserable match if their children were involved.
Luna’s watching me, not unkindly, more like trying to figure me out. “You’ll be pleasantly surprised,” she says gently. “These men are all Scottish Yetis, stomping around and bellowing. But with their wives? It’s a different story.”
***
The little cafe is beautiful, the chef’s backyard filled with a handful of tables, hawthorn and elder bushes have grown high enough to block out the surrounding shops and homes and the industrial kitchen’s doors are open, sending out heavenly smells.
The bodyguards pull together several tables for us and then back away, each taking their corner to watch, but allowing us some privacy.
“Are they going to eat?” I ask. Wyatt and I almost always ate together, and Talon really has no choice, I force the poor man to sit with me.
“They’ll take turns,” Edin assures me. “It’s overkill, but ye canna change a MacTavish man’s certainty that we’re about to be murdered in some horrifying fashion at any minute.” She’s signing as she talks, casually, confidently like it’s second nature.
“Bad timing, cousin.” Arabella nods at me, “Are you forgetting that Afton was nearly shot into Swiss cheese yesterday?”
“Ah, shite,” Edin really does look remorseful. “I dinnae think of that.”
“It’s not the first time I’ve been shot at.” I take a big gulp of wine, because yesterday was terrifying even though I won’t admit it. “And I’m sure it won’t be the last.”
“Fortunately, the Kelly Mob won’t be seen or heard from ever again,” Luna says. “That’s the only reason I could calm down Kai long enough to get out of the house.”
They all raise a glass to her. “Hear, hear!” Eilidh laughs, “I really think Kai is the most over the top when it comes to being wildly overprotective.”
Then, they all turn to look at me.
Crap.
“Knowing my brother, I don't think he’s hovering too much?” Eilidh asks.
Time to deflect.
“Tell me why Edin speaks with a strong Scottish accent, while you sound more Canadian, like Mason?”
They exchange a smile. “We’re not the matchy-matchy sort,” Eilidh says. “Edin came to Scotland for University and went hard core Glaswegian, the thick as molasses accent you hear now. I still speak like a proper Canadian.”
Now, distract.
“I see that I’m going to need to learn sign language,” I say, “I learned a little in high school, but that’s American Sign Language. I’m guessing you’re using BSL here?”
“Ye probably noticed that it’s for me,” Arabella smiles. “If ye face me, I can read your lips.”
“What a wonderful skill!” Iamimpressed. “That must be so helpful.”
“Arabella is this family’s James Bond, I swear,” Luna adds. “She met Logan when she saved his life.” She launches into the story of how Arabella read the lips of two men plotting to murder Logan, and how everything spiraled wildly out of control.
“Traditionally, thisishow a MacTavish gets married,” Edin says, “some wildly passionate or dangerous moment, a ring goes on the finger and it’s happily ever after, aye?”
There’s a little pause, like they’re all remembering that I’m the not-entirely willing wife in an arranged marriage.
“That’s an amazing story,” I say encouragingly. “Luna, did you have the same kind of meet-cute?”
