“Do notmention that. Sore spot.”
“What’s a sore spot?” A smooth voice cut in. Jordyn swaggered toward us, hips rolling with queenly confidence in a bikini that shimmered gold against her dark skin. Everyone else had jumped in—steam rising off their clothes. I still wanted more than this thick denim, but she looked gorgeous.
“Nothing,” I muttered, dropping the subject.
“Whatis it?”
“Brody. Being broody,” Lachlan tried.
Jordyn’s eyes narrowed. “Lachlan MacKenzie, I already threatened to break your legs if you hurt Cutie Pie. Add to the list—I break legs when people lie.”
“No lie,” Jamie cut in, voice steady, as if he didn’t realize the potential pun. He stood off to the side, dressed in jean cutoffs that fell below his knees and a flannel shirt rolled to his elbows. The water lapped his ankles, but he seemed unbothered by the cold.
I tried to redirect, nodding toward the lake. “Why does everyone jump in fully clothed?”
“Tradition.” Jordyn tapped manicured stilettoed nails, arms folded. “Usually upon arrival. But everyone needed sleep.” Her eyes flicked back, sharp as knives. “Now spill.”
Lachlan rubbed the back of his neck. “Brody’s sore spot is … he has no sons.”
The words landed like a stone thrown into the loch. Jordyn’s expression froze, then hardened. The trickle effect stiffened her shoulders. She stormed toward the castle walls, wet footprints darkening the pale flagstones.
I started after her, guilt twisting my gut.
“Allow me,” Jamie murmured, already moving, his steady presence shadowing hers.
“No.” Something in my chest told me the newlyweds didn’t need another storm. Not today.
“Okay.” His fingers bounced against his long legs. So nervous. You’d think I’d asked him to leave his soulmate stranded on an island.
Figuring I had a few minutes before Jamie took over, I jogged up the path and into one of the many entrances, slamming into Rory. “Hey,” he picked up his phone and turned off the Live. “Did you speak with your cousin, Simona? We were all worriedwhen we, uh, told her we’d meet her at the hospital. My dad is angry about that. Mom and her decisions without updating us.”
“Simona didn’t mention it.” I shrugged. “Can’t be too angry. Sima agreed to warm up Pop and Uncle Simeon. Now, which room belongs to the newlyweds? And which is your parents? I’d like to … apologize about the other night.”
Rory gestured with his chin, and we strolled through a vast corridor, lined with stone pillars. “Don’t apologize, Natasha.”
“For my family? Yes, I must. But you can let me borrow your sweatshirt?”Before I freeze to death.
“Keep it. I’ve already done a couple of sponsored videos for the brand. Good money, but it ain’t my style.” He unknotted the bright red hoodie with Los Angeles in a spray-painted graffiti font from around his waist. “You wanna find my parents? The have their own tradition. They sneak off to a dock farther down the loch. Beautiful place.” His mouth twisted. “Never mind. Just apologize the next time you see them.”
“It’s beautiful? Like photography beautiful.”
“Among other things …” His throat cleared.
“Oh.” I got it. The MacKenzie genitors hadtheirown way of letting off steam in the cold. I thanked him for pointing me toward Jordyn and Jamie’s room. After a few minutes of knocking with no answer, I turned the carved iron knob and pushed open the heavy oak door. Empty, except for a bedazzled phone.
Back in the corridor, I caught sight of Jamie. He wasn’t storming exactly, but with his six-foot-seven frame and lean, muscled build, the ground quaked.
“Natasha.” His brogue thickened. A tremor flickered through his hand as he ran it through his long hair. “Wotdid she say?”
“She’s not in the room, Jamie. Sorry. Her phone’s on a chaise lounge. Let’s find her?”
He gave a stiff nod, jaw ticking. “Lach shouldn’t have said that!”
“I’m sorry.”
He shook his head, as though blaming wouldn’t help. “I’d give her anything, Natasha. Ahunnerbairns. My soldiers are marching. Trust me—she made us check.”
“And her eggs?” I frowned.Lord, give her a baby, please.
