He nodded, glancing down his body. “I thought it would feel like I was wearing a dress, but I’ve gotta admit. I feel pretty cool in this thing.”
“It suits you,” I said, but what I was really thinking about was what might be under his kilt.
He grinned. “Yeah?”
I nodded. “Just like the Scottish Vikings of yore.”
“Well, alright then,” Arric said with a grin.
“I…I really should get back out there,” I stammered. Fighting to compose myself.
He nodded, closing the distance between us, and leaning down to kiss my cheek. “I’ll walk with you.”
I smiled. “Thanks.”
We made our way back to the party and before I knew it, it was time for dinner and Arric and I were separated again. I found myself between my brother, Callum, and my cousin, Killian, and I laughed when I noticed a frog on my chair.
Unlike when we were young, however, this one was rubber.
“Oh my god, you little shit,” I whispered, when it took me a moment to figure out it wasn’t real.
Killian roared with laughter, drawing attention to both of us. I saw Arric glare daggers at my cousin, but I shook my head at him, silently begging him not to make a scene.
I held the frog up and glared at my Uncle Brodie. “You created this monster.”
“Boy!” he growled, and Killian’s eyes dropped.
“Sorry, Da.”
“Why don’t we all have a seat?” my father suggested, and everyone waited until I’d taken mine, then the other ladies, before taking their own.
“Happy birthday, cuz,” Killian said, handing me a small box under the table.
“What did you do?”
He grinned. “Open it and find out.”
I opened the box and found a black bracelet made out of horsehair, with a silver Celtic knot playing center stage. “Oh my god, Kill, this is so pretty.”
“It’s Hershey’s tail, well, some of it.”
I gasped. “What? Really?”
“Yeah. Ahearn let me cut a bit off.”
I wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him in for a hug. “I love, love, love it. Thank you.”
He needs to get his hands off her.
I ignored Arric’s angry voice, kissing Killian’s cheek before releasing him and slowly focusing on Arric. His eyes were narrowed in Killian’s direction and I sighed.
Stop.
Arric’s eyes flew to me, but not before I looked away. I had to be careful unless I wanted to blow my whole playing dumb act.
“Help me put it on?” I asked Killian.
“You don’t want to wear it now,” he countered. “It doesn’t match your frock.”
