I roll my eyes."I've always been alive, unless you think I'm a zombie now."
Dad steps forward, giving me a much gentler hug before turning his attention to Kirk.My father does that slow, sideways sweep I've seen many times before.Bert Carver is assessing the situation with the same squinty stare that made Bobby Jenkins wet himself at prom when he brought me home fifteen minutes late.
"And who might this be?"Dad asks, his tone deceptively casual.
Kirk strides forward, extending his hand with the kind of confidence I both envy and admire."I'm Kirk Balfour, sir.It's a pleasure to meet you both."
Dad's handshake lingers a second longer than necessary, his grip visibly tightening."Bert Carver.And this is my wife, Alvena."
Kirk doesn't flinch or even blink at Dad's intimidation tactics.He simply smiles and turns to Mom with a slight bow of his head."Mrs.Carver, I can see where Gretchen gets her beauty."
Mom actually giggles and flutters her hand in front of her face as if she's suddenly been transported to a Jane Austen novel."Oh my, aren't you charming, young man?And that accent!Just delicious."
Delicious?Did my mother really just call Kirk delicious?Like she wants to devour him?Sheesh.
I shift awkwardly beside Kirk, watching my mom practically melt at his feet.My father is still sizing him up.
"So, Mr.Balfour," Dad says, emphasizing the word mister, "what exactly do you do here in Scotland?"
Kirk stands a little straighter, and I can feel the tension radiating off him despite his easy smile."I'm a professional stuntman, sir.I work primarily in film and television, though I also do promotional events for local businesses.I've done stunt work in other countries as well."
Dad's eyebrows shoot up."A stuntman?Like jumping off buildings and crashing cars?"
"Among other things, aye."Kirk's voice remains steady, but I notice his right hand flexing slightly at his side, which tells me he's feeling nervous.I shuffle a half-step closer to him in silent support.
"Kirk's the best in the business," I blurt out, hoping to head off any truly awkward questions."He just did this amazing stunt for a whisky commercial that was absolutely mind-blowing."
Mom beams at Kirk as if he's just handed her a winning lottery ticket."That sounds so exciting!We'd love to hear all about it, wouldn't we, Bert?"
Dad grunts something that might be agreement or might be a warning.It can be hard to tell with him.
"Why dinnae we all sit down?"Thane suggests, gesturing toward the hotel's restaurant."I've reserved a table for us.I thought it might be nice for you to meet some of the local community while you're visiting your daughter."
I blink at him, wondering when this turned into a group event."Thane, I appreciate that, but I'm pretty sure my parents would prefer a quiet dinner, just the four of us."I squeeze Kirk's arm, feeling the tension in his bicep."Right, Mom?Dad?"
To my surprise, Mom shakes her head."Actually, honey, we'd love to meet your new friends.When in Scotland, as they say."
"No one says that, Mom," I mutter, but she's already being swept away by Thane's enthusiastic tour-guide routine, pointing out the antique fixtures and explaining the hotel's history.
Dad hangs back, falling into step beside Kirk and me as we follow."So, how exactly did you two meet?"
Kirk clears his throat."We met right here in the village, sir.She walked into the café in Loch Fairbairn where I was enjoying a meal alone.Gretchen didn't see me at first.Eventually, she noticed me, and I offered to show her around the village.The rest, as they say, is history."
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kirk
Gretchen's father seems on the edge of calling me out on the sanitized version of events his daughter fed him, as if he sensed the erotic tension between us.But I dinnae blame Bert Carver for being suspicious.If I had a daughter, and she brought home some laddie I'd never heard of, I'd slug him in the gut.Bert must feel that way about my relationship with Gretchen.So, it's up to me to smooth the way.
Mr.Carver squints at me faintly."How long have you been...showing her around?"
Gretchen's eyes flick to mine briefly in a silent question that hangs between us.She gives me a small smile, and I wink at her.
"Not long, sir," I admit."But sometimes you just know when you've found someone special."
Bert makes a noncommittal sound in the back of his throat, but I catch the slight softening around his eyes.It's subtle.Most people wouldn't notice.But catching subtle body language cues is a talent I worked hard to achieve.It's often useful in my line of work.Aye, stuntmen need varied skills to stay alive.
Thane gestures toward the restaurant entrance, where the rest of the party is already gathering.I notice Alvena has gotten swept up in a conversation with Fiona Sterling, the two women chatting like old friends despite having met mere minutes ago.The easy way Gretchen's mother fits into this world---my world---gives me hope that maybe Bert will temper his attitude toward me eventually.
