There may be hope for a family, after all.
15
Melissa glanced at herself in the mirror one last time, adjusting her dress and ensuring that everything was in place. Isla had made sure that the tendrils of her blonde hair were neatly tucked into a bun for the fancy dinner Daniel was hosting. She hated the fact that they hadn’t had a minute to themselves before dinner, but she knew that her presence was expected.
“Ye ready?” Daniel asked as he popped his head around the door that Isla had left ajar.
“Yes,” Melissa replied, walking over and taking his arm. “I’m ready.” She had felt a shyness toward him since they had been intimate, but she reminded herself that their guests were waiting and that there would be plenty of time later on for her to think over everything else.
Melissa followed Daniel’s lead as they made their way to the banquet hall. She secretly marveled at the handsome picture he cut in his plaid kilt and black coat.
The aromas of venison that wafted from the hall quickly filled her nostrils and made her stomach rumble. They walked through the doors and took their seat with the rest of the guests as Daniel made the introductions, paying special attention to a man named Hamish McTavish.
“You remember me sister,” Hamish said, gesturing toward a raven-haired, green-eyed woman who was beaming at Daniel with the enthusiasm and longing of someone who had missed his company and charm.
“Fiona…” Daniel said, taking the woman’s hand and greeting her courteously. “How long has it been? Of course, I could never forget ye.”
“Feels like yesterday to me,” Fiona replied in a seductive tone that made Melissa’s stomach burn with anger.
Melissa took an instant dislike to the raven-haired beauty and the way she devoured Daniel with her eyes. It dawned on her that Fiona must have been one of Daniel’s many conquests and very possibly the woman that Isla had been referring to.
“This is me beautiful wife, Melissa,” Daniel said, stepping aside and introducing his wife to Fiona.
“Pleased to meet you,” Hamish said, kissing Melissa’s hand. “Beautiful, indeed.”
Melissa took note of the shiny bald spot on the top of the man’s head as he bowed to kiss her hand. He was a short squat man that seemed to be in his late forties with a belly that jiggled whenever he spoke.
“Pleased to meet you…” Fiona purred as she shot Melissa a challenging glance. “I’m so surprised to see that the most eligible rake of Scotland has now been tamed.” She glanced at Daniel as she spoke.
“Oh, he’s anything but tame,” Melissa retorted, not wanting to back down from the challenge that the woman was clearly presenting to her. Grabbing Daniel’s hand, she squeezed it once before addressing Fiona again. “Just exclusively wild now.”
There was laughter all around the table, and Melissa could feel Daniel gently squeezing her hand in approval.
“I hope everyone is hungry,” Daniel said as he looked at his guests and gestured toward the feast that had been spread out over the table. “We can begin.”
Melissa was grateful that he tried to put a stop to the ever-escalating battle of wits between her and Fiona, but she had a feeling that their dinner was going to be a long one.
Daniel took his seat by her side and offered her a glass of wine before pouring a mug of ale for himself. It touched her heart that he’d remembered her aversion to ale since the last time they had drunk together.
She couldn’t help but notice the way Fiona glanced at him with every opportunity that she got. She made note of the way the woman’s face would change whenever Daniel paid her a compliment or touched her hand.
“Daniel…” Fiona reached out across the table and subtly ran her fingers over his hand. “Do you remember that one summer up at the loch where we all went fishing and I fell into the water, and ye saved me?” She gave him a sultry smile while batting her eyelashes.
“Aye, I remember,” Daniel replied with a polite smile, trying to turn toward Melissa as he removed his hand and placed it on his knee.
Fiona seemed unperturbed by his lack of interest and gave a laugh that made the men turn and glance at her. “I was so wet that I had to remove most of me clothes an’ let them dry ‘afore we could go home again.”
“That’s my husband, always helping those who cannot help themselves.” Melissa turned toward Daniel and lovingly placed her hand on his shoulder. “Do you remember the time you saved me before our wedding?” she whispered in his ear, but loud enough for Fiona to hear.
“Aye,” Daniel responded, taking her hand and kissing it. “I cannae forget that.”
She felt her stomach flutter at his attentions despite the fact that she knew she was trying to win a battle against one of his possible former lovers.
“Always the gentleman, our good Laird.” Hamish laughed and raised his mug in the air.
“Well—” Fiona laughed while shooting Melissa a deadly glare.
“We all have a past,” Daniel said quickly, cutting her off before she could start another round of remarks. “But what matters is the future.” He took Melissa’s hand and kissed it again.
