“Umm,” she considered. “Possibly not, but strangers often come with such interesting surprises.”
“Och.” He raised an eyebrow in challenge. “If ’tis a surprise ye’re after, I’m happy tae oblige ye.”
She chuckled. “Well, maybe you’ll do, after all.” She laughed and kissed him on the cheek. “That’s your wages.”
“That’s the most ye pay for such heavy, back-bustin’ labor?”
She turned back to the boxes. “If you do a good job, perhaps there’ll be a bonus, later.”
“I’ll hold ye to it, lass,” Reginald laughed. He noticed Drew had pulled Julia aside and talking low, touched a curl near her face.
Phoebe, pretending to be busy at the kitchen counter, looked as satisfied as a cat with a saucer of cream.
Reginald winked at her.
“Oh!” she huffed, blushing a lovely pink.
* * *
Dinner had been simple,and delicious. Full and weary, Reginald embarrassingly found himself dozing off a few times, as he listened to everyone’s conversation.
Lauren laid a hand atop his and made lazy circles with her thumb, as she finished her coffee. ’Twas a devilish trick, but he wasnae sleepy, anymore.
“Thank you, ladies, for a such an entertaining day, and this wonderful dinner.” Drew rose from the table. “But I should go. It’s late, and I still have a few things to do before the party, tomorrow night.”
Julia stood, as well. “I’ll walk you out.”
“Thanks again, Drew,” Reginald said. “For everything.”
“And, thank you for driving Deidre, and putting up with a lot of boring women talk,” Lauren added.
Drew’s eyes were on Julia. “The pleasure was mine.” He shifted his attention back to everyone at the table. “I’ll come to escort you to the festivities, tomorrow. Around seven o’clock?”
They murmured their agreement as Drew accompanied Julia out the door.
Reginald turned to Lauren. “Walk with me?”
“The two of you go on. I’ll clean this up,” Phoebe instructed.
“No, Aunt Phoebe—”
“No arguing, my dear. My house, my rules.”
“Okay.” Lauren and Reginald rose in unison, “But I’ll do breakfast in the morning.”
“Scoot.” Phoebe ordered. “We’ll argue about tomorrow, when tomorrow gets here.”
Julia’s face was radiant, as she passed them on the porch. In the distance, Drew’s taillights faded into the trees.
Reginald put his arm around Lauren, tucking her close. “Do ye feel it?” He led her off the porch, toward the lane leading to the bridges.
“Feel what?”
“The night. The glen. This is how I hope ye’ll remember everything here.” He lifted his face to the stars. “A lifetime isnae long enough tae get my fill. No’ of the stars. Or the peace. Or ye.” He paused to gather her close. “There are no’ enough lifetimes tae convince ye how much I love ye, Lauren. Ye’ve captured my heart and my soul, and I dinnae ken how tae go back tae no’ lovin’ye.”
Alarm tightened her face. She laid her palms on his chest and eased back a little to look into his eyes. “What are you trying to say?”
“That I love ye beyond measure.”
