I didn’t have the answers, but I also didn’t want her to stop talking. The sound of her voice was soothing, and I hadn’t realized how badly I wanted to hear it until right this minute.
“He says it’s a new trend that will easily take over the town.”
A small smirk played across her lips as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Really? And would this be something you’d be interested in wearing?”
I nodded. I didn’t know why. Kilts were not something I ever wanted to wear, but if it extended this conversation, I’d put on a kilt every fucking day of the week.
For her eyes only.
“And where exactly would you wear a kilt?”
My brain scrambled for any ideas that might sound even half decent right now. And the only thing I could come up with slipped out before I could think it all the way through.
“Highland games!”
A huff of laughter left her lips as she stared at me. “Are you serious?”
“Tourist attraction,” I added, just running with it. “My family is part Scottish, and I know others have a similar heritage.”
“Yeah, probably half the people in the United States could claim they’re part Scottish. I don’t see them running around wearing kilts.”
“No, but…”
Quick! Think, dammit!
“But we could host the Highland games here, and it would bring in more business to the town. And with that popular book series, it would increase foot traffic to the bookshop.”
“While we’re at it, how about we open a Scottish restaurant, too?”
“We could do that,” I agreed. “It would be a whole festival.”
I was rambling. God, I sounded so fucking stupid, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself. And the longer this went on, I knew she would only push for me to go through with it. If I wanted to spend any time with this woman ever again, I would have to see it through.
Or admit why I was really here.
“Sure, Ryder. You bring it to the city council, and when you get approval for your Highland games, I’ll start carrying kilts in the shop.”
Swallowing hard, I nodded, taking a step back. This had disaster written all over it. I was going down in flames, and no one was around to put out the fire.
“Okay.”
“Okay,” she smiled at me, though it was a devious smile filled with hatred, vengeance, and a bit of humor.
I turned and fled as casually as a man who’d just made a fool of himself could do. There was no fixing what I’d just done, and if I went through with this, I’d have to get other people interested in it.
And frankly, I wasn’t sure anyone could even tell me what they did at the Highland games.
“So, how’d it go?” Mav asked, a huge shit-eating grin on his face.
“Shut up.”
I got in my car and slammed the door, but Mav leaned on the window, tipping his hat up at me. “Just so you know, I think the Highland games are a great idea.”
I put the car in reverse and peeled out, ignoring his boisterous laughter the whole way home.
I felther at my door, waiting hesitantly on the other side as she tried to work up the courage to knock. Every fucking day was the same. She had questions, but couldn’t bring herself to ask them. And every day, I waited, hoping today was the day she finally felt comfortable enough to step forward and speak without assuming I would yell at her.
“Um…sir?”
