I’ve got a forkful of carrots halfway to my mouth when I freeze, mid-bite, at his next sentence.
“Ran into a certain Dougal Reilly in town today.”
My brother?
I drop my fork onto my plate with a clatter.
“Is that right?” Leith asks, his dark brows drawing together. My heart beats a little faster. I’dlovefor my arsehole of a brother to come toe to toe with Leith when he looks likethat.
“Aye,” Mac says. “Pumping petrol, and he had the nerve to come up to me and accuse me of stepping too close to his bloody car.”
“Really?” Leith is clearly interested, and the look on his face makes me feel as if he’s thinking about how he’d handle someone who provoked him on an errand.
“Are you older or younger than your brother?” Flora tips her head to the side curiously. I look to Leith, hoping he’ll give me some guidance on how to respond.
I text him and he translates for the rest of them. “She’s younger, by four years.”
Their mum nods. We all take hearty portions of Scotch broth, a savory soup with leeks and turnip floating in a rich broth. I eat every single blessed bite. It warms me through, my belly pleasantly full.
Paisley clears her throat. “And now I’d like to propose a trip next weekend. Leith’s expressed some reticence, but I’ve already made my plans.”
Leith’s eyes darken. “Where to?”
She holds her head high. “Paris.”
“No fucking way.”
“Leith!” his mum says, but he ignores her and shakes his head.
“You’re not going that far when our Clan could be in danger, Paisley.”
She opens her mouth to protest, but he pushes on.
“I agree,” their dad says, frowning as he takes another bite of his food. He nods. “Leith is right, it’s too risky right now.”
Paisley’s cheeks flush pink and her eyes look bright. “When aren’t we in danger, hmm? Honest to God, it’s always something, isn’t it?”
“Aye, I agree,” Islan says. “You should let her go.”
They begin a right ruckus of an argument, but I quietly eat my dinner in silence, not a text or bit of eye contact with the lot of them. Frankly, I understand her desire to travel and go out with friends, but I also understand why Leith doesn’t want her to goso far away from home. I saw what those men did to Father MacGowen, and I know they won’t stop at anything to exact revenge if they know it’s the Cowen family responsible for the death of their friend.
Dinner is so delicious I hardly even hear the argument that ensues, I’m so intent on the buttery rolls and savory roast, flavored with roasted garlic and onions, so delicious it fairly melts in my mouth. I’m taking a second helping of roasted carrots when Paisley pushes away from the table in a torrent of tears and fairly runs from the room.
“For the love of God,” Tate says to Leith. “You don’t have to be so strict, Leith. You’re worse than Dad was.” Their father grumbles at this.
“But I fuckingdo,” Leith says, glaring at him.
“Why?” Mac says, frowning. “She’s not a bloody prisoner.”
Leith glares, clearly outnumbered. “Need I remind a single bloody person at this table what happened to Tavish?”
His mother gets up from the table and rushes out after Paisley. Islan shakes her head, stands, and hands me the paperback book. “Here, love,” she says. “Could keep you entertained when my fuckin’ crabbit of a brother isn’t.”
She stalks off before he can respond. I look down in surprise at the book, and blink at the cover. Wow, that guy on the coverishot, all sweat-slicked muscles and strength. I look from the book to Leith and back again, before I quickly hide it on my lap. I don’t want him to get all weird about it, and I really would like to have a look at it.
“Sometimes, you have to make hard decisions,” their dad says. “I know it isn’t easy, son, but it’s part of your responsibility.”
Leith shakes his head. “Don’t I know it, Dad.”
