Page 127 of The Defiant Curse

“BABE!” she said, jumping up and kissing him. As soon as she did, he cuddled her.

How could he not?

“How’s my lass, and why is she trying to distract me?” he asked, amused. “Because when you hang out with these rapscallions, trouble is all around you. I know my best friend.”

Elizabeth just laughed.

Where the hell had he pulled that word out of the dictionary? She wasn’t sure, but she kind of liked it. She might just take that home when she went.

Elizabeth shrugged.

“I’m not lying to the Scottish police. So, someone else take this. I’m off duty.”

Immediately, Finn set Gabby free, and leaned in to hug Elizabeth.

“Lassie, welcome to Scotland. It’s good seeing you, Honey,” he said.

While he’d only met her in the US when he’d helped Gabby pack up her condo, he knew that his wife loved Elizabeth like she was a sister.

So that meant it was one more woman in his brood of siblings.

“How was your stay so far? And thank you for not finding any bodies.”

Both Graham and Michael began laughing.

A little too much.

That should have told Finn everything.

Uh-oh.

“Why is my bestie and his beau amused by that. What have you done?” he asked his wife as she sat down, and he pulled up a chair to join them.

The waitress brought him a coffee, and he thanked her.

Gabby just grinned.

“You’re just in time, Inspector McKnight,” she said. “Apparently, the castle is a-rocking, and I’m going a-knocking.”

He stared at her.

“Oh, lads, say it isn’t true. We put this to bed. Please tell me it’s not awake.”

Michael shook his head.

“Well, the lake and painting got one look at her, and it all went wonky,” he stated.

His coffee cup paused halfway to his mouth.

“Did that actually make sense? I’m confused.”

They told him about the lake and the painting. Then, they told him about what happened last night.

Now, they were all caught up.

“Oh, Jaysus. Not again.”

Elizabeth laughed.