“I love it here,” I said honestly.
We went inside and Merrie fed me as if I were a starving peasant child who’d just survived a winter of the plague or something. And, of course, growing boy that I still was in my head, if nowhere else, I ate every bite.
“Steak and ale pie for dinner,” Merrie called as she started to clean up.
I was so full I didn’t know if I could move, and I leaned back happily. “Thank you,” I told her. I turned to Isla. “I’m going to need to do some serious working out if I’m going to eat like this the whole time I’m here.”
“You can come to kickboxing class with me.”
“I haven’t done anything like that in a while,” I said. “Sounds fun.”
“Mostly I run, but I’ve been doing kickboxing once a week, and of course, I ride as often as I can.”
“Ride?”
She cocked her head. “Horses.”
“I knew there were horses on the grounds but…” My voice trailed off. “For some reason, it never occurred to me that you actually ride them.”
Her eyes met mine and then we both laughed. “They need to be ridden and exercised or they get fat and lazy. Plus, it’s not good for them to be ignored. We have a lovely stable of horses. Mine is a thoroughbred, a mare I call Sassenach.”
“Sassenach? Isn’t that something from Outlander?”
Isla rolled her eyes. “Yes, but that’s not why I named her that. She came from England and lives here now, which is essentially the definition of the word Sassenach. I call her Sassy for short. She’s a spirited but loving animal and I don’t pay her enough attention. Would you like to meet her?”
“I would.”
“Do you ride?”
“I’ve been on a horse a handful of times, but I won’t claim to be an experienced rider.”
“Well, if you’re up for a ride tomorrow, Sassy needs exercise and I’m sure Aladdin wouldn’t mind a ride with a novice.”
“Aladdin?”
“He’s old, and a bit lazy, so no desire to run and jump. He’ll be good for a beginner like you. Perhaps Merrie can pack us a picnic lunch and I can show you parts of the grounds that you probably haven’t seen before.”
“I’d like that.”
“Consider it a date.” We smiled at each other.
“Dax, your parents R.S.V.P.’d to the wedding,” Constance said, joining us at the table. “I was thinking I’d invite them to stay here at the castle and you could stay at the hotel. What do you think?”
“I think they’d love it,” I responded. “My mother will lose her mind exploring the castle.”
“And I’d love to spend some time with her.” Constance’s eyes twinkled. “Especially now that you and Isla are involved.”
I smiled back at her, fully aware what she was up to and delighted to verbally spar with her even though I couldn’t be sure how much she knew. Isla had told me no one except Ian knew she’d made up the story about us dating, but I’d prepared myself for just about anything her family might throw at me.
“Just promise me you won’t get my mother started about grandchildren, okay?” I asked with a chuckle. “Once she sets her mind on something, she doesn’t let up, and it’s too soon for all that.”
“I promise.” Constance was grinning even though Isla was shaking her head.
“When will your parents arrive?” Isla asked me.
“Two days before the wedding, I think,” I told her. “I’ll double-check with them in a day or so.”
“It’ll be easier for you to stay at the hotel anyway,” Isla said, nodding. “That way you’ll be right there for all the festivities.”
“I’ll stay wherever is most convenient for everyone,” I replied. “As the best man, my job is to help, not get in anyone’s way.”
“Hopefully, we’ve done a good enough job with the planning,” Constance said, “that you won’t have to do much of anything but get Ian there on time and sober.”
I laughed. “I don’t think Ian has any plans to get shit-faced before the wedding. I don’t even think he’s nervous.”
“They do seem to be madly in love,” Constance said softly. “It’s nice to see my children finding the same happiness I had with their father.”
Isla and I glanced at each other, and I wasn’t sure what I saw in her eyes, but it did something weird to me. My chest got a little tight and my stomach knotted, as if this charade we were putting on was somehow far more serious than we were pretending it was. I wasn’t sure why, because this was really lighthearted fun right now, but my feelings for Isla were real and that part wasn’t a game to me.
“Do you want to go settle in?” Isla asked me, deftly changing the subject. “You may as well make yourself at home since there are still two weeks until the wedding.”
I nodded. “That sounds good.”
“We’ll see you at dinner then.” Constance nodded. “The lads will be home and are looking forward to seeing you.” She always referred to Isla’s brothers as “the lads,” collectively, and I’d gotten used to hearing her refer to them that way. “Not to mention, my father-in-law.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing everyone as well.”
“I’ll walk with you.” Isla got to her feet and we walked into the hallway that led to the stairs.
“Am I in my usual room?” I asked her.
“You are.”
“It feels like home away from home,” I said with a fond smile.
She cocked her head. “You really enjoy being here, don’t you?”
“Your family is pretty great and Ian’s like family to me anyway.”
“I’m sorry I’ve put you in the position of deceiving everyone,” she whispered. “That was never my intention.”
“Hey.” I reached out to slide an arm around her and pull her against me. “I’m a very willing participant. Besides, if my memory serves me right, our first official date is tomorrow.”
“Yes.” She smiled up at me. “I’m really looking forward to it, Dax.”
“Ditto.”
