I turned back to her. “I know that.”
The teasing sparkle was gone from Lucy’s eyes. “It was strictly casual, my thing with Lachlan. Great sex with someone I felt safe with. But not at any point did I let my emotional guard down because I knew I’d get hurt. When he suggested we end things, it surprised me how relieved I was.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
She snorted. “Because one, I don’t want you thinking I’m moping after him and leaving dead deer carcasses in my wake.”
“Fair enough.” I chuckled.
“And two, it wouldn’t surprise me if his inability to let someone in, truly in, is why he’s in this mess. Lachlan is charismatic, kind, and patient—”
The huff of disbelief burst out of me before I could stop it.
Thankfully, Lucy just laughed. “He is. And if you aren’t smart, like me, a person could find themselves longing for something they can’t have, reading him wrong, thinking there’s more between them than there is, and getting pretty pissed about it when Lachlan doesn’t fulfill the fantasy they’ve created in their heads.”
I edged closer to her. “You think this is a scorned lover?”
“Or someone who wants to be his lover.” Her expression was pointed.
Sarah McCulloch.
It was about time I found a way to talk to the young housekeeper so I could get a sense of her myself.
* * *
With the promise of seeing one another tomorrow for another MMA lesson with Eredine, Lucy and I parted, she to the estate and I into a quick shower before my daily drive to Inverness. The shower stall in the trailer was so narrow, I banged my elbows against the walls every time I turned. Trying not to remember the luxurious bathroom I’d spotted in Lachlan’s suite days ago, I hurried through the routine I usually enjoyed and reminded myself the trailer was temporary.
Mac told me not to come to the hospital until tomorrow for his discharge because it was a two-hour round trip. But I had to see him every day.
My worry compelled me to see for myself he was alive and well and healing.
Somehow I’d managed to avoid Lachlan, not just at the hospital but at the estate, these last few days too. Lucy had shown me around Ardnoch Castle and Estate, giving me a real tour of the place. It teemed with luxury. The wine cellar in the basement seemed to go on forever, and the Michelin Star restaurant was run by Arrochar’s boyfriend chef, Guy, whom I had yet to meet. And five minutes from the castle, two larch-clad contemporary buildings, designed by Thane Adair, housed a spa and salon (Lucy explained Lachlan had hired professionals from all over the globe to run it) and a state-of-the-art gym. There were a couple of boxing bags inside the gym that I eyed longingly. I had one in my apartment at home, and a workout on it was a great stress reliever. Finally, the heated indoor pool made a person want to dive right in.
My envy of the club members only grew when I saw the large but cozy castle library. I wasn’t a big reader but I didn’t need to be to find the space alluring. Wall-to-wall dark oak bookshelves, a large, open fireplace, comfortable armchairs, footstools, and sofas. Floor-to-ceiling windows on either side of the fireplace let light in so it didn’t feel too dark. The plethora of table lamps aided in chasing off the gloom too. Luxurious velvet curtains at the windows pooled on the wooden floors, most of which were covered in expensive Aubusson carpets.
I’d caught a glimpse of Lachlan’s stage office, which was a smaller version of the library. Lucy also grabbed a golf cart and took me across the large course and into the woodlands to tour the private residences.
“One of these days, I’m going to buy one of these beauties,” she’d said as the woods disappeared behind us and we emerged onto an open clifftop overlooking the water. Sand dunes fell dramatically toward the beach, making it a steep jump to get down to it. I’d gaped at the four large homes dotted along the coastline. “And it’s going to be one of those.” She’d continued and then pointed, “See the second closest to us?”
“Yeah?”
“That’s Wesley Howard’s summer home. Well, his summer house in Scotland. He has homes all over the world.”
“The director?”
She’d nodded and again I’d been reminded I was visiting another world here. Wesley Howard was on par with the Spielbergs and Scorseses. “He’s a board member. He and Lachlan are friends.”
Wow.
“But he rarely uses the house. Someday I’m going to be able to afford to buy it off the bastard.” Lucy grinned at the thought. “And I’ll live here anytime I’m not working on location.”
“You love it here, don’t you?”
“You get why, though, right?” She’d motioned to the soft but wild scenery.
I did get it. Lucy enjoyed a semblance of normal life here in a beautiful place.
It was not surprising that Lachlan was scarce that day, and the next day, and the day after that. He was most definitely avoiding me, and I couldn’t care less.
Shoving the irritating man from my thoughts, I stopped outside Mac’s hospital room and paused at what I witnessed through the window panels.
Arrochar Adair. Sitting beside Mac, her hands clasping one of his as she leaned over the bed.
Mac sat up, the color back in his cheeks, and he looked at Arrochar …
My breath caught as they laughed together, staring deeply into each other’s eyes.
Then Arrochar pressed her lips to the back of Mac’s hand, and this pained look crossed my father’s face. He tugged gently on his hand to release it, and Arrochar reluctantly let go.
Whatever she’d said to him, however, brought his gaze to her mouth.
A flush of heat scored my cheeks.
I pushed into the room and
