Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“Not wrong.” He patted Kia’s arm before she pressed another kiss to the top of his head and returned to the kids’ table.
Lachlan turned to look at his daughter. “How come he gets that treatment and I get ‘Dad, have you got twenty quid?’ every five seconds?”
Vivien rested her chin on her palm. “You’re too smart for that kind of manipulation, Dad. I’m completely transparent with you because I respect your intelligence.”
Lachlan was just breaking into a smug grin when Vivien leaned forward. “But … do you have twenty quid?”
Her father scowled and turned back to the table as Vivien shot Skye a devilish smirk.
Robyn leaned into Lachlan. “She loves you really. She’s just fifteen.”
“I do!” Vivien waved her fingers without looking back at our table. “For the record, if we need to get mushy, I do love you, Dad. Your movies are a bit meh, but you’re great.”
We all struggled to hold back our laughter.
“Children.” Lachlan’s lips twitched. “Great for the ego.”
“What about my movies?” Brodan asked his niece.
“Oh, your movies were great, Uncle Bro. Why did you quit?”
“Note, she did not ask me that.” Lachlan took a huge swig of his pint. His wife’s mouth trembled with laughter while she soothed a comforting hand over his back.
Before Brodan could answer his niece, Regan interrupted. “You were saying about the sex of the baby?”
Lewis reached across the table to take my hand. “We’re happy with either.”
“I can’t believe my nephew is going to be a father.” Lachlan scrubbed a hand over his face. “I feel old. Or that might be because of my daughter. It’s hard to tell these days.”
“I love your movies, Dad!” Brechin yelled.
“You’ve never seen his movies,” Vivien shot back.
“But I know I love them.”
“Thanks, son.” Lachlan raised his glass to him. “I’ll give you twenty quid when we get home.”
“Uh!” Vivien squeaked in indignation as Brechin did a victory dance in his chair.
“How do you think I feel?” Thane asked, taking a sip of whisky. “I’m going to be a grandfather, and I’m younger than you.”
“Something you like to point out whenever you can.” Lachlan shrugged. “But I understand. You need something to cling to since I’m so much better looking than you are.”
Thane grinned. “Aye, you wish.”
I noticed Fyfe taking everything in, thoroughly entertained, and I was reminded he hadn’t had this growing up. These messy, chaotic, bantering, silly, loving scenes of a large family. Mum and I hadn’t either until moving here. Then we’d become honorary Adairs, especially when Lewis and I were dating. This family had a magic about them. Orphaned siblings whose bond was so strong, they lived on the same patch of land here in Caelmore, and even though they’d been blessed with wealth in a material sense, they’d always understood their true wealth was in each other. Those who were lucky enough to be loved by them were forever fixed within that bond too.
Lewis had asked me to move in with him a few weeks ago. The house, which was now our house, had been cleared of the mess from the break-in. We’d ordered new furniture, some of which had arrived, some of which we had a few weeks to wait for.
Arro and Mac had been understanding when I broke the lease on the cottage, and they’d decided to sell it. It was snapped up in three days.
Now my home was with Lewis. I mean, it would always, always be with Mum too. But, aye, it was with Lewis. My attention turned to him as he laughed with Fyfe over a story they were telling about a new student in our tae kwon do class. I was still attending classes, so I’d witnessed the cocky wee shit who’d come in, total newbie, and challenged Lewis to a sparring match.
The kid was like a boxing bag. Every time Lewis defeated him (in two seconds, I might add), he bounced back, determined to take more. Lewis was being incredibly patient with him, but he was taking up class time, so Fyfe stepped in and floored the kid with a jump back kick. Like literally knocked him on his arse and the breath out of him.
I’d understood why Fyfe did what he did. People like that kid would get themselves or someone else hurt if they didn’t learn from the get-go not to treat martial arts like a joke or worse, a weapon. But it didn’t mean I didn’t love the fact that Lewis had the patience of a saint. I kind of already knew that about him, though. My gaze swept lovingly over his face as he talked and laughed. Sometimes it took my breath away that he was mine.
As if he sensed me staring, he looked at me. He reached out casually and caressed my cheek before turning back to his conversation with his family. I smiled to myself and looked away, only to lock eyes with Regan.