Chapter Nine
The next morning, she opened her eyes and stretched before she turned to find Alastair gone. The bathroom light was off, and the sheets beside her were cold. She couldn’t stop the disappointment she felt.
She sat up, hugged her legs to her chest, and set her chin on her knees. When she saw the dress and the piece of paper, she reached for the note.
Baby, I’m down in the dining room. Come down when you’re ready. Take your time because I don’t want to rush you but hurry because I need to see you.
Alastair
A smile spread across her face, and she hurried out of bed. She rushed through her shower and was dressed and ready to go within twenty minutes. All she had to do was brush out her hair because she didn’t wash it, and she had no makeup to put on.
At the bottom of the steps, she started to get anxious when she finally realized she would probably meet some of his family. She could hear several voices coming to the left.
She pressed on her stomach and debated on going back up to the room.
“Oh, no, you don’t.”
She jerked her head around to see a man who looked a lot like Alastair but younger.
He looped his arm through hers and started pulling her toward what she guessed was the dining room.
“I’m Ewen, Alastair’s brother, and I can see you’re revved up to race back to the bedroom and hide. But, from what my brother told me, you have a backbone and are as stubborn as a donkey.”
She sputtered out a laugh. “He called me a donkey?”
“Yup. He did talk about your beautiful eyes, too. Now raise your chin.”
She sighed and did what he said before taking her into a large room with a long table. Hell, the thing could probably fit twenty to thirty people.
“Look who I found out in the hallway.”
She heard a chair scrape against the floor and turned to see Alastair walk her way with a frown on his face. He pulled her away from his brother. “Get your own girl.”
She laughed as he drew her over to the chair on his right. “Sit, baby.” The tension in the air was tense for a moment and then seemed to relax.
She looked around to see what caused it but didn’t see anything unusual except her arrival.
“I’ll tell you who everyone is, and they already know who you are.” He went through the names, and thankfully there were only six people in the room. Four were brothers, and two were cousins.
Alastair squeezed her hand. “You look beautiful, sweetheart.”
“Thank you. I love the dress.”
“I knew it would look good on you. Now, what would you like for breakfast?”
“Oh, I’d like some wheat toast, fruit, and a coffee, please.”
Alastair waved a maid over and gave her the list before turning back to her. “I thought after last night you’d be famished.”
She knew she turned red by the heat that covered her face. Oh, my God. Was he going to talk about the sex they’d had at the breakfast table?
He laughed. “We didn’t eat dinner, remember?”
She relaxed and then glared at him. “That was mean.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault you have a potty mind.”
She snorted and then leaned back when a bowl and plate were set in front of her. “Thank you,” she told the woman, and it seemed to surprise her for some reason.
Beth was listening and laughing at something his brother, Calum, said when two older women walked into the room. There was instantaneous hostility, and she could have cut the tension with a knife, it was so thick. She looked around to see the cause of it.
The women turned to walk toward her, and the one in front stopped suddenly. Beth was taken aback by the hate-filled look on her face.
Graham got her attention. “You’re sitting in what she considers her chair.”
“Oh, my God.” She started to stand when Alastair grabbed her arm and pulled her down.
“No, you sit here every time now.”
“But—”
“Beth, enough,” Alastair said to her before he looked up at the ladies. “Good morning, Una and Aunt Freya.”
Una narrowed her eyes before she walked around the table and sat on his left.
The other woman looked at her and smiled gently.
“I know you both have heard about my Beth. Here she is in person.”
“It’s nice to meet you, dear,” Freya said.
“You, too. I’m sorry I’m causing a commotion.”
The woman shook her head. “You’re fine. Una doesn’t do well with change.”
“Shut up,” Una barked at Freya.