Page 50 of Refuge for Ailsa

He shrugged. “Do I have other plans?”

Ailsa chuckled. “No. Just trying to get a grip on what the week will look like.”

“Those are the only plans I have other than work. The rest of the time, I’ll probably be with my girlfriend. I don’t think you know her, but you wouldn’t like her.”

Ailsa snorted. “Oh, yeah? And why is that?”

“Because her boyfriend is a total goofball.”

“Yeah, but she loves him anyway, right?”

Tavish kissed her cheek softly. “Yeah, she does, and he’s pretty damn glad.”

* * *

“Here.Let me straighten that just a little. It’s?”

Tavish grabbed her hands and held them. “Would you please stop? You’re making me nervous.”

“Iamnervous. I want my parents to like you.”

“You think they won’t like me if the row of buttons on my shirt isn’t totally one hundred percent straight as they disappear into my waistband?”

“Well, no, but?”

“But nothing. I look fine. Well, as fine as I can, seeing as how I’m not much of a prize, but?”

“Who told you that you’re not much of a prize? Alastair Tavish Stewart, you’re fucking gorgeous, and don’t ever let anybody tell you otherwise.”

“Oh, well, thank you, beautiful.” Grabbing her waist, he hauled her up against him and kissed her?hard.

When he turned her loose, she smiled up into his face. “You’re very welcome.”

He squinted one eye at her. “So, um, you think we have time to…” He pointed at the bed.

“No. We do not. I don’t want to show up at my parents’ house looking like I just took a fucking.”

“But if youdidjust take a fucking, you’d look appropriate, right?” he asked, grinning.

“Stop, Tav. Straighten up. My parents will like you, but they might not like you as much if they walk into the dining room and find us humping in the middle of the table.”

“Nowthatsounds like fun,” he said and nipped the side of her neck.

“God, you’re incorrigible.”

“Yep. No hope for me where you’re concerned.” That earned him a kiss on the tip of his nose and a smile that made him warm all over.

Tavish insisted on driving his truck. “It’s who I am, so if they don’t like that, I need to know up front.” Ailsa told him that was silly, but he still insisted. They pulled up in front of the MacDougals’ house to find a Prius in the driveway. “Is that Donovan’s car?”

Ailsa nodded. “Yeah. I guess they’re already here.”

“Who else is coming?”

She rolled her eyes and snorted. “Jesus, I hope this is all of us. I don’t know anybody else they’d invite.”

“Good. I only have two people to meet instead of fifteen uncles and aunties.”

“Yeah. Just two. You already know the other two.” Ailsa stepped up onto the porch, then opened the screen door and stuck her head in. “Hey, we’re here.”