Page 7 of Wild Scottish Gold (The Enchanted Highlands #7)

CHAPTER SIX

Thane

“ U ncle Thane! Uncle Thane!”

I looked up from my desk to see my niece, Audrey, and my sister, Lauren, standing in the doorway. Was it already noon? Glancing at the time on my computer, I sighed. I’d been so focused on my design work, as well as catching up with the accounts, that I’d barely looked up since I’d arrived at seven this morning.

“Are you finally showing up for your shift?” I asked my niece, pretending to check my watch, as though Audrey was late.

“Uncle Thane.” Audrey said my name with the level of dramatics only a seven-year-old could muster, and then she rolled her eyes at me. She was blond, cute as a button, and next to my sister, the most important person in the world to me. My sister had been handed a raw deal, losing her husband when he’d taken off with his best friend’s wife, and she’d been raising Audrey on her own ever since. I’d stepped in as much as I could, and Audrey had become a welcome addition around the shop. She knew the safety rules and would often spend a few hours coloring or playing in my office while my sister got some much-needed time alone. As it was Saturday today, I had promised Audrey tea, and then she was allowed to paint my nails. The lads had learned long ago not to say a word about the nail painting, and now they just complimented whatever color Audrey chose that week. Usually I’d keep it on for a day and clean it off for the start of the week, but sometimes I’d leave it on if Audrey had done a particularly decent job.

“She’s full on today,” Lauren murmured, plopping a tote bag covered in pink sparkles on the desk. “You be good for your uncle, okay?”

“I’m always good.” Audrey poked out her lower lip.

“Is that the way of it? I’m not so certain you were that good when I told you to eat your brekkie this morning and I came in to find you face first in a bag of crisps.”

Audrey’s eyes widened. “That was not me.”

“No? Who was it then?” Lauren tilted her head and gave her wee daughter a considering look.

“The elves.”

“Was it the elves then? The same elves that will take your toys away if you don’t eat breakfast?”

“No.” Audrey gasped and held her hands to her chest, dramatic as hell. “They’d never do such a thing to me. The elves love me.”

“If so, then why are they letting you get in trouble for their bad deeds?”

That question stumped Audrey and she twisted her hands. Laughing, Lauren ruffled her hair and then leaned over the desk to kiss my cheek.

“I should be back by half five or so.”

“Take all the time you need. I can keep her tonight too if you want a night off.”

“Nah, I’m good. No plans tonight. Just going to watch a movie and go to bed early.”

I glanced up to see shadows beneath my sister’s eyes. She was working long hours to make ends meet, stubbornly refusing my help. I wished she’d just let me pay for her rent, or something, but she adamantly refused assistance. I tried to make up for it in other ways, but I had to respect her choices. I didn’t want to risk pushing Lauren away, so if she needed to do this on her own, then I’d support her the only way I knew how—by offering my time and babysitting services as needed.

“Everything good?” I asked. I tried not to get too pushy when it came to worrying about if she was taking care of herself.

“Aye. Work’s just been tricky lately. Seems everyone’s on holiday at the moment. Will be nice to have a wee afternoon off and then early to bed should sort me right out.” Bending, Lauren kissed Audrey’s cheek and then gave me a wave before leaving my office. Facing off with the tiny terror that now stood in front of me, hands on hips, pink sparkly skirt swirling under her purple jumper, I glowered at Audrey.

“No pink today, Audrey.”

“I’m going to make you booo-tee-ful.” Audrey ignored my glower and drew the word out, twirling around my office.

“Aren’t I already beautiful?” I asked, hitting save on my computer and closing up my programs. When I was with Audrey, I liked to be fully present. She deserved to have a good male role model in her life, one that actually spent focused time with her, and made her feel seen. Unlike her deadbeat dad.

“No.” Audrey giggled when my mouth dropped open and then squealed when I launched myself from around the desk and chased her across the office. Grabbing her, I turned her upside down as she shouted, laughing as I shook her.

“Just making sure it’s really you and not some mean elf that’s pretending to be Audrey.”

“It’s me, it’s me,” Audrey shrieked, and I righted her, giving her a kiss on the top of her head before setting her down on the ground.

“Just checking. Now, madam, what can I get you for your tea today?” I moved to the little fridge in my office where I’d already prepared a selection of her favorite mini sandwiches, as well as a few sweeties for after she’d finished her lunch.

“Earl Grey, please.” Audrey stuck her nose up in the air and I grinned. The kid was too cute for words. Twenty minutes later we were seated at the desk in my office, a tray of sandwiches spread out before us, and two cups of tea at our sides. Audrey cradled my hand and examined my nails with the look of an artist contemplating their canvas.

“What’s it going to be?” I asked, taking a sip of my tea with the other hand.

“I’m sorry, Uncle Thane.” Audrey looked up at me, a sober expression on her sweet wee face. “But I think it will have to be pink.”

“Again?” I sighed, though I fully knew she’d pick her favorite color. She’d been on a pink kick for the weeks leading up to my time away in the city, and anticipating this, I’d picked up a few new bottles for her while I was there.

“I just think it’s the best.” Audrey bit her lower lip, shrugging as though there was nothing to be done about it, and reached for the small bottle of fuchsia pink she’d pulled from her tote.

“Or, you might want to see what I have?” I asked and Audrey paused, frowning up at me.

“What do you have?” Audrey whispered.

“I just think you might enjoy some variety.” I pointed to the paper bag I’d brought to the table and Audrey gasped, slapping both of her hands against her cheeks.

“Did you get me more colors?” Audrey demanded, reaching for the bag.

“I did. I felt bad that I had to be away for so long.”

“That’s okay.” Audrey dove into the bag. “I’m used to people being away.”

Her dad barely called her, let alone sent gifts, and I hated how much she normalized this part of her life.

“Purple! And pink! And sparkles!” Audrey pulled out three bottles, her eyes huge. “They all have sparkles. I love them.”

“I thought you would. Particularly the sparkles.” I nodded toward her skirt.

“I’ll do something different today then,” Audrey decided, shaking the purple bottle. “Let’s try this purple and see how it looks.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” I said. I didn’t care what color she chose, so long as she enjoyed herself and we got to spend time together.

“Ohhhh, look. It’s so pretty,” Audrey whispered in awe, and I lifted my hand to dutifully admire the sparkling purple nail, which was painted surprisingly well. We’d been working on her technique, and very little strayed from the nail to the cuticle.

“Ian?” I glanced up at the knock at the door and froze as Kaia gaped at me, looking impossibly lush and gorgeous in gray canvas trousers, a simple black top, and a dangle of sparkly earrings at her neck. Her hair was pulled up high off her shoulders in a bouncy ponytail, and her mouth was slicked with some sort of lip gloss that made it look juicy and succulent.

My mood shifted. I was already angry at myself for not securing the Common Gin job on my own, let alone for kissing her again like the damn fool that I was. Now she was seeing me in a private moment with my niece, when I really just wanted to keep all barriers up between us.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize…” Kaia trailed off, looking between me and Audrey.

“Is there something you need?” I bit out, furious with myself for how excited I was to see her again.

“Just had a question for Ian. I didn’t mean to interrupt you and your daughter . My bad.” The way Kaia said the word daughter had my eyes flashing to hers. There was anger there. Before I could respond, she left the office, and I stood abruptly.

“Be right back, Audrey. Your coloring book is there if you get bored.”

“Okay,” Audrey sing-songed, carefully capping the bottle of nail polish. “Just don’t get your nail messy.”

“I’ll be careful,” I promised. I held my hand up and blew on it and she nodded her approval. Leaving my office, I cruised through the empty workshop to where Kaia stood at her worktable.

“Kaia,” I said, and she turned, looking me up and down with disgust.

“What’s up, Dad ?”

The way she phrased it wasn’t remotely sexual, and yet I immediately got a vision of her on her knees calling me “daddy,” even though that wasn’t a particular turn-on for me. I had no reason for my brain to conjure that image since she’d never used a pet name with me, and yet my thoughts somehow ended up there. It seemed simply being in her vicinity was enough to distract me and I needed to learn some self-control. Like, yesterday.

“She’s not my daughter.”

“Ah, just steal someone else’s kid then?” Kaia glanced to my nails. “Nice color.”

“Thanks, I got it in Edinburgh.” At that, Kaia’s eyes flew to mine. I couldn’t help myself, I gave her a slow, searing grin. Surely I couldn’t be the only one remembering how incredible our night together was? How was she so unaffected by this? Was I over-romanticizing the night we’d had?

Maybe I was. Maybe it was just me who couldn’t stop thinking about it. And yet, she’d been extremely responsive yesterday, wrapping her leg around my waist and threading her hands through my hair. She’d kissed me right back, stopping my heart for a moment as her tongue had met mine, hungry for more. I didn’t want to assume that she was all about me or anything, but she certainly wasn’t ambivalent to my presence.

“I’ll be out of your way shortly.”

“Audrey is my niece,” I explained, leaning one hip against her table. “ Not my daughter.”

“Okay,” Kaia said, pulling notebooks from her table and adding them to her bag.

“Would it have bothered you if I was a father?” I asked, curious.

“Of course not,” Kaia said, turning.

“But it feels like I’ve made you angry,” I said, straightening.

“It’s not… I’m not…” Kaia waved a hand in the air and clamped her mouth shut, clearly frustrated with articulating her thoughts.

“Uncle Thane?” I turned to see Audrey poking her head from the door.

“Yes, sweetie?”

“Do you think your friend would like to get her nails painted?” Audrey’s tone was hopeful, and I turned to look at Kaia, interested to see how she’d respond.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” I said, not wanting her to think I was cornering her into spending more time with us. Though secretly I wanted to high-five Audrey for asking.

“No, it’s fine. I like kids,” Kaia said.

“Then why did it bother you to think I had one?” I couldn’t help but ask as Kaia hitched her bag onto her shoulder and made for my office.

“Because I’ve been with people before who have hidden things from me.”

“Yeah, but, lass, it was just one night we had together. Surely you can’t think you’ll get a life story in just a night?” I dared to touch her arm, drawing her up short, wanting to have this conversation before we got to nail painting time.

“No, it’s more that where there’s a child, there’s usually a mother.” Kaia raised an eyebrow at me. “And sometimes men on work vacations will hide a ring.”

“Och, lass. No.” I shook my head, realization dawning. Who the hell hurt this woman? If there was something I hated, obviously given what Lauren had been through, it was cheaters. I’d never been one, that’s for sure. “That’s far too much fuss. You’ll get it straight from me, hen, I can promise you that.”

Damn it but if Kaia didn’t lick her lips at that. My body warmed and I took a deep breath, reminding myself where I was and who I was with.

“That’s good to know.” Kaia ducked inside my office, and I took a moment to collect myself, while I heard Audrey’s squeal of excitement over being able to paint another woman’s nails. By the time I went into my office, I’d done a good job of getting my libido under control, though I still wanted to know who the arsehole was who had hurt Kaia. That was clearly a conversation for another day.

“Pink is definitely the way forward,” Kaia said and Audrey bounced in her seat, excited.

“You’re next, Uncle Thane. I get to do Kaia’s nails pink and then yours purple.”

“And then I’ll do yours,” Kaia said, and Audrey almost fell off her chair in excitement.

“I hope you do a better job than Uncle Thane.”

“Is he bad at it?” Kaia asked, amused, sliding a glance at me.

“Not horrible, but I’m better,” Audrey promised, reaching out with the brush. “Hold still so I can do this. Why do you talk funny?”

“Audrey.” I laughed. “Kaia is from the United States of America. Which means she has a different accent than us.”

“Oh.” Audrey shrugged one shoulder, unconcerned. “Are you dating my uncle?”

“No,” Kaia said at the same time I said, “Yes.”

Kaia’s eyes rounded and she glared up at me.

“Ohhhh,” Audrey said, giggling and looking between us.

“We’ve gone on a date before, but aren’t dating now,” I clarified. I tried to never lie to my niece, or anyone, really.

“Did you not like him?” Audrey asked Kaia. “Sometimes he can be scary.”

“When am I scary?” I demanded.

“Like that,” Audrey said, dutifully focused on spreading paint on Kaia’s nails. “His voice gets all tough.”

“That’s not being scary, Audrey. That’s just how I talk.”

“Some of the kids at school talk like that to me.” Audrey’s voice got small, and I straightened, narrowing in on her words.

“Who—”

“Audrey, can you give an example?” Kaia shot me a look to shut me up, even as anger roiled inside me.

“Just like how I don’t have a dad around. Or when I want to play pretend they say I’m being a baby.”

I was going to punt those kids off the playground if they hurt my Audrey. Fury made me clench my fingers.

“Does this hurt your feelings?” Kaia’s voice was soft, soothing Audrey.

“Sometimes. It’s mainly Dylan. He says I smell.”

“Ah, okay. Here’s what you should do…” Kaia leaned over and whispered in Audrey’s ear and soon my niece was giggling.

“Okay!” Her eyes lit and I didn’t care what Kaia had told her to do, so long as Audrey was smiling again. Shoving the anger back down inside, I made a mental note to talk to Lauren about what was going on at school.

“There, all done.” Audrey carefully capped the nail polish bottle and then waved to me. “Next!”

Switching places with Kaia, I tried not to inhale her soft citrus scent as she brushed past me.

“Now you wait right there and let them dry.” Audrey pointed to a chair and Kaia sat, while I held out my hand for my niece to finish the job she’d started. “Uncle Thane, don’t you think Kaia is pretty?”

“I do think she’s pretty.” I caught a faint hint of blush on Kaia’s cheeks.

“Mum says all the pretty girls want to date you.”

“Is that right?” Kaia leaned forward, suddenly interested. “Tell me more.”

“I don’t know.” Audrey shrugged, bouncing in her seat as she tried to paint my nails and stay still at the same time. “Just that all the pretty girls love him, but he only loves work.”

“Ah, I can understand that. Work can be consuming.”

“But I think Kaia’s pretty. And she’s nice. You should take her on another date, Uncle Thane.”

“And you should mind your business, or I’ll take my nail colors back.” I didn’t risk glancing at Kaia, though I was extremely curious to see her reaction to Audrey’s suggestion about going on another date.

No, there can be no further dates. We. Work. Together.

“You’d never,” Audrey gasped.

“No, I wouldn’t.” Audrey knew she had me wrapped around her thumb.

“Are you scared?” my terror of a niece continued. “Do you think she won’t go on a date with you?”

“ Why ? Why do we need to keep talking about this?” I griped.

“Because I think you’re scared. And you’re always telling me to do the things that scare me anyway,” Audrey said.

“What if it’s not me who’s afraid?” I asked, neatly throwing Kaia under the bus. Her mouth dropped open and I grinned as she lowered her brows and glowered at me.

“Are you?” Audrey turned to Kaia.

“No, I’m not,” Kaia bit out, her eyes on me. Liar, liar, I thought. What the hell am I doing? I can’t date this intoxicating lass.

“Good. Then you can go on a date now, right?” What the hell?

I didn’t have it in me to break Audrey’s excitement. She’d been watching Cinderella and other fairy tales on repeat lately and had become somewhat focused on finding love and happy endings. I’m sure it stemmed from not having her dad in the picture, but I didn’t want to dissuade her from the idea that a happily-ever-after could one day be on the horizon. For her and her mother. But now, sitting here looking at Kaia as she gaped at me, unsure with how to move forward, I grinned.

Why the hell not?

Playing with fire, Blackwood.

“Yes, Audrey. We can. Kaia, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

Kaia’s mouth worked and her eyes darted between a hopeful Audrey and me. Caught, like a deer in headlights, my grin widened as her shoulders hunched.

“Sure, Thane. That would be nice.”

“Yay!” Audrey squealed, smearing purple nail polish across my thumb. “You two love each other.”

“I’m not sure it works as quickly as that,” I cautioned my enthusiastic niece.

“Maybe, maybe not. I’m only seven, how should I know?” Audrey grimaced at the mess she’d made on my thumb. “Sorry. I’ll fix it.”

“Nae bother.” With that, I met Kaia’s eyes, issuing a silent challenge. She lifted her chin, understanding my meaning.

It looked like I had a date tonight.

Bloody hell. That should not be happening.

But how could I backpedal on my word to my niece? It was something I never did, nor would I ever do.

But what about Kaia? She’d clearly been badly burned before, so she’d feel obliged to ignore her gut feelings here as well.

Did she want to, though?

That was the question I had no bloody idea what the answer was.