Only You (Adair Family #5)(90)

What was going on was that I was ready to fully commit to Ardnoch, and sitting around waiting for someone to like the screenplay I’d written would not cut it as a job. I’d been busy this week and had made two very big decisions that I knew I had to run by Monroe. I hoped that she’d be sharing in them in some capacity or another. Then there was a third issue concerning her entirely that I needed to raise. “Three things. One is that I’ve been working with Thane for the past few weeks on drawings for a house.”

She stopped eating; her eyes widened a little.

I forged ahead, feeling more nervous than I thought I would be at this moment. “As part of our inheritance, Lachlan divided up some land in Caelmore so we’d all have a plot to build a house. My plot is close to Arran’s and Arro’s plots. View right over the water. The build will be in keeping with my brothers’ and sister’s homes. A large family home, modern design, lots of glass overlooking the water.”

Roe swallowed. “That’s … that’s … amazing.”

“You think?”

“Of course.”

“I’d … I’d like you to look at the drawings. I’d like your opinion.” Because I hope like hell this will be your home as much as it is mine.

She nodded slowly. “I’d be happy to look at them.”

“I really want your opinion, Sunset.”

Whatever she saw in my expression made realization dawn in hers. Her lips formed an O. Then the breath whooshed out of her. “Brodan … I … you know I haven’t decided to stay …”

Hurt flared, but I tried not to show it. “Aye, I know. But just in case you do.”

At the sudden, sad uncertainty on her face, I changed the subject. “Two, Lachlan and I looked at our holdings, and we think we’ve found some land that would work well for a distillery. Lachlan wants to go into business with me, and so I’m gearing up to do all the research.”

Her gorgeous smile was genuine. “Brodan, that’s wonderful news! I’m so excited for you. I think a whisky from you and Lachlan would be a massive hit. You have a hook already for your advertising. It’ll be fantastic.”

“You think so?” A flood of anticipation rushed through me at the thought of running a business I loved—and doing it at home. It would bring more jobs and boost the local economy too.

“Of course I do.” She reached over and squeezed my leg. “Like I said, you can do anything you put your mind to.”

That was what I was banking on.

And not for the distillery.

I was banking on my ability to fill Monroe Sinclair’s life with so many bloody good times, she’d never think of leaving me.

But there was something else we needed to discuss. And this one I wasn’t looking forward to. We talked more about Roe’s week at school, our plans for the weekend, and once we’d finished dinner and were sitting together on the sofa, I broached the subject.

“There’s that third thing I wanted to discuss. Something I need to tell you.”

She turned toward me, our faces inches apart. “You sound serious. Have you decided to open a woolen mill as well as a distillery?”

At her teasing, I tickled her ribs and she squealed, trying to get away. Laughing, I pulled her into my arms. “Quit wriggling.”

“Don’t tickle me, then.” Roe pouted, and I stole a quick kiss because her mouth was right there and that was reason enough. When I pulled back, I brushed her hair off her face, hating that she was about to lose that happy, almost dreamy expression.

“Are you ready to talk about your dad?”

She stiffened in my arms. But she didn’t pull away. Instead, the shadows I hated so much crept into her gray eyes, and she answered quietly, “I do want to find him, Brodan. Maybe … maybe finding his grave … maybe I can still say goodbye. Maybe I can still forgive him. If that’s what he wanted. I have to believe that’s what he wanted.”

Lifting my arse off the couch, I pulled out the piece of paper that had been burning a hole in my back pocket, and I held it out to her. It had the address of a cemetery in Dumfries and Galloway on it. “I found him for you.”

A small gasp escaped her as she took the paper. She devoured the words on it. “What was he doing that far south?”

“I don’t know.”

“Brodan, how did you find him?”

“I have contacts. People who know how to find people.”

Tears pooled in her eyes, but they didn’t spill over as she whispered, “Thank you. Thank you so much.” She threw her arms around me and mine banded around her, holding her to me, almost afraid to let go. I breathed in the scent of the citrus that lingered in her hair from her shampoo. I just … breathed her in, holding her there. Afraid to exhale.





A few hours later, the fire crackled in the fireplace and Roe lay naked, her back to my chest, on the couch. She drew lazy circles on my forearm as I held her, and we listened to the silence only broken by the pop of flames.

Peace unlike anything I remembered settled over me. I’d made love to the woman I loved after a night of conversation about everything and nothing. For the first time in eighteen years, I wasn’t chasing this empty feeling inside. With her in my arms, I felt whole.

“I never imagined I could ever be this happy,” I confessed.