Only You (Adair Family #5)(94)

“I’m proud of you,” I said as I slid onto a stool at the bar. “The place looks like a boutique, not an inn.”

Arran grinned. “Aye, well, it seems to have worked because we’re fully booked May through October.”

“That’s amazing, Arr. Seriously.”

“Thanks, Bro. You want anything?”

“Aye, give us an Irn-Bru. Then I’ll need to go in a bit. I’m heading into Inverness to finalize drawings with Thane for the house.”

Arran considered this. “So … how does your agent feel now about your retirement?”

“In denial.” I shrugged. “I’ve spoken to my publicist, though, and we’re getting ready to announce it.”

“And you’re happy?”

Looking my brother straight in the eye, I answered honestly, “For years, I thought I loved acting. I got a high from it. But I’d confused loving the escape for love of the actual job. Deciding to retire … being home with you lot, being with Monroe … it’s like this massive weight I was carrying has lifted from my shoulders. I feel free, Arran.”

Arran relaxed with relief. “I couldn’t be happier to hear that. I’m glad you’re home.”

“I’m glad you are.”

He chuckled. “Aye, did you ever think you and I would return home to become one-woman blokes?”

“Never,” I admitted. “It scares the shit out of me. But it’s worth it.”

My phone dinged in my pocket, and I pulled it out to see a text from my publicist, Annie.

We need to talk.

Beneath her text was a link. I clicked it, and a video of Harriet Blume opened. I pushed the volume up, and I felt my brother stop what he was doing as we listened to the social media influencer.

Fuck.

My anger built as images of Monroe and me on Castle Street filled the screen. Private fucking moments.

Not that I wasn’t used to the tabloids sharing private moments … but this was different. This was Monroe.

Arran had rounded the bar to watch the video, and he sucked in a breath. “No, Bro, this is that wee snake who was hanging around last summer. I came across her harassing Monroe, and Roe was definitely keeping her mouth shut even then, and that was before you and she had reconciled. There’s no way she gave this viper any of this information.”

A different fury filled me as I turned to my brother, who staunchly defended Roe … like I’d believe a stranger over the woman I loved. “I fucking know that.” I glared at him. “Do you think I’d trust a celebrity vlogger over Roe?”

My brother held up his hands defensively. “Of course not. Sorry.”

“But someone told that brat about us.” I quickly googled my name and, sure enough, article after article popped up about me and Monroe. I pushed off the stool. “This is everywhere. And the vlogger knows things that only the people here would know. Someone talked. So much for this village keeping our privacy, eh?”

“Where are you going?” Arran hurried after me as I marched toward the door.

“To Roe. It’s everywhere, Arran. She probably knows and is freaking out at school.”

I tried to drive as calmly as possible to the primary school, while I called Thane to explain the bloody mess. He was as angry on my behalf, and he promised we’d get to the bottom of it. Whoever talked, we’d find them.

When I got to the school, however, the receptionist told me Roe had already left early because she was sick.

What the hell?

I tried calling her as I drove back toward Castle Street, but her phone was going straight to voicemail. My worry and fury mingled. I was desperate to get to her.

Seeing her car parked in her spot made me feel better as I drove the Range Rover in beside it. I threw myself out of the car and jogged around the building and into the cottage.

Roe was on the sofa facing the door, her face chalk white as I barged inside. She shot up from her seat and raised trembling hands. “Brodan, I promise it wasn’t me. She’s lying. I know she knows things about us she shouldn’t, but it wasn’t me. She’s lying.”

At the begging, pleading tone, at the fear and panic in her glazed eyes … my heart crashed in my chest.

It scared her I believed Harriet Blume.

What the fuck?

For a moment, I wanted to be angry, but gazing at the woman I loved in distress, I took a few calming breaths and thought about why she’d think that.

And decided … why wouldn’t she think that? After the way I’d treated her in the past.

I could see it clear as day in front of me.

The damage I’d done. It hadn’t just magically disappeared because I told her I loved her.

I strode across the room, and her eyes widened before I pulled her into my arms and kissed the top of her head, holding her so bloody tight. “My love, I know. I know,” I assured her.

Her trembling body melted and she sobbed against me.

Fuck!

“I know, I know,” I kept whispering. “I know you’d never do that. Come on, Sunset. It’s all right. You’re killing me here.” My voice cracked as emotion thickened my throat.

Her hands clutched at my jacket, pulling on it hard as she tried to soothe her cries. “I’m sorry,” she managed through tears. “I’m sorry for thinking … for thinking you wouldn’t believe me.”