Finding Hope at the Loch (Loch Lannick Book 7) Read online

  A smile spread slowly over his face, then he shook his head and tucked into the food.

  “It’s not funny,” Lexie said. “I certainly didn’t laugh. I don’t know what his problem is.”

  “I wouldn’t worry about it. He’ll get over it. One day.”

  “Doesn’t it bother you?”

  “That your dad doesn’t like me? No, not really.”

  “It bothers me,” Lexie said, chewing slowly on a tender piece of beef.

  “I know.” Nick’s features turned serious. “But I don’t know what I can do about it. And I’m sure he never had a problem with me before we got together, so I don’t think it’s personal. I think it’s best to ignore the issue and hope it’ll work itself out.”

  “Knowing my dad, it probably won’t work itself out. He can hold a grudge for a long time. He still refuses to speak to his brother after all these years. And he was the one who was in the wrong in that situation.”

  The feud between Angus and his brother, Lexie’s biological grandfather, niggled at her from time to time. It had all started with a disagreement over which of them should raise her when her birth mother hadn’t been able to cope with her, so she felt some vague responsibility. “I don’t think he’ll ever be able to swallow his pride and smooth things over with Wesley. What if it’s the same with you?”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Nick said. “Everyone else is happy for us. I called my parents on my lunch break. They’re really excited. Jonathan too.”

  Lexie was fond of Nick’s brother and had known he’d be delighted for them. It would be nice if her family were as uncomplicated as Nick’s.

  “I’ll have to call my grandad and tell him at some point.”

  “We could visit him again if you want. Tell him in person.”

  “Maybe.” They’d had a day trip to Inverness a couple of months before and had called in to see her grandad. Nick and Wesley got on well, and it had been a surprisingly relaxed visit. It had made Lexie feel guilty for not visiting him more often. Previously, she’d found him grumpy, and the feud between him and Angus had made her uncomfortable. Since she’d discovered why they’d fallen out in the first place and had heard more about how Angus and Mary had come to adopt her, Lexie had a lot more sympathy for Wesley.

  Visiting him also dredged up a load of memories about her birth mother, Stephanie. When Lexie was in Inverness she kept imagining bumping into her. Even when Wesley told her she was living in England and he hadn’t seen her for months, Lexie couldn’t help but worry that she might just turn up at any moment.

  “Let’s eat up and go and have a drink with everyone,” Nick said. “You look far too tense for someone who’s supposed to be ecstatically happy.”

  “Sorry. My family are a bit stressful. I am ecstatically happy, though.”

  “Good. Who’s coming to the pub?”

  “I only invited Leana and Elspeth. Leana’s working anyway. Maybe I should message Isla so she doesn’t feel left out. I’ll see if she and Logan want to come.” She got her phone and typed out a message while she ate the remainder of her dinner. “I can’t imagine Isla will come, but Logan will jump at any excuse for a drink.”

  “We’ll probably have to go for celebratory drinks with my colleagues one night,” Nick said. “Maybe Friday?”

  “Fine by me.” Lexie had been out with Nick’s colleagues a few times and found them pleasant enough.

  When they arrived at the pub, Leana was already behind the bar. Alasdair and Logan sat opposite her, nursing pints of beer.

  “Finally!” Leana said with her hands on her hips. “I thought you were never going to show up. We’ve just spent half an hour discussing how Nick would have proposed. I’m dying to hear the story.” She beamed. “Oh, and congratulations!”

  “Thanks,” Lexie said.

  “Mary wouldn’t give us any clues about the proposal,” Logan said. “We’ve been debating whether it was as good as when I proposed to Isla.”

  Nick chuckled. “You set the bar pretty high there.”

  “Come on then,” Logan said. “Let’s hear it.”

  “I might go and say hello to Douglas,” Nick said, wandering away from them as his cheeks turned red.

  “Was it really cheesy?” Logan asked Lexie.

  “No, it was sweet.” She enjoyed telling the story again.

  Leana listened intently, then held a hand over her heart. “It was like he plucked the ring from the stars,” she gushed.

  “Nice one, Nick!” Logan called across the room.

  Realising the story was over, Nick wandered back. “What do you think?” he asked Leana.

  “I love it,” she said. “So romantic. And hopefully you and Logan have given Alasdair some ideas about how it’s done.”

  “Cheers, Nick,” Alasdair said sarcastically.

  “You’re here!” Mary said as she wandered out from the kitchen. She went straight over to Nick and wrapped him in a big hug. “Congratulations! I’m so happy for the pair of you.”

  “Thank you,” Nick said.

  “You’ve not got drinks,” Mary said. “What do you want?”

  “Champagne’s on me,” a voice boomed from behind Lexie. She turned to see Keith grinning at her. Christine was with him, along with Isla and Elspeth.

  “Nonsense,” Mary called. “That’s my little girl. Drinks are on us.”

  “I won’t argue with that,” Keith said in Lexie’s ear as he hugged her. Moving away, he offered Nick his hand. “You’ve got yourself a good lass there,” he told him.

  “Aye.” Nick aimed a wink in Lexie’s direction. “I know that.”

  Lexie enjoyed the bustle of everyone congratulating them and passing around champagne.

  “I wasn’t sure if you were coming,” she said when Isla gave her a quick squeeze.

  “Of course.” She held out a small box with the logo for her jewellery designs. “Brought you a present and everything.”

  “Thank you,” Lexie said in surprise. She was touched by the pale blue sea glass earrings and put them straight on. “I love them.”

  “You’re welcome,” Isla said, then moved away to get a drink.

  Lexie felt tense as soon as she saw her dad appear behind the bar. She watched as he reached out and shook Nick’s hand. At least he was making a bit of effort, even if it wasn’t the most heartfelt of congratulations.

  “Apparently you didn’t realise it’s traditional to ask the bride’s father before you propose,” Angus said, loudly enough for anyone in the vicinity of the bar to hear.

  Briefly, Lexie closed her eyes and contemplated stepping in and telling him to shut up.

  “I know the tradition,” Nick said confidently. “But I assumed you’d say no, so I thought I’d save us the uncomfortable conversation.” His tone was jokey enough that the atmosphere remained light, but the set of his features made it clear he wasn’t about to be bullied by Angus.

  “I wouldn’t worry about it,” Keith chimed in, planting a hand on Logan’s shoulder. “This one never asked me either.”

  “I didn’t need to,” Logan replied with a smirk. “You’d been begging me to marry Isla for years.”

  “Aye,” Keith said. “To be fair, we always thought she’d be the most difficult to get rid of.”

  “Dad!” Isla hissed at him, while Christine gave his arm a playful slap.

  “I was joking,” he said, then shrugged. “Kind of!”

  Christine turned her attention to Lexie. “How did Nick propose?” she asked, with a wistful gleam in her eyes.

  “Oh, it’s a great story,” Leana said. “So romantic.”

  “I want to hear,” Elspeth said, appearing beside Lexie.

  “Me too!” Isla said.

  Lexie ushered them to a table, happy to tell it again.

  Chapter Nine

  “Is it me or is Angus turning into a grumpy old man?” Logan asked Isla as they wandered home from the pub.

  “He’s always had a grumpy streak,” Isla said, linki
ng her arm through Logan’s. “But he’s definitely getting worse. I feel quite sorry for Nick.”

  “He doesn’t seem to let it get to him. It definitely makes me think I’ve got it pretty easy when it comes to my in-laws.”

  “You’ve got it very easy.” Isla knocked into him. “I’m fairly sure most members of my family prefer you to me.”

  “Aye. That’s understandable, though.” He laughed as she gave him another playful nudge. “It was a good night, wasn’t it? Despite Angus being a bit frosty.”

  “I think he just likes to ruin engagement parties. Remember how he shouted at Nick at our engagement?”

  “Yeah. It’s strange, because Nick’s a really nice guy. He and Lexie make a great couple.”

  They slowed as they reached the driveway. When the security light clicked on, Jasper barked inside the house. “Lexie was a bit funny with me tonight,” Isla said.

  “In what way?” Logan asked as he opened the door.

  Isla raised her voice slightly as Jasper jumped around them. “She told me she didn’t expect me to be there. Why would she say that? Did that mean she didn’t want me to be there?”

  “I doubt it. Why would she invite you if she didn’t want you there?”

  “To be polite?” She hung her coat up and kicked her shoes off. “It’s kind of odd to greet me by saying she was surprised to see me.”

  “She probably assumed you’d be working,” he said, heading for the couch.

  “Maybe. If she wasn’t expecting me to turn up, she was probably really shocked that I brought her a present.”

  “She loved the earrings. I saw her showing them off to her mum.”

  “I might be overthinking it.” Isla sighed as she flopped onto the couch beside Logan.

  “Is Lexie going with you at the weekend?”

  “Dress shopping?” Isla asked in surprise. “No. Why would Lexie be coming?”

  “I dunno. Because she’s your friend?”

  “Is she?” Isla pursed her lips. “I always see her as Leana and Elspeth’s friend.”

  “I thought you liked Lexie?”

  “I do, I’m just not sure I’d describe her as a friend.”

  “Okay,” Logan said, raising an eyebrow.

  Isla sat up straighter and glared at him. “Do you think I should have invited her dress shopping?”

  “I don’t know. I sort of thought she might be a bridesmaid, but I also thought she was your friend so clearly I’m clueless.”

  “A bridesmaid?” Isla said in a rush. “Are you serious?”

  “That’s a no then!”

  “No. Why would you think that?”

  “Because I thought you were friends,” he said again, sounding amused by the conversation.

  “You don’t think she’s expecting to be a bridesmaid, do you? I was going to have Leana and Elspeth. I never even thought of anyone else.”

  “She’s always around. I just assumed.”

  “Do you think she’ll have assumed that too?” Isla asked.

  “Probably not. Especially if she wasn’t even expecting you to turn up to celebrate her engagement. I wouldn’t worry about it.”

  “Should I ask her?”

  “Do you want her to be a bridesmaid?”

  “Not really.” She felt suddenly torn. Logan was right that Lexie was always around. She supposed they were friends even if it was only because of Leana and Elspeth – and the fact that she worked in the local pub. “I don’t think we’re that close. I’m sure she wouldn’t expect to be a bridesmaid. If anything she’d probably think it was weird if I asked her.”

  “Don’t then.”

  “I wish you’d never said anything,” Isla said. “You’ve got me confused.”

  “Now you’re definitely over-thinking it.”

  “Weddings are a nightmare,” she said. “It all feels like a bit of a minefield. Did you ask Gary to be best man in the end?” Logan and Gary had been best friends since they were kids, so he was the obvious choice.

  “Aye.”

  “Alasdair won’t be offended, will he?”

  “I wouldn’t have thought so. Why?”

  “You and he are pretty close. Maybe he was expecting you to ask him.”

  Logan looked thoughtful for a moment, then caught the teasing in Isla’s eyes. “I feel like you’re trying to make some kind of point!”

  “Just showing you how it feels.”

  “Alasdair wouldn’t expect me to ask him.” He scratched his jaw. “To be honest, if he wasn’t going to be busy giving you away, I might have asked your dad.”

  “Really?”

  “Aye. I told him. He seemed quite touched.”

  “I bet he was.”

  “I was also tempted to have Jasper as my best man.” The dog barked once and trotted over to them. “The trouble is you’re a dog, not a man,” Logan told him as he stroked his face. “You can be my best dog.”

  “Is Jasper coming to the wedding?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are dogs allowed?”

  “Yep.”

  “Did you already ask?”

  He nodded and flashed her a boyish grin. “We’d have been looking for another venue otherwise.”

  “Sorry about my dad,” Lexie said when she and Nick finally got into bed.

  “You don’t have to apologise for him.” Nick propped himself up on an elbow and looked lovingly down at Lexie. The lopsided smile was an indication that he’d had his fair share of champagne. “You can’t help what he says. And it doesn’t really bother me. I’ve got to the point where I find it quite funny.”

  “I think it’s really embarrassing. I’m going to talk to him tomorrow. We’re getting married and he needs to get over it. Or at the very least stop making a scene in the pub.”

  Nick trailed a hand over her hair. “Don’t worry so much. Everything is great.”

  “You just think everything is great because you’re drunk.”

  “No.” He lowered his head and dotted kisses along her jaw. “Everything is great because I love you and we’re going to get married.”

  Closing her eyes, she focused on the feel of Nick’s lips on her neck. When he kissed her ear, she remembered she hadn’t removed her earrings and reached to take them out.

  “They’re gorgeous,” she said, holding them out to look at them again. “That was really nice of Isla.”

  “Yeah,” Nick mumbled as he continued to nuzzle her neck.

  “I didn’t really think Isla liked me. I was surprised she even came out tonight. I was expecting her to say she was working and it was too short notice.”

  Nick shifted back onto his elbow. “Of course she’d come. She’s your friend. And mine too.”

  “I’m fairly sure she doesn’t consider me a friend. She’s just learned to put up with me because I’m Leana’s friend.”

  “I don’t think that’s true.” He paused. “You and Isla are quite alike in some ways.”

  “Me and your ex-girlfriend are alike?” Lexie chuckled. “We might need to change the subject. This conversation is starting to make me uncomfortable.”

  “Can I get back to kissing you then?”

  “Please do,” she said with a grin. His lips had just touched hers when curiosity got the better of her and she stopped him with a hand on his chest. “How are we alike?”

  He rolled his eyes as he drew away again. “You’re both pretty guarded, even with people close to you. And sometimes that makes you seem a bit cold.” He winced as though expecting her to be offended.

  “So you’re attracted to women who are cold and guarded?” she asked cheekily.

  “No. I can see past it. It’s like my superpower.” He shifted his weight and snuggled down beside her. “Besides, I think you’ve warmed up a lot recently.”

  She ran a hand over his hair as his breathing became shallower and his eyes gently closed. “I think so too,” she whispered. It was one of the things she loved about being with Nick. He made her realise that she didn’t
need to keep people at arm’s length any more.

  Chapter Ten

  When Nick walked in the front door on Tuesday evening, he had his phone to his ear, chatting away. His smile stretched over his face and he laughed into the phone before telling whoever it was that he’d talk to them again soon.

  He kissed Lexie’s cheek. “Mum says hi.”

  “Is she okay?” Lexie asked.

  “Yes. Desperate for us to set a date for the wedding so she can start looking for an outfit.”

  “It’s nice that she’s so enthusiastic.”

  “Aye. I told her we’d let her know when we have a better idea of what we want to do.”

  “My mum was asking too. And Leana. I guess we have to set a date just so people stop asking.”

  “How long do you want to wait?” he asked as he filled the kettle.

  “I’m not sure.” She leaned heavily against the counter. “What do you think?”

  “The sooner the better for me! But I guess it depends what kind of wedding you want. It might be best to decide where we want to get married and see when they have availability. Some places get booked up years in advance. Do you have any ideas about where you want to get married?”

  She took the cup of tea he passed her and tipped her head towards the living room before heading that way. She’d already lit the fire and it was lovely and cosy. “I’d thought about having the reception in the pub,” she said, settling herself on the couch. “Maybe with a small marquee in the beer garden.”

  “It sounds as though there’s a but coming …”

  “But I think I should dismiss that idea considering my dad’s reaction to us getting married.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be fine when he gets used to the idea.”

  “Maybe, but it would also make things easier with Wesley if the wedding is on neutral ground. I’m not sure how he’d feel about coming to Lannick.”

  “Did he ever come here when you were growing up?” Nick asked.

  “No. I visited him in the school holidays, but Mum always drove me over there and picked me up.”