In less than five minutes I was set. A new record! Which honestly still seemed like forever, because, just a few minutes’ walk away, waited Kirby.
For me.
And I wasn’t leaving.
I was staying.
I quickly sent a text letting him know I had landed and was on my way.
He answered right away.
Kirby: Make those legs move faster! I believe we’ve been over this…
My smile widened to the point where my eyes squinted, but I didn’t care. Who needed to see when they were in love!
Taking a deep breath, I passed effortlessly through customs, rounded the curve of the long Terminal and took the escalader to Baggage Claim.
Who needed long legs when you could ride the escalator anyway?
I turned toward the carousels and scanned the crowd. Each time I saw a dark head of hair my heart would jump, but so far, I hadn’t found him. As I made my way to the correct carousel, I pulled out my phone and texted him again.
Me: Where r u?
“Here,” he spoke next to my ear and I jumped, knocking over my carry-on and gasping.
“Kirby!” I righted myself and narrowed my eyes, but my annoyance was short lived as I watched his blue eyes sparkle with amusement, his wide grin showing off the contrast of his full lips and beard.
“Creepy and not romantic,” I grumbled but wrapped my arms tightly around him, inhaling the familiar scent of him — melting as he returned the embrace and held me snugly against his chest.
“I’ll make up for it. Promise.” He pulled back, his warm hand reaching up and trailing a finger from my jaw to my lips. “Damn. I missed you.” Without giving me a chance to reply, he captured my lips. And at once, it felt like home.
“Now that…” I pulled away slightly, grinning widely. “…was romantic.”
“Then you’re really going to be impressed in a few minutes.” He flashed me a smile.
“Am I now?” I bit my lip and let my gaze rake over him.
“Tempting, but I dinna think we’d fit.” He gave me a mysterious grin and walked up to the carousel and picked up my orange suitcase like it was filled with feathers… not the thirty pounds overweight I had to pay to get it on the plane.
“Okay…” I gave him a sideways glance as he grasped my hand, pulling my large suitcase behind him.
“If you’re ready?” He motioned toward the parking garage.
“Always.”
He rolled his eyes but chuckled. “Not what I meant but I’ll take it.”
I tugged on my carry-on and we walked toward the exit, but before we even got there, Kirby released my hand and put his arm around my shoulder, keeping me closer.
“So… seriously, are you okay with what happened? We talked but I just… I need to see you when you say it.” I took a deep breath as we walked.
Kirby’s hand tightened on my shoulder. “C’mon.” He nodded to a small waiting area for the cab service and took a seat on the bench, motioning for me to sit too.
“Merry, I understand. We all mess up. What happened? Not something you did on purpose. I get that. I’ll admit I was quite upset at first, but it was easily forgiven. Because in the end… I love you. And if my affection for you alters simply because you’re not perfect… then that’s not really love. Is it?” He tilted his head slightly as his blue eyes narrowed, studying me.
“I’m really, really sorr—” He covered my mouth with his hand. “Walk away from it. There will be plenty of times I’ll need you to do the same for me. Deal?” He slowly removed his hand when I nodded, his face breaking into a grin.
“Deal.”
“Why do you think I’m keeping that last IOU in my back pocket?” He teased.
“Wait! No! It’s void! Remember? I left—”
“But your back.”
“And?”
“And since you’re technically living here… it’s valid.”
“Says who?” I rolled my eyes.
“Me.”
“But—”
“No buts! However… I do have one issue with what happened with the blog post.” He shook his head slowly.
My chest tightened as I waited.
“I think you could have at least given me a title other than Stepbrother.”
I sighed a deep breath of relief as I stood and smacked his arm.
“Believe me, Merry, we’re anything but related.” He grinned and then smacked my ass with his hand.
“That’s your issue?” I teased.
“Yup. I mean, I’m a badass.” He shook his head. “A man among men. You could have given me so many different titles—”
“Annoying?” I joked as we crossed the street.
“Sexy beast,” he shot back.
“Unicorn!”
“Alpha male stud. No wait! Highlander warrior manly stud… man.” He nodded at his own words with approval.
“You sound like a badly written book title.” I laughed, the sound echoing in the cement garage.
“Millionaire alpha male super… man.” He tried to keep a straight face but failed and burst into laughter.
“Yes… that is what I should have called you.” I shook my head and then backtracked. Kirby had stopped by a yellow Fiat. He was unlocking the trunk and putting my suitcase inside.
“Uh. Trade in your SUV?” I glanced from the car to him, curious.
“Nope.” He shrugged and packed my carry-on in as well then shut the trunk.
I tried to bite my lips to keep from laughing but it was comical, because he towered over the car, making it look almost toy like. “Do you… even fit?”
“It’s my alpha male millionaire badass superman car,” he teased then tossed the keys to me.
I caught them.
“It’s lame to bring a girl flowers to the airport. Go big or go home.” He leaned against the car, his grin splitting his face as his blue eyes sparkled.
“Say what?” My gaze bounced from him, to the car, to the keys, and back. Was he saying that I think was saying?
“We’re going to have work on both your mental speed and the walking speed I can see.” He strode toward me. “This will get you from point A to point B. It’s cute, tight, and has a sassy streak. Trust me, it’s your car.” He plucked the keys from my hand. “But that being said. I’m driving. I don’t trust you to stay on the correct side of the road, and I want to live.” He winked and held open my door. “Are you going to move?”
“You… bought me a car?” I blinked.
“Yes.”
“Whoa.” I let my gaze travel over the extravagant gift. It was adorable — if a car could be considered adorable. I loved it, everything from the Fiat name on the wheels to the bright and shiny yellow paint. “Thank you.” I walked toward Kirby. I could feel his gaze on me as I studied the car, running my fingers over the smooth paint and soft features.
“You’re quite welcome.”
I rose up on my toes and placed a lingering kiss to his lips, his beard tickling me in a familiar way. He returned the kiss, his arms pulling me in tightly as his tongue tangled with mine, making me forget about the car, forget about everything but him.
He broke the kiss abruptly. “Merry, I already told you we cann’o fit.” His words were light, but his gaze was wild as if trying to break through his self control.
“Is it fast?” I nodded to the car.
“Not nearly enough.” He scooped me up in his arms and set me in the car. After giving me a quick kiss, he shut the door, ran around, and opened his.
“Home?” I asked as I reached out and grasped his hand, he squeezed it tightly.
“Home.”
EPILOGUE
“YOU DO REALIZE that just because it’s Saturday doesn’t mean we can stay in bed all day.” I rolled over onto my side and watched as Kirby pretended to sleep. “I’m not falling for it. You’re awake.”
“Shhh.”
“No.”
“Shhhhhhh.”
“No.”
�
��Go make me breakfast, woman.”
“Kiss my ass, man.” I smacked him with a pillow.
“Okay.” He rolled over and pinned me to the bed, his rich laughter echoing in the room.
Our room.
“We don’t have time for this!” I squealed as he pressed into me, kissing down my neck and making my toes curl.
“I’ll be fast.”
“You said that last time.”
“I lied.”
“You’re lying now,” I accused as I ran my fingers up his bare chest, tickling him in the perfect spot.
He jumped and glared, then reached up and pinned my hands above my head. “Sit still and let me have my way with you.”
“No. If I sit still it won’t be fun anyway.” I rolled my eyes then blew my hair from my face.
“Damn it, I hate it when you’re right.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
He took deep breath, his blue eyes roaming my face. “I love you,” he whispered.
“I know.” I smiled. “I really love you too.”
“I know.” He smirked. “After all, you did say yes.” He wagged his eyebrows and nipped at my neck.
“What was I thinking?” I teased as I arched my neck slightly to give him better access, the white gold engagement ring starting to twist on my finger as he held my hands back.
“That you’re the luckiest woman on earth,” he spoke in his deep brogue.
“That too I guess.” I rocked my hips slightly, earning a groan of approval.
My phone beeped.
“Ignore it.” Kirby nuzzled my nose with his neck.
“I have been… that’s the fifth one.”
“Damn.” He rested his head against my shoulder. “Ten minutes.” He met my gaze.
“She’ll understand why we’re late.” I rose up to meet him in kiss.
“No, she won’t but I dinna care.”
Fifteen minutes later Kirby was trying to dress and brush his teeth at the same time.
“Classy.” I wrapped my hair into a quick messy bun and then slid on my jeans.
“Efficient,” he spoke around his toothbrush then promptly slipped and fell onto the bed.
“Yeah. Efficient,” I badgered him.
“Jealousy gets you nowhere,” he said with a grin, got up and walked back to the bathroom.
“Hey! I forgot to ask you, and I keep forgetting—”
“Shocking, that.”
“You’re distracting.”
“In the best sense of the word,” he said back then lifted his arms and flexed, showing off his still bare chest.
“Brains and Brawn. I won the lottery.” I held up my left hand and wiggled my fingers, taking an insane girly-girl pleasure in the sparkle from the diamond ring.
“I’m glad you realize that.” He nodded in approval.
“Okay, my question—”
“Ask and dress at the same time. We gotta go, and you wanted to stay in bed all day so we’re running late—”
“Seriously?” I placed my hands on my hips and glared.
“Hurry.” Kirby tossed my shirt at my face and pointed sternly.
“Pain in the ass,” I grumbled but put on my shirt.
“But I’m your ass.”
“That’s right, you are.” I dressed quickly and soon we were out the door heading to Edinburgh International Airport to pick up Roxi.
It was her first visit, and I couldn’t wait for her to see all that we had accomplished for the UK office. But more importantly, I could hardly wait for her to be with Kirby and me.
I mean, Kirby was the one. The one in a million.
I wanted her to remember that it was possible.
To be in love and for that love to become a future together.
I wanted that for her.
I wanted her to remember that she wanted that for herself too.
“You’re quiet.” Kirby’s hand squeezed mine as we drove.
“Just thinking.”
“Do you remember that question?” He glanced from me to the road and back.
“Oh, yeah!” I sat up. “Kinda random, but… you know how you kept saying that you owed Roxi? There was something she held over your head or something—”
“Yeah?”
“What was that?”
He shrugged slightly. “You.” He gave me a soft smile and turned to the road.
Blinking, I recoiled in surprise. “Me?”
“Yeah. You.” He lifted my hand and kissed the back of it, his beard tickling my skin.
“What about me?” I asked, my curiosity burning.
“Merry, I already told you. Seventh grade. You honestly think that Roxi didn’t figure that out?”
“Wait. You mean that this whole time… Roxi knew you had a thing—”
“A big thing—” He grinned.
I elbowed him. “And she never told me?”
“Nope.”
“Never even gave me a freaking clue.” I sat back in my seat, totally shocked.
“She can keep a secret,” Kirby added.
“I never thought I’d see the day.”
“So… all those times when we were kids and she’d make you take out the trash and do dishes on her day—”
“Yup.”
“And when she made you be the ‘stepbrother’ for the blog’s post and — all of it?”
He nodded.
“Why didn’t you want me to know?” I asked softly.
“Because you had always taken such a shine to me…” He rolled his eyes. “Besides I didn’t actually think she’d use the leverage.” His hands tightened on the steering wheel, making the leather squeak.
“But she did.”
“Bloody woman didn’t tell me you were the one she was sending here.”
“So it was a shock to you.”
“To say the least… and then I turned it into an opportunity, and here we sit.” He gave me a triumphant grin.
“She’s never going to let us live this down.” I shook my head, letting the wonder and craziness of it all settle.
“It’s okay. I have dirt of my own.”
“Oh? What’s his name?” I sat up, a smile teasing my lips.
“Ach, Merry, I can keep my secrets too.” With another grin, he kissed my hand once more. “But more importantly, I keep my promises.”
“So do I.” I lifted his hand and kissed it, rubbing my nose against his skin and feeling so thankful.
“Are you ready for this?” Kirby asked as we pulled into a parking spot.
“As I‘ll ever be.” I took a deep breath. “Something tells me Scotland will never be the same after Roxi.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KRISTIN'S inspiration for the romance she writes comes from her tall, dark and handsome husband with killer blue eyes. With five children to chase, she is never at a loss for someone to kiss, something to cook or some mess to clean but she loves every moment of it!
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