Love Between the Lines ✔️ DRAFT 1 COMPLETE

Chapter 14

The sky turned orange as we pulled up to the MacLeod family estate in Lachlan's town car a few hours later. The wrought iron gates slowly swung open and the car crunched down the gravel path before pulling up in front of a sparkling blue fountain.

"Wow," I breathed, glancing over at Fionn.

He sat next to me knocking his thumbs against each other. "I'm sorry."

I frowned. "Sorry about what?"

Fionn winced and gestured outside. "I didn't tell you about my family's place. I—"

"Fionn, hey." I covered his hand with mine. "I don't care that your dad lives in a big estate or that you grew up in one. It doesn't change anything about how I feel about you, okay?"

He nodded. "Okay."

Lachlan helped us with our bags and we walked up to the front door. I slipped my hand into Fionn's as he rang the doorbell. Catriona opened the door a beat later, her eyes widening when she saw us. Her gaze lingered on our interlocked fingers.

"Mum, dad! They're here!" she called behind her. Before either of us could say anything, Cat pulled me into a hug then gave one to her brother.

Laughter echoed down the long interior hallways, followed soon after by a woman and a man who had his arm securely around her waist. In his other hand, Angus MacLeod held a glass of whiskey.

"Fionn, mo ghràdh it's so great to see you." The woman had the same bright and kind blue eyes as her son. "And who is this?" She turned to me.

I cleared my throat and stepped forward. "Emilie Taylor, Mrs. MacLeod. I've been staying above the bookstore in Wigtown and, um, I'm Fionn's girlfriend."

Her face broke into a grin. "That is fantastic! Welcome. And please, call me Maisie."

"Thank you, Maisie. You have a lovely home here," I said. "I'm very pleased that Fionn offered me the opportunity to spend Christmas with you all."

Fionn squeezed my hand. "I told you, it's no trouble. Come, I'll show you upstairs."

"Actually, let me do it," Catriona interjected. Before either of us could say another word, Catriona rolled my suitcase down the hallway and over to the large staircase adorned by a mahogany banister. She led me up the stairs wordlessly then down a long corridor with several rooms on each side.

I paused outside one of the rooms. Dark blue walls peeked out from a semi-closed door.

"That's Fionn's room." Catriona pulled my suitcase to a stop beside her by the next door. "You'll be staying in this one. We have a, er, policy on significant others staying in separate rooms while visiting. My parents' rule."

"That makes sense," I said.

Catriona led me inside the next room, setting the suitcase beside the bed. "There is an adjoining door in the closet." She winked at me.

I blushed. "Thanks. I, um, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about me and Fionn sooner, it's just that it all happened so fast—"

"Em, it's okay." Catriona laughed and ran a hand through her hair. "I'm glad to see you happy again. I saw the way you looked at him when I was in Wigtown and how devastated you were with the whole stargazing thing."

"Yeah, about that—"

"You of all people, Cat, should know stargazing isn't a pick up move." Fionn's voice sounded behind us. "At least not for me. You don't remember mum taking us when we were kids? We drove for two hours to this beautiful little field in the middle of nowhere."