Epilogue

Jack
Two months later

I told you from the start that every love story has a beginning, a middle, and an end, but sometimes the cycle repeats. At least Cat and Alex came to their senses after the second go-round. I don't think I could've stayed sane if I had to counsel Alex through another cycle. They have their happy ending, but it's not the end of their journey together. What will come next? Even I don't know the answer. But I do know they'll travel that road together.

Today, I'm lying on my back on a rattan sofa on the patio of the house where Alex and Catriona now live, enjoying the sunshine on my face and the company of the people around me. The others occupy rattan chairs around a glass-topped table. With my eyes closed, I can't see them anymore, but I can hear their conversation.

Logan is telling some story from his past as an MI6 agent, but I think he's exaggerating it a wee bit. Alex's brother, Grey, loves all of Logan's stories and keeps asking him to tell more of them. I'm glad to see Alex and Grey have gotten on well and spend a lot of time together. Grey lives and works in London, but he comes to Loch Fairbairn as often as he can to visit Cat and Alex at their cottage. Alex and Cat go to London sometimes too. Today, we're all relaxing on the large lawn behind their home.

Did my advice help Alex become the happy, settled man he is today? I'd like to think so, but I have a feeling Catriona played a more important role in his transformation. Of course, he hasn't completely overhauled his personality. He still likes to say "what if" and "maybe" when anyone other than Cat asks him a question.

Ever since they announced Cat is pregnant a few days ago, Alex is even happier.

"Jack, are you awake?" Alex asks.

"Aye." Opening my eyes, I yawn. "Sunshine makes me drowsy, though."

"I'm about to make an announcement that I'm sure you'll want to hear."

"Another one? I hope you're not up the duff too."

"Your humor needs work, Jack."

I yawn again, sitting up. "Go on with your announcement. I'm awake."

"My book has been accepted by the publisher I submitted it to, based on the outline and sample chapters I provided. It's the publishing company owned by Chance's mate." His smile widens into a wicked grin. "Before long, the whole world will get to experience Dirty-Sexy Archaeology."

Can the world handle that? I haven't read Alex's book yet, but I'm sure he holds nothing back when he's writing about sex.

Alex tips his head toward Chance. "And I have my cousin to thank for the contract."

"You didn't get it because of me, or because I know the publisher," Chance says. He and his two brothers have joined us today, while everyone's wives convene inside the cottage. "Your book is excellent. But I'm glad I could introduce you to someone who appreciates your style of teaching history."

I lean back against the sofa, stretching my legs out. "When are you and Cat getting married? You proposed two months ago."

"We're making plans," Alex says, in the tone that tells me he's plotting something. "It will be an unusual wedding. We're tying the knot in America, but that's all I'm going to say right now. The wedding will be in six weeks."

"A mystery wedding. Do we at least get directions to the venue? Or will we be blindfolded for the whole trip to your secret American destination?"

"You'll get directions. When the time is right." Alex lifts his brows. "Don't you have a date this afternoon?"

"That's right. A blind date set up by you. Not sure it's safe to let Alex Thorne pick a girlfriend for me, but I'm giving it a go." I glance at my watch. "Bollocks. I'll be late."

Dane Dixon tosses me a set of keys. "Take my Jaguar. It's faster than your car."

I accept his offer, racing to the Jaguar and backing out of the driveway so fast that gravel sprays up around the car. I get to the cafe in Loch Fairbairn thirty-eight minutes past the time when I'd agreed to meet this girl. I glance around the outdoor section of the cafe but don't see a woman on her own, so I rush inside to check there.

The lad behind the counter waves for me to come over there.

When I do, he says, "Are you the one who was supposed to meet an American girl here for a blind date?"

"Aye. Have you seen her?"

The boy, who can't be more than sixteen, nods. "She left this note for you."

He hands me a folded piece of paper. Mhac na galla, I've missed her. I can't blame the lass for leaving when I've made her wait half an hour. I thank the lad and open the note.

You get one more chance. Loch Fairbairn Arms, Room 110.

She's inviting me to her hotel room? That's never happened to me before. I don't even know this woman's name. Alex wouldn't tell me because he thought it would be more fun to leave her identity a mystery. I know only that she's American.

I walk the two blocks to the Loch Fairbairn Arms, the only hotel in this village. The desk clerk barely glances at me when I cross the lobby and head down the hall to Room 110.

Maybe I shouldn't do this. Meet a stranger in a hotel room? If she wants to have sex and then leave… Why do I assume that's what she has on her mind? This woman is a stranger. She probably wants to tell me what a bod ceann I am for making her wait.

The door to Room 110 is in front of me.

Do I look all right? I straighten my clothes, as if they need it, run my fingers through my hair to smooth it out, and hold a hand to my face so I can puff a breath into it and make sure it doesn't stink of…anything. I've had a few dates since my divorce, but I never got past the first date with any of those women.

I raise my hand, hesitate, and finally knock on the door.

After a few seconds, the door swings open.

The woman standing in front of me gasps. Her ice-blue hair falls over one of her eyes, and she brushes it away.

I stare at her, frozen in place, my pulse racing and my skin going cold. "Autumn? What are you doing here?"

She shakes her head, eyes wide. "No, this can't be—You can't be—No, no, no."

"I, ah…" Pushing a hand into my hair, I shake my head too. "It's been a long time. You look…bonnie. I've never seen hair that color before."

Hers used to be blonde. Now it's blue?

"That's all you can say? You set me up for this, didn't you? Humiliating me doesn't seem like your style, but—"

"I didn't set this up. My friend Alex did." The sodding ersehole. He knew exactly what he was doing, I'm sure of that. "I'm sorry. This was not my idea, and believe me, you are the last person I expected to see."

Autumn shuts her eyes, squeezing her lips together. "Ugh. This is a mess. I flew all the way to Scotland for a vacation because my friend Rika suggested it. A blind date was supposed to be fun."

Rika. That would be Dane Dixon's wife.

What twist of fate resulted in my ex-wife being friends with the wife of Alex's cousin? This is too much. Whether Alex connived to introduce my ex-wife to Rika or it's rubbish luck to blame doesn't matter. I'm standing in front of my ex-wife, and I have no idea what to say to her.

"I'll go," I tell her. "Again, I'm sorry for this mix-up."

When I turn to leave, she grabs my arm. "You don't have to leave. Since we're both here, maybe we should have lunch and try to bury the hatchet."

The hatchet belongs to her, not me. She used it to cut me out of her life.

But the therapist part of me knows I need closure, so I say, "Lunch sounds good. How long are you in Scotland?"

"Two weeks." She steps out of her room and shuts the door. "Who knows? Maybe we'll become friends."

"Last time we saw each other, you told me I'm a shameless huckster."

"Are you going to hold that against me forever? Time to get over yourself, Jack. I might think your job is dumb, but you think the same thing about mine."

I sputter, like an eejit. "You quit medical school so you could become a blackjack dealer in Atlantic City. How is my profession a sham but yours is noble? And you didn't even discuss it with me. You announced you were moving to New Jersey, with or without me."

"You could have come with me. If you really loved me, you would have." She waves a hand, dismissing…everything, apparently. "Doesn't matter. Let's have a nice lunch and go from there. You're paying, right? I mean, you did stand me up."

"I was late. I didn't stand you up."

"Whatever. You're paying."

As I follow my ex-wife down the hallway, I make one very important decision. Alex Thorne is going to pay for this.

 

Jack MacTaggart returns in Devastating in a Kilt.

 

 

*****

 

 

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