A Highland Home A Contemporary Highland Romance Book Two by Cali MacKay Page A

might be smiling, aye?”
    Her gaze held his as if looking to see if he’d fallen under the same spell. It had him pursing his lips and trying not to blush. “Still… I don’t like that he’s done such an abrupt turnaround. Makes me wonder what he’s up to.”
    “Och, Angus. He’s not a bad lad, so don’t let him bother ye. And I’ll tell ye now, he’s the least of our problems if Rowan’s going to go looking for her father.” Her lips pursed into a thin line, her brow furrowed. Angus had never seen her looking so worried.
    “Ma… she needs to do this.”
    “Aye, son. I know. But I swear, I’ll ne’er forget how shaken Iona was after coming home from university. She made me promise to not go digging into who the father was. Said it was for my own good-and I believed her, scared as she looked. I don’t know who she got involved with, but if Rowan’s going to go looking for the man, then it leaves me worried. There was a reason Iona never returned home and left her father on his own. And to not tell Rowan who her father is, even when she was sick… there had to be a reason, Angus.” She let out a weary sigh, her brow furrowed and her jaw tight. “It could put her in danger, son-and though I don’t have any answers for ye, I can tell ye that Iona’s fear was real.”
    “So, what am I to do? I told her I’d help her.” Angus’s head was spinning and his heart was heavy. He knew what finding her father meant to Rowan, and didn’t know if he could stand in her way.
    “Above all else, ye need to keep her safe, Angus. For Iona’s sake. Her mother was like my sister, aye? Ye do what ye must to keep her from finding him-to keep her from harm. Even if she’ll hate ye for it. I’m sorry, son. I really am. I know ye like the lass and want to help her, but it’s for her own good.” With sadness in her eyes, she patted his arm and got to her feet.
    “Ma… I don’t know if I can do that. Ye know I’m not any good at lying, and doesn’t she have a right to know?” Though he could normally lie without anyone ever knowing, it usually didn’t take long before he confessed it all, unable to deal with the burden of his lies.
    She gave him a worried smile. “Aye. I know this will be hard on ye. Ye always had too guilty a conscience.” Her smile then faded to concern. “But it’s for her own good, Angus, and ye’ll need to do all ye can to make sure she doesn’t find him or start asking too many questions. Make sure she doesn’t go looking for him. Find a way to distract her or keep her busy. And if she does go looking, make sure she doesn’t find anything, aye? It might be the only way to keep her safe.”
    He groaned, his heart and head filled with dread. “Aye, Ma. I’ll try my best.”
    She nodded, worry lining her face. “Let her know she’s invited to dinner. Tomorrow, if it’s convenient for her. If ye could pass on the invitation, I’d appreciate it.”
    “Aye, Ma. I’ll let her know, though I can tell ye now, she’ll ask about her father.” What a bloody mess. He finished his tea and put his cup in the sink, before kissing his mother on the cheek. “Tell Da I stopped by.”
    He’d need to see Rowan to tell her about dinner with his parents, though what he’d do about helping her search for her father, he hadn’t a clue. This was the last thing he needed, especially the way he felt about her. Already his heart beat faster to know he’d soon be with her again-and the guilt had his stomach in knots.
    The friendship they’d developed via email and the attraction he felt for her was only solidified when she closed the distance between them with her move. He knew he shouldn’t grow so attached to her, yet he couldn’t help himself. She was even more tempting in person with those fiery locks, green eyes, and luscious curves.
    And now? He’d be putting everything at risk to try and keep her safe. By the gods, she’d hate him if she ever found out he was keeping her from finding