Highland Fling by Shelli Stevens Read Free Book Online Page A

gathering.
    Girls’ Night In. It had to be the sixth one of these they’d had in the past year, since they started making it a thing. Wine, cheese and lots of girl talk once a month. It was replenishment for the soul.
    “How is my little nephew Ben doing?” Kenzie asked.
    “Very sweet and mild,” Sarah mused. “He’s a pretty easy baby. Clearly, he takes after me. Whereas Emily—”
    “Is a dead ringer, personality-wise, for Ian,” Hailey finished dryly.
    Anyone who knew Ian McLaughlin and Emily could tell right away which parent the girl took after temperament-wise. Physically, while she had the vibrant McLaughlin green eyes, she resembled her mother almost perfectly with her petite height and long, dark hair.
    But her penchant for getting into trouble and having little to no filter on her words was so much like her dad. It was amazing more people hadn’t realized from the start that Emily was Ian’s child. Their whole romantic story sounded straight out of soap opera.
    Delonna glanced at the three other women in the room. In the past couple of years they’d all become tight friends. Everyone in this room was either a blood McLaughlin or married to one. And then there was Delonna, who really had no romantic relation to any of the McLaughlins, just friends with them all.
    Or no romantic relation until a couple months ago , a voice whispered in her head. And then again on Sunday.
    A wave of heat slid through her and she took another sip of her wine, trying to distract herself from the memory of what had happened in Aleck’s office. But it was there. Pecking away in her memory like a woodpecker. She’d made out with her boss. Again. And holy shit it had been hot. Had felt so damn good. Why hadn’t she stopped him? Son of a biscuit, why hadn’t she stopped him ?
    “Delonna?”
    Delonna blinked and glanced over at Sarah, who had said her name. “I’m sorry, what?”
    “You were spacing out. Are we boring you with the baby talk?” Sarah gave a rueful smile. “I’m sorry, it’s kind of my whole reality right now. I’ll try not to ramble too much.”
    “No. I love babies and Ben is adorable. I, just, my mind slipped elsewhere.” Like your brother-in-law . “Sorry.”
    “Aye, the stolen money. And how could you not think about it?” Kenzie nodded, her gaze softening.
    Stolen money. Right. One would think that would be first and foremost in her mind right now, but hey. Priorities.
    “Yeah.” She ran with Kenzie’s assumption. “It’s hard not to think about it.”
    “I’m so sorry about what happened. Colin mentioned it to me assuming I knew,” Hailey said cautiously, referring to her detective hubby.
    “It’s fine. It’s not a secret.” Delonna gave a tight smile. “I’m putting out an APB for all my friends if you see James. Permission to kick him in the balls and run.”
    “I’m in,” Hailey agreed. “What did the sheriff’s office say they could do for you?”
    “They’re going to make an effort to find the guy, but it’s harder because he lives off the island.”
    “Wait, wait. I’m lost. Baby brain, my fault.” Sarah shook her head. “Who stole your money?”
    “James.”
    Sarah gasped. “As in your boyfriend James?”
    “Pretty safe to say they’ve broken up, aye?” Kenzie asked, shooting Delonna a quick look.
    “Stealing six thousand dollars of my money is kind of a deal breaker in a relationship.”
    Sarah nearly spit out the soda in her mouth. “Holy fucking shit.”
    For someone who rarely swore, Sarah did so remarkably well when she wanted to.
    “Exactly,” Delonna agreed, that sinking feeling in her stomach returning.
    “I am so sorry, honey.”
    “Me too.” She would not cry again. She wouldn’t. After blinking quickly about ten times until the moisture dried up, she took another sip of wine.
    “Well. He was kind of a jerk anyway,” Sarah murmured.
    “Mmm. I thought so too.” Hailey nodded.
    Kenzie shrugged. “I mean, he was cute. In a