Stirring Up Trouble: A Warlocks MacGregor Novella Read Free

before I spit—”
    “Belladonna clearly likes ya,” Rory stated, joining Euann. “That was called flirting.”
    Fergus frowned. “Donna is bella , but I don’t think—”
    Rory laughed. “No, we call her Belladonna because she’s been trying to poison us for two months with her cooking. Trust me, when you’re expelling your guts in the bushes, her pretty loses its charm quickly.”
    “It is kind of her to try,” Fergus defended, unsure why he bothered. He didn’t know this woman and her cooking was indefensible. He took another swig of the whiskey, letting the liquid fill his mouth before swishing it between his teeth.
    “Ya know, cousin, she never looked at me like that,” Rory said to Euann.
    “Me neither,” Euann answered, also pretending Fergus wasn’t standing before them. “I think she likes Uncle Fergus.”
    “Aye. Too bad a piece of driftwood has more skills than he does when it comes to women,” Rory observed. “I couldn’t tell if he was flirting back or trying to hex her.”
    “I did not flirt,” Fergus stated. His nephews ignored him.
    “Should we offer to help him?” Euann was barely able to keep the laugh out of his teasing voice. “I think Malina might have a little of that love potion Lydia used on Erik. We could take away Fergus’s inhibitions. It worked for my big brother. He finally found a woman who will put up with him.”
    “Ach, no, I do not want to see Fergus shaking his naked arse on the front lawn.” Rory gave a dramatic shiver. “Some images cannot be erased from my mind.”
    “I don’t know. Erik’s poetry was quite lovely,” Euann said.
    “But not his singing voice,” Rory commented.
    “I think ya boys have been sampling your Uncle Raibeart’s liquor stash again,” Fergus said louder. “I told ya, I did not flirt with that woman.”
    “Oh, aye, we know,” Rory answered him. “What ya did was far from flirting. Yet she still seems to like ya.”
    “Even ya should have noted the way she smiled at ya, Uncle Ferg,” Euann added. “She wanted ya to talk to her.”
    “I should inform her that I am married.” Fergus decisively set the decanter down and made a move to leave. “I did not mean to give her the wrong impression.”
    “Go try the funnel cakes, laddies.” Angus appeared, tugging on Rory and Euann’s arms to yank them out of the room. When they were alone, Angus sighed and turned instantly serious. After a long moment, he said, “I miss her too, Fergus, but Elspeth would not want this life for ya. Perhaps we let it go on for too long, this pining of yours. I don’t expect ya to find another Elspeth, but there is something to be said for companionship. If ya worry about hurting the woman’s feelings, ya never need tell her ya carry another in your heart. No one expects ya to fall in love, but lust might be good for ya. And it sounds as if this Donna woman might have been stopping by in hopes of meeting ya. She probably saw ya around town and wanted an introduction.”
    “Ya would never betray your wife,” Fergus said. “Why are ya telling me to betray mine?”
    “Aye, I wouldn’t. But this is not about me. If I could give Elspeth back to ya, I would. She died protecting my daughter. That is a debt no man can repay. All I can do is honor her, and try to think of what she would want for ya. Elspeth loved ya, brother, and that is how I know she would not want this eternity for ya. It has been over four hundred years. I think it’s time we let Elspeth rest. I think it’s time ya let yourself have even a brief moment of companionship. I don’t know if a man can have more than one fíorghrá in his life, but ya can have a life.”
    “What makes ya think I’d even be interested in this Donna?” Fergus crossed his arms over his chest.
    “That part is fairly obvious.” Angus cleared his throat and glanced to Fergus’s kilt.
    Fergus looked down and was surprised to find his erection jutting forward. The bag he carried across his chest