Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76205 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
I open my mouth to refute his words, but he holds up his hand to stop me.
“I no longer feel that way, Brianna. Besides, now it’s been sorted.”
“True enough,” I say. “It was actually Wendy Madigan who owned the town.”
“A surprise to all of us. But what I never understood was why there wasn’t a lien from Wendy on the Pike property.”
“We may never know,” I say. “Does it matter? Everything worked out.”
Jesse sighs. “I have a lot of questions. Questions I’m probably going to demand answers to from your father and his brothers.”
My heart sinks a little. But I can’t fault Jesse.
“But they’re not here, and right now, holding you, those questions don’t seem all that important.”
I smile against his shoulder. “I’m glad you feel that way.”
He kisses my forehead. “I should get you back to your own room.”
“Will I see you tomorrow?”
“As a matter of fact, you will. I’m going to accompany you, Maddie, Brock, and Rory to the Museum of Scotland in the morning, and then in the afternoon, I made arrangements just for you and me to go to the whisky experience.”
“Really?” I jerk up in bed. “I didn’t know you liked Scotch.”
“I drank it our first night here, if you recall.”
That’s right. He did. He ordered a Scotch…before we… Heat floods to my cheeks.
I smile. “I’m a bourbon girl myself, like my father, but Scotch is its own experience. It’s so different from other whiskeys. That’s so nice of you to think of that for me. It’s something I would love to do.”
“That’s why I thought of it. Brock, Rory, and Maddie have no interest in it. I asked them. When they said no, I couldn’t help but be happy.” He smiles, cups my cheek. “Because that, Brianna, will be our first official date.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jesse
I’m not a museum kind of guy, but the National Museum of Scotland wasn’t a complete bore, and Brianna seemed to love it. She walked with wide eyes through all the exhibits, especially the natural history displays. She’s a girl of the land for sure, and again I was reminded how I can’t take her away from her future—working her family’s land. I enjoyed the art and design exhibits—especially Rembrandt and Vermeer—but I was disappointed that there weren’t any exhibits pertaining to the music of Scotland.
After lunch at a nearby café, Brianna and I head to the whisky experience. The Scotch Whisky Experience is situated right next to the entrance of the Edinburgh Castle, and Brianna talks nonstop about the castle’s beauty and grandeur. It’s a gorgeous building for sure.
“I wish you could have been with Maddie and me yesterday,” she says animatedly. “We almost missed our bus back because we were loving the castle so much. I kept thinking about how Diana would love to be here and experience all the architecture.”
Another reminder of what Brianna and I don’t have in common. The castle is gorgeous, to be sure, but I tend to live in the present, not in the past. History—other than music and art—doesn’t interest me much, so I doubt I would have had any issue with being back on time to meet the tour group. My littlest sister, though, loves history and culture…and apparently so does Brianna.
I tuck the thought in the back of my mind. No need to dwell on how Brianna and I will never work in the long term. I arranged this whisky tour for her, and I plan for both of us to enjoy it.
The whisky experience has its own address and everything. These people take their whisky seriously. I’m surprised when a young man greets us.
“Welcome!” he says. “My name is George, and it’s my pleasure to guide you through your experience today.”
He’s tall and blond, and I don’t particularly like the way he looks at Brianna.
“We didn’t sign up for a tour,” I say, not smiling.
“You don’t have to,” he says. “We offer guides to individuals and groups to help you get the most out of the experience.”
“We don’t need a—”
Brianna tugs on my arm. “Let’s go with him, Jesse. He’ll make sure we get the most out of this.”
“I’m happy to oblige, pretty lassie,” George says.
I raise an eyebrow at him. I’m not sure he gets the hint. “Fine,” I say dryly.
“We’ll start with the whisky barrel ride,” George begins. “It’s a simulated ride that takes you through a virtual tour of the whisky-making process, from the barley fields to the distillery and beyond.”
“How exciting!” Brianna’s eyes are wide.
George guides us to barrel-shaped seats. Seriously, barrel shaped. I feel like I’m in an amusement park. Was this really my idea? Brianna somehow ends up in the middle of us as George lowers the safety bar. The lights dim, and our barrel pushes forward.
This is so not what I had in mind.