be Team Santino?”
She smiles sweetly. “I think you two make a nice pair, and you deserve this.”
“This isn’t a fucking set of ponies we’re mating! This is my sister. And Santino is a sleazy lawyer bawbag—”
“Who saved your football career by making it possible for you to come back to Bethnal Green after things didn’t go well in Glasgow.” Freya stares him down like she’s daring him to tell her it isn’t true.
Mac jerks his head back and begins pacing in front of the fireplace. “Don’t remind me.”
“Mac, there was a reason Tilly wouldn’t let you pummel him all those years ago when you found out about that money he sent her in Dundonald. And there’s a reason she wants to go out to dinner with him.”
“As friends,” I add firmly, flinching at the mention of money because I sooo do not want to go down that path. Clearly, my beloved sister-in-law needs a stern reminder. “And the past is in the past.”
She winks playfully at me. “Take care, love. Mummy has Daddy on the ropes.” She swerves her eyes back to Mac. “Your sister is a strong, independent woman with a master’s degree and more brains than both of us put together. Now you need to stop being an odious protective big brother and let her make her own choices here. She’s doing a lot for us right now, and I could cry just thinking about how helpful she’s been to me these past few weeks. She left her life back in Dundonald to be here for us, so we’re going to let her have a life while she’s here. End of discussion.”
Mac’s shoulders rise and fall as he heaves big breaths and opens his mouth to speak but then smartly closes it. Finally, he turns to me. “You tell him that if he puts one fucking finger on you, he’s getting a Glasgow Kiss from me, alright?”
“You bet, Macky.” I smile at my big brother, who’s been reduced to rubble by a couple of women.
When he storms off into the kitchen, Freya looks at me. “What is a Glasgow Kiss again?”
“A headbutt.”
Freya’s face twists up. “That doesn’t sound very nice.”
“It’s not supposed to be.” I giggle.
“Well, we best watch another episode of Bridgerton to get you fully in the mood for your date.” She shoots me a cheeky wink that I shake my head at.
“It’s not a date.”
“Okay, wee sister.”
And just like that…I have a big sister whether I like it or not.
Getting the text from Tilly that Mac gave her the all-clear for our “business meeting” was a surprise, to say the least. I half expected to have to enlist Tanner or Roan to talk to Mac on my behalf. That stubborn Scot doesn’t forgive easily.
However, Tilly is much like her brother in that regard—strong, determined, and loves to march to the beat of her own drum. But as I pull up in front of Mac and Freya’s home in Brick Lane, I hope that her accepting my invitation tonight means she wants this night to happen for more reasons than to just piss off her brother.
Because I have high hopes for this evening.
That coffee with Tilly felt like old times but brighter, clearer, and more honest. Years ago, I was perfectly fine to know a woman’s body and not her mind. Now, I want it all, especially from the very different Tilly Logan.
So, that’s my goal for tonight. To see if that spark we once shared is still there. To see if perhaps there could be more to our story than the original version now that Tilly and I aren’t holding back from each other. Her sobriety in no way deters me. In fact, I think it’s highly attractive. We’ll finally get to know each other how we should have in the beginning, with no barriers of alcohol or arbitrary rules coming between us.
I knock on the door and cringe when Mac’s large frame appears. His red hair is soaked in sweat as he stands with boxing gloves on and zero smiles for me.
“Santino,” he says through clenched teeth.
“Hiya, Mac, good to see you again.” I hold my hand out to shake his, but he just stares me down, refusing to even fist bump me.
“Mac, stop being a grumpy bear,” a familiar Cornish accent calls out from inside. “And take off those ridiculous boxing gloves. You’ve been done working out for twenty minutes.”
Mac steps back to let me inside. Upon entering, I look left to see