class seat available. If she could get to the airport and through security in time, she would be on her way lickety-split. She didn’t waste any time, quickly changing into comfortable leggings, a long black T-shirt, and her lightweight blue jacket. In a hurry to gather her things and arrange for a ride to the airport, she didn’t book a hotel reservation, thinking she would find a place to stay when she arrived in Scotland.
Isabel was excited about the change. She couldn’t wait to explore Scotland and see all the places she’d read about. Earlier in the week she had taken the time to pinpoint the location of Glen MacKenna. It was way up there, and she planned to make a lot of stops along the way. The attorney handling the estate was waiting to hear when she would arrive, and she would notify him in a couple of days to set up a meeting. Any other details she would address later.
She made it in plenty of time to board her flight. When she was going through security, one of the guards recognized her and called over three others to meet Isabel. They didn’t make a scene, which she appreciated. They wanted an autograph, and each pulled out his cell phone to get a photo with her.
All of them had the same burning question: What was XO like?
Once she was settled in her seat, she texted Kate and explained that she was on her way to Edinburgh. She asked her to tell Dylan that she was going alone and not to worry. She assured her sister that, as soon as she figured out where she was going to stay, she would let her know. It was five twenty in the morning, and she knew Kate was sound asleep. She wouldn’t get around to reading her texts until much later in the day, which benefited Isabel because Kate couldn’t call and argue with her about going alone.
Although Isabel was exhausted, it took time for her to quiet her mind. She kept going over the conversations she had had with Michael and with Amanda. Just by being honest with her, Michael had broken her heart. He couldn’t have been more blunt when he told her having sex with her shouldn’t have happened. Lovely, just lovely. And Amanda. Dear God, what a nightmare that woman was. What did Michael see in her?
For a good long while Isabel wallowed in anger and self-pity. Then she decided to be reasonable, once again reminding herself, Michael had never promised her happily ever after. She had seduced him, after all. Maybe she had expected more than he could give. She was the one with the problem, not him. She should have stayed away from him.
Vowing she wouldn’t waste another minute thinking about Michael, she zipped up her jacket, pulled the hood up over her head, and finally fell asleep.
TWENTY
THE MORNING AFTER WASN’T PRETTY.
It was a little before noon Sunday morning when Nick, bleary-eyed from playing poker until dawn and drinking way too much beer, walked into the kitchen in search of caffeine. Noah and Michael were sitting at opposite ends of the table. Michael was reading an article on Dylan’s laptop, and Noah was slumped over the table, guzzling orange juice. Feeling dehydrated, he had already gulped down two large bottles of water. Neither Nick nor Noah had showered or shaved yet. They both felt as bad as they looked.
Michael, on the other hand, looked as though he were ready for a photo shoot. He had showered, shaved, and wore crisp khaki pants and a dark blue polo shirt. Unlike Nick and Noah, Michael had on shoes. He was the only one in the room without bloodshot eyes. But then, he’d known when to stop drinking.
Nick found a clean mug, filled it with coffee, and took a drink. Then he leaned back against the island and said, “What in God’s name was I thinking?”
Michael understood what he was asking and answered. “You thought you could keep up with the MacAlisters. A rookie mistake,” he added, flashing a grin.
“If they stayed an entire week, we’d all need liver transplants,” Noah said, his voice a scratchy whisper. “The last time I drank this much was when I was at the university, and that was a long time ago.”
“Same here,” Nick said. “I forgot how bad a hangover can be. This is brutal.” He dragged a chair out and sat down at the table. “Where is everyone?”
Michael answered. “Laurant, Kate, and Jordan left a while ago with Mom and Dad.”
“Where were they going?” Noah asked on a yawn.
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. Michelle and Theo left for the airport real early.”
“Yeah,” Noah agreed. “I was going to bed when Theo was coming down with their luggage.”
Nick sat staring off into space while he waited for the coffee and the two aspirin he’d taken to kick in so he’d start feeling human again.