A Highland Heist A Contemporary Highland Romance Book Three by Cali MacKay

brothers, Aidan and Patrick.
    Her da sat forward with a hard gaze pinned on Conall, his ice blue eyes so similar to her own. He looked good for a man in his late fifties, still bearing an athletic build, even if he’d gotten leaner in more recent years and his brown hair was now liberally streaked with grey. “Computer security? And how does that work when ye’re up in the middle of nowhere?”
    Her two brothers mumbled something to each other, too low for anyone else to hear, and then laughed, making Maggie want to lean over and smack their heads together.
    Conall shrugged at her father’s question, not rising to the bait. “Most of my work is done remotely, and if need be, I travel. It seems not to be an issue for my clients, many of which are in Scotland.”
    “And ye think ye’ll be able to make my Maggie happy? She’s a city girl, born and bred, laddie .” Her da scoffed as Maggie threw him a glare, silently begging him not to do this. Conall was skittish enough about relationships without her father making matters worse.
    “Honestly? I’ve always believed that the person ye’re with matters more than the setting. I like Maggie-a lot. But only she knows what will make her happy. I can only try my best to do right by her.” Conall reached over and took her hand, giving her a small smile that made her heart race. He then locked eyes with her father. “And I’m smart enough to know that she makes her own decisions. She won’t stay anywhere or with anyone if she doesn’t want to.”
    She loved that Conall wasn’t backing down. Most men forced to confront her father would either be quaking in their boots or would have already abandoned the cause and headed for the door. Her da knew it, too, and though most couldn’t read the signs, it was clear he liked Conall-as much as he’d ever like someone she was seeing.
    “Quit harassing him, Da.” She gave her father a teasing smile, before nestling against Conall’s side. “We’ve only been together a few weeks, and ye’re grilling him like he’s going to ask for my hand in marriage.”
    “Well, love, what else am I to think when the two of ye are going to be holed up in some hotel in the city?” Her father shook his head, his body stiff. “I know ye’re an adult and ye make yer own choices, but ye’re still my little girl and ye’re daft if ye think I’ll be happy about it. Just be grateful these are modern times and we don’t already have him hogtied and heading for the church.”
    “ Da! ”
    Keys jingled in the front door and her mother walked in, saving Maggie and Conall from further interrogation and a quickie wedding. Maggie was already heading over to greet her ma.
    “ Maggie. Ye should have said ye were coming.” Her mother pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her cheek. It didn’t take long for her ma to spot Conall or her father and brothers just beyond. “I’m Nora. Have the boys been behaving themselves?”
    Maggie crossed her arms in front of her chest and with a smug smile, glared at the male members of her family. “Of course not. They’ve all but raked Conall over hot coals.”
    Conall stood and shook her mother’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet ye.”
    Her ma gave him an easy smile. “The pleasure’s mine. I hope ye’ll stay for lunch.”
    Maggie linked her fingers with Conall’s, a smile dancing on her lips as she looked up at him, utterly and completely smitten. “Aye, Ma. That would be perfect.”
    Aidan shifted his gaze from her to Conall and then back again. “Maggie…could I have a word?”
    She gave Conall’s hand a squeeze to keep him from worrying, though she didn’t know how he’d fare alone with her parents and remaining brother. “I’ll be but a minute.”
    Narrowing her eyes at her younger brother, she followed him out to their backyard. She’d be more than a little annoyed if he was pulling her aside for a lecture on her relations with Conall, even if he was just being protective.