The Trouble With Kilts: The MacLarens of Balmorie, #3

By Kam McKellar

The MacLarens of Balmorie series continues with Kam McKellar's 3rd contemporary Scottish romance. Jamie is a wounded Highlander with an attitude and Riley is the kind of woman who can't resist a challenge.

Riley Brooks' life is in a tailspin. With divorce papers shoved into her suitcase, she takes off for a much needed vacation to Scotland to see her cousin Lucy wed Ian MacLaren. Highland romance is in the air, but she wants none of it. Neither does Jamie MacLaren. The Scottish farmer is pissed off and bitter, and wants to be left alone. But when Riley's ex-husband shows up at the castle to reopen old wounds, misery loves company, and Riley and Jamie join forces with a little Scottish whisky to ease their hurts, and maybe open their hearts…

The Trouble With Kilts is the 3rd in the author's MacLarens of Balmorie series of humorous, fast-paced, short contemporary romances with a Scottish Highland twist. The full series:

1. Mad About Plaid
2. A Scot Like You
3. The Trouble with Kilts
4. Any Scot of Mine

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kam McKellar
• Release date: May 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9780988522541

Kam McKellar

Kam McKellar writes sexy contemporary romance. She has a thing for sweets, accents, kilts, and men in uniform. She hopes to one day inherit her very own castle from a long, lost relative. Nothing wrong with dreaming big! :D Her series, The MacLarens of Balmorie, features the MacLaren brothers, ex-US soldiers turned Innkeepers, who move to the Highlands of Scotland to keep their ancestral legacy going. They're farming the land, restoring and renting out cottages, and converting the west wing of the five hundred year old Balmorie Castle into a guest house. The last thing on their mind is love. But tell that to their first three visitors... The series, in order, is available now: MAD ABOUT PLAID A SCOT LIKE YOU THE TROUBLE WITH KILTS ANY SCOT OF MINE To learn more about Kam and find out when the next MacLaren book is available, visit her at www.kammckellar.com.

Book preview

THE TROUBLE WITH KILTS

THE TROUBLE WITH KILTS

Copyright © 2013 by Kam McKellar

Excerpt of Any Scot of Mine Copyright © by Kam McKellar

Smashwords Edition

ISBN: 978-0-9885225-4-1

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Cover Images: 123rf Stock Photos 

Chapter 1

A bonny lass alone at the bar. Isn't right, Hamish said with a friendly smile as he took a seat and ordered a drink. What's the world coming to?

Riley shrugged, toasted his glass with her own, and then downed her third straight shot of whisky. Beautiful wedding, she commented, watching the reception. It was winding down now, the bride and groom—her cousin Lucy and cousin-in-law Ian—having already left for their honeymoon.

Aye, that it was, Hamish agreed. Have never seen the chapel look like that before with all those white flowers and candles, the snow outside…

It had been one of the most romantic, intimate weddings Riley had ever seen. Like a dream. The five-hundred-year-old MacLaren chapel, the groom and his two best men/brothers in honest-to-goodness kilts, the bride so pretty it made Riley cry before the wedding had even started.

Yeah, a dream. A wonderful freaking dream.

She was ecstatic for both of her cousins, amazed that Lucy and then Kate had gone to Scotland and found love. But weddings and happily-ever-after? Not in the cards for her. She was done. Her marriage was done, no matter how hard she'd fought to save it. Divorce papers had arrived the morning she'd left New York for Scotland. They were still in the envelope tucked in the bottom of her suitcase.

It was a failure that stung her soul, and one that fed the bitterness already growing inside her.

Hamish turned in his seat, resting his back against the bar to watch the small gathering in the Great Hall. Suppose they're next. He gestured to Kate and Devin slow dancing along with a few other couples.

Riley smiled at the picture they presented. Kate looked amazing in the champagne-colored bridesmaid gown, her black hair setting off the color to perfection. And Devin, the broad-shouldered hunk, only had eyes for Kate. Their dogs, Hildie and Terry, lay by the massive hearth at the far end of the hall chewing on dog bones. I wouldn't be surprised if they eloped. Kate's never one to do things the traditional way.

Hamish snorted, obviously finding the idea of elopement appalling. Fran will have none of that.

A laugh escaped her. Fran and him both apparently.

Riley glanced over her shoulder and signaled to the bartender for another shot. She could feel Hamish's eyes on her and knew if she looked his way she'd see concern and, most likely, a frown peeking through that bushy red beard of his. So she avoided meeting his gaze and instead turned back to watch the reception.

I know ye've suffered a nasty break, lass. But dinnae let it get ye down. Have some fun. Half the MacLaren clan turned out and a good lot of the American side too. And ye have ta admit, the lads here are a decent-looking lot.

She couldn't argue with that. There were several impressive men in attendance. Most in kilts. A few, she had to agree, were pretty damn attractive. There was a time in her life that being in Scotland, in a Scottish castle, among men in kilts would have made her inner romance-loving self squeal like a happy pig in a mud spa.

I ken yer not in the market for a husband, but ye can still have a wee bit of fun. Get out there and dance. He flung his arm toward the reception, nearly choking on the sight of Grammy Lin squeezing the ass of a grinning old Scotsman as they danced. Dear God.

Oh, geez. Riley took her drink from the bar, downed it, and hopped off the stool. Pretend you didn't see that. I swear, can't take her anywhere.

Hamish laughed. I do like yer grandmother. She's got the right idea, and ole Fergus doesna seem ta mind.

No, she paused, realizing. He doesn't. This was, in fact, the happiest she'd seen her grandmother in a long, long time. And while it made Riley glad, it made the present difference in their emotional states all the more stark. Think I'll get some fresh air.

Take a coat, lass. Tis cold out there.

With a nod and a smile, she left the makeshift bar area, wondering if this was going to be her life. Single forever. Watching from the wings. Bitter. Unhappy. Companion to her grandmother. The two old spinsters. Maybe Hamish was right. Maybe she needed to let loose and have a little fun. God knew, she was well on her way to being drunk—and there was nothing like a rugged Highlander with a sexy accent to put her over the edge and make her forget her troubles.

Hell, Liam MacLaren had been trying to make a move on her all night. He was twenty-six, smoking hot, and completely shameless. She was seven years older,