Highland love's redemption

Chapter 7:

I woke up in my own bed the next morning without realising how I ended up here. It took me a minute to vaguely recall strong arms lifting me to my bed and Lachlan's low whisper in the night.
I got up and went downstairs for my daily walk stopping by the kitchen to serve me a glass of water when my eyes stopped on the table.
There was a small pile of what seemed to be clothes with a handwritten note on it.

Morning Leannan.
You'll be better off with these this morning. Temperatures dropped a good bit, take one of my pullovers on the coat rack next to the door.
-L.

Under the note were a black scarf, a hat and some gloves that I badly needed but had again forgotten to buy while shopping for groceries.

I smiled at the sweet attention and grabbed one of his big pullovers as said in the note.
It smelled like him, a mix of his cologne with a hint of the farm smell. I got out and was indeed thankful for the clothes that were given to me as I saw the frozen patch under my feet.
While walking I tried to think of something else than him but failed. Things got worse when I covered my hat with the hoodie of the pullover to protect me from the rain. I was now fully surrounded by the smell of him and couldn't help but find comfort in it. I felt at peace and protected. I lied to myself trying to convince my mind that in the end no matter the means, the main goal of these walks was to be at peace.
Not by thinking of him though.

I buried my nose in the scarf to protect myself from the icy wind and my mind got back to his arms and the three tattoos I had noticed a few days ago. They seemed to be in a different language and I was dying to ask him what it meant but stopped myself every time as it would clearly show I was eyeing him. I thought then of his handwritten note and the word "Leannan".

I typed this word on my search bar, and after a few seconds the result appeared.

" leannan from the Scottish m (genitive singular leannain, plural leannain) lover, sweetheart. "

I stopped my steps brutally remembering the first time he called me Leannan. I had thought back then he had just made a mistake in my name and never really realised until today it might have been Gaelic.

I stayed a few minutes in the cold trying to make sense out of this when the Jeep stopped at my height.
I looked at Lachlan for a few seconds before entering the car.

You're overthinking again. Might be a common thing to say here.

I then realised how I did not get familiar with the locals, I had noticed looks in town but had had very few interactions with them. I made a note to myself to try and get out to the only pub in town, at least try.

" You're alright? "

I nodded trying to look normal. I didn't ask as I feared it was really a usual term to be used.

" Thanks for all of this, I really appreciate. "

He didn't answer and drove us to the house.

" By the way, I'd like to see more around. Do you have any recommendations ? "

He seemed to think for a bit while we walked toward the door.

" Depends on what you mean by see more around.  For your walks you can check loch Sligachan, the town is small and I heard you have already been in it so there's nothing more here to see except the pub. You'll have to take the car for most of it anyways. The coast in general is pretty popular I guess. "

" What do you mean you've heard I have been in town? "

He did not look at me pouring two coffees, one with only milk and the other with sugar and milk. He rested his back on the counter, finally looking in my direction.