It was the path I’d chosen to walk in life. A friend to animals, a healer to all, and though it was frequently a lonely, solitary path, it was mine.
“I think you’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen, we have similar interests when it comes to professions, and you intrigue me.”
Luch’s intrigue wasn’t good. Was it?
“You can’t make attachments to men, Faelan. You know this. Especially a man who’s making roots in this wee town.” I took the damp towel and tossed it in the washingmachine. There were a lot of self-lectures today, but living on my own, I was used to talking to myself.
Alone. The safest choice for me to make…which was why I needed to steer clear of Luch.
It was far harder to hide in plain sight if I let someone get close to me.
CHAPTER SIX
Luch
Iwas too keyed up to sit still after I dropped Faelan off and returned home to my cottage. The rain had left, and a silvery light filtered through the trees around my cottage, catching the glimmering droplets clinging to the leaves.
“Fancy a run, lad?”
Oban trotted over from where he’d been finishing his dinner in the kitchen and tilted his head up at me.
“That kind of run?”
I shrugged. I knew I needed to work off some energy but wasn’t sure yet just how much I needed to burn through.
“Best not. I’m still on the mend and it’s probably smarter for me to take it easy.”
“That’s fair. I shouldn’t have asked you.”I winced. Oban typically loved to go for a run with me, but obviously the wee lad was still healing even though he seemed largely back to normal. Some wounds didn’t show on the surface, did they?
“Naebother.”Oban trotted over to his bed by the fireplace.“I’ll just cozy in here for a bit.”
“I shouldn’t be too long.” I rolled my shoulders as I tied my running shoes. “I just need to work off some energy.”
“Don’t blame you. The cute healer has you all stirred up.”
“She doesn’t have me …” I glared at him, his little body shaking with his silent laughter. Oban loved nothing more than to get a rise out of me. “Wheesht. It’s not like that. I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”
“Like a beautiful woman who turned you down for a date?”
I stood, annoyed, and went to the door. “I’m leaving.”
“Have fun. Try not to creep Faelan out if you stalk her.”
“I’m not going to stalk her.” I whirled at the door. Right, so maybe Ihadplanned to run through town, but it was often where I went for a run. It wasn’t my fault that her flat was on the main street, was it? “That would be weird.”
“Maybe pick a different direction for your run then.”Oban buried his nose in his paws, his eyes drifting closed, and I shot two fingers in the air at him before stepping outside.
“Bloody mutt.”
“Heard that. I’m full-breed, you know.”
Rolling my eyes, I turned the corner of the cottage and took off up a trail that wound through the woods and away from the street that lined the loch.
The last of the day’s light dimmed, but I was steady onmy feet as I pounded up the hill, my breath leaving me in measured bursts. Confident on my feet, I enjoyed the strain in my muscles as I ascended the hill, and stopped as I always did, admiring how Loren Brae spread out below me.
A town to call my own.
Leaving Scalloway had been the right choice, I was sure of it in my very bones, and every time I looked down at Loren Brae, it only strengthened my determination to keep my life here.
