“I’d say to you that if that’s the honest truth of it for you, then I’ll not say another word about dating. I think you’ve the right of it—some people really are happy on their own. There’s certainly nothing wrong with it. Take my mum. She lost my dad when I was just out of uni, and she’s never bothered to date again. Not once. Said she’d enjoyed love once in her life and now had a million other experiences to have. She’s in Italy right now. On a woman’s retreat where they teach you how to make the perfect loaf of bread. Isn’t that something?”
“Och, it is.” My stomach grumbled, loudly enough that Lynn laughed. I shrugged, sheepish. “I do love a good loaf of bread.”
“Who doesn’t? When she’s back, I’ll get her to make some loaves for us. We’ll have a wee party in the break room and pretend we’re sipping wine in sunny Italy.”
“You know what, Lynn? It’s a date.” I winked at her and Lynn crowed, slapping me on the shoulder.
“I’m telling you, Dr. Carmichael, if I was thirty years younger and single, I’d make a play for you meself, and that’s the truth of it.”
“Your husband’s a lucky man, Lynn.”
“Safe home, Dr. Carmichael. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Lynn tightened her scarf and waved goodbye as she left. Grabbing my coat, I put my phone and laptop in my bag and then hooked it over my shoulder. Strolling out into the night, I nodded at a few people in the car park.
Lynn would likely go wild with joy if I told her about Faelan. I could already see her telling me all the different ways I needed to charm Faelan, and I justwasn’t sure I had the stomach for my relationship to be under the microscope at work.
Not that we were in a relationship.
But what I felt for Faelan was pretty damn real.
Just thinking about her taste on my lips had me fumbling and dropping my keys at my car. Sighing, I shook my head and bent, remembering just how good it felt to be with her.
How excited she’d been once we’d launched into painting her living room.
Her breathy moans as I’d brought her pleasure.
Her soft kisses that seemed constantly surprised by her attraction for me.
I couldn’t stop thinking about her and hated that I’d been so busy that I’d had to stay away from her the last few days.
“It’s normal to have space when you first start dating someone,” I muttered to myself as I unlocked my car. My body was almost overheated, thinking about her mouth on mine, and I rolled the windows down as I left the car park, waving to Jacob on the way out.
I just liked her.
She was easy to be around. There were some people that took up too much of my bandwidth, but Faelan? I felt recharged after spending time with her. She was resilient, and I loved watching her talk about things she was passionate about, and then quietly pull into herself when she hit a subject that was too close to her vulnerabilities.
Every moment I spent with her, I was more and more convinced that a healer’s magick was not something to be shunned. There was just no way that Faelan was a grifter.Or if she was, then she was the best of the best, because nothing she’d said yet had pinged my radar as a lie. Except for the one she’d told me about Oban being in shock when she’d healed him. But I’d read that lie so easily, I just couldn’t imagine she was playing people for fools. I truly believed she just wanted to help animals.
And if that was the case? What could be so wrong with that? More and more, I was convinced that the trauma of my birth had skewed my father’s objectivity, and he needed to reassess his beliefs.
Maybe it would be Faelan who could be the one to show him, finally, that there might be a place where science and magick could coexist. If she stayed here, that is. Even the thought of her leaving made my stomach turn slightly. I needed more time with her. Watching her put down roots and find her way here was like watching a flower bloom under the soft brush of the sun’s rays.
Amused at the poetry of my thoughts, I stopped the car outside my cottage and checked my watch. There was little time left tonight, and I needed to eat before?—
A shriek rang out and I whirled, my heart pounding, as Kelpies reared up from the water.
Oban barked, running out into the yard, and I dove for him. He raced away, across the grass, hackles raised. I needed to get him inside and now.
Protect others, at all costs. Turning my back on the Kelpies, I ran.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Faelan
By the time I was walking home, I was lightly buzzed, happily filled up with village gossip, and was the proud owner of my first plant. Tucked in my handbag were my careful notes on how to care for Betty, as well as the name of the plant app to download to ensure I carefully tended to her needs. All in all, I was pleased with my first real “girlfriend” hangout in Loren Brae. Shona was exceedingly sweet, easy to get along with, and when we spoke about things she was passionate about, like plants and healing, her face lit up. It turns out, our interests in healing overlapped—hers with plants and teas and such, and mine for animals—and we’d spent some time comparing notes on where we could potentially help each other down the road.
I was particularly interested in one poultice she used fordry skin, knowing it might be a more natural route for some of my itchier patients in the summer.
I crested the hill and gasped as Loren Brae spread out below me, the full moon hanging like a fat Christmas globe in the inky night sky. It looked like a postcard. Soft golden light shimmered across Loch Mirren’s rippling surface and a gentle breeze brought the scents of sea and damp earth to me. The village sparkled against the dark backdrop of the hills, and the grand dame herself, MacAlpine Castle, shone bright, the village lights like diamonds scattered at her feet.
