“I don’t know if I’m safer here with you or up at Leith,” I half teased.
“Mm, you’ll always be safe with me, lass.”He smirked with his last word.
The bastard knew he was under my skin.
I narrowed my eyes. “I hardly believe that.”
His smile deepened, and a tiny dimple appeared at one side.
If it was possible for a man to be blessed with heaven-sent charm, it was Harris Geldof.
“Let me prove it to you. I’ll walk you home. Be your knight in shining armor and all that.”
My heart flip-flopped. I couldn’t reply, so instead, I stood and tucked my hardback and bag under my elbow. “I’ll be leaving, then.”
Harris stood, glancing at one of his employees behind the bar. “Be back later.”
The man sent back a peace sign, and Harris shrugged. “Ready when you are, lass.”
“Now you’re just being an ass,” I said under my breath.
“How so?” He followed me out the doors.
I sucked in a quick breath, feeling light-headed in a rush. I steadied myself at the stone wall of the pub.
Harris’s hand was firm at my waist.
As if he’d done this before.
My heart galloped quickly, head pounding before I forced myself to regulate my breathing before I passed out.
“Are you okay, lass?”
I blinked, and suddenly there were four mirror images of Harris staring with concerned eyes back at me.
“I’m okay.” I nodded, though I didn’t feel okay at all.
“Leith is just a minute or two by car. Let me drive. Can I leave ye alone for a minute, or should I grab Charlie?”
I shook my head, vision clearing like the clouds. Harris came fully into focus, the sun shining a warm halo around his golden head. My bones warmed with his touch, my strength trickling its way back into my veins before I felt solid enough to stand.
“It's all right, I feel fine enough to walk. I haven’t eaten today. I was in such a rush to get out of the house this morning.”
“Shoulda had one of Martha’s blueberry muffins.”
“Next time, I will.”
“I can’t wait until next time already.” His words were soft but landed all the same.
I didn’t have a reply, but I enjoyed the way he held his hand at my back the entire walk back to Leith.
“Hope you like shortcuts,” he said and then laced our fingers together and forced us off the path at the road to follow the edge of the ocean. The cliff loomed in the distance, clinging with mist and Leith in the foggy distance.
The sun shone so bright behind Harris’s shoulders, but ahead of us, toward Leith, clung only cool darkness.
Just like the man who lived on its shores.
I shuddered, thinking that just on the other side of this path wrapped the loch and the man who still haunted the shadows.
