If it weren’t for the tall bookshelves lining the entire length of one wall, there were no signs of anyone living here. It was utilitarian.
Except for the books.
There must have been thousands shelved along the length of the house.
And there were small piles of them on side tables and on his desk in the office area.
“You like to read, huh?”
He grunted.
I glanced over at him.
“Tea or coffee or water?” he asked.
“Uh, coffee. No cream, no sugar. Thanks.”
He nodded and set about making said drink.
“So, books?”
“Aye.”
I dropped my backpack on the floor by the sofa with a sigh. This was going to be alongafternoon. “You have a barn?” I tried again.
“Workshop.”
“Workshop?”
“Aye.”
I gritted my teeth in irritation and then wrangled my patience. A few minutes passed. Finally, I attempted conversation again. “What is the workshop for?”
Ramsay crossed the room, holding out the coffee to me. He didn’t have one for himself. I took it as he continued, “I do custom woodwork for clients across the islands and mainland.”
“Right. Quinn mentioned you might be able to do some stuff like that for the B and B.”
He jerked his chin in what I assumed was confirmation that he could in fact do custom work for me and then strolled into his kitchen to remove Akiva’s newly cleaned plate.
The dog, now fed, ambled toward me.
I tensed as she stared at me with eyes as penetrating as her owner’s.
“She’s friendly. Do you not like dogs?” Ramsay asked from his place at the sink. “I can call her back.”
“I like dogs.” I smiled at Akiva as I tentatively held out my free hand. “And you are a beauty.”
As if she understood my words, the large dog sniffed at my fingers and then swiped them with her tongue. She bussed her face into my hand, and I scratched behind her ear. Her beautiful tail whomped rapidly on the ground as I said, “Oh, aren’t you the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen. Yes you are. Yes you are. Look at those beautiful eyes.” I placed the coffee mug on the side table so I could lower to my knees and give Akiva all my attention.
She bussed and wriggled into my pets, trying to swipe her tongue over my face. I laughed, lifting my chin to avoid her attempts. When I looked over her head, I locked eyes with Ramsay’s and my breath caught again.
I couldn’t see much of his face because of the beard, but I could make out the soft curve of his mouth and those eyes … I’d never seen eyes like them. There was also the fact that he was as beautifully formed as some onscreen comic hero.
Attraction flushed through me. “She’s really stunning,” I murmured.
“Aye, and she knows it.” His tone was warm with affection. “She doesn’t usually take to new people like that.”
“Really? She seems so friendly. How old is she?”
