Fraser and Cameron both leave, and I turn to Alec. He’s standing still, watching the villagers celebrate with an odd look on his face.
I can’t stop myself. I hug him too.
Yes, I’m pissed at him. But right now, I’m so relieved that Lochview is safe that I don’t care. “We did it,” I say, breathing in his familiar scent of soap and tea. “You don’t have to worry anymore. It’s all okay.”
Alec stands frozen, like he can’t believe I’m touching him. Then, slowly, he sweeps me up into a tight squeeze, pressing his chin on top of my head. I can feel his heart beating a mile a minute under his shirt. I beam up at him. Up close, I can see pink streaks of paint running through his hair. It’s on his collarbone too. A spatter of soft rose. I reach up automatically to touch it. “Hey, what are you paintingpink?”
The words seem to jolt him out of his daze. He carefully disentangles himself from me and takes a step back. “I…need to go,” he murmurs.
My insides fall. “What?”
“I’ll see you later.” Without any explanation, he heads back off down the hill, hurrying away from me.
I stare at his retreating back, open-mouthed.
He has to be kidding, right? I just saved his legacy. I stopped his land from being stolen. And he didn’t even say thank-you.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I check the screen. Mum’s caller ID. I reject the call, seething.
What the hell is Alec’s problem? Around me, I hear bottles popping. Someone starts playing music over a Bluetooth speaker. People are celebrating because I just did something impressive.
And Alec doesn’t care at all.
I grit my teeth. I’m sick of this. I’ve done what I came here to do. The farm is safe. Today is going to be my last day on Lochview Farm.
And I have some things to say to Alec before I leave.
I catch up to him halfway down the hill. “Hey,” I yell at his back. “What the hell?”
He spins to face me, wide-eyed. “Summer, you can’t come down here. We’re doing construction?—”
I stomp closer, the boots Cameron bought me crushing the grass. “Are you seriously not going to thank me? I just saved your business, you massive git!”
He looks taken aback. “I’m sorry. I’m really thankful for all your work, it’s just…” He looks over his shoulder.
“Justwhat?You have something more important to do?” A hysterical laugh floats out of me. “When you crashed my party inLondon, you said you’d do anything to prove you love me. If this is you trying to prove yourself, you’re doing a crap job of it.”
Alec pales. “I can explain?—”
“Please! Explain!”
“I—” He opens his mouth, then shuts it again.
Disappointment floods me. “Right, then. I’m going to book a flight back to London.” I turn to walk back up to the house.
“Shit. Summer. Wait, I?—”
BAAA!
The familiar bleat echoes up the path. I turn to see Crumpet happily trotting up behind Alec. Her hooves have been dipped in pink paint, and it’s smeared up her legs.
Alec intercepts her, scooping her up. She bleats at him furiously, trying to get to me. “How do you keep getting free?” he mutters. “I have to get this shit off you. It could be toxic.” He fixes me with a beseeching look. “Please, Summer. I know I don’t deserve it, but do one thing for me. Don’t buy a plane ticket yet. I’ll explain everything later, I promise. I just—” Crumpet wriggles in his arms, trying to lick the paint off. He swears and starts jogging back down the hill.
I stand there on the path for a long time. Birds flitter overhead. I’m stuck—torn between following Alec and demanding an explanation, and just going to the house and climbing into bed to cry.
No. I’m sick of Alec brushing me off. I’m not done talking to him. I stomp down the path, turn the corner past some trees…and trip over my own feet when I see the freshly painted guest cabin gleaming pink under the pale sun.
EIGHTY-ONE
