I slam the door shut and turn around, reluctantly taking in the scene before me. A kitten is perched on the armrest of my couch, its bright copper eyes locked on mine.
Well, this is interesting.
I move slowly toward the couch, keeping my eyes locked on the tiny intruder. The kitten watches me approach, tail swishing with what looks suspiciously like enjoyment. When I’m close enough to grab it, I lunge forward, but the little beast is quicker than I anticipate. It leaps from the armrest, landing gracefully on the floor, and darts under the coffee table.
“Seriously?” I mutter, dropping to my knees.
The kitten peers out at me from its new hiding spot, whiskers twitching. There’s something almost mocking in its gaze, like it’s enjoying this little game. I reach under the table, fingers stretching toward the gray fur, but it skitters away at the last second, seeking refuge behind the bookshelf.
I spend the next five minutes chasing the damn thing around my living room, behind the curtains, under the side table, between my legs. Finally, I corner it in the kitchen.
“Got you,” I say triumphantly, scooping it up. It’s lighter than I expected, all bones and fluff. Those copper eyes stare up at me, unblinking, as if to say, “And what exactly do you plan to do now?”
Good question.
The kitten makes a pitiful mewing sound thatalmostmakesme hesitate. I’ve lived alone for years now, and a plant is one thing, but a cat? Absolutely not.
I cradle it awkwardly against my chest and head for the front door. “All right, little one. Time to go back to…wherever you came from.” I set the kitten down on the porch and give it a gentle nudge. It doesn’t move.
A frustrated sigh leaves me, and I turn to head back inside, figuring that it’ll wander off on its own. Before I even get my hand on the door, a blur of gray zips past me, darting through the crack in the door, straight back into the house.
I freeze.
Again.
It’s insideagain.
fourteen
JULIETTE
This really is a great little town. The atmosphere, the people, it’s all got a certain charm that makes it hard to resist. Helping Lucy at the café last night was…fun, actually. Everyone who showed up brought that small-town charisma you can’t fake. Not once did I feel like I had to explain myself or shrink to fit in. I didn’t have to try so hard. I could justbe.
And then there was Knox. I wasn’t expecting him to ask me out. But he did, and when he said it again without any of the joking or the teasing, it made my breath catch. I couldn’t help but wonder what going out with him would be like.
It wasn’t the usual pressure that made me hesitate. It was the way he’d said it, like he was giving me space to decide, not rushing me, just curious if I’d say yes. Part of me wanted to, more than I cared to admit, especially with the way the tension between us was practically crackling in the air. But I didn’t, and I immediately regretted it. Not because I’m trying to rebound or prove something to myself. But because, for one tiny second, it felt like it could beeasyto say yes to him. It was something I wanted, plain and simple.
And yet, I wonder…is it too soon?
I mean, James hasn’t even fully faded from my life. Not because I’m still tangled up in him. I’m absolutelynot. That chapter closed long before either of us admitted it. And maybe it’s crazy to even be standing here, heart skittering at the idea of starting something new, when the dust hasn’t fully settled yet. But I want this.
Wasn’t that the whole point of coming to Scotland? Not to be reckless, exactly, but to stop living like every decision needed a pros and cons list. To stop holding myself hostage to things that didn’t fit anymore.
I want to spend time with Knox.
No overthinking. No grand scheme. No rules to follow.
Just because I want to.
“I know the perfect spot for lunch. You’re going to love it.”
I blink, snapping out of my thoughts, only to realize I’ve been staring blankly out the car window for…god, who knows how long? Long enough that Aunt Rose hasn’t said a word. She’s let me sit here and stew in my overthinking silence. She’s been driving for…what, two hours now?
We pull up to a stone building with a cream-colored exterior that blends into the rugged landscape. Its slate roof and wooden awning give it a laid-back, rustic vibe.
The host greets us with a friendly smile and leads us to a table in the back. The space is cozy in that carefully curated way, with dim lighting, jazz playing low. Modern, but not cold.
And then there’s the view.
