Despite the fact she’d annoyed me mere seconds ago, I couldn’t help but snort even as my eyes and mind wandered out toward the harbor. While Tierney attempted to persuade Cammie there was so much more than spice to her romancebooks, I couldn’t help but think of Quinn, standing alone at the ferry terminal, watching his children drift away from him.
I didn’t want to wonder how he was feeling … but Cammie’s words from earlier had found their mark. Had Quinn’s marriage to Kiera failed because of me?
I was too afraid to ask him.
Yet I couldn’t get the powerful thought out of my head now that Cammie had planted it there.
17.Quinn
I’d just left Aodhan and planned to head over to the Keatons and call my contact at the kit-build company in Inverness at the same time when I heard someone shout my name. Truthfully, I was used to not being able to walk around town without someone requiring my attention. Being the only trustworthy builder and carpenter on the island meant my time was often in demand, so I turned toward the voice just as Murray crossed the road from the harbor, waving at me.
I halted at the grim expression on my friend’s face. The closer he got, the more I recognized the worry in his eyes.
Murray jerked his head to indicate for me to keep walking uphill toward the car park behind Main Street.
“What is it?”
“Been looking for you.” A muscle flexed in his jaw. “Eoghan McCall is back on the island.”
The words were like a fucking sledgehammer to my chest. I stumbled to a stop. “What?”
Surely I’d heard him wrong?
Murray muttered a curse under his breath. “Word is his wife died, so he’s back.”
“I was just with Aodhan. Why didn’t he tell me?”
“Maybe he doesn’t know. Eoghan got off the first ferry this morning. He’s staying with his dad in Glenbuie.”
Glenbuie was a tiny village on the south side of Glenvulin. It had one of everything because it was over an hour away from Leth Sholas. “At least he’s not staying here. That’s good.”
“It doesn’t mean he might not intend mischief toward you and Forde,” Murray warned in hushed tones.
I heeded his warning. “Fuck. This is all I need right now.”
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.”
“Nah, thanks for telling me.” I tried to push this unwelcome information to the back of my mind. “You doing all right?” Murray’s ex-wife Jill was putting him and the company through the wringer.
He shook his head, expression grim. “Jill’s like a fucking leech I can’t rip off without doing myself fatal injury.”
“If there’s anything I can do …”
“Know any trustworthy women willing to marry me just so I can get my company back?”
I winced. “Sorry, mate. I can’t believe the marriage contract stuck. Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet someone.”
“Here?” Murray pulled on his thick beard. “There are very few single women here. Am I going to have to start using those fucking terrible apps? Christ, I don’t even want to get married again. How did I let her convince me a marriage contract was a good idea? That sob story about her mum …”
He referred to Jill explaining to him how much her dad screwed over her mum, leaving them with nothing. She’d convinced Murray that she just wanted a contract in place for worst-case scenario. “Because you loved her and wanted to prove to her that she could trust you. Problem is, you couldn’t trust her.”
“I’m a fool. Who now has to date when I’d rather willingly submit to torture.”
“Aye, mate, you might have to. Date. Not the torture. Or ask Tierney if she’s got any more American friends who would marry a fisherman just to stay in the country.”
“I’m glad you find my predicament amusing.”
“Och, I don’t.” I sobered. “I really don’t, Mur. I’m sorry Jill is making things so difficult.”
