He grunted and pulled open the door to his SUV. “Change my ringtone. I’ll see you back in Leth Sholas. What time are we meeting Taran?”
“In two hours.” I gave him a two-finger wave and headed toward my truck, eager to get back to town. To get back to Taran.
“Quinn!”
My pulse jumped at the sound of my name, and I glanced over my shoulder only for it to start racing.
Taran wore her hair loose, and it blew back from her face in the strong breeze as she strolled toward where Ramsay and I waited for her.
Right on the plot of where the LSLS Charity Shop would soon stand.
My blood heated at the way her shirt molded to her breasts and stomach against the wind. Last night, it had taken me ages to fall asleep, wishing she was in my bed with me. Wondering if she wished the same. Hoping that the giant fucking risk I was taking by entering into a casual relationship with her would work out for us in the end.
She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear as she stopped before us, and she didn’t avoid my gaze, which I took as a good sign. “Hi. What’s happening?”
“Planning permission was approved.” I gestured to Ramsay. “We’re going to start work on the foundations today, but we wanted you to know. The kit company started the building before approvals since Aodhan was so sure it would happen. The kit will be here in two weeks, and we need to get started.”
Taran beamed, her gorgeous smile lighting up her entire face. I didn’t think I’d seen her smile like that since before her return to the island. It momentarily stunned me. “That’s fantastic!”
It took a minute to breathe past my sudden windedness. “We’ll get on with it, then. Any questions, let us know.”
“It’s not just you two doing the foundations, is it?”
“No, a few lads from our crew are on their way to help. We should have them done in time for the kit’s arrival.”
“Amazing.” She searched my face. “I’ll … um … so just keep me updated?”
“Aye. And … I’m here. If you need me.”
A slight flush crested her cheeks as she understood my meaning. Taran’s smile was surprisingly and adorably shy as she nodded before striding back toward Pages & Perks.
“You’re fucking, then?” Ramsay asked bluntly. “I thought so yesterday, but that just confirmed it.”
I flicked him a dirty look. “Do you have to be so crass?”
His pale gray eyes sharpened. “Was it crass? Or are you just feeling a bit sensitive?”
“I remember you being verysensitiveanytime I mentioned you had feelings for Tierney.”
“Aye, and you were right.” Ramsay shrugged. “Look … I just … if you need to talk, ay …”
I rubbed at my beard in frustration. “She just wants it to be casual.”
“Trust me, she’s lying to herself. I recognize the signs.”
His words let me hold on to my hope because I remembered how stubbornly my friend tried to keep things casual with Tierney, and how he broke it off with her when he realized he was in love with her. Yet they’d found their way back together.
“Just give it time.” Ramsay clapped me on the shoulder. “And plenty of great sex.”
I grunted but nodded. “Aye. I will. And this”—I gestured to the plot of land—“I’ll make this happen for her.”
“Then let’s get a move on.”
Ramsay had barely said the last word when my phone rang. It was a standard ringtone, which meant it was just an acquaintance, a stranger, or Kiera. For some reason, it felt inappropriate to give my ex-wife a tongue-in-cheek ringtone.
I pulled the phone out of my pocket. “Kiera.”
My friend jerked his chin up in response and walked away to get started on the work.
