“Oh?” Shona touched her cheek. “Did I … oh … I’m clumsy today. Anyway, the Lantern?”
I was in a small pipe band with my friends, locals Quinn McQuarrie, Forde Dallas, Laird Macbeth, and Ramsay McRae. Laird and I went to school together and he was now captain on one of my crews. Quinn and Forde were a few years younger, and Ramsay was a fairly recent arrival on the island, but we were all good mates, and playing in the band gave us an excuse to spend time together.
The Fisherman’s Lantern was the most popular hotel, pub, and restaurant on Main Street and we often played there.
“Aye, at some point. Anyway, I need to pick up Kelly.” I lifted a hand in goodbye and turned toward the house.
“Maybe we can get a drink next time we’re both in there,” Shona called after me.
I waved again noncommittally over my shoulder, trying not to look like I was hurrying to get away from her. As soon as the front door closed behind me, the tension drained out of my body.
A chuckle to my left drew my attention.
Mum sat on the couch by the window, grinning at me over her cup of tea.
“Please tell me you didn’t witness that?”
Mum pressed her lips together and then snorted through her nose.
I winced and strode into the living room.
“Poor Shona. She gets all clumsy and flustered around you.”
“I haven’t encouraged her.”
“I know. She thinks you’re shy and that’s why you haven’t made a move when she’s making it so obvious she fancies you, son. Why haven’t you taken her seriously?Shona’sa good woman.”
Unlike my ex, the words were not said but were implied. With another sigh I slumped down onto the adjacent couch. The truth was I should probably take Shona’s interest seriously.My ex-wife, Jill, was bleeding my company, taking an overly generous monthly salary out of the gross profit.
I was a fool for signing that marriage contract fourteen years ago. A fool led by my dick and the desire to be honorable when I found out Jill was pregnant with Kelly. I bought Jill’s sob story about being used and abandoned all her life. She just wanted a prenup for security.
Bullshit.
The only way to get her claws out of my company was to marry again.
Shona would be a safe option.
A far more suitable option, considering we were the same age. She wasn’t eleven years my junior with red hair and turquoise blue eyes that made my pulse race. She wasn’t running from a terrible past and distracting me like I was a teenager with my first crush.
“I’m not attracted to her.”
Mum turned toward me with a sigh. “I know, love.”
“Where’s Kel? She sounded upset when she called.”
My mum had me when she was nineteen, and though life hadn’t always been kind, she’d come through it looking younger than her years. Her spirit had never been broken and warmth radiated out of the green eyes I’d inherited from her. She was also incredibly active, always taking Kelly on hikes and long walks or cold-water swimming. Right now, the inherent humor in her eyes dimmed as she sat forward.
“Kelly … she confided something to me. I told her I couldn’t keep it from you and she got very upset. She thinks I’m betraying her trust.” Mum’s eyes grew watery. “But it’s too big, sweetheart.”
Icy dread crept over me. “What happened? Where is she?”
“Locked herself in her room.”
Kelly slept in my old room whenever she stayed with her grandmother. “Mum, what happened?”
“I asked her if she wanted to be the one to tell you, but …” Mum shook her head, her short, poker-straight white hair sliding along her jaw with the movement.
“Then you tell me.”
