‘Oh, you know. Healing?’ She looked away, not wanting to sound like a flaky person. But, that was how she felt about it here.
‘I get that. Part of the reason I wanted to build up here is the quiet. I know that sounds counterintuitive.’ He smiled, a little uncharacteristically shyly, and Deb’s heart skipped a little. ‘But when I came to Loch Cameron for the first time and visited Gyle Head, I just thought… what a great place to live, you know? I could imagine kids playing up here. Fresh air. Views.’
‘That’s really nice,’ Deb said, meaning it.
‘Not quite the monster some people would have you believe, I guess.’ Kyle held her eyes with his. Deb felt heat roll in her belly and expand up her body.Dear lord.
‘I will say, though, that there’s a dripping tap in the bathroom and it’s driving me mad at night time.’ She changed the subject and looked away, breaking the intensity of the moment. ‘But, other than that. Gorgeous.’
‘He’ll fix that for you, I’m guessing? The Laird?’
‘I guess he would usually, but he’s off in New York right now.’
‘Ah, right. Well, I could look at it for you. If you wanted.’ Kyle looked a little shy. ‘I’m pretty good at DIY.’
‘Oh, that’s not necessary. I’m sure I can find a handyman around the village,’ Deb protested.
‘I’m happy to do it. I have a toolbox in the car.’ He shrugged. ‘Really, it’s no bother.’
‘You have a toolbox in the car? Who has that?’ she chuckled.
‘Me?’ He shrugged. ‘I’m a property developer. Yeah, it’s mostly meetings and looking at plans, overseeing the building and what have you. But I started off as a builder. Old habits die hard, I guess.’
‘Well, let’s see, shall we? I don’t want to put you to any trouble.’ Deb was touched, though. It was a nice offer. Or was Kyle just looking for an excuse to get into her cottage?
‘It’s no trouble,’ he repeated. ‘Anyway, it would be a pleasure. A way to make up for being so rude to you before. I’m sorry about that – again. I was just… sometimes work can be stressful. And I guess I can be a bear with a sore head from time to time. My breakup… wasn’t the easiest, and I, I’m still getting over it. Not that there’s ever an excuse for bad behaviour. I know that.’ He put his hand on his heart.
‘I accept your apology.’ Deb almost reached out to squeeze his hand. She wondered what kind of awful breakup Kyle was still suffering from. She felt a wave of compassion for him: you never knew what people were hiding under their personas. Especially people with a gruff exterior, like him. ‘And I’m sorry. If you want to talk about it sometime, then I’m here.’
‘Thanks.’ He held her gaze with his for a moment, a smile playing around his mouth. ‘That’s good to know.’
There was a subtext to his words, and Deb could feel that same attraction zinging back and forth between them again. She really had never felt anything like it before.
Here she was, having dinner with the most hated man in Loch Cameron. And she was enjoying every minute.
FIFTEEN
‘So.’ Kyle had walked her to the door of the cottage and was standing close to her, under the porch. A light rain had just begun, but the drizzle added to the gloomy feel of the evening: there was something intrinsicallyScottishabout the smell of the wetness in the air and the distant heather scent from the moors surrounding the village. Deb closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, enjoying the moment.
‘So.’ She opened her eyes, and gazed up at him. ‘This was lovely.’
‘It was.’ He smiled, and brushed her hair away from her face softly. His fingers traced the line of her cheek, and then the softness of her neck. Deb shivered; she realised that she had been craving his touch the whole evening. ‘That restaurant is gorgeous. Thanks for coming with me: I’ve been wanting to go for a while now.’
‘You’re welcome,’ she replied, a little shyly.
‘Did you want me to have a look at that tap for you?’ He gestured at the car. ‘I brought my toolbox.’
‘Don’t be silly. I don’t expect you to fix a tap at 10pm, after you’ve just taken me out for a lovely dinner,’ she protested.
‘I offered, and I meant it. I’m not one of those guys who’s all hot air.’ Kyle shrugged. ‘I don’t mind. It’s my way of showing you I like you.’
‘DIY is your love language?’ Deb chuckled. ‘I don’t think I’ve heard of that one. Taps.’
‘Acts of service.’ Kyle grinned. ‘It’s a thing.’
‘Fair enough. Come on, then.’ She turned and unlocked the front door to the cottage.
Kyle ran to his car and returned with a tool box, which he set down in the hallway.
