Page 85 of Wild Scottish Rose

“Really?” Shona blinked up at me, tears making her eyes look impossibly beautiful.

“Really, Shona. You’re … not like anyone else I’ve ever met. You’re honest, without hidden agendas, and you’re just … freaking pure. In a way that I need and crave. You listen to all my crazy family stories and seem to know when to help and when to give me space, you’re interested in my career, but have your own amazing thing going so you don’t need me for career advancement or anything like that. You’re funny, impossibly clumsy, breathtakingly beautiful, and truly a sweet soul. I love you, and I’m so sorry for scaring you.”

“I love you too. And if the Kelpies don’t murder you, I’ll do it myself if you pull a stunt like that next time.”

“Realllllly?” A tight band around my chest eased.

“Really, Owen. Though I might use you for careeradvancement one day if I give up this whole gardening thing.” Shona winked at me.

“I can’t bring you around my friends. They’ll fight to get you on screen.” Shona’s mouth dropped open.

“Me? Seriously?” A considering light entered her eyes, and I shifted to change the subject.

“Just to be clear, what specifically are the rules here? When it comes to the Kelpies? You don’t want me going after them or you just want me to tell you when I do?”

“I’d rather you drop the project entirely.”

“I’m not sure if I can do that,” I admitted. I was invested in this now, maybe too invested, though I hadn’t shared this project with any of my colleagues. I needed to see this through, and then, when it was finished, I would show it to Shona and let her decide if we shared it with the world. I’d never in my career allowed someone that kind of say over my work before, and that alone told me just how much I cared for her. Before I could tell her this, she kept talking.

“What can I do to make you be sure? I’m worried.”

“I need to finish it out. I have to get on that island.” I’m not sure what made me say it, but I might as well have kicked a can of gasoline into the fire, because Shona stomped off, raging.

“Get on the island? The island? The one place where the Kelpies will most definitely try to kill you?”

“But then I’ll be guaranteed to see them, won’t I? Listen, I don’t care about the Stone of Truth, as I’ve promised not to reveal that, plus filming a stone in the ground or whatever isn’t all that exciting. But the Kelpies? Gettingthose on film?”

“Have you lost your mind? What are you even saying?” Shona stood, her hands on her hips, her mouth hanging open.

“There’s this perfect little beach for easy access. I could pull the boat right up, hop out, and set up my camera. I’m sure it won’t be so hard.”

“I can’t. I just can’t let you. No, Owen. You’ll die.”

“You just told me that I had to tell you if I was going to do something, so, you know, I’m telling you.”

“And I’m telling you not to go.”

I shrugged, uncertain how to respond. I just knew I had to see this through.

“This? This is why it’s easier being single.” Shona stabbed a finger in the air, and instead of returning to my cottage, she stormed across to hers, slamming the door behind her.

It wasn’t the first time a woman had stormed away from me. But Shona wasn’t like the other women in my past. Her objections were based on her fear for me, not anger at something I’d said. Her opinion mattered to me.

I looked down at Eugene.

“Women, huh?”

Eugene snorted and scuttled into the bushes.

Smart hedgie. Following suit, I returned to my cottage to see if I got any footage on my camera.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Shona

Anxiety ate at me as I paced the cottage after I’d left Owen. That stupid eejit. Did he really think he was any match for the Kelpies? And now he wanted to go to the island?

His friend nearly died trying to do the same thing.Why isn’t that enough to scare him away? What was it with men?

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