Page 35 of Wild Scottish Rose

“He was a puppet, not a goblin.”

“He was a monster of sorts, and a cranky one. Much like you’re being.” My grin widened as her scowl deepened.

“You’d be tetchy too if someone was trying to barge into your messy house,” Shona grumbled.

“Tetchy? I like that word.” I rolled it around on my tongue, enjoying the feel of it. Not often did a word sound like it felt, but this one did. Just a touch abrasive on the lips.

“Shona? Hey, sorry—” A pretty young woman smiled and waved from the edge of the patio.

“Yes, Louise?” Shona said and Louise looked between me and Shona.

“Hi, I’m Owen,” I said, waving. “I’m staying at the cottage.”

“Oh! Right! You’re the new guest. An American, I hear.What’s New York like?” Louise marched forward, bouncing on her feet.

“Very crowded and dirty,” I said, laughing at her crestfallen expression. “But exciting if you like the rush of it all.”

“I bet. Probablysomuch more to do than here,” Louise said.

“I’m just finishing up and am on my way back to help,” Shona interjected.

“It’s all sorted. You’re good to go. About tomorrow though…” Louise turned to Shona with an apologetic look on her face. “My boyfriend surprised me with tickets to a concert in Edinburgh. I know it puts you out, but do you mind?”

“Nae bother.” Shona waved it away. “Go have fun.”

“What’s tomorrow?” I asked Louise, knowing Shona would likely not tell me since she appeared to be in a tetchy mood.

“It’s the market. I usually help Shona on Saturdays because she has the busiest booth.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve done it before on my own,” Shona assured her.

“I’ll help,” I said, beaming when Louise clapped her hands in surprise.

“Would you? That would be grand.” Louise beamed.

“No, I don’t need–”

“Not a problem. It will help me get to know people in town.” Shona’s look was mutinous, and I was enjoying every moment of this. If I had to guess, I’d thrown her off by not only not ignoring our kiss from last night but following up with flowers and more kisses.She seemed a steadfast sort, who liked to know the lay of the land, and I was clearly setting her on her back foot.

I didn’t mind in the slightest.You tend to get the truth when people are reactive rather than prepared.

It never bothered me to shake up people’s expectations of me. Maybe it was my perverse nature, or maybe it was because I’d forged my own way by following my instincts instead of listening to what the world told me I was supposed to do with my life. Either way, I didn’t mind keeping people guessing.

Not that Shona had much to guess about if she actually looked at my actions.

I’d brought her flowers.

I’d kissed her.

I’d offered to help at the market.

One thing I’d learned about people a long time ago was that they followed what interested them. If a man was interested in a woman,trulyinterested and not playing stupid games that is, he’d make time for her. He’d show up. I couldn’t even begin to count the number of times I’d counseled women friends of mine when they cried over a man they had thought was interested in them. If he was interested, he would show it, I would repeat over and over. One way or the other. Unless he was too shy, but that wasn’t the case here.

Shy I was not.

Slightly smitten, I was.

And for some reason, that thought seemed to set Shona on edge. I wanted to dig deeper and discover why that was. Unless she already had a man in her life, which in that case I’d steer clear. I never liked to swim in other people’s ponds.Call me a glutton for punishment but there was something about a woman playing a little hard to get that got my blood flowing. Not that I think Shona was playing necessarily, but her reticence had caught my interest. If she told me to stop or back off, I’d totally respect that. But she hadn’t, so at the moment, I was entirely charmed by one Miss Shona Scott of tiny Loren Brae.

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