Page 94 of Wild Scottish Rose

“No, but we went from strangers to being in love pretty fast.”

“Yes, and from where I’m standing, she was right not to trust you with her most important secrets. Because look how quickly you threw her away.”

My heart constricted at his words, like a tight band pulling together and knotting, and I gasped for breath. The gnome was one hundred percent right. Shona knew me better than I’d known myself, and she’d done what she needed to do to protect herself.

And to protect me.

The only reason she’d been at the island that day was to try and keep me off it. Because she was scared I’d get hurt. And instead, she’d been injured in the process of trying to protect me.

“I’m a fu?—”

“Flowering,” Gnorman interrupted. “A flowering moron.”

“Yeah, that. Right. Okay, so how do I win her back?”

“I can’t tell you what to do, but I can help. You just have to ask.”

“Let’s start with my man Eugene.” The hedgie perked up at his name. “How do you feel about being a messenger?”

He grinned up at me, seemingly up for the task. I looked over at Gnorman.

“And how are your acting skills?”

“Superb, naturally.” Gnorman flexed his muscles.

“How do you feel about being in a movie?” The gnome brightened.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Shona

Have you tried my tea yet? It will help you open your heart.

I stared down at the text from Lia, annoyed. Just because she was a kitchen witch with all sorts of magickal teas and whatnot, didn’t mean she had to boss me around. What if I didn’t feel like opening my heart? Particularly to Owen after he’d gouged it out so neatly and stomped all over it.

The third agate had appeared in my gardening stick. Sophie had returned it to me, explaining that her crows had brought it to her as a warning, which is why she’d been able to help us so fast.

My third challenge must have been trying to protect Owen. Or shoring up protection of the stone. Either way, I’d passed, and almost died in the process.

I was officially a member of the magickal Order of Caledonia.

I celebrated by crying in the shower.

A soft scratching at the back door to my cottage had me tilting my head, and I wandered over to open the door. Nobody was there. I couldn’t help but look toward the cottage. Seeing Owen’s light on made me want to go to him.

And throat punch him.

I was still just so mad at him.

A grunting sound drew my eyes down, and my heart twisted.

“Eugene. Buddy.”

The little hedgie had a rose in his mouth. I gently accepted it, and he turned in a wee circle of excitement, like a dog doing zoomies around the yard, and then raced back into the garden. I watched him until he disappeared, and then just when I was about to close the door, he returned with another rose.

“Where are you getting these?”

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