Page 63 of Wild Scottish Fortune

“Oh, Orla.” Shona pulled me in for another hug and I was surprised I didn’t jump out of my skin at all this affection. It was far past what I was used to receiving. “Nothing in life is permanent, you know? You gotta just grab on to the good and hold it close while you can. It’s the best anyone can do, really.”

Shona’s words resonated with me as I left the greenhouse to meet Finlay at his truck. He was speaking to someone that I couldn’t see, the passenger door open, and my heartbeat sped up at the sight of him.

Finlay was a good man. And Shona did say I needed to grab on to the good while I could. Turning, Fin saw me, and a grin split his face.

My stomach twisted as my heart cracked open a bit.

“There’s a bonnie lass on a pretty spring day. I figured instead of flowers I’d bring you something better.” Fin turned and spoke down to the truck again, and then I gasped as a furry beast jumped onto the ground and raced for me.

“Harris!”

“I sprung him from the shelter for an afternoon activity. He’d told me how much he’d miss you visiting him today, so I invited him along on our picnic.”

“Oh buddy, it’ssogood to see you.”

Yup, I was toast. This man knew what I’d needed even before I had. Having Harris there would ease my nerves on our first date, plus, it was damn sweet of him to bring my favorite shelter dog along for the picnic. I bent to accept Harris’s delighted licks, scratching his ears and taking the lead that Fin handed me. He hurried around the truck and grabbed a cooler and a shopping bag. Hands full, he came up beside me, a grin on his face.

“I can’t decide who is happier to see you—me or him.”

I mean, what was I supposed to say when he said things like that? He just kept chipping away at my walls, ever determined. Sighing, I leaned up on my tippy-toes andplanted a kiss on his lips. His surprised gasp made me smile, and I laughed a little against his lips.

“Damn it, Orla, I picked the wrong time to carry all the stuff from the car.”

“Nope, this is just right.” Desire threaded through me as I deepened the kiss, enjoying having the control, letting the moment linger between us as we stood in the gardens, a dog lead wrapped around my legs, his hands full of picnic stuff. As kisses went, it was perfect.

Now, I just needed to figure out if I was cut out for this whole falling in love thing. It seemed I was heading that way, even if I wasn’t fully ready to admit it. And because I had no blueprint to follow, that alone made me nervous.

“Woman, you’d better stop now before I drop this on our feet and haul you into the back seat.”

I laughed against his lips and pulled back, looking into his smiling eyes.

“Nope, I was promised a proper date. Let’s see if you’ve nailed it.”

“Challenge accepted.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Finlay

It took everything in my power not to scoop Orla up and carry her home with me. There was something about her that made me want to protect her, even though I admired how confident and capable she was. It was just those glimpses of vulnerability she’d shared with me, a hesitancy to give more of herself, that made me want to show up for her.

Like many people hadn’t in her past.

I’d spent some time over the past couple of weeks reading up on foster children, or those raised in poverty, and I was beginning to understand why Orla was distrustful of me. Or at the very least, not willing to jump into a relationship with me no matter how often I jokingly called her my girlfriend. Why should she trust me? I was new to her,and it sounded like many pivotal people in her life had failed her.

This knowledge had only strengthened the decision that I had finalized this morning. Now, I just had to settle in for the long game and see how it went. I had all the time in the world now, so long as Orla kept giving me a chance. As far as I could tell, she was worth it.

“Our first official date,” I said, as I lugged the food toward the picnic table that Shona had set up under a tree, the branches lightly shading the spot from the sun that had decided to make an appearance for once. “And the sun shines upon us.”

“You think it’s giving us its blessing then?” Orla grinned at me from where she walked with Harris, who was taking his time to sniff and inspect each bush along the way. I couldn’t blame the dog, it was likely far more interesting than the smells he was used to in the shelter.

“And why wouldn’t it? A happy couple, enjoying a braw spring day.”

Orla stiffened at my words, but I was getting used to her standoffishness and was learning to navigate her reactions. Once I understood where much of it was coming from, it made it easier for me to accept and adapt to her needs. I followed her gaze to where Harris had frozen, his head cocked at a gnome statue.

“Harris. No,” Orla hissed, tugging at his lead. Harris twisted his body, moving to lift his leg. “No, Harris,no.”

She tugged, but the dog was stubborn, and the leg raised higher.

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