Page 13 of Wild Scottish Fortune

And what if you don’t?

With that, the Green Lady disappeared from the foot of my bed, leaving me to contemplate whether I was ready to join something that would anchor me to Loren Brae forever. A part of me warmed to the thought, the feeling of coming home making me almost giddy with excitement, but like anything in my life, I needed to proceed with caution.

Goldie zipped tight circles in her bowl, mirroring my thoughts, and I drifted off to sleep.

CHAPTER FIVE

Finlay

Ihadn’t told anyone about my encounter in the outbuilding.

I was new to Loren Brae, new on the construction site, and was still feeling things out. I often found it best to get the lay of the land first, because if I needed to implement change, it was better I did so with an understanding of the dynamics of what I was stepping into rather than coming in like a wrecking ball. Nuance mattered, particularly on buildouts, because many who worked on our construction sites also lived in the towns we built in. Small towns were their own puzzles to be solved, and I approached each project with a careful curiosity, knowing that we weren’t just providing jobs for the construction workers, but also that the business we were growing would benefit the community.

I never wanted to give anyone a reason to dislike me, or the Common Gin brand. Reputation mattered, and Munroe knew that I cared just as deeply about his company as he did. He was a great boss, and he took care of his employees. I was proud of the work we did, the jobs we provided, and the community we had created. We even had a line of craft mocktails in the works for those who didn’t drink alcohol.

The music of a busy construction site greeted my ears when I arrived the next morning, handsaws whirring, hammers slapping against wood, a morning radio show recapping the match from the night before. The air was still brisk, sharp enough that I cradled my hands around my thermos of coffee, and I took a moment to examine the building from the outside.

I could just see it. The finished project. Granted, I’d seen the mock-ups, which were stunning in their own right, but I loved nothing more than watching something that was once in disrepair come to life. I imagined this must be how gardeners felt, coaxing a seed to bloom, and being on a buildout was my favorite aspect of my job. Spreadsheets, finances, and profit and loss ledgers were a touch less appealing, but I thrived equally on-site as I did behind my computer. The nice thing about Munroe was that he didn’t force me to solely take meetings and be on the phone at all times, as he knew as well as I did that I needed to get out of the office to remain a cheerful human being. Because of that, he’d structured his operations team to share their duties, and we were in constant contact as we shifted our roles to accommodate for what the company needed. It worked well, this balance of responsibilities that Munroehad created, and it pleased me that I’d been picked to be on-site for the Loren Brae project.

I’d needed a break from Edinburgh for a while.

As much as I loved my mother, she’d become overbearing to the point of neurotic since my father had passed away. After his death, a heart attack taking him in his lover’s bed, we’d discovered just what kind of man my father had really been. I’d sensed hints of it through the years, but the unraveling of his lies had undone my mother and now she focused all her attention on me, desperate to control my very existence, because her own foundation had shattered.

Yes, some time in Loren Brae would suit us both. Even now, my phone pinged, and I glanced down to see a reminder from my mother about securing a date for the upcoming gala. It was the one engagement that I couldn’t get out of, as not only was she a co-chair, but Common Gin had heavily sponsored the event. I didn’t see the need for a date, but I might just take one to shut my mother up.

Orla strode around the side of the building, in green canvas overalls today, her hair plaited down her back. She carried a heavy stack of timber at her shoulder, and I jumped forward, wanting to help.

“Here, let me get that for you.”

Orla turned, somehow managing to look at me without swinging the wood around and knocking my head off, showing she was well used to being on a construction site. I mean, of course she was. She owned her own construction business. Her eyes took a lazy meander over my outfit, stopping at my shoes, and she sniffed. I glanced down.

What was wrong with my shoes?They were steel-toed boots, proper foot attire for a construction zone, and I’dpurchased them recently after my old ones had taken the brunt of a tar spill.

“I’m just fine, thanks. Is there something you needed, Mr. Thompson?” Orla waited patiently, as though the weight of the timber on her shoulder wasn’t a bother, and I felt awkward for stopping her and making her hold the bundle longer.

“Is there anything that you need help with today?” I moved over and held the door for her, propping it open, and then followed her to where she put the wood down next to a stack of boards. She took off her gloves and tucked them in a pocket before turning to me.

“What do you know about building?” Orla arched an eyebrow at me.

“I know that’s a hammer.” I pointed to a tool tucked at her belt. Orla looked down, her lips pursed in disdain, and I suppressed a grin. It was easy to poke at her a bit, knowing she’d give the banter back, and I hoped to build a better relationship with her after we’d gotten off on the wrong foot.

Sunlight speared through the window, catching her eyes, and she blinked at me, her dark lashes fanning against her cheeks, and I had this sudden urge to pick her up and carry her away, to protect her from what harm life could bring her. It was so unusual for me to think such a thing that it took me a moment to realize she was speaking to me.

“Och, I’d say it’s best you stick to your fancy office, and I’ll stick to my job, no?” Orla held out a hand to indicate her sawdust-filled “office.”

“Thisismy office for the next six months,” I said automatically, trying to shove away the protective feelings thathad whirled up inside me, unbidden, for this tiny powerhouse.

By all accounts, Orla did not need protecting. And certainly not from the likes of me. If I’d been any less confident in who I was as a person, my ego would be taking a hit by the indication that I was less manly for not working in the trades. Luckily, I knew who I was and what I brought to the table. I wasn’t someone who needed to prove mymanlinessto anyone.

“I suppose that’s true enough,” Orla admitted. “Is there anything you want to go over with me?”

“Actually, there is.” I gestured with my cup of coffee to the hallway. “I wanted to discuss the storage room, as we’ll need to separate the botanicals. Has that been drawn into the plans?”

“I believe so, but it depends on the quantity and method of storing them.”

My eyes caught on a wee badge on her collar, and I leaned a touch closer to see.

“Is that a goldfish?”

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