Page 24 of The Castle in the Bay

Monty made a face of agreement and disappointment, though his insides were dancing. Thank god for that. He’d dodged a bullet nicely there. But his head hurt a little as he made his way back to the annex. His thoughts jogged around places he didn’t really want them to go. Ruaridh might think Iona wasn’t interested in him, but Monty wasn’t so sure. She’d looked very comfortable in his presence.

‘Why do I even care?’ He closed the door of the annex and pulled off his shirt. After switching on the shower, he took off the rest of his clothes and jumped under the steaming water. As the water hit him, he tried to steer his mind to something pleasant and let the heat refresh him. Why then did Iona keep nudging her way back in? And how could he get her out? Because she didn’t belong there.

Chapter Ten

Iona

Iona grunted as she and Catriona heaved the wardrobe into position.

‘Who the heck moved this in the first place.’ Iona jostled it until it was closer to the wall.

‘The last guests, I assume, though I’m not sure why.’ Catriona’s face was flushed with exertion; she wasn’t particularlytall or robust, but she looked determined. ‘Just a bit more to the left.’

Iona adjusted her grip, and they shuffled the wardrobe a few inches, finally setting it down with a thud.

‘I bet they pushed it across the door when they were getting jiggy.’ Iona rolled her shoulders. ‘You should put locks on the doors.’

Catriona shook her head. ‘It’d spoil the character of the place.’

‘Maybe, but not as much as moving this wardrobe will spoil the floor.’

‘True, but I also don’t have time. I need a drink.’ Catriona made her way out of the room and headed downstairs. Iona followed.

‘Isn’t it a bit early?’

‘You know what I mean.’ She headed straight to the kitchen and filled a glass with water. ‘Is he still gassing?’ She looked out the window to where Ruaridh was deep in conversation with Alexander, who was leaning against the side of the house with a look of mild irritation.

‘He better not appear around here with all his washing,’ Catriona muttered. ‘I’m not his mother.’

‘You pretty much are,’ Iona said.

Catriona pulled a face. ‘He’s six years older than me.’

Which was a fact that always made Iona smirk. Catriona certainly looked younger, but she’d grown up fast. Her mum had chronic fatigue syndrome and lived in one of the farm cottages. She relied on Catriona and Ruaridh to do a lot for her. More often than not, Catriona seemed to be the one holding the family together. Ruaridh was a wandering spirit, and their father had left them at an early age; they rarely mentioned him.

‘He’s old enough to do his own washing, and Alexander has better things to do than stand around chatting.’ She shook her head and marched outside.

Uh-oh.Catriona didn’t often get mad, but she looked like she meant business. Iona went out behind her.

‘What are we doing here?’ Catriona folded her arms, smiling, but not with any warmth.

Ruaridh chuckled. ‘Nothing.’

‘I can see that much.’

‘He was just telling me about his holiday.’ Alexander met Catriona’s eye and Iona held her breath. A crackle of invisible electricity zipped between them. They either hated each other or had the hots for each other – big time. But Alexander must be in his late thirties, maybe even early forties. It was a curious age gap and one Iona was sure they would both have an issue with.

‘Here…’ Ruaridh glanced around. ‘Do you think I might’ve freaked out that guest earlier?’

Catriona’s brow furrowed slightly. ‘Why? What did you say to him?’

‘Just stuff about running… I think. He just had a funny look on his face, that’s all.’

‘He’s a nice guy,’ Catriona said. ‘So don’t go upsetting him.’

Alexander rolled his eyes but tried to quickly even out his features. Catriona had obviously seen him though.

‘Don’t know what that was for.’ She narrowed her eyes at him. ‘He’s a lot nicer than some of us around here.’

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