Page 43 of The Castle in the Bay

‘Yeah, she’s in the house, working. I was just with her. Why?’

‘I hope I didn’t upset her this morning.’ Monty opened the door to the annex.

Catriona gave him a sideways glance. ‘Why would you have?’

‘I don’t know. I just seem to have a way of doing that, even though I don’t mean to.’

‘Don’t worry about it. She’s just got a lot on her plate right now with the festival and she’s easily stressed.’ Catriona shook her head. ‘I think doing office work is a trigger for her. It reminds her of her old job that she hated. She ends up procrastinating and leaving everything to the last minute. Then she gets angry. Don’t take it personally.’

Monty nodded; Catriona was such a sensible soul for someone so young. ‘Ok.’ If it wasn’t personal, then good, but still, why had he asked her about the man she’d come back with? That was a stupid move if ever there was one. Why did he even care? But he did, and he hadn’t been able to stop himself from asking. Why? Oh, why? She’d got well and truly lodged under his skin and he couldn’t get her out.

Catriona opened a little box on the wall and pressed some buttons. ‘That should do it. The radiators should start to come on straight away.’

‘Thanks, I appreciate that.’ Monty placed his trainers by the radiator.

‘No problem.’ Catriona headed for the door. ‘If it’s not warm enough in here for you, feel free to come into the main house. The breakfast room is free.’

‘Thanks. If the weather holds, I might head out for a bit.’ He peered out of the window. ‘Do you think I could speak to Iona? I feel bad, but I don’t want to disturb her.’

He did want to ask her something though. Something that had been growing on him more and more. He really wanted to go back to Kisimul Castle at least once before his time was up.

‘Well, it might be best not to disturb her, but I can ask her if you like.’

‘Yes, please. I’ll come over with you and if she says no, I’ll go away.’

‘Ok, fair enough.’ Catriona marched back to the farmhouse. ‘Poor Iona. She’s a free spirit who doesn’t like being tied to a desk. Normally, she’s off chasing waves, riding her bike, or having fun… in other ways.’

‘Hmm. Yeah.’ Monty cleared his throat, not sure exactly what Catriona meant. Did she mean having flings?

‘Right. If you just wait two minutes, I’ll ask her if she can spare you a sec.’

Monty thrust his hands into his pockets and looked at the paintings along the wall of the hallway depicting island scenes, all turquoise waves and white beaches. His mind wandered along a beach much like one of them, landing him back to the other evening when he’d kissed Iona. Why had he done that? That was when her bad mood had restarted. What a stupid thing to do. Maybe he was playing with fire now in even wanting to speak to her again.

Catriona poked her head around the door. ‘You can go through. She says she can give you one minute.’

‘Thanks.’ Monty went through the breakfast room, and then a little hallway next to a staircase that he assumed went to the private bedrooms. At the back was the sunroom, where he and Catriona had worked on her business plan. Iona sat at the desk, leaning her forehead in her hand, her long ponytail hanging to one side. She raised her eyes as he came in.

‘What is it that you want?’

‘Can I ask you something?’

‘No.’

‘Ok.’ He huffed out a laugh. ‘That was the world’s shortest conversation then.’

‘Look, I’m really busy.’

‘I can see that. Maybe I could help you out, as I still haven’t paid for the boat trip. I’m good at’ – he gave a little shrug – ‘you know, boring stuff.’

She straightened up and tossed her ponytail over her bare shoulder. She had on a strappy top and Monty noticed for the first time she had a tattoo on the back of her shoulder. ‘Why would you want to help me?’

‘Because I’m trying to be nice.’

She raised an eyebrow.

‘And I have a favour to ask you.’

‘Oh, yeah? What kind of favour?’

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