Page 49 of The Castle in the Bay

‘Well, at least they stopped you going green and throwing up.’ She took them from him and shoved them back into their little box. After chucking the box and the buoyancy aids into one of the compartments, she turned back to Monty and slung her arms around his neck. He tugged her close, pinning her hips to his. With no words needed, they resumed their kiss from the castle.

‘Mmmm,’ Iona moaned. ‘Let’s take this back to the farm, shall we?’

‘Yes.’ He stroked her hair back. ‘Let’s do that.’

‘Your place or mine?’

‘Mine probably.’ His eyes hadn’t left her, and his gaze was so intense, it was like he was examining her. ‘I don’t want to get caught going in or out of your room. The annex is more hidden.’

Iona smirked. It wouldn’t be the first time Catriona had caught someone entering or leaving her room, but she understood. And Monty, of all people. Catriona probably wouldn’t believe it. Not straightlaced Monty. But Iona was gearing up to expose all his hidden depths. Sometimes she went for guys purely on looks and was disappointed. Monty was attractive in a weird kind of way, a handsome nerd-type. But he had a good body from the glimpses she’d caught. And he smelt nice. Maybe that was bizarre, but it meant he had good personal hygiene and that was important. Above all that, he was a good guy. He passed the quality control with flying colours, and she couldn’t wait to extend this kiss into something a lot hotter.

But twenty minutes later, when Iona and Monty pulled up to An Grianan in the car, her heart sank.

‘What’s going on?’ Monty frowned.

A large group of people were milling around the courtyard.

‘It’s people arriving for the festival. They must have got off the plane this afternoon.’

‘Catriona looks a bit stressed.’

‘I hope she hasn’t double booked anyone. She’s letting a few people camp in the field, but these people don’t look like they have tents.’ Iona popped her seatbelt. Catriona was frowning and pointing. Although she was always good with guests, she occasionally lost it with Ruaridh or Alex when she got mad, and steam looked to be coming out of her ears.

‘Iona!’ Catriona waved her over as soon as she got out of the car. ‘Can you come over here?’

Iona glanced at Monty, giving him a helpless look. ‘I need to go.’

Monty adjusted his glasses, his expression neutral. ‘It’s fine. Go help Catriona. I’ll see you some other time when things are quieter.’

Scamp came charging up to them, his tail racing. He jumped around Monty for a few moments. With a vague smile, Monty patted him until Iona took his collar and tugged him back.

‘Settle down,’ she said. Scamp instantly dropped onto his belly. ‘Come on, this way.’ She shooed him back to the group and headed towards Catriona, a chill through her veins. Why had Monty said he would see hersome other time?What did that mean? How airy fairy was that? Had he had a mini wake-up call, and this was the end of the fling?

Ah hell.This was so irritating.

Catriona excused herself from a group of people and marched up to Iona, taking her by the arm. ‘People are asking questions I don’t have answers to. Where have you been?’

‘I was taking Monty back to the castle.’

‘Couldn’t that have waited until after the festival? You need to talk to all these people. They want to know everything about wave conditions and god knows what else.’

‘Fine.’ From the corner of her eye, Iona spied Monty making his way towards the annex, keeping his head down.Bugger. She wanted to be in there with him. Images of all sorts of decadent and naughty ideas paraded across her mind. Most of them involved her being naked and sprawled on a bed, her hair spread across the pillows. An equally naked Monty was kissing her, touching her… His tongue was on her lips, her nipples, her lady parts. She was writhing and gripping the sheets. His head was between her legs. Then he was on top of her, inside her… And she was on top of him, bucking her hips, moving faster—

‘Iona.’ Catriona waved her hand in front of her face. ‘Where are you?’

‘What?’Fuck’s sake. She’d been lost in a very hot daydream.

‘Please talk to the guests about schedules, equipment, rules – everything.’ Catriona tossed up her hands. ‘I can’t handle it on my own. You’re one of the main organisers. You should be here.’

‘Ok, ok. It doesn’t officially start until tomorrow afternoon, so I didn’t expect to be needed for this, did I?’ She marched up to the group. ‘Hey, everyone. I’m Iona, one of the surf instructors on the island. If you have questions about the festival, I’m your person.’

People started talking to her and asking her stuff. Normally this would be right up her street, but she so desperately craved to walk away and go after Monty. It quickly became obvious that wouldn’t be happening anytime soon. Even getting a minute’s peace from these people was going to be impossible.

Ruaridh came over after his shift had finished, and he and Iona walked to the beach with the guests and Scamp. They talked to them about conditions and the best places. Iona kept looking behind, hoping to see Monty following them down, but he didn’t appear. Scamp sniffed around the long grass in the dunes, his head popping up every now and then at something unseen.

Iona didn’t dare go to the annex with all these people about, and with Catriona in such a mood. It wasn’t nice to see her like that, and it only really happened if she got stressed.

So that evening, Iona headed up to bed alone, lying in the cool bedroom with the window open. The annex roof was outside her window and for a while she entertained thoughts of climbing out Romeo and Juliet style, then lowering herself down to theground. But that was insane. And Monty might not appreciate that. If she’d just got his number, she could message him.

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