Page 45 of The Castle in the Bay

‘Thanks.’ Monty strapped himself into the buoyancy aid and slipped on the bands. Hopefully they’d work as well as the last time. ‘Is this going to be bumpy?’

‘Probably.’ Iona untied the boat and started the engine. She reversed out of the space, then pulled away from the shore, the boat bouncing on the waves. Monty gripped the sides, trying to keep his balance. Iona stood at the front, steering, not lookingtoo bothered by the waves. He forced himself to breathe and not watch the swell on either side. Water lapped up almost high enough to come over.

Iona glanced at him. ‘You alright?’

‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ The bands seemed to be helping keep the nausea away, which meant he could look about him this time and not panic about being sick. But he wasn’t used to boats or being out on the open water, and every little jolt felt like he was being walloped by a mallet.

When the boat hit a particularly large wave, a spray of seawater spattered over them. Iona laughed, but Monty clung on tight.Just let’s get there soon.He sent up a silent prayer, not sure he would ever get used to this or properly enjoy it.

As they approached the castle, he steadied himself and took out his phone. He needed some photos of this, maybe even a film. The ancient stone walls of Kisimul rose up from the sea and Monty took some pictures, trying not to lose his balance or drop his phone overboard. Iona guided the boat to the slipway, cutting the engine.

‘Ok, we can either find a spot on the rocks for the picnic or eat on the boat.’

‘I think I’d prefer it if we were off the boat.’ He removed the buoyancy aid.

‘Ok, cool. I have this.’ She tossed a folded-up rug to him and grabbed a bag full of food she’d raided from Catriona’s fridge and cupboards.

They climbed ashore, the wind still swirling around, but in the lee of the castle it wasn’t so bad. Monty scrambled over around the castle, until they found a large flat rock with a view of the sea, the waves crashing all around them.

‘This looks great.’ Monty unfolded the blanket and spread it out. The edges flapped, and they sat down quickly in case a fierce gust swept it away.

Iona opened the bag. ‘So, I’ve got rolls, cheese and stuff we can chuck together. Hope that’s ok.’

‘Sure.’ This was a picnic Iona-style. Very DIY. Sophie wouldn’t have approved of this, but right now, who cared? Who even was Sophie? If Monty got together with her again sometime in the future, he could look back on this as a wild moment in his life. Maybe he should go the whole hog and have a holiday fling. With Iona?

He watched her hacking at some cheese with a blunt knife. Would she want that? She’d been the one who suggested the kiss. But who was he kidding? He was Monty MacNeil, a respectable Edinburgh banker, and he didn’t do holiday flings.

He lifted a roll and pulled it open.

‘Thanks for helping me earlier,’ Iona said. ‘I don’t know why I work better with someone there. I guess it stops me running away and doing something else.’

‘Have you always had trouble concentrating?’ He spread some butter on his roll.

‘Yup. I suspect I have ADHD, but I’ve never been tested or anything. I’ve read a lot about it, and I seem to fit.’

‘You do indeed.’ Monty smiled, and she returned it. For a moment, they looked at each other, eyes unwavering. A deep jolt caught him low, and he really wanted to bend in and kiss her on those beautiful, full lips again.

She leaned back on the blanket, her eyes drifting to the horizon. ‘I’m so glad I don’t have to do it anymore.’

Monty frowned. ‘Do what?’

She sighed, fiddling with a loose pebble. ‘Put up with the daily grind. I told you about my cock-up when I worked for the civil service.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Even before that, it was bad. I went to a boarding school and always resented being sent away. Expectations were always skyhigh. My family is full of high achievers, and I was supposed to be one of them. But it’s not really me.’

‘I can see that. This is you. Wild seas, the wind in your hair.’

She nodded. ‘Yeah, that’s me. My family… well, they didn’t really get over me splitting with my ex. They worshipped him. He’s the golden boy, the one who never did anything wrong. Oh, apart from cheat on me, which they seem to think was justified.’

‘Really?’

‘Oh yeah. I’ve kind of withdrawn from them since then. But it’s hard, you know? They still talk about him like he’s some kind of hero.’

Monty nodded. ‘I get it. My mum loved Sophie. She would be over the moon if we got back together. She’s always comparing me to other people, wondering why I can’t be more like them.’

Iona looked at him and grinned. ‘Listen to us, would you?’

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