Page 103 of Scotch on the Rocks

The curl of her hand around my bicep made me jump and I realised I was still staring at Juniper. Her blunt bob was as sharp as a knife’s edge, one side tucked behind her ear as she leant in to better hear Alistair, displaying the row of tiny little gold hoops I’d traced with my tongue this morning.

It felt like punishment for being a coward.I should have told him how I felt weeks ago. Years ago. She’d be in my arms right now.

How did anyone fumble the bag quite this spectacularly?

“I hoped I’d get a chance to talk to you.” Jill’s fingers slid from my bicep to my forearm.

“Jill—” I started to draw away.

“Later.” With a sly little wink, she pressed her back to the bar beside my elbow, gazing at the dance floor as she sipped her drink. “Oh, look,” she nudged me. “Your brother and Juniper Ross are looking very cosy.” I couldn’t tell if she was purposely trying to provoke me. But that ugly feeling racked higher and I curled my fingers, anchoring myself to the bar. Either Jill possessed the uncanny ability to read the tension pouring from me or it was total ignorance that made her continue, “Poor girl, it will never last.”

She didn’t sound the least bit sorry.

Remembering the embarrassment on Juniper’s face when we’d overheard Jill and her friends gossiping in the village, I bit out, “And why’s that?”

Jill tutted, resigned to being the only person capable of reading between the invisible lines. “Well, Alistair’s a doctor. If he’s to be respected in the village, he’ll need a good woman on his arm, not a snake-tongued lass who’s slept with half the island and dresses as though she’s eager to take on the rest.”

Indignation rattled through me, so acute I felt my bones quake. Instead of rising to her transparent attempt to bait me, I released a low, appreciative whistle. “I’m impressed she finds the time to bed hop while running a successful business.”

Jill scoffed, “That’s a generous assessment of that rundown little inn. Don’t play with me, Callum, you can’t seriously think she’s a suitable match for you …yourbrother.”

She fumbled to finish. It was too late. I’d caught her slip.

I took in her flushed cheeks. The way her eyes bounced between my face and the glass in her hand.If he’s to be respected in the village, he’ll need a good woman on his arm.

Alistair didn’t even live in Kinleith.

Her dislike of Juniper had nothing to do with Alistair or even who Juniper chose to spend her nights with … all she cared about was that it wasn’t me.

Just like that, I was done.

Bending, I fixed my gaze on Jill’s, removing any possible chance of misinterpretation. “I’m only going to say this once and I expect you to heed my warning. From now on, you don’t say another ill word about Juniper. Scratch that – don’t even say her name. Understand?”

Her mouth gaped but she covered her shock with a laugh. “Callum, I didn’t mean to upset—”

“Yes you did. You knew exactly what you were doing. Juniper doesn’t need me to defend her, but I refuse to listen to another second of your vile shit. Tell me you understand,” I demanded, eager to get to the only person I truly wanted to spend this night with.

Still swaying horrendously out of time, every moment Juniper danced with someone who wasn’t me had the red mist rising higher. Brother or a fucking stranger off the street, it didn’t matter.Those should be my toes she’s massacring.

“Callum—” Jill reached for me. I retreated, never wanting those hands on me again. “What’s wrong?” Her eyes searched mine and I saw the precise moment she found her answer. “You and her?” she hissed. “I knew it. I didn’t want to believe it, but Iknew.”

The envy in her tone left me twitching, it was like looking in a fucking mirror. For that reason alone, I tried to soften my voice. “I’m sorry for my part, I should have been upfront from the very beginning. Regardless of my feelings for Juniper, nothing would have happened between us. I’m still happy to be your vet with the presence of Kelly in the surgery. Otherwise, I can make some recommendations—”

“Fuck yourself, Callum.” Her lips bared in a snarl. “Are you honestly delusional enough to think you stand a chance there? Wake up! It couldn’t be more obvious that she’s still in love with him.” Setting her glass down with a careless smack, she snatched up her purse and beelined for the door.

Like a true glutton for punishment, I instantly sought out Juniper. Still dancing with my brother, they were chatting almost amicably through a slow number. Alistair gazed at her like she’d hung the fucking moon, eating up every word from her lips. I didn’t know what I’d expected when the two of them finally spoke again, but it sure as shit wasn’t whispered words and pleasing smiles. Signalling for a refill from April, my brain took a tortuous journey back to another night, that very same dress, a glass of whisky in my hand while I lurked at the bar and watched them dance at a distance, my jealousy almost eating me alive.

Tonight, they couldn’t have danced more than two songs together, yet it was long enough to unearth every contemptible thought I’d ever had. I wasn’t particularly proud of this side of myself, the covetous beast that rattled the bars of its enclosure any time Alistair got within an inch of her, but it was there all the same.

“That went well.” Mal’s low rumble cut in just in time to stop me doing something stupid.

“About as well as to be expected,” I shot back with a bluntness that didn’t invite him to linger. Being a stubbornbastard, he waited, hands drumming on his folded arms. Why of all times did he choose now to take an interest? “Go on then.”

“What?” He feigned casualness. A good job April was the actor in this pairing.

“Cut the crap, Malcolm, I know when you have something to say. You’re far too fucking obvious.”

“Fine! I’ve known about …” Reddening from the collar of his shirt to the tips of his ears, he wiggled a finger in Juniper’s direction. “The entire time.”

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