Page 15 of Scotch on the Rocks

“Don’t worry.” Sighing, I rubbed a hand across my brow to ease the growing tension, suddenly weary to my damn bones. “I’ll tell her.”

I’d served as a medic in the military. Seen combat in wars I never wanted to be a part of. Held friends and innocent civilians as they took their final breaths. I’d experienced loss and pain over and over and over. It felt ridiculous that this could be the thing to finally break me.

“Yeah?” He sighed in relief, “Thanks big bro.” The line cut out before I could say another word.

Fucking great.I slammed a hand on the wheel.

The unlined patch of tarmac before the town hall was tight, room for twelve cars, max. And that didn’t account for the large RV currently taking up three spaces. “Damn tourists.” Didn’t they know summer was over?

Aiming for a small spot at the very end by the rope fence, I slowed, shifting into reverse just as another car entered the lot. A black, electric go-kart that looked about as safe as a tin can. And behind the wheel – the source of my every fantasy.

Juniper Ross peeled through the opening like a bat out of hell. Tyres spinning, she aimed for the singular parking spot.Myspot. Had I been feeling more charitable, I might have let her have it.

Bad luck for her.

Extending my middle finger in her direction, I slung my free arm over the passenger seat, turning the wheel with the heel of my hand, backing smoothly into the space seconds before Juniper screeched to a halt, her bumper kissing mine.

Our eyes locked like competitors on a starting block, then she threw up her hands, mouth slinging silent curses that stoked my first laugh of the day. What I wouldn’t give to hear every insult flying from that vicious mouth.

I was still laughing when I shut off the engine and climbed out. Juniper rolled down her window and anticipation fizzed in my stomach.

“What the hell, Macabe?”Macabe.Why did it get me so hot when she said my name like that?Because you’re a sick, sick man.Her tone was cutting but somehow still sweet. Her expression like a knife dipped in honey.

“Oh, hey, neighbour.” I flashed a grin. The toothy one that always pissed her off. “I didn’t see you there.”

“Right. That was my spot and you know it.”

Ignoring the accusation, I ran an assessing eye over her compact vehicle. “Does that thing have gears or did you Flintstone all the way here?”

“Move,” she said. It wasn’t a request.

“Nope.” And just like that I felt better already. My conversation with Alistair, my worry over Dad, all fled to the furthest, dusty corner of my mind until it was only this. Onlyher.

“Move.”

I let my head tilt, giving myself a heartbeat to take her in beneath the low baseball cap she wore.So damn delicate. With her slim nose and big brown eyes, she looked like a water nymph, completely at odds with the fire and ice battling beneath her skin. “Ask me nicely. Say, ‘Callum, will you pretty please put those superior driving skills to good use and move your car?’”

“Superior driving skills?”

“I know, I know. Witty, handsome and an excellent driver. The scales are unfairly tipped in my favour.” She rolled her eyes. “Say it, harpy, and the space is yours.”

When she remained stubbornly silent, I prodded, “Today is Thursday.”

“So?”

“So… it’s still another four days until oat and raisin cookie day. But you already knew that.”

“You stole my spot over a damn cookie?” She gripped the steering wheel like she might run me over. Fool I was, I’d probably let her.

“One ofJess’scookies. Wars have been fought over less.”

“You are completely unreasonable.” No. Fucking petty was more accurate.

“Perhaps.”

“Move.”

I tapped my lips, pretended to think it over. “No. I don’t think I will.”

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