Page 35 of Scotch on the Rocks

His chin dipped, following the action. “Aye, I can fix it.” Thanks to the high heating, we were both beginning to sweat.

“How long will it take?”

My question went unanswered, his attention shifting to the open notebook on the windowsill. Instinct had mescrambling for it, but he was faster, the pages protesting in his grip as he held it above his head. “What are these?”

I bit my lip, realising it was too late for me to lie. “Nothing. Just a few sketches for the inn.” He flipped a page, and I lunged again, unaccustomed to being at a height disadvantage. I pushed onto my tiptoes, my fingers scraped the ring binding, he lifted it higher, crushing our bodies together. I’m talking my chin to his collarbone, my breasts to his ribs. I could feel the scrape of his nipples through the thin material of our shirts, so he could definitely feel mine. I couldn’t have given a shit. “Give it back.”

“There’s at least a dozen in here.”

One for every room in Ivy House. That notebook contained more than sketches, it contained my entire business model, starting with ways to make the inn eco-friendlier with a smart water irrigation system and solar panel installation and ended with my dream to turn Ivy House into one of Skye’s most sought-after wedding venues.

A pipe dream.

“Laugh at me all you want, just give it back.” I grabbed the edge and tugged, almost tearing the thing as it wrenched free.

He steadied me, a hand curling around my waist. His face so close I could see flecks of silver in his eyes. He didn’t look happy. “Why would I laugh?”

“Because …”It’s nothing.I squeezed the book to my chest until I felt the pages crinkle. “There isn’t a single achievable thing in this entire book.” He didn’t reply so I pushed us back on track. “Can you fix it or not?”

“Aye.” He scratched at his thickly bristled cheek. “A week or two, maybe, to put right Murray’s mess and get the new suite installed.”

“A few weeks?” That didn’t seem like long.

“How many rooms look like this?”

“Two. That’s all I could afford right now.” The words felt small. Ready for mockery.

His lips didn’t so much as twitch. “Why not apply for a business loan and renovate all the rooms at once?”

“It isn’t my business.” Fiona made it perfectly clear she wanted everything to stay the same. I’d already fucked up by goingthisfar.

He settled back against the wall, arms folding over his flat stomach. “And let me guess. You just work here?” I could have sworn a muscle jumped in his jaw.

“Exactly.”

“Right, well … I’ll help you.”

I knew I should, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to thank him, so I bobbed my chin in the semblance of a nod.

“Are we calling a truce?” he asked.

“Absolutely not.”

His smile came automatically, as though it were a test I’d passed with flying colours. “Then I’ve thought of a way you can repay me.”

“No.”

That damn brow cocked, taking him from irritating to charmingly handsome. I wanted to smooth my finger over it and hold it in place.

“I haven’t even told you yet.”

“I already know I’m going to hate—”

“You—”

“Just let me pay you.”

“—allow me to show you around Skye.”

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