Page 69 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

Jinny gave her a disbelieving look. ‘Bonnie says you’ve had dinner with them and have been on days out together. And I’ve got eyes in my head, as does everyone else at the castle.’

Tara knew when she was beaten. ‘OK, weareseeing each other, but Cal doesn’t want it made public because Bonnie doesn’t know yet.’

‘Why ever not? You get on all right, don’t you?’

‘We do, but she isn’t happy about moving to Portree and leaving her school and her friends, so he wants to wait until she’s settled before he tells her. And it gives her more time to get used to me being around.’

‘Sensible,’ Jinny said. ‘She’s told me she doesn’t want to go. And Katie is upset, too. They’re like a couple of bookends, lost without the other. Katie is going to miss her.’

‘I’m certain Cal will make sure they get together on the weekends he has Bonnie.’

‘But that’s not fair on him. That’s his time to spend with her.’

‘He’ll put his feelings to one side,’ Tara said confidently. ‘I know Cal. He’ll do anything to make Bonnie happy.’

Unfortunately, Tara didn’t realise how prophetic those words would be.

Cal let out a tired sigh. Looking after Bonnie was knackering. The child rarely stopped chattering long enough to draw breath, so the peace that had descended on the cottage now she was tucked up in bed and fast asleep was very welcome.

He took a beer out of the fridge and cracked it open. Carrying it outside, he sat on the deck and swigged a mouthful, automatically glancing at the boathouse as he did so.

A faint light showed through the window, and he wondered what Tara was doing and whether she had eaten. He’d sent her a message earlier, telling her that he and Bonnie were going out in the skiff this afternoon, but he hadn’t invited Tara to come along even though he would dearly have loved her to.

Bonnie hadn’t suggested it either, which made him think she may have been glad to have him all to herself for a change. That was also why he hadn’t asked Tara to have dinner with them this evening. Although, whilst he and Bonnie had been out on the loch, he’d sensed Tara watching, and at one point he’d stared directly at the boathouse when Bonnie was facing the other way and had mouthed, ‘I love you.’

He hoped Tara had seen.

The light in the boathouse went out and Cal took another mouthful of beer, imagining her getting ready for bed, her skin shadowed in the darkness. She slept naked when they spent the night together, but was she naked now, alone in that double bed? How he wished he was in it with her, but he would never leave his sleeping daughter unattended. And Tara couldn’t come here, for obvious reasons.

Movement near the boathouse caught his eye, and he stiffened. One of the shadows was moving purposefully towards him, and he realised Tara was coming here after all.

He rose, walking quietly to meet her before she reached the deck, and when he was within touching distance, he drew her into the trees. Gathering her into his arms, he kissed her soundly, desire surging through him as he pushed her against a sturdy trunk.

‘I had to see you,’ she murmured after the kiss ended.

She kept her voice low, and he was grateful for that. Sound travelled far at night, and although he was fairly sure Bonnie was asleep, there was always the chance she mightn’t be.

‘Yvaine?’ he guessed.

‘She paid me a visit this morning.’

‘So I gathered. I’m sorry.’

‘It’s not your fault.’ Tara was generous in her absolution, but Cal knew he was to blame. He should have told Yvaine who the doll’s house maker was. Although, how he would have gone about it without it becoming more of a thing than it already was, he hadn’t been able to figure out.

He said, ‘I told her you’re not my girlfriend, but only because I didn’t want her saying anything to Bonnie yet.’

He debated whether or not to mention the promise he’d made to Bonnie that he wouldn’t have a girlfriend until she had a boyfriend (which was probably never in Bonnie’s eyes, although she would soon change her mind when she became a teenager), but he decided against it. There was no point, since he was sure Bonnie would be OK with it when she realised his girlfriend was Tara – someone she knew, liked and looked up to. And by the time Cal told her, Bonnie would have gotten to know Tara even better.

‘I understand.’ Tara pulled him closer, and he pressed his mouth to hers.

It was a long time before they came up for air, and by then he was breathing hard and his pulse was racing.

Tara didn’t appear to be in any better shape as she breathlessly said, ‘I’d better go back before we do something we’ll regret.’

‘I won’t regret it,’ It came out as a hoarse growl, and Tara giggled.

‘I refuse to make love with my back against a tree,’ she told him.

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