Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
“Tierney called me. Said someone broke in.” His eyes darted over my shoulder to the wreck in my living room. Quinn’s expression hardened and if the wrath I witnessed there was real, it was a good thing he hadn’t seen the mess of my bedroom.
“I had to tell Tierney why I was leaving,” London spoke up.
“It’s a good thing you’re here, Quinn,” DC Alice stepped forward. “Taran’s front door lock is broken. We’ve dusted for fingerprints already, so it’s clear for repairs. I don’t suppose you could replace the lock before the end of day?”
“Of course.” Quinn searched my face again. “Are you okay? Did they take anything?”
I gently extricated myself from his grip. “I’m fine. They took some jewelry.”
“Tourists?” he asked the police officers.
“That’s our guess. We’ll ask more of the neighbors if they saw anyone or anything suspicious, and we’ll put an announcement on our social media pages, so people are on alert in case it happens again.”
He gave them a sharp jerk of his head before pinning me in place with his attention. “If you don’t feel safe to stay here tonight, you can have my house. I’ll stay with Ramsay on Stòr.”
I didn’t know how to feel about his generous offer other than that I couldn’t accept it. “I’ll be fine. I got burgled in Glasgow years ago, so I’m a bit of a veteran.”
Something crossed Quinn’s expression at that slice of information. Consternation, perhaps. All these years between us as strangers.
“She’s got me.” London stood up and crossed the room to stand next to me. Her tone was neither defensive nor wary. Matter of fact. “We look out for each other.”
My ex glanced between us. We weren’t so much strangers that I didn’t recognize the stubborn glint in his eyes. However, much to my relief, he didn’t push it.
“I’ll fix the lock. I’ll need to go get my tools and see if Street’s has the right one.” He referred to the village DIY store owned by Ruari Street. It was usually well stocked considering it was the only one on the entire island. “I won’t be long.”
I could only nod because I needed my lock fixed, even if it meant being around Quinn today of all days.
I’d just closed the door on a worried Tierney and Ramsay. Weariness claimed my bones, but I ignored it and sidled back into the living room where London sat curled up in the armchair.
Tierney was concerned about London, I could tell. However, she and Ramsay had to return to the B and B before dinner.
After the police left, London helped me right the house and clear all the damaged items into bin bags. While we did that, Quinn fixed the lock and added a dead bolt.
“I ordered you a door camera that you can access on your phone,” he’d told me as I tried to not so subtly shoo him out of the house.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“It’s done. As soon as it arrives, I’ll be round to fit it.”
Frustrated by his high-handedness, I’d snapped, “How much do I owe you for all of this?”
“Nothing.” He reached out as if to touch me and then dropped his arm to his side. “I know you won’t, but call me if you need me.”
Then he departed, leaving me with this excruciating ache in my chest. I ignored it and threw myself into clearing and cleaning the house.
By the time we’d finished, Tierney and Ramsay showed up with food. Ramsay had gone over the house, as if he could somehow find a clue to who had been here. He was a difficult man to read usually, but when he, like Tierney, noted how withdrawn London had grown, I saw a flash of fire in his icy gray eyes.
“I’ve already checked, and Nick is still in New York,” Ramsay had announced.
London physically jolted at the words but then gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you.”
Still, the break-in had left her shaken.
As I closed the door on the couple, I promised with my expression that I’d talk to London.
I sank down into the sofa opposite her and decided to put it right out there. “He’s always your first thought, isn’t he?”
London didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “Actually, it’s been months since I last looked over my shoulder. When I first got here … well, you were there, you saw me. I had nightmares, couldn’t leave the house alone. And I was just in a fight with myself. How had I let this happen? How did it get that far? But being here, being someone you needed after your mom … It helped me find a little piece of myself again. I won’t ever be the same person I was, but I stopped hating myself. I stopped hating him because he doesn’t get to do that to me too. To make me an angry person. A bitter person. To suck more energy out of me even when he’s not here. I won’t let him win like that.” London shook her head determinedly.