by Karen Ferry
That’s not Trish’s hands. I look at the tattoos on the man’s knuckles and my heart begins to pound in my ears as I recognise the script. Of their own will, my eyes follow the lines of the gaping wolf as it grins up at me, and my heart skips a beat.
My head snaps up as the chair in front of me is pulled out, and I frown at Kristian as he sits down.
“My friend, Alex, stole your friend,” he says as he sits back in his seat. “She told me to get you your drink and keep you company for a spell.”
My lips turn down as I glance up at the bar.
When Trish lifts her glass at me, her hand resting lightly on Alex’s chest, I want to get up from my seat and throttle her.
Traitor, I mouth at her. Her smile turns into laughter as she winks at me.
“Well, it would seem I don’t have a choice in the matter,” I mumble as I take the drink. I almost wince at the sharp taste of gin, and I remind myself to take it easy tonight.
“There’s always a choice,” Kristian’s low voice catches my attention. I narrow my eyes at him. The intense honesty staring back at me makes my belly dip. “If you really want me to go, just say so, and I’ll be out the door. But let me apologise first.”
I blink slowly. “For what?”
He purses his lips and leans forward, resting his arms on the table, a sheepish grin on his lips.
“For being an arrogant prick yesterday.”
Wow. I didn’t see that one coming.
“Which time?” I look him dead in the eye, completely serious.
He grins at me.
Oh, no, not the dimples again.
“All of them.” He shrugs. “I still think you lied when you said you aren’t interested, but –,” he looks down, holding his hands up towards me, “– I shouldn’t have tried to bait you into kissing me.”
I tilt my head at him.
“Apology accepted.”
His eyes follow my hand as I lift my glass to my lips.
“I still want to kiss you, though.”
I sputter as the drink goes down the wrong way, making me cough.
“What?” I squeak, gasping for breath at the same time. “You can’t just say that to me. I’m a complete stranger.”
“I disagree. From what I’ve seen so far, I know that you’re a great mother. You wouldn’t work at the farm if you didn’t love the animals. And that tells me that while your heart may be soft, you’re also a great businesswoman.”
I gape at him, completely stunned.
The sight of the warmth in his eyes does really weird things to my insides. It also makes me remember how turned on I was last night.
I shake my head a little as I snap out of my stupor.
“Well, thanks. I think. But that doesn’t mean that you’ll get your way with me. I meant what I said, Kristian. I’m not interested in anything with anyone right now.”
He shrugs as he sits back in his seat.
“Well, fair enough, I guess. But…”
He hesitates and crosses his arms over his chest.
“But what?” I frown at him, trying to anticipate his next move.
“How about we try to become friends, at least?”
“Friends?” I squint at him. I don’t buy the earnest look in his eyes, but I have to admit that my curiosity is piqued.
“Yes. I don’t know many people in Scotland, and even though I won’t be here for longer than six months or so, I’d like to make some friends while I’m here. If not, it can get pretty lonely, and no one likes that.”
“I’m sure it’s not difficult to find companions with the way you look.”
As if they have a mind of their own, my eyes trail up his muscular chest. I wonder if he’s got any ink hidden away underneath the black T-shirt, but when my gaze lands on his again, I bite my lip. His eyes cloud over with shadows and I wish I could take the words back.
“Maybe not. But friendships aren’t formed just because you share a bed, or something else, for a night or two. They need time for that, don’t you agree?”
I nod, attempting to hide my wince at the image of Kristian lying with some faceless woman in a bed that pops into my head.
Eeww.
Then I want to slap myself for even thinking like that. It’s not my place. But that doesn’t mean he’s convinced me yet.
“What have you got to lose?” he persists, frowning at me.
“I’ve never known any man who asked me to be friends keep his promise,” I answer quietly. “I don’t have anything to lose, as you put it, but I just want you to know why I’m hesitating.”
He sighs as he shakes his head.
“Stubborn.”
I roll my eyes at him.
“Perhaps, but Scots are known for that.”
“Okay, how does this sound?” He inches forward in his seat. “I know that Lise will be spending a lot of time at your farm, and I’d actually like to come with her from time to time. How about we agree to just try to be friends? And if one of us ends up falling for the other, we promise to say it and not keep it a secret?”
I lean closer so he can hear me better over the sound of the people milling about in the pub.
“Do you keep your promises, Kristian?”
He frowns.
“I try really hard not to break them, Laura.”
He sounds so serious, and that decides it for me. I nod, satisfied with that.
“That’s good. Okay, we have a deal.”
I raise my hand, waiting for him to shake it. When he smiles slowly at me, I suppress a slight shiver. He really is quite beautiful.
“Deal,” he says as he takes my hand.
I shake it once and then release it quickly.
“Good, but I need to make something very clear.”
“What’s that?”
“No more talk about wanting to kiss me. Friends don’t kiss.”
He laughs as he nods. “Okay, you’ll never hear me say those words again.”
Smiling, I toast him with my glass.
“Good. Now, how about I buy you a drink, friend?”
A small glint of appreciation lights up in his eyes, and he nods.
“That would be good. Thanks.”
I nod and stand up to leave him. As I walk to the bar, I wonder if I’ve just made the worst mistake of my life. But then again, what’s the harm?
As long as I keep my libido in check, I’ll be fine.
10
Kristian
Friends?
What a load of horse shite. I don’t do friends with women—it’s not my style. Since Anne Larsen gave me my first real kiss when I was 12, girls stopped being merely friends I could hang out with, and they became something else.
Something thrilling. Something that I spent a whole lot of time studying in order to find out what made them tick.
Girls became women, and now, as I sit here in the pub, waiting for Laura to come back with my beer, I wish I had solved the great, big mystery that they are.
Laura is the biggest one yet.
I have to behave myself. I meant it when I said that I try not to break the promises that I make, and I’m not about to start.
Still, I’d wish that fate would stop cock-blocking me. It’s fucking annoying.
“So,” Laura’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts. “Tell me about yourself, Kristian.”
I bark out a laugh at her direct approach.
“What do you want to know?”
She shrugs as she sits down in front of me.
“The usual, I suppose.”
Small talk was never my strong suit, but I’ll try. For her, I’m pretty sure I’d try anything to crack her armour.
I take a gulp of my draught and clear my throat before I lock my eyes with hers.
“I’m twenty-six, have no siblings, and I came to Scotland to forget someone.”
She raises her eyes at me, probably surprised with my blunt approach.
“I see. But why Scotland?”
Grateful that she
doesn’t pry, I shrug.
“I met Alex a couple of years back at a big tattoo festival in Copenhagen, and we’ve kept in touch since then. While I wanted to get away, I need to work. So, I emailed him, asked him for a job, and here I am.”
“Hmm. You live with your aunt?” She sits back in her chair, getting more comfortable. She places her elbow on the armrest and rests her head on a palm. My eyes fall to the small, strange marks on her lower arm, but even though I’m puzzled by them, I don’t ask what they are.
“Yes, though I’ve been thinking about finding some place else to live. It’d be nice to have more privacy.”
“Yeah, I understand. I love living on the farm—so does Ailith—but it’s not always easy. Still…” she shrugs, giving me a small smile, “it’s practical.”
I purse my lips at her. “I can see that.”
An awkward silence falls between us, and we both reach for our drinks at the same time. I grin at Laura, amused by how strange the situation is. When her eyes seem to smile back at me, my gut tightens with want.
“So, what about you?” I lean forward in my seat again. “I’m trying very hard not to overstep any boundaries already, but are you divorced?”
Her smile vanishes right away as shadows swarm in her eyes. She shakes her head at me.
“Widowed.”
I want to bite my tongue.
“I’m sorry.”
She sits up in her seat, avoiding my gaze as she rolls her lower lip between her teeth.
“Don’t be. It was a long time ago. When my husband died, we came to live with Mum, and it’s helped us heal. I love the farm.”
Giving her the opening she clearly needs, I nod. “I can see why. Has Wenn always saved horses?”
I can practically feel the tension leave her body as she raises her head again.
“Ever since she met my dad, yes. She helped him a lot, but it was mostly his dream. When he died in a car crash five years ago, she became even more passionate about them.”
Fuck.
“I’m so sorry,” I murmur.
“It was hard for all of us, but we pulled through. We’re survivors. All the Turley’s are.”
I raise my eyes at her.
“That’s our last name,” she explains. “Our line goes a long way back.”
“I love the history of your country,” I start. “All the legends here make fascinating bedtime reading.”
A laugh erupts from her lips, making my stomach dip from the throaty sound. My cock stirs in my jeans, and I grit my teeth.
Shit. Down, boy.
Her laughter dies down, but the smile shining in her eyes has me spellbound.
“Thank you. All the tourists say exactly the same.”
I grimace, a bit annoyed to be compared to everybody else.
“I guess so. Don’t you believe in fairies, then?”
“They’re called nymphs here,” she corrects me. “But no, I don’t. I mean, I understand and respect the past—the folklore is interesting. It’s our heritage and we shouldn’t forget it, but I don’t believe in magic. Maybe it existed centuries ago, but I think it vanished over time.”
My lips turn down in a small frown.
“That’s a shame.”
A serious look enters her eyes.
“I don’t believe in living in the past, Kristian. We should learn from it, true, but the present is all that matters to me.”
I tilt my head at her.
“Don’t you think about the future?”
She shakes her head slowly.
“Nope.”
“Why do I get the feeling we’re not talking about your country anymore?” I ask, puzzled.
She shrugs, a guarded glint in her eyes.
“I don’t know.”
I open my mouth to press her, but the moment is lost as Alex and Trish step up next to us.
“Why don’t we push the tables together and get to know each other better?” Alex says. Laura’s eyes widen as she takes in his bulky frame and bushy beard. I give her a crooked smile.
“Excellent idea,” I murmur.
Laura jumps up from her seat, toppling on her feet for a few seconds.
“Trish, can I speak with you for a minute?” she asks, taking her friend’s hand.
“Sure,” Trish says as Laura squeezes her way between the tables. Her perky arse is in my line of view, and I bite my lip as I close my eyes, suppressing a groan.
“We won’t be long,” Laura says as she pulls Trish behind her.
“No problem,” Alex rumbles. I stand up and turn to watch the women enter the ladies’ room at the other end of the pub.
“Shit,” I whisper.
“What is it?” Alex asks me.
I look at him, frowning.
“Why do I always think that the most guarded women are the most interesting?” I ask, annoyance dripping from my voice.
A booming laugh erupts from his frame, heightening my annoyance.
“I’ve no fucking clue, lad. No clue at all.”
Laura
“Trish, what are you doing with that guy?” I hiss at her when we’re alone in the toilets. “What about Charles?”
She gives me a crooked smile and shrugs.
“Charles and I aren’t serious, remember? Besides, nothing’s going on. I started to chat him up because of his friend—and because I know him.” At my puzzled look, she points at her left side. “He did my dragon tattoo a while back.” She opens her clutch and takes out her lipstick. “Now, his friend, Kristian? He looked at you as if you were some kind of delicious chocolate cake, all covered up in cream and topped with strawberries.”
I cringe at the food analogy.
“Ack. Don’t be silly. Nothing’s going to happen between us.”
I turn to the sink behind me and wash my hands. Our eyes meet in the mirror, and I huff at the scepticism flaring back at me.
“It won’t,” I stress. “We’re just going to be friends.”
She gapes at me.
“Friends? Sweetie, you’re not friends with a man who looks like him. No, you use him for off-the-charts-dirty-holier-than-thou fucking, that’s what.”
I shush her, worried someone will walk in on our conversation.
“No. For one thing, he’s only twenty-six…”
“Even better,” she interrupts.
“And for another, I’m not interested.”
I almost believe the lie coating my words.
The silence seems deafening as Trish glares at me.
“Who are you, and what have you done with my old friend Laura?”
I narrow my eyes at her.
“She died a long time ago, Trish, and she’s not coming back.”
Her eyes soften as she turns to me, and I stiffen a little as she hugs me.
“No, she’s not dead,” she whispers in my ear. My eyes tear up at the loving tone of her voice. “She’s just been hibernating for a while, asleep and safe in a cocoon. But now, it’s time she woke up and began to breathe, live, and grab the world by its balls again.”
I snort at the crass words. Oddly enough, they make it easier to suppress the urge to cry.
“You’re bonkers,” I mumble as she releases me.
She winks at me.
“I know. But guess what?”
Recognition fills me as the familiar words echo in my mind.
“All the best people are,” we whisper together.
I shake my head at her when she leans forward, our foreheads touching briefly. Then I back away from her.
“Even so, I’m not going to start anything up with a man like Kristian. It’s bound to be a complete and utter disaster,” I tell her as we turn back to the mirror.
“If you say so, my dear,” she muses. “But hear me—if that man keeps undressing you with his eyes like he does?”
“He promised he won’t,” I try to reassure her. “Plus, have you looked at him? He’s young, hot, and cute. Whereas I’m old, frumpy, and ugly.”
“You must be blind,” she scoffs. “First of all, you’re absolutely gorgeous—I’d kill for your cheekbones. Secondly, I’m sure he’ll wear you down. Something tells me he’s quite adept at turning ladies’ knickers on fire.”
I don’t have a clever comeback for that one. I know she’s right.
“Okay, let’s go back outside so they don’t think we’ve deserted them.” Trish zips her clutch and gives her reflection a kiss.
“Okay,” I mumble and follow her.
Excitement mingled with trepidation fills me as we leave the ladies’ room. The minute my eyes land on Kristian’s, I swallow hard. His gaze is warm, soft, and I have a feeling this friendship thing between us is going to go down the drain real fast.
Crap.
I shouldn’t be drinking so much. I really shouldn’t.
But Trish was right. Getting out and about, having a laugh with friends, is just what I needed.
Even so, I should probably go easy on the gin & tonic’s.
“Want another?” Trish asks as she gets up from her seat.
I scowl at her.
“What?” she laughs. “I’m the designated driver, remember?”
The slight buzz in my head does feel very nice.
“Okay, only one more, then.”
Her smile widens as she leaves the rest of us. My attention is caught by Alex whose head follows her all the way up to the bar.
“I like your friend,” Kristian says, and I look back at him. Have his eyes become more blue? When I don’t answer, his lips twitch, and I shake my head at my own foolishness. I blink, trying to come up with something to say so he won’t be able to see how much he’s affecting me. But then he smiles…and I think I’m about to faint.
Oh, lord, the dimples are back again.
Stop, Laura.
“Um, well, yes, she is. Nice, I mean,” I mumble. Cringing at the bad case of word vomit, I look down at my lap.
“So,” Kristian starts, “have you thought any more about your tattoo? Anything you want to change?”
Relieved to find us back on solid ground, I shake my head.
“No, I think it will be perfect. Thank you.”
He nods and jerks his chin at my arms. “Let me see your wrists.”
I frown, nonplussed. “Why?”
“I just want to see which one is best suited for your ink. I know your appointment isn’t until Thursday, but I like to be prepared. Show me, please.”
