Duplicity

by Lisa J. Hobman

  If I’d just given him a chance to explain. Why hadn’t I done that and saved us both the heartache?

  When he turned to take a swig of his water and removed his T-shirt, I got the shock of my life. The huge, intricate tattoo of stars and Celtic markings on his back along with the words “Fìor Beartas” was just beautiful. The words Hetty had used for mine and Fin’s meeting. The colours danced under the lights in the venue, and a lump of emotion lodged itself in my throat. He had done that for me—this mercurial man who vowed never to have a tattoo on account of the pain. I smiled through the tears fogging my eyes. I wanted to run to him. Throw my arms around him and kiss him until we were both breathless.

  Suddenly, the huge dude in front of me moved, and Fin’s eyes locked on mine like a homing device. As if drawn by some unseen force, I walked toward him as he sang about a perfect kiss. A smile spread across his face, and my insides clenched as tears over spilled my eyes. Wow, he looked amazing. All bare-chested, shaggy hair, bearded, and sexy.

  And that tattoo.

  Oh. My. God.

  Fin stuck the mic back in its stand and nodded to Nate, who took over on vocals, and then he jumped down from the stage and the crowd parted like the red sea, and he was Moses. My heart thundered in my chest, and I was grinning like a goof in spite of my tears, but I didn’t care.

  He stopped only inches from me as most of the crowd around us carried on dancing. “You’re…you’re here,” he said disbelievingly.

  I swiped at the damp trails on my face. “I am. If you…if you still want me.”

  He shook his head. “If I still want you?”

  I nodded, and the fear that he might say no suddenly hit me. My stomach dropped. After all, he hadn’t closed the remaining gap between us. He hadn’t touched me, even though my fingers were itching to reach out and caress the skin of his chest. But still he stood there, his chest heaving and glistening with sweat.

  “I like your hair.” He reached out and took a strand between his fingers. “Red suits you.”

  “Th-thanks. I like your tattoo.”

  Finally, he stepped closer. “It’s for you.”

  I could feel the heat radiating from his body, and I swallowed. “It is?”

  It was his turn to nod now. A smile tilted up his mouth at one side. “I’m glad you like it. Fìor Beartas. Do you remember?”

  “Oh, Fin. How could I forget?”

  The fact that the music had stopped and the whole room was now staring at us began to register in my brain, but my eyes were transfixed on the blue irises of the man before me.

  I reached out a tentative hand and touched his firm chest. “I love it. In fact…I…I love you, Fin.”

  Suddenly, he scooped me up into his arms and my feet left the floor. His lips crashed into mine, and my hands found the shaggy strands of his sweat-soaked hair. I opened my mouth in an invitation to his tongue, and the familiar taste of his kiss melted my insides.

  I was home.

  Home with Fin where I belonged, and where I would remain. For as long he wanted me.

  Fìor Beartas.

  Five years later…

  The summer sun beat down on us as we took the familiar path through Calton Old Burial Ground, the little blonde-haired boy skipping before us as I held his mother’s hand.

  She gazed up at me and sighed. “What a beautiful day.”

  I nodded my agreement. “It sure is, sweetheart.”

  She inhaled a long breath and let it go again with a big smile on her face. “I love this city so much.”

  I chuckled. “Aye, I kind of guessed you did.”

  “Mummy, Daddy, look!”

  We both willingly skipped over to where our boy stood pointing at the cracked and leaning stone. “What is it, son?” I asked as I ruffled his mop of blonde curls.

  “Look there. Fa oh ra ba eh sa. That’s like my name!”

  Star crouched down beside him. “That is like your name, baby. Remember I told you about when Daddy and I used to come visit here before you were born? This gentleman is one of daddy’s ancestors.”

  His little brow crumpled. “What’s a hansettor?”

  I crouched down at his left side. “It’s someone from my family who lived a long, long time ago. You were named for him. So people could remember.”

  “I like my name,” he said with a smile. “Can we go get ice cream now?”

  I stood and lifted Forbes onto my shoulders. “Worm flavour? Oh, I think we should do that right now, son. What do you think, Mummy?” I asked as I winked at her.

  Forbes made a noise expressing his disgust at my suggestion.

  Star stroked my arm and took our little boy’s hand where he sat perched above us. “Only if I can have mint choc chip instead.”

  Forbes giggled. “You always have that taste, Mummy. All the time.”

  She beamed up at our son. “That’s because it’s my favourite, and worms are too slimy.”

  We left the graveyard and began to walk back into the city, counting the paving stones, red cars, and trees as went. As we approached the Balmoral Hotel, an older couple was walking down the steps. He wore a suit and she was perfectly manicured. His gaze settled on me and his eyes widened as he gripped his companion’s arm. She lifted her face and her gaze followed his. Her hand came up to cover her mouth and she reached out for him to steady herself.

  My heart twinged for a split second until I tilted my face up to look at my little boy where he sat giggling and singing along to a nursery rhyme with his beautiful mother, and we kept on walking by.

  “Finlay?” A wavering voice came from over my shoulder. I stopped briefly and turned to face the couple on the steps of the stunning old building. But I didn’t speak. Familiar blue eyes filled with regret pleaded with me, and I smiled knowingly. But not out of love. Out of pity. Those two people, my parents, had missed out on so much. Especially the new life that my wife and I had created.

  I turned back to continue walking, and Star gripped my hand tightly. “Are you okay, honey?”

  I bent to kiss her cheek and reassured her, “I’m wonderful, thanks, sweetheart.”

  Forbes tapped my head. “Who were that old mister and lady, Daddy? They looked sad.”

  I lifted him down from my shoulders and held him close to me as I kissed his head. “Oh, they weren’t really anybody, son. Now, come on. Let’s go get that worm-flavoured ice cream.”

  He scrunched his cute little button nose. “Euugh! No, Daddy. I want chocolate and rapsaberry.”

  I rolled my eyes playfully. “Oh, okay then. I suppose so.”

  He giggled and his laughter reached in and warmed my heart. With one hand holding my son, I linked my free hand with my wife’s, kissed the side of her head and whispered, “I love you so much, Star Hunter.”

  “And I love you too, Fin Hunter.”

  A voice from between us chimed in, “And I love you both!”

  The End

  When this wild ride began back in 2013 I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would have met such fantastic people in the book world. And there are so many people I want to thank.

  First and foremost my family. Rich, Squirrel, Mum and Dad. You continue to support me in my dream of writing and publishing and you tell me how proud of me you are which lifts me up. You all mean the world to me.

  Squirrel, you are smart and funny and I’m so very priveleged that you are mine.

  Thank you to my wonderful friends for listening to me talk about my characters as if they were real and for not rolling your eyes in front of me.

  Ali you keep me as sane as possible and I’m so thankful to have you in my life. Claire M thank you for getting me away from my desk into the real world every so often. Claire H I love you and miss you sweetie. Grace Harper Author, S J Molly and Karen Frances you are awesome - just so you know.

  Huge squishy hugs go out to Christine F and Louise H for letting me throw unfinished chapters at you and for your unending encouragement.

  There are so m
any wonderful blogs out there who share my posts and keep in touch. Please know that you do a wonderful job. I’m proud to call so many of you my friends.

  Thank you to my Indie Girls for holding my hand throughout the whole self-publishing process. You’re always there with advice and encouragement and I’m honoured to be part of such a wonderful, caring team.

  Finally to the team who helped bring this book to the readers. My editor Karen Sanders - you are amazing and I love working with you. My cover designer Tammy at The Graphics Shed - you always get exactly what I’m after but you make it even better than I could ever imagine. Francesca Webster - thanks for doing all this with me again!

  Lisa was born in Yorkshire, England. Her passion for writing began at a young age when she started to pen stories and poetry whilst at school. Nowadays she can be found tapping away at her laptop almost full time. When she takes a break from writing she spends time looking after her daughter and husband or walking her two canine companions.

  After relocating with her family to Southern Scotland in 2012 she began to write her Scotland based debut novel, Bridge Over the Atlantic (published 2013). In 2014 the novel was shortlisted in the Contemporary Romance category of the Romantic Novelists Association RoNAs. This meant a trip to London for an awards ceremony where she had the opportunity to meet her favourite authors—some of whom were also shortlisted in the same category.

  Three years after beginning her writing career in earnest Lisa now has a total of ten contemporary romance novels published—several of which have become bestsellers on Amazon, iTunes and Barnes & Noble—and three erotic romances under the pen name Lissa Jay. Her erotic debut, Bad Company also hit the bestselling eBook charts in the USA and the UK on Amazon and iTunes.

  Being a crafty and creative person, Lisa spends any spare time singing in a trio with a guitarist and drummer or making book related items to give away to her readers via her Facebook page.