by Lisa Hobman
Cassie cringed. ‘Oh yes, there was that incident that shattered the peace briefly. Hopefully he got the message.’
A furrow of concern etched Sally’s brow. ‘Oh dear. I gather you weren’t expecting him?’
Cassie glanced at Mac and then slowly shook her head. ‘Not exactly. I just want him to let me go. But he seems incapable of taking no for an answer.’
‘And there’s no chance of you taking him back?’ Derek enquired.
‘After what the bast… idiot did to her she’d be bloody mad to take him back.’ Mac’s voice was filled with incredulity at the thought.
Sally covered her mouth. ‘Oh, gosh, Cassie was he… you know… abusive?’
Cassie’s eyes widened. ‘Oh no, nothing like that. Let’s just say he made a mistake of epic proportions with my so-called friend and I walked in on it.’ She lowered her head in embarrassment at her sordid admission.
Sally sighed sympathetically. ‘Oh my goodness, Cassie there’s no wonder you won’t take the rat back. He doesn’t deserve you.’
Cassie gave a small smile. ‘That’s sweet of you, thank you. But anyway, can we change the subject? You don’t want my disastrous love life to bring down such a lovely evening.’
Mac nudged her and grinned. ‘At least you had a love life.’
‘Now then, Tadhg Mackenzie, you’ve had plenty of opportunity. You’re just far too picky.’ Sally laughed.
‘He’s right to be so. I mean, he could end up with someone who makes terrible lasagne if he’s not careful,’ Derek said as he leaned to kiss his wife’s cheek.
Mac turned to Cassie and pointed at the couple opposite with his spoon. ‘Relationship goals, right there.’
‘Well I think I’ll be giving relationships a wide berth from now on,’ Cassie confessed.
‘Oh, no, Cassie, I think that’s such a shame. But I do understand your reasoning. Although you may just meet someone who changes all that,’ Sally said with a sweet smile at her husband.
*
After the meal and several glasses of wine, Mac and Cassie said their goodbyes and set off to walk towards Rose Brae—or hobble in Cassie’s case.
‘Well that was a grand evening. What did I tell you about Sal’s lasagne, eh?’
‘Gosh, yes it was divine. Trouble is I’m stuffed now. I could do with a wheelbarrow to go home in.’ They laughed and Cassie smiled to herself, thankful for how relaxed everything felt.
She inhaled the cool breeze travelling into the village from the direction of the sea. The salty air refreshing her senses. She glanced skyward to where there were a million tiny dots of light strewn across the deep navy canopy. The skies in Coldingham were vastly different to the ones she had witnessed back in Glasgow, thanks to the myriad sources of light pollution. Here, however, you could almost count each of the minuscule twinkles and every so often a shooting star would streak a glittering path across her line of sight.
‘You’re a star gazer too then?’ Mac asked as they approached the turning for Rose Brae.
‘The night sky here takes my breath away. It’s something I don’t think I’ll ever tire of.’
He shrugged. ‘Well then, maybe you should just stay here in Coldingham permanently.’
When she turned her attention to him he was standing before her, a handsome smile turning his lips up at one side and the gentle evening breeze causing a few strands of his hair to flit about his face and suddenly she was caught up in the moment. The alcohol, the lovely evening, the sky all playing their part in the magic and making her feel like she somehow belonged. All she wanted was to belong somewhere again.
Mac lowered his face towards her and her eyes fluttered closed as his lips met hers softly. It was a sweet kiss that made her heart skip and she almost yielded to him. That wonderful sensation of stubble lightly grazing her chin as his mouth moved over hers and the taste of wine on his lips.
Suddenly coming to her senses, she stepped back and gasped. ‘No!’ She scowled at Mac whose expression was now filled with a mixture of confusion and regret.
‘Shit, Cassie I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean… I just kind of… I got caught up… I’m so sorry.’
‘I’d better be getting inside. Cliff will be wondering where I am. G-goodnight, Tadhg.’
‘Hey, you got my name right.’ He smiled, desperately trying to lighten the dark mood that had rapidly descended on them.
Distractedly Cassie shook her head. ‘Did I? Goodnight.’ She hurriedly unlocked the door.
‘Shall I call for Cliff in the morning as normal?’ He sounded hopeful.
‘Oh, no thank you. I think I’ll be fine. I need to get walking again soon. Might as well try. Thanks though.’ She forced a smile as she stepped inside her cottage and without saying another word she slammed the door behind her and leaned against it. Cliff did his usual merry, tail wagging dance to greet her and she slid down the door to collect him up and nuzzle his fur.
‘Oh Cliff. What the hell just happened? What’ve I done? I think we may have to leave, little buddy,’ she told the excitable little dog who understood nothing of her admission. Only Cassie knew that Mac unsettled her in ways she didn’t want to admit. Her attraction to him had been increasing in spite of her efforts to quell it. The way she had felt when his lips had met hers was another problem. She had liked it. She had wanted it. But she absolutely couldn’t allow it. She needed him as a friend and nothing more. She wasn’t prepared to give her heart again. Not so soon after having it broken. And anyway, this was lust. Nothing more. Yes, he was attractive if you liked that sort of thing. But, Cassie told herself, she didn’t. She absolutely didn’t.
Did she?
Chapter Twenty-five
Mac
Mac sat outside his caravan on the morning after the incident that had probably ruined his burgeoning friendship with Cassie. Every time he replayed the kiss over in his mind he clenched his jaw and growled out loud at his stupidity, slamming his balled fist on to the wooden arm of his garden chair. She wasn’t interested. She had made that abundantly clear so why the feck had he kissed her like that? Idiot. All he’d done was succeed in proving that men are all the same, just as Cassie had presumed. He had confirmed that all men do think with their pricks. Okay so he knew he didn’t actually fit into that category but he had just made himself appear that way. And for what? Because he’d had wine and the sky looked pretty? Fuck! He should’ve stuck to beer. At least he could bloody control himself when he’d had beer.
‘You all right, lad?’ Rab’s voice pulled him back from his self-deprecating imaginings. ‘You’re looking deep in thought there. And if you clench your jaw any harder, you’ll bite your own head off.’
Mac glanced up to see his uncle standing there, car keys in hand, squinting against the sun. ‘Aye, Uncle Rab, I’m okay. It’s nothing that a pair of bricks and a swift crack wouldn’t sort.’
Rab hissed in through his teeth. ‘I don’t know if you mean what I think you mean but if you do then I won’t ask any more questions. Anyway, I’m away off to the hospital for a checkup.’ Rab closed his eyes and pulled his lips between his teeth as if realising he had just slipped up.
Mac straightened up, suddenly worried. ‘What check-up?’
Rab waved a dismissive hand. ‘It’s nothing. Just a checkup. Dinna you worry yoursel’. Anyway, can you go and tell Cassie that I’ve got her heating oil on order. I tried ringing but her line is constantly engaged. I’m guessing she’s working hard and doesnae want to be disturbed. But seeing as you’re big pals now, you can pass it on. I’ll see you later.’ Before Mac could protest his uncle was gone.
Alone once more, he stared at the vista spread out before him, wondering what Rab was needing to go to the hospital for. Worry niggled at the back of his mind. His uncle had been looking pale recently. And he’d asked on more than one occasion for Mac’s help opening jars, chopping wood, etc. Weakness—neither physical nor emotional—was something unheard of for the father figure. And he now wondered how many of these
trips to the hospital there had been without Mac knowing. He decided he’d confront him when he got home. Rab was the only real family he had and if there was something wrong he wanted to know so he could help.
The plot of land he’d inherited from his parents had a fantastic view of the sea. The gated side that would’ve been a driveway, opened out on to the paved hill that led down to the beach, which was good seeing as that was the place he spent most of his time. Talk about work being on his doorstep. Rab’s adjacent land had an equally stunning vista although he had a house with an upstairs which meant he could see even further than Mac.
There was nothing better than lying in bed at night with the sound of the waves lulling him to sleep. Sometimes he would try to visualise what it would’ve been like if his parents had got around to building their dream house before they were killed. He’d kept the blueprints and often tried to imagine how different things could have been if they’d lived. It was a modest building they had planned; double fronted with a storm porch covering the front door and two dormer windows that looked out to sea—each creating an ever-changing piece of living artwork every single day as the seasons changed.
‘Mr Mackenzie. Good to see you. Do you have a moment to talk?’ A voice once again interrupted his thoughts and he swung around realising it was a familiar one that set his hair on end.
His presumption confirmed, Mac chucked his chin. ‘What do you want?’
Seth Guthrie smirked as he stepped through the gate into the plot of land as if he owned it himself. ‘Oh, come on now be sociable, Mr Mackenzie… or should I call you Mac?’
Mac stood and sneered at his unwelcome guest. ‘That name is reserved for friends. And you’re not one. I’ll ask again. What. Do. You. Want?’
The man glanced around Mac’s garden as if appraising his surroundings. ‘I thought we could have a little chat. I have a rather amazing business proposal for you.’
Mac shook his head. ‘Nothing you could offer would be of interest to me.’
Guthrie, suited and slick looking, held out his arms, grinning. ‘At least give me a chance, hmm? Hear me out.’
‘Why waste your time and mine? The answer will be no.’ Mac turned to walk away towards his van.
Guthrie followed. ‘Beautiful spot you have here. How come you’ve never built a house on the land? Surely living in the caravan is cold in winter?’
‘I manage.’
The intruder was persistent. ‘I reckon you could fit two maybe three on a plot this size. Think of the cash. City folks would jump at the chance to buy a little seaside escape in such a spot. It’s my guess that you haven’t built on here because you can’t afford to do so. Am I right?’
Mac snorted. ‘That’s none of your business. You can go now.’
‘Look, I’ll be straight with you. I want to buy the land and I tend to get what I want. I’ll give you double the value. Then you can go buy yourself a proper house with real windows and doors. What do you say?’
Patronising bastard. ‘I say no.’
Guthrie laughed out loud. ‘Ooh, you’re a tricky one. But you should at least think about it. You know the value of the land in the current market, no doubt. Which means you can figure out what I’m offering.’
Mac turned to face him. ‘And why would you want to buy the land? Cassie has made it very clear she doesn’t want to come back to you. How is buying my land going to improve on that? Oh, that’s right, it isn’t. Now I suggest you run along back to Glasgow.’ He made little running leg gestures with his fingers before turning and walking into the van and closing the door.
‘I’ll leave you to think about it. I’ll be back in a couple of days,’ Guthrie shouted from his position outside the kitchen area window.
Mac opened the door again, anger building inside of him, his jaw clenched tight. ‘I said the answer would be no. And guess what? I was right. My land is not for sale. Cassie doesn’t want you here either. Go home.’
Guthrie’s nostrils flared. ‘But she wants you does she?’ His voice dripped with derision. ‘A long haired, scruffy looking, layabout who lives in a fucking caravan? How her standards have fallen.’
Mac dashed down the steps towards him, fist raised. ‘Get off my land, you arrogant arse. You know nothing about me or my life.’
His face now beet red Guthrie shouted, ‘I know enough. I know you kissed my fucking fiancée last night!’
Mac scrunched his face and lowered his fist, bewildered. ‘What? How the fuck?’
Guthrie stepped towards him, jabbing a pointed finger towards his face. ‘I saw you putting your hands and your mouth on her. She’s not yours. Do you hear me?’
Mac shrugged. ‘Last I heard she wasn’t yours either. She’s not a bloody plot of land, mate. You don’t own her.’
Guthrie sneered. ‘Is that what you think? How very modern. Your mother must be so proud. Oh, but wait…’ He tapped his chin and Mac seethed at the cruel point he was making. The unwelcome intruder bared his teeth like a rabid dog. ‘Touch her again, Mackenzie and you’ll be very sorry. I won’t be losing this fight. Certainly not to the likes of you.’ Saliva shot through his clenched teeth.
Mac shook his head and gave a humourless, coarse laugh. ‘Oh, so you’re threatening me now? Just like you threatened Cassie, eh? Well I hate to disappoint you, pal, but I’m not scared of a suited-up Jessie who can’t even drive his own car. Oh yeah, I saw your chauffeur. Ponsy tosser. Get your driver to take you back to your penthouse flat with your housekeeper and bloody chef. Wouldn’t surprise me if you’ve someone to wipe your arse too. We’ve no need for the likes of you here.’ Deciding Guthrie wasn’t worth the energy he turned and walked back to his van.
‘I’ll be back, Mackenzie. And you will consider my offer. Because you and I both know that if you don’t you’ll regret it.’
Mac chose to be the adult and ignored what he considered to be a pathetic, idle threat and things finally fell silent outside.
So the weirdo had been spying on Cassie? Guthrie could now add stalker to his list of talents and Mac really did wonder how he could’ve ever had a relationship with someone as sweet and… normal as Cassie Montgomery. How the hell had he hidden this sinister side of himself from her for so long? Because Cassie was clearly an intelligent woman and had she seen this side of him before she would’ve run for the hills—or the beach—earlier, surely?
Mac realised he was faced with a dilemma—to tell Cassie or not to tell her? If he told her she would freak out—if she actually listened to him at all that is. If he didn’t tell her and something happened he would never forgive himself. It really wasn’t a great situation to be in. He decided he would call at Rose Brae and deliver his uncle’s message about the oil and see how the land lay. Perhaps the decision would be made for him.
As he was standing at the kettle making himself a coffee a terrible thought dawned on him. What if Guthrie had been to Cassie’s house after leaving his? He would’ve been angry. After all, Mac hadn’t told Guthrie that Cassie had rejected him. And the last thing Cassie needed was that psycho turning up in a rage on her doorstep. He switched the kettle off and left the van, locking the door for once, and headed to Rose Brae.
Chapter Twenty-six
Cassie
Cassie was quite excited at the prospect of working on a romance novel for a local author. The sample piece she had looked at was intriguing and she knew straight away that she would enjoy the job. She enjoyed a good romance read and being caught up in the imaginary world of passionate love. Maybe she could live vicariously through the pages—at a safe distance from the real thing. The author clearly had talent and the vivid descriptions of the sunny island where the story took place made her long for a holiday abroad—something she was never that bothered about normally.
In need of refreshment and a break, she closed her laptop and got up to make herself a coffee. Her ankle was getting easier by the day and she looked forward to the day when she could walk around without giving it a second thought. She
had just filled the kettle when there was a knock at the door. She flicked the on switch and when to answer it.
Mac stood there, stepping from one foot to the other and she simply said, ‘Oh, it’s you.’ It wasn’t the warmest of welcomes she was very much aware, but in all honesty, she had no clue how to act around Mac after that kiss.
He looked understandably sheepish, hunched over with his hands sunk into the pockets of his jeans. ‘Erm… hi. I won’t keep you. I have a message for you from Rab. He says to tell you the heating oil is ordered and he’ll let you know about delivery.’
She nodded. ‘Okay, thanks. Bye.’ She began to close the door but Mac held out his hand.
‘Hang on. Have you… had any unwanted visitors today?’
She frowned, not quite sure what he was asking. ‘In what respect?’
‘In the form of your ex?’
‘No. I haven’t. Why? Is he here again?’ She shoved past Mac and stepped outside the cottage. Thankfully there was no sign of Seth.
‘Okay, no that’s fine.’ He shrugged. ‘I, erm… just wondered that’s all. You know after he turned up the other day.’
‘Ah, well no. I think he got the message, finally.’
Mac nodded and raised his hand. ‘I’ll be seeing you then.’
The look of disappointment in his eyes tugged at the decent person within her and she spoke before she could stop herself. ‘Wait, do you want to come in for a coffee?’
His eyes widened and he scratched at the stubble on his chin. ‘Oh, I don’t want to trouble you. I know you’re working.’
‘Actually, I was just about to take a break.’
A wide smile appeared on his face and his cheeks coloured. ‘Aye, that’d be grand then. Thanks.’
Mac sat at the kitchen table and Cliff immediately launched himself on to his lap, his little tail wagging so fast it was causing his whole body to jiggle.
Cassie laughed out loud as she watched Mac trying to avoid the dog’s kisses. ‘I think he’s missed you.’