“I only intended to use the castle as a holiday home. But it’s not so bad around here.”
“No,” Mitch agreed as he watched the loch. “It’s not so bad.”
As they stared quietly out into the distance, Josh caught sight of a familiar face and stilled. “Are you seeing what I see?”
“Yeah,” Mitch said.
The two men pushed out of the booth.
“Back in a minute,” Mitch called to Dougal. “Put the food on the table.”
He nodded, clearly curious as to where they were going. Josh and Mitch jogged across the road towards the loch and the man in the suit.
“Josh!” The guy spread his arms wide and grinned. “I love it here, man. I’m going to add a kilt to my act.” He paused. “To our act. You got to add a kilt, man.”
Josh folded his arms tight. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Mitch scowl. “What are you doing here, Danny? You know you’re not allowed within two hundred feet of me.”
“I looked into it.” Danny was clearly delighted at his brilliance. “Restraining orders are only valid locally. So don’t worry, I’m not breaking the law. I’m okay.”
Josh let out a sigh. Great. As long as his stalker was okay. “I’m not worried about you, Danny. We had a talk, remember? I told you to back off, to concentrate on your own life, but you didn’t. That’s why we have the restraining order. It’s supposed to make you restrain yourself. You need to go home.”
“I need to be here,” Danny told him. “We’re doing Scotland, man. We’re getting married.”
“No. We’re not getting married. I’m getting married.”
“Yeah, that’s what I mean. But I need to soak up the new married Josh. Got to get the vibe right for my act.”
“Danny.” Josh could hear the tightness in Mitch’s voice. “You don’t need to get the vibe right. All you need to do is turn up wearing your suit and sing Josh’s songs. That’s all people expect from you.”
Danny shook his head again. Josh briefly wondered if he was overheating in a black wool suit in the middle of summer.
“You’re wrong, Mr. Mitch,” Danny said. “I have a reputation. I’m as close to the real thing as folk are gonna get. When I turn up they get the full Josh experience.” He swung his head back to Josh. “Except for the goofy T-shirts. The general fanbase doesn’t need to know about those.” He seemed to think about it. “Although maybe I should get some too?”
Josh looked skyward as he searched deep for patience. “How did you get into town, anyway?”
Danny grinned widely. “I told the women at the checkpoint I was you. I sang ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ for them. Got a standing ovation.”
Josh ground his teeth. “Were the press there?”
“Only a couple. Don’t worry, man, I didn’t sign any autographs this time. I did tell them that I was happy to be marrying Caroline. Said she was the best thing that had happened to me.”
Josh clenched his fists. Tight. “Danny. We’ve been over this. You don’t stand in for me with the press. You don’t pretend to be me when you’re not doing a gig. You don’t follow me around—especially not halfway around the world.”
The guy looked so crestfallen that Josh almost regretted being firm. Almost.
“I’m trying hard, man.”
“You seeing that counsellor I set up for you?”
“I’m in Scotland, man, how am I supposed to do that?”
Josh counted to ten. “Before you came to Scotland?”
“Yeah.” Danny grinned Josh’s grin back at him. The one he’d once told Josh he’d spent four months in front of a mirror perfecting. “She says I’m fine. She liked it when I sang ‘My Way’ for her. Did it every session. Cool lady.”
Josh gave Mitch a look and saw him nod slightly. As Josh turned back to his stalker, Mitch pulled his phone out of his back pocket.
“So, we adding a kilt to the act?” Danny said.
“No. There is no we. You need to leave Invertary.”
“I can’t leave. We’re marrying Caroline. I like Caroline. She’s pretty and smart. Got great legs. She looks like a fifties movie star. One of the girl-next-door ones, not the vamps.”
Josh stilled. He felt, rather than saw, Mitch, who came back to stand close to his side.
“You’ve seen Caroline?” Josh’s tone was a threat. Danny didn’t hear it.
“Serenaded her the other night. She was sweet. Sang ‘Sweet Caroline’ until she called the cops.” He leaned in towards Josh. “You picked good, man. We’re going to like her.”
Josh felt the muscle in his jaw twitch as Mitch’s hand rested on his shoulder.
“Two minutes,” Mitch said. “Cops on the way.”
“So,” Danny said, “what are we wearing to the wedding?”
Josh took a deep breath, counted to twenty this time and told himself not to punch his stalker. Well, not while the cops could catch him doing it.
Caroline was exhausted by the time she left work. Without Beth, she had to do twice the workload at the centre. The domino boys had helped out, getting the rooms cleared and ready for the people who booked them, putting away library books and even answering the phones, but it was still a lot of work to pack into a day. Not to mention the press had gotten wind of Caroline’s place of work, and every second phone call was someone poking into her business. The last woman hadn’t even said hello, she’d just launched right into asking Caroline what lingerie she was taking on her honeymoon. In the end Caroline had put James on the phones. He’d forgotten his hearing aids again and spent ten minutes with each caller shouting, “Can you repeat that?” It cut down the messages by half.
Now it was almost four o’clock, and she’d ducked out of the centre an hour earlier than normal so she could get to the church for their weekly meeting with the vicar. Caroline charged into the church foyer and straight into Josh. He was leaning against the wall. His arms were folded and his ankles were crossed. He seemed perfectly relaxed, but there was nothing casual about the look in his eye. Without even thinking about it, Caroline took two steps back.
“Heard you met Danny Costanzo.” He was intense. Josh didn’t do intense. Did he?
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“He was the guy singing for you in the middle of the night.”
Caroline swallowed hard and took another step back. Maybe they should meet with the vicar another day? She eyed the door. Maybe she should run?
“When were you going to tell me? I had to hear it from the cop when he came to escort Danny out of town.”
Caroline stopped retreating. “That was very wrong of him. He promised he wouldn’t tell you.”
Josh paused, and a muscle in his jaw pulsed. “He promised not to tell me?”
Caroline lifted her chin. “I handled the situation. There was no need for you to be informed.”
Josh leaned away from the wall and prowled towards her, his usual lazy saunter gone. Caroline retreated and felt her back hit the wall behind her. He placed his hands on the wall either side of her head. She felt the heat from him throughout her body.
“Caroline.” His voice was a husky whisper. “Any guy gets in your face in any way, you tell me. Am I clear?” Josh trailed a gentle finger across her jaw to her cheekbone. “Are you listening, baby?” He was so close she could feel the air from his words hit her mouth. Her very dry mouth. “You can call the cops, but you call me too. You always call me. We talked about this in London. There are some scary people out there that will try to get to me through you. I need to know you’re safe.”
Caroline blinked hard. She fought to clear her mind as her body registered the hard length of him. “It wasn’t a big deal. I wasn’t afraid or anything. I think you’re overreacting.”
He pressed in against her. She felt his breath against her ear. “You always call me.”
“But…” She wasn’t even sure what else she was going to say.
“Always, Caroline. Am I clear?”
Sh
e didn’t trust herself to speak. Instead, she nodded. It was a mistake. Her cheek brushed against his, and she stilled. Josh’s right hand worked its way into her hair at the base of her head. His touch was gentle, but firm. Caroline stood frozen. She hadn’t seen Josh like this before. Sure, she’d gotten a glimpse when they were in Harrods. She knew he must be formidable to make it so far in his profession, but usually she only saw the laid-back side of him that laughed at the world. This Josh was something else entirely. She wasn’t sure what to make of him. Or the intensity that came off him in waves.
His other hand slowly curved around her waist. Sensations rushed through her body like the wildest storm, leaving devastation in its wake.
“Now, to other things. I’m done with the silent treatment. You need to get used to the fact that you can’t command me. We’re a team. Sometimes you’ll tell me what to do and I’ll be okay with that.” His voice was a low, murmured hum at her ear. She felt her eyes close against her will. “And sometimes I’ll tell you what to do and you’ll be okay with that too.” His lips brushed the sensitive skin below her ear. “Are you listening to me?”
Caroline could only make a grunting noise. The floor was undulating beneath her feet, and she needed to concentrate on remaining upright.
“Good. I’m glad I have your attention.” She could have sworn she heard a smile in his voice. “You are not the boss of me. Of us. And neither am I. You don’t need to be in charge. Or in control. We do this together. Got it?”
Caroline nodded.
“Good,” he said.
His hand tightened in her hair. She wrapped her fist into his cotton shirt at his waist. Josh pushed back slightly to look down at her. She blinked up at him, feeling slightly dazed.
He smiled slowly. “I’m glad we understand each other.”
Caroline licked her lips as her gaze shot between his mouth and his eyes. Josh took the hint and pressed his lips to hers. His kiss was slow and deep and thorough. It swept her away until there was nothing left for her but the smell of him, the taste of him, the feel of him. He nibbled her bottom lip, making her gasp into his mouth. Instantly his arms tightened, his head slanted and his tongue plundered. Caroline’s hands found their way to his head and wound themselves in Josh’s hair. It felt lush against her sensitive fingertips. Josh spread his legs so that they were either side of Caroline. Her whole body was pressed against him and still it wasn’t close enough. At last Josh pulled away. Caroline moaned in protest. He ran his thumb over her bottom lip.
“Not here, baby,” he rasped. “We’ve got to get through this counselling thing first.”
It took her a minute to understand his words. Counselling? With the vicar? She peered behind Josh. They were in the church vestibule. No. They were making out like horny teenagers in the church vestibule.
Josh smiled against her lips. “Take a deep breath. Don’t freak out. Lightning didn’t hit. Remember, in a little while I’ll be kissing you here officially anyway.”
Caroline took a deep, steadying breath.
“Good girl.” He nodded before taking her hand and pulling her into the church proper.
As Caroline’s head wrestled control from her body, she realised they hadn’t had a discussion like adults. No. He’d overwhelmed her with pheromones and sex appeal until she’d agreed with him.
She narrowed her eyes at him. Sneaky American.
Josh caught her look and winked at her.
Blast it. The man knew exactly what he was doing. Caroline straightened her back, promising herself that she wouldn’t fall for his manipulation again. No matter how good it felt.
With a knowing smile, Josh led them in to meet the vicar.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Helen came home from a day exploring the Scottish countryside to find the castle peaceful for a change. Thankfully the floor was now back where it should be, and she didn’t have to balance on planks to get to the kitchen. She glanced down at her new dress and smiled. It was a yellow sundress with huge blue cabbage flowers. The sales assistant had talked her into matching blue ballet flats and a pale blue denim jacket, of all things. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d worn clothes that were so bright and fresh. It made her feel younger, which was always a good thing.
When she pushed open the door to the kitchen, she stopped dead. The dining table was set for two, a small vase of pink carnations sat in the middle of it, alongside a bottle of red wine. There were even two pink candles waiting to be lit.
“Damn it to hell,” Andrew muttered from the stove.
Helen turned to see her husband struggling to drain spaghetti, without losing it down the sink. Despite herself, she smiled. “It’s easier if you dump it into a colander.”
He looked at her like she was speaking Japanese.
“A thing with lots of holes,” she explained. “Lets the water out. Keeps the pasta in.”
“Huh. I’ll do that next time.”
Helen shook her head to clear it. Did she hear the words next time? “What’s all this, then?”
“What does it look like?” He was concentrating on dishing spaghetti onto plates. “We’re having dinner.”
“Together? The two of us?”
“Do you see anyone else here?”
Helen hung her handbag on the back of a chair and shrugged out of the denim jacket. She saw Andrew’s lips purse and knew he was fighting the urge to criticise the jacket. She almost slipped it back on.
She felt awkward as she watched her husband in the kitchen. There was nothing she wanted to say to him. Nothing either of them could say. Not to mention, this was the first time she’d seen him cook in thirty-five years. It was as though she’d slipped into another dimension.
“Nice dress,” Andrew muttered as he spooned out the spaghetti sauce.
Helen almost fainted on the spot. He noticed her dress? He gave her a compliment? Who was this man?
“Sit,” Andrew ordered. So she sat.
He plonked a huge plate of spaghetti bolognaise in front of her. “I don’t know what the big deal is about this cooking. Seems to me you’ve been complaining for years about nothing.”
Ah, there he was, the Andrew McInnes she knew so well. “Cooking is great if you do it now and then. Try doing it three times a day for thirty-five years and see how it feels. Then add to that the fact you’re supposed to read everyone else’s minds and know what they want to eat, so that you don’t have to listen to the whining and complaints when you dish up something they don’t want. Yeah, it’s a blast.”
Andrew glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “I suppose if you put it like that, it’s not much fun.”
Helen dropped her fork with a clang. Andrew McInnes had heard something she said. Actually heard it and took it in. It was a red-letter day. Someone inform the Pope.
“So where did you go today?”
Nope, she was wrong. Now was the time to inform the Pope of a miracle. He’d asked a question about her day. She stared at him.
“Well?” he prompted, sounding his usual grumpy self.
“I drove to Fort William and had a look at Glencoe.”
There was silence. Helen forked the pasta. The sauce wasn’t bad, considering she was sure it came out of a jar. He was cooking—yeah, right. He’d boiled water, browned off some meat, added a jar of sauce and cooked some pasta. No wonder it wasn’t that big of a deal to him.
“Is that where you got the dress?”
She stared at him. “Yeah.”
“They have it in any other colours?”
She nodded.
“Maybe we should go back and get you the rest.”
That was it. Helen put her fork down and turned to him. “Okay, what’s going on?”
He tried to look innocent. “Nothing. We’re having a nice dinner.”
She folded her arms. “We never have a nice dinner. Usually we eat in silence or you watch sports while you eat and I sit beside you. What’s with the conversation?”
“Can’t a man
take an interest in his wife?”
“I’m sure he can. But you never do.”
He glared at her. “Eat your food.”
Helen stared at him for a moment, before picking up her fork. She was uneasy. She wasn’t sure whom she was having a meal with. They ate in silence for a while. Now this she was used to.
“Did you have a word with Josh about marrying that woman?” Andrew said.
“That woman’s name is Caroline.”
“He’s making a fool of himself.”
Helen felt her back tense. “He’s thirty-five, he can do what he wants, how he wants to do it.”
“But marrying a woman he doesn’t even know? A woman who clearly doesn’t have a clue about life? What use is that going to do him?”
Helen put her fork down carefully. “I like Caroline.”
“She’s not for Josh. What good is a librarian going to do him when he’s wheeling and dealing in Hollywood? She’s never even been out of the country. All she’s going to do is slow him down.”
Helen felt her hackles rise. “Slow him down in regards to what?”
“His career.”
She leaned towards him. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed this, but Josh’s career is already where it was supposed to be. There’s nowhere else to go. Sure, he can do the same thing better, or slightly differently, but he has nothing to prove anymore. Not to anyone. So how, exactly, is a lovely girl like Caroline slowing him down?”
“She doesn’t even know how to dress. How is he going to take her on the red carpet? He’ll be a laughing stock. Hell, he is already. Have you seen the news? She’s got the old folk manning barricades at the edge of town. There’s a group of women who sit and knit while they ‘screen’ people.”
Helen stood up. “I know. I met them this morning. I invited them for coffee.”
He scoffed at her, making it clear he thought she was a fool.
“That’s it, Andrew McInnes, I’ve had enough. You’re old and mean and bitter. You don’t see Caroline for the woman she is, the woman who is lovely and kind and good for Josh. You don’t see me for the woman I am either. This dinner isn’t about spending time with your wife. It isn’t about mending bridges. It’s about you trying to salve me so that you can get things back the way you want them to be. Well I don’t want them like that. I don’t want you like that.” She pointed a finger in his face. “You’ve got fifteen minutes to pack up and get out of the castle. Fifteen minutes and then I’m calling in people to turf you out. Because unlike you, I’ve been making friends here in Invertary. I haven’t been spending my time alone and bitter and miserable. So pack up and get out. I’ve had enough of you.”
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