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He shook his head. ‘Not my thing—no offence.’
She gave a smile, then stuck her hands in her pockets and turned to face him again. The setting sun outlined her silhouette and streaked her blonde hair with violet and pink light—like some kind of ethereal hue.
‘None taken.’ She cleared her throat. ‘I thought I should probably let you know something.’
‘What?’
‘I watched the third episode before I came here. It goes out in two weeks’ time.’
‘And...?’ He knew there must be something, why else would they be having this conversation?
She reached up and tugged at her earlobe. A sign she was nervous. He was noticing all these little things about her. Now he knew when she was angry, when she was thinking, and when she was nervous. How many other women did he know those things about?
Had he known them about his ex, Zoe? He couldn’t even remember. All his memories of her had just seemed to fade into the past.
Her words came out rushed, as if she was trying to say them all before she could stop herself. ‘The show’s been really popular. Really popular. Partly because in the first episode it covered John Henderson’s death, and in the second it introduced a beautiful baby into the world.’
He wrinkled his nose. He was thinking back to the last time she’d been here. No major events had happened.
‘So what’s wrong with the third episode? Not enough drama?’
She looked distinctly uncomfortable and fixed her gaze on the teenagers further down the beach. ‘Nothing’s wrong with it exactly. It’s just changed focus a little.’
‘Changed focus to what?’ He was getting tired with this tiptoeing around. ‘Why don’t you just say what you need to?’
She pressed her lips together for a second. ‘The fight we had? Gerry filmed it. He’d already captured us sparring a little in the episodes before and people had been commenting on social media about it.’
Rhuaridh’s brain flashed back to the woman in the surgery, telling him he had to be nicer to Kristie. He groaned. ‘Oh, no. I look like a complete and utter—’
She held up her hand and stopped him. ‘My producer says it’s dynamite. He says everyone is going to love it.’
‘They’ll love you.’ Rhuaridh shook his head. ‘I’m the villain. I’m the one who lost his patience.’
He could see her biting the inside of her lip.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said quickly.
‘Don’t be,’ she said, equally quickly. ‘The last few shows I’ve worked on have all been cancelled. I was beginning to be a bit of bad luck charm. In TV, that kind of reputation doesn’t do you any favours.’
He stuck his hands into his pockets. ‘So, you want to fight with me? Is that what you’re saying?’
She pulled a face and gave a little shrug. ‘Well...yes and no. It seems that a bit of tension is good for viewing—alongside all the medical stuff, of course.’
‘I’m not sure fighting on screen does much for me as a doctor. I’m not normally like that.’
She gave a weak smile. ‘So it’s just me that drives you nuts?’
He looked out over the sea. This was the first time they’d really talked. How did he explain she might be right, without offending her—because if he couldn’t understand it, how could she?
‘I guess I still need to get used to someone following me around,’ he said carefully. ‘What are the other shows in the series?’ It was a blatant attempt at changing the subject. But he was beginning to think he should have paid more attention to all the TV stuff.
‘There’s a museum curator in Egypt—apparently she practically doesn’t let them into any room that hosts an “artefact”, and the guy who is training to be an astronaut is said to be a major jerk. After the first shows they brought in someone new to follow—a guy who’s trying to make his name as a country and western singer. I’m reliably informed that his singing is the worst ever heard.’
He couldn’t help but laugh again. His foot traced a line in the sand. Mac had long since tired of waiting around for them both and was now chasing the tide, getting his white and black coat well and truly soaked. The smell of wet dog was going to drift all the way through the house.
‘I can’t imagine what they find so exciting about a doctor on an island in Scotland.’
‘Maybe it’s the exotic. Half the world just wants to visit Scotland and this makes them feel like they’ve been there.’ She gave him a sideways glance. ‘Or maybe they just like the grumpy doc.’
The grumpy doc. Was that what she’d nicknamed him? It wasn’t the most flattering description in the world. His stomach twisted a little. He should be worrying about his reputation. He should be worrying about what people might think of him. But, strangely, the only person’s opinion he was worried about right now was Kristie’s. ‘Why are you telling me all this?’
‘I know you don’t watch the series. But I thought I should forewarn you—in case, once the next episode hits, you start to get some press.’
‘Bad press, you mean.’
She gave him a smile. ‘Actually, no. I’ve told you. They love you. I was thinking more along the lines that you might get weird internet proposals, or your dating profile might explode.’
‘My dating profile? You honestly think I’ve got a dating profile?’
She held out her hands and gave him a mischievous smile. ‘Who knows?’
He shook his head as they started back down the beach. ‘On an island this small I pretty much know everyone. If I had a dating profile, the whole island would know it, and anyway it’s a bit hard to meet for dates when you rely on a ferry to the mainland.’
He looked at her curiously. ‘Do you have one—a dating profile?’
She threw back her head and laughed. ‘Are you joking? I was on TV for about ten seconds before I started getting weird emails. It seems that being on a TV show makes you fair game. Nope. I just try to meet guys the old-fashioned way.’
He looked down at her as they walked side by side. ‘And how’s that working o
ut for you?’ He couldn’t pretend he wasn’t curious.
She gave him an oblique glance. She knew. She knew the question he was asking. She held out her hand and wiggled it. ‘Hmm...’
What did that mean?
She didn’t say anything else so he was kind of left hanging.
‘So, is everything okay for tomorrow, then?’
He nodded. ‘Sure.’ At that moment Mac ran up and decided to shake half of the Firth of Clyde all over them.
‘Whoa!’ Both of them jumped back, laughing, Kristie wiping the huge drops of water from her face and neck.
Rhuaridh took a step closer. ‘Sorry.’ He looked towards Mac. ‘Occupational hazard, I guess.’
He reached forward without thinking. Part of her mascara had smudged just under her lower eyelid. He lifted his thumb to her cheekbone and wiped it away. Her laughter stopped as she looked up, her gaze connecting with his.
His hand froze. It was like all the breath had just been sucked from his lungs. He was so conscious of the feel of her smooth skin beneath his thumb pad. He could almost swear a tiny little zing shot down his arm.
She wasn’t moving either. Her pupils dilated as he watched.
It was like every sense inside him switched on. He hadn’t been paying attention. He’d been so focused on his work he’d forgotten to see what was right beside him. When was the last time he’d actually dated? Maybe once in the ten months since he’d got here. He couldn’t even remember.
He couldn’t remember what it was like to let a woman’s scent drift around him like it was now. To look into a pair of eyes that were looking right back at him.
There was a shout behind them and both of them jumped back. It was only one of the teenagers carrying on.
But the moment was gone. Kristie looked a little embarrassed and wiped her hands down on her jeans. ‘I’d better get back,’ she said quickly. ‘Gerry and I need to chat about the filming tomorrow.’ She started to walk quickly down the beach, then turned once to look at him. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’
