AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He nodded and she continued, ‘And I was still angry when he asked me to start filming, so I just automatically did. I’ve left the camera running at times without actually being behind it. I’m not even sure exactly what’s been shot.’
Rhuaridh slid his hand over hers. ‘I know what you’re thinking. You need to take a breath. Take a moment. If Gerry is fine, then you’ve covered his work. You can show what happens to people in an island community when there’s no possibility of getting off the island. This is a fact of life here. Gerry’s had an alternative treatment for his heart attack. We hope it will work. If it does, you have footage.’ He squeezed her hand. ‘If it doesn’t, then you stay some extra days and we’ll shoot something else.’
He was trying to give her an alternative. The last thing he wanted was for her to be forced to use footage that would prove to be heartbreaking for her. He whispered again. ‘No one needs know it’s there.’
She shook her head. ‘But it is. Our cameras don’t need to go back to the studio to be uploaded. Everything uploads automatically to our server. Even if I don’t want to use it, Louie probably will.’
‘Surely he’s not that heartless? You told me he was the guy that held your hand while you were at the hospital.’ He leaned forward. ‘Footage of us kissing? That’s nothing. But if something happens to Gerry? No way. He couldn’t use that. He wouldn’t use that.’ Rhuaridh wasn’t quite sure who he was trying to convince. Her or himself.
She leaned back in against his shoulder and put her hand up on his chest. ‘I hope so,’ she whispered in reply, as both of their eyes fixed on the pulse, pulse, pulse of Gerry’s monitor.
CHAPTER TEN
February
TRAVELLING WITH SOMEONE else felt all wrong. Thea was nice enough, but clearly obsessed. She had around one hundred Scottish travel books and couldn’t seem to understand there wasn’t time to drive around all the rest of Scotland before they got the ferry to Arran. It seemed she hadn’t quite grasped the size of Scotland, or the terrain. By the time they docked in Arran, Kristie had a full-blown migraine.
The last few days at the helpline had been hard. Someone had called and kept hanging up after a few minutes. Every time it had happened, Kristie’s thoughts flooded back to her sister. This could be someone like Jess. Someone who needed to be heard but couldn’t find the words.
She’d struggled with it so much but she dealt with her feelings by continuing to work on the book she’d started writing a couple of months before. It had been years since she’d tried to write things. Last time she’d done this she’d been in college. But all of that had been pushed aside as her course work had taken priority. Now this story seemed to be shaping itself. All of it was fiction. None of it was based on a real person. Instead, it was an amalgamation of years of experiences. But it all felt real to Kristie. Even though this show was the thing the whole world was excited about, this story was the thing that kept her awake at night—that, and thinking of a hot Highland doc.
She’d also had over a thousand social media messages today alone. Since the kiss had been shown, her social media presence had erupted even more than before. Her conversations with Rhuaridh had continued. He’d been hit with just as many messages as she had—more, probably. And he was feeling a bit shell-shocked by it all. But Rhuaridh seemed able to pull his professional face into place and use his job as a protective shield.
She looked up just in time to meet the glare of an elegant-looking woman with gleaming dark brown hair. She looked out of place on the Arran ferry in her long wine-coloured wool coat, matching lipstick and black high heels. Kristie frowned. Why on earth would that woman be glaring at her?
‘Will he be waiting for you at the dock? Should I film that?’ Thea asked. Kristie started at Thea’s voice and turned just in time to catch Thea shooting her a suspicious look. ‘And this thing—it is real? Or is it all just made up for the camera? I have to admit I’m kind of curious.’
Kristie was more than a little stunned. ‘You think it’s fake?’
Thea was still talking. ‘I mean, let’s just say I’m asking in principle, because—let’s face it—he is hot.’
A surge of jealousy swept through Kristie. ‘You think Rhuaridh is hot?’ She said the words almost in disbelief.
Thea threw back her head and laughed. ‘Oh, honey, the whole world thinks he’s hot.’
Now she wasn’t just jealous. Now she was mad. Rhuaridh Gillespie was hers. She could picture herself as a three-year-old stamping her foot. Very mature.
And still Thea kept talking. Did the woman ever shut up? ‘And anyway, you’re from LA, he’s from—what is it called again? Arran? How’s that ever gonna work? He might as well be on the moon. I mean, let’s face it, in a few months you won’t be getting paid to come here any more. I bet these flights cost a small fortune.’
A horrible sensation swept over Kristie. She’d always known this—it’s not like she was stupid. But she’d tried not to think about it.
The horn sounded as the boat docked, the sound ricocheting through Kristie’s head. She winced and stood up. ‘Come on,’ she growled at Thea.
* * *
Her heart gave a leap as she pulled into the car park of the GP surgery. Rhuaridh was standing outside, waiting for her, his thick blue parka zipped up against the biting wind.
Thea let out a sound kind of like a squeak as Kristie jumped out of the car and ran towards him. She couldn’t help it. Four weeks was just too long. Rhuaridh dropped a kiss on her nose and wrapped his arm around her. ‘What’s the update on Gerry?’ he asked straight away.
She gave a sigh. ‘Good, but not so good. He’s started cardiac rehab classes and is making some progress. He’s tired. I think he’s frustrated that things are taking longer than he hoped. He’s been assured he should make a good recovery, but just has to show some patience.’ She pulled a face. ‘And the TV channel won’t cover his travel insurance until he’s been signed off as fit by the doctor. And, to be honest, I think that will take a few months.’
The way Rhuaridh nodded made her realise that he’d known this all along—even if she hadn’t. He leaned forward and touched her cheek with his finger. ‘You okay? You look tired.’
‘I am.’ She glanced sideways over her shoulder. ‘Thea—I’ll introduce you to her in a sec—is exhausting. My head is thumping.’
He paused for a second, giving Thea, who already had the camera on her shoulder, a quick wave. ‘And the next show?’
Kristie let out another sigh. Maybe she was more tired than she’d thought. ‘The show is going out with Gerry as the star and you and I as background footage. Gerry’s fine about it.’
‘And are you?’
‘I guess I should be happy we’re not as front and centre this time. But we’re still there. The camera was running at the hospital and it’s caught us sitting together, holding hands.’
‘I can live with that.’ It was as if he chose those words carefully.
She met his gaze, ignoring the way her hair was whipping around her fac
e in the wind. ‘So can I.’ She couldn’t help the small smile that appeared on her face. There was just something about being around Rhuaridh. Not only did he make her heart beat at a million miles a second, he was also her comfort zone. Her place.
She leaned forward and rested her head against his chest for a second. ‘Kristie?’ he said.
Although she’d told him about her sister, she’d never got round to telling him about the helpline. Things were playing on her mind. She needed a chance to talk to him—but she wanted to do that when they were alone.
She lifted her head. ‘Can we go to the pub tonight for dinner?’ Tonight was only a couple of hours away. She could wait that long.
‘Of course.’ He nodded. She watched as he painted a smile on his face and put his hand out towards Thea. ‘Gerry, you’ve changed a little,’ he joked. ‘Welcome to Arran.’
* * *
Three hours later they finally had some peace and quiet. Even though the pub was busy, they were tucked in a little nook at the back where no one could hear them talk.
Rob, the barman, had just brought over their plates of steaming food, steak pie for Rhuaridh and fish for Kristie. Rhuaridh lifted his fork to his mouth and halted.
Kristie followed his gaze. The elegant woman from the boat was crossing the pub, heading directly towards their table. Every head in the room turned as she passed, her wool coat now open, revealing a form-fitting black dress underneath. She was easily the best-dressed woman in the room and she knew it.
Kristie’s skin prickled. She could sense trouble. Rhuaridh looked almost frozen as the woman approached.
Kristie tilted her head, pretending she felt totally at ease. ‘Can I help you?’
The woman looked down her nose at Kristie. For all her elegance, she wasn’t half as pretty when she was sneering at someone. ‘Oh, the American.’ She said the words as if Kristie were some kind of disease.
