“Tuesday, Jo, I have an appointment to meet with a local wool weaver. We have several clients who are always interested in one-of-a-kind textiles. I want to cement a working relationship with some of the weavers in the Inverness area. I thought you might also be interested.”
“Definitely,” Jo said, perking up— finally. “My mother will be traveling to Switzerland soon. She is managing the décor team and opening of a retreat spa in Zürich. Hand-woven textiles would be right up their alley. Mom loves adding new contacts to the O’Connor Hospitality Files.”
The rest of the flight passed with making plans and combing through Jo’s own list of vendors and artisans she’d collected from her parents or past interior designers— and River finally got a Jameson Black Barrel... winning. This trip was going to be a lot more abbreviated than she and Jo had originally planned. Bran had shared with River Saturday night that Raven had not been sleeping well. She was restless and moody... moodier.
Bran really didn’t want River and Jo to be away from Dublin too long. They agreed to fly home Thursday, but Jo asked her pilot to stay in Scotland, so if they needed to make a quick return, they could.
* * *
The Garden Suitewasgorgeous.It was a large cottage completely free-standing from the hotel proper but with the same amenities. The surroundings were stunning, and once they’d unpacked their bags, she and Jo went to have a look around. River had already taken a million pictures to send to Patrick and her sisters.
The two women were walking through the hothouse, situated between the hotel and their cottage. It was warm and fragrant— the profusion of colors and scents was magnificent. It reminded River of Nan’s home,herhome now thanks to Patrick. Relaxing and earthy, a natural beauty that perfumed the air.
“Since MacGregor is patrolling the perimeter and scaring off the other guests from entering, why don’t you tell me what in the hell is going on.” There was a comfortable bench that River made a beeline for. Jo reluctantly followed.
Her friend took a good two minutes to situate her purse. River waited. Finally— the Josephine O’Connor dam broke. “River,” she clasped their hands while her face turned red, and a sheen of tears sparkled in her gray eyes, all of which freaked River out. How bad was this going to be, FFS?
“Jo, you’re still breathing, so whatever happened didn’t kill you. Just tell me. Whatever’s happened, we can figure something out between the two of us, surely. You’re freaking me out,” River pushed.
“I wish it would have killed me so I didn’t have to live every moment of every day in this constant state of mortification.” Jo pulled a tissue from her purse and pressed it against her eyes— blotting tears and attempting to force the rest to rethink their appearance. Another deep breath, and then the entire sordid tale spilled out.
“I know you know that MacGregor and I verbally spar. A lot.” At River’s nod of confirmation, Jo continued. “He’s become, I don’t know, one of... one of my favorite people. A confidant— a trusted friend....” Her explanation petered off after that.
“More than a friend?” River nudged.
“Yes. Well, on my part, but he would look at me sometimes or touch me in a way that... I thought or hoped, I guess, meant more...something. After all these months, I thoughthefelt whatIfelt.” Jo dropped her chin to her chest, her cheeks blazing red. “Oh, Riv, I went to his room at The Fitzwilliam. It adjoins mine, and... and... oh God, I only wore a short, silk robe. Thomas was shirtless, fresh from a shower.
“I touched his chest. I pressed my body to his. He put his hands on my hips. I... I... Oh, Lord, how I hate remembering that moment. I raised up on my tiptoes to kiss him. My mouth was about to touch his lips. He moved me away. That’s why he’d placed his hands on me. Not to further an intimacy that wasn’t there to begin with but to stop me from touching him. I wish it could have stopped the burn of rejection.
“Christ, River! How will I, or rather, howcanI ever not be embarrassed?” Jo practically wailed. “I haven’t been interested in men since college, and when I finally give it another go— THIS HAPPENS!”
River was momentarily speechless because she would have bet money that Thomas MacGregor was as infatuated with Jo, as any man could be, but he’d seriously hurt Jo whether it was intentional or not. River didn’t believe he would ever do that unless something else had stopped him.
“Okay, yes Jo, I agree that what happened was embarrassing— crushing even —but I just can’t believe there wasn’t a reason why he reacted that way. Did he say anything after? Explain?”
Jo’s eyes and nose were both leaking at this point. She was a mess. Having just come off her own heartbreak, River couldn’t blame her.
“He said this couldn’t happen.” Jo air quoted the ‘this.’ “He was working. I was... I was... a job, a client,” she whispered the last in a painful exhalation.
No way. No way in hell did he say that! Instead of speaking her thoughts out loud, River asked instead, “Are you sure he meant it the way it sounded? He could be really, really,reallybad at feelings and explaining them... maybe,” River finished with a wince.
“He told me to go to my room and put some clothes on. He let me leave and shut the adjoining door without ever saying another word. He meant it. I’m mortified. I have feelings for a man who only ever considered me as his currentjob. A client that he’ll leave the moment that asshole stalking our families is caught.”
“I won’t blow meaningless fluff up your butt, Jo, but I believe there was a reason for what he did. I’ve seen him look at you when he thinks no one is paying attention, and it certainly isn’t someone calculating your safety. Bullshit! I call bullshit on that stubborn Scottish asshole.”
River couldn’t take the look of dejection on her friend’s face a moment longer. She stood up and pulled Jo with her, wrapping her arms tight about her waist. “I love you, Jo. Raven, Row, and I will always be there for you and on your side. Whatever that jackass guard’s existential crisis is, it’s his problem. But in the spirit of honesty between us, I think there is more to why he reacted the way he did.”
“I’m still embarrassed, but I do feel better telling someone. Thanks, Riv.” Jo hugged River tight. “I just need to move on. Surely, it will get easier. Surely,” she grimaced. “Just do me a favor. Help run interference. I know it sucks to babysit this debacle, but just don’t let us be alone. It’s worse when we’re alone.”
“Consider me your new tick buddy. An annoying blood sucker, but harmless for all that. Rocky Mountain Fever free, I swear,” I laughed when Jo gagged.
“What a disgusting analogy, but fine. I’d appreciate you burrowing your head under my skin for the duration of the trip.”
Chuckling, the two women started to make their way to the hothouse’s exit. “Oh, before we have company,” Jo grimaced but didn’t turn red or cry— progress. “Did you and Rowan mean it about me taking over your suite at Mrs. Adamson’s?”
“We did. Rowan needs another woman there to talk to, and so do you, Jo. We should have moved in together sooner. The day we get back, once I check on Raven and Baby O, I plan on moving my stuff out and to the apartment. I was hoping, if you didn’t mind living there, that is, that you would consider moving your stuff in the same day.”
“I love the hotel, but I am ready to live in a house again, and... I would like to have an all-access pass to a friend.”
