‘Yeah. I’m not usually that much of an idiot. Certainly not usually rude to strangers,’ he murmured, meeting her gaze. Just for a moment, there was a kind of smouldering, intense look in his eyes that she hadn’t seen in a man for a long time.
She was a grown woman. She knew what that look meant, and it made her feel as though her insides were made of melted butter.
Deb looked away, feeling awkward, and let go of his hand.
‘So, what are you looking for? Books wise?’ she asked, brightly.As if he’d think you meant anything else, her internalmonologue chipped in.He’s unlikely to be looking for a post-hysterectomy survivor.
‘Oh. Looking for a present for my aunt.’ He picked up a book from a pile on a nearby display table. ‘And, if I’m honest, a break from the site. I love it, but sometimes it all… gets a bit much.’ His expression clouded over for a moment.
‘Hmm. I know that you said you’re protecting the ecosystems up there, but I don’t think anyone knows that.’ Deb picked up a book about Scottish history and turned it over. ‘You should talk to the people in town more. Open up.’
‘I tried. Before we started the project, I did an open community consultation about the process. No one interacted with it. Now that I finally got the go ahead to begin on the project – which, by the way, is providing essential low-cost housing to the area, which is desperately needed – the local Women’s Institute have decided to get their knickers in a twist over it,’ he sighed.
‘Crochet coven,’ Deb corrected him.
‘Excuse me?’ he frowned. ‘They’re a coven? Like… witches? Should I be concerned that they’re going to curse the site?’
‘Ha. I said the same thing, but no. It’s just what they call themselves – although, I would say, now that I’ve met one of them, they do seem to be a group of quite powerful women.’ Deb grinned, thinking of June and her efficient, no-nonsense aura. ‘Maybe they didn’t know about your consultation. Perhaps if you just talked to them?’
‘I can’t see the benefit. The project has begun. I can’t stop it now, even if I wanted to – which I don’t. It took so long to get all the permissions and the finance: I’ve been working towards this type of large-scale development for years. I’m not about to let a group of busybodies get in my way.’
The stubborn set to his jaw reminded Deb that Kyle Abernethy was apparently not a man who enjoyed being argued with.
‘Well, I guess I don’t know all the details,’ she said, diplomatically. ‘All I’m saying is, maybe it’s worth meeting with the locals and seeing if you can iron out some of the issues. Just from a PR point of view, if nothing else.’ She shrugged. ‘I’ve worked in events a long time, and I’ve seen what a bad PR strategy does for a project. And, the worst PR is usually the people who don’t know how to communicate their project properly. If you were clear and open about what you’re doing up there, instead of just shooing people away, then maybe they’d be less invested in protesting at the bottom of the road. Just a suggestion.’
‘Hmm. I’ll think about it.’ A smile lurked around the edges of Kyle’s mouth. ‘You’re a part of this coven, are you? Sent to influence me, undercover?’
‘Ha. Well, for one thing, witches aren’t spies, as far as I know. And, no. I’m not a local, remember, just a temporary guest while I work on the party. But I can see how much this project means to you, and the people in town. So, I want to help if I can.’ She put the book about Scottish history down and walked over to a shelf of beautiful notebooks. Kyle followed her.
Are we browsing together now?she thought.
At that moment, the shop door opened and a woman walked in. Deb looked over and met Mina’s disapproving eye.
Oh, no.Deb knew immediately what Mina was thinking as she looked from Deb to Kyle.
‘Hello, Deb. I see you’ve found the bookshop,’ Mina said archly as she made her way over to them.
‘Er… yes.’ Deb was both at a bit of a loss for what to say, and was also struck with the obviousness of the statement.I mean, we are standing in it,part of her wanted to retort.
‘Mr Abernethy.’ Mina inclined her head. ‘We haven’t met, but I’m part of the community protest group that was at the site recently. We’ll be back, too,’ she said, airily.
‘I look forward to it,’ Kyle said, evenly. All traces of his former affability disappeared, and he crossed his arms across his chest. Deb was reminded of how much he could look like a human battering ram or a brick wall.
‘Well, you shouldn’t.’ Mina raised herself up to her full height, which wasn’t much, especially compared with Kyle. However, she still managed to remind Deb of an angry duck with its feathers fluffed out to make itself look bigger.A duck with a sharp bite, Deb thought to herself, half amused at both of them and half alarmed that Mina would probably now have a go at her for the cardinal sin of even being seen with the most hated man in town.
‘Mina… perhaps you should listen to what Kyle has to say,’ Deb said, gently. ‘You both really care about Gyle Head.’
‘I’ll listen to him when he listens to us,’ Mina scoffed. ‘Anyway, I don’t negotiate with terrorists, and I don’t have time to stand here and argue the toss. I’ve got shopping to do. Deb, lovely to see you.’ She shook her hair, which was tied up in a glossy black ponytail, and nodded briefly to Kyle before going to the counter, paying for something and leaving, slamming the door after her.
‘I seem to remember Margaret Thatcher using those same words.’ Kyle raised an eyebrow.
‘Don’t,’ Deb giggled, despite herself. ‘She cares. She’s just… passionate, I guess.’
‘That’s one word for it. Other people might say rude.’
‘Well, I couldn’t possibly comment.’
‘You’re a diplomat, see. I knew it.’ Kyle flashed her that warm smile again, which was so very different from the way he looked just now with Mina.
