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Understanding flashed in Katy’s face. She placed a tiny hand on his arm. “Don’t worry, Flynn, you can always play other games with me. Like swimming and tea parties.”
She batted her lashes at him and Flynn narrowed his eyes in her direction, although he looked strangely impressed.
“Well played, kid,” he said, making her giggle.
“Is it that bad?” Lawrence said to Flynn, taking his attention from Katy. “The leg. Are you going to make a recovery?”
Victoria’s disapproving gaze shot to Lawrence. Polite people did not ask personal questions. The lawyer ignored her. Abby wished she could do the same when she was on the receiving end of her sister’s glare.
“I won’t recover enough to play.” Flynn’s answer was flat. “My team already let me go.”
Abby was beginning to understand that the more something meant to Flynn, the flatter his voice became. This had to mean a wh
ole lot to him. Everything, she suspected.
Lawrence nodded as though the news was a blow to him as well. He gave a sad little smile. “Broke my heart that you couldn’t play for England. We could have used your skill.”
“I love playing for Scotland, representing my country, but it would have been nice to make it to the World Cup.”
“And we might have won had you been there.”
They smiled at each other, sad but warm.
“Well,” Victoria said in that clipped voice of hers. “I think it’s time to take another walk around town.” She stood. “Are you coming, Lawrence?”
“Going to check up on Abby?” Flynn said.
Abby’s mouth dropped. She suspected he thought his charming smile would defuse the question.
Victoria stuck her nose in the air and looked down at him. “I don’t see why that is any of your concern, Mr Boyle.”
“Seems to me it’s definitely my concern. Far as I can gather, you came rushing up to Scotland because Abby got caught up in the documentary being filmed about my life.”
Victoria sneered at him. “We came here because Abby’s behaviour was unacceptable for a Montgomery-Clark. It had nothing to do with your little television programme.”
Flynn leaned forward to clasp his hands on the table. His steely gaze was focused on Victoria. “You know damn well Abby is perfectly behaved. She’s an amazing mother. A valued member of this community. She is nothing but respectable. So she had one little freak-out. I don’t think that gives you the right to judge her—especially seeing as it was my fault. I pushed her to it. Ask anyone. My behaviour would make a saint lose his cool.”
“Flynn, I can handle this. Please...” She wanted to tell him not to interfere. She wanted to tell him this was none of his business. But she couldn’t do it in front of her sister. It would make everything an even bigger deal.
“It’s okay, Abby,” Flynn said. “Your sister needs to know you’re above reproach. And yeah, I know words like that. Lots of them.” He grinned at Abby before turning back to Victoria. “Here’s another one for you—libel. Coming here, accusing Abby of being anything but the perfect mother, neighbour and friend is tantamount to libel and slander.”
Lawrence grinned. “I knew I liked you,” he told Flynn. “He’s not wrong,” he said to Victoria. “If I was representing Abby, it’s an avenue I would definitely investigate.”
Flynn nodded at Lawrence, but spoke to Victoria. “Everyone makes mistakes. Abby’s happened to be caught on film, which is unfortunate, but still, it was just a mistake. No court in the land would use it as a measure of her character. You know it. I know it. Hell, everyone knows it.”
Victoria chilled even further. Her words were ice. “My sister attacked a party with a knife. In front of her child.”
“Your sister punctured a pool filled with foam and topless women. She was saving her child from being subjected to bad influence. I should know. I was the bad influence. She was doing what any good parent would do. Making sure her kid was safe and protected.”
“And yet you’re still here. In her home. Spreading your bad influence.” The words came out like bullets. Short. Sharp. Hitting the mark.
Flynn stood slowly. He leaned over the table towards Victoria, his palms flat on the surface. “We all make mistakes. All of us. Even you.”
Victoria’s back snapped straight enough to break in two. A slight flush appeared on her cheeks. It was so subtle most people would have missed it. Flynn’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“I wonder what mistakes you have hidden in your deep, dark past?” he murmured to Victoria. “Should we judge you on them? Should we set a pack of lawyers on you over them? Mmm, Victoria. What are you hiding?”
Victoria’s eyes flashed wide with fear before she was once again under perfect control. “It was an experience meeting you, Mr Boyle,” she snapped. “I’m sure I won’t be seeing much more of you during our stay, so I’ll say my goodbyes now.” She nodded at him before turning her back and gliding out of the room. The message was clear. It was an order. She didn’t want to see Flynn again and he was to obey.
