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“It’s working out okay. I don’t have any complaints.”
No, he wouldn’t. Because that wasn’t how he functioned. It was time she complained on his behalf. Even if it meant the complaint was against herself. “The charity isn’t your thing,” she said softly. “I know you’re supporting me in it, but it isn’t your first love. Coding is. I’ve been selfish making you focus on the schools these past few years.”
“Don’t be daft. You haven’t been selfish. And you’re wrong about my first love. It’s you, baby. Always has been, always will be.”
And that’s why things had to change. Harry would never look out for himself; he’d always put her first. It was time she did the same for him. “The Benson Security work isn’t stretching you either. You could do it in your sleep. Let’s face it, you don’t have a whole lot of interest in the company. You mainly went into partnership with Lake and Callum to help them out.” She gentled her voice. “They don’t need you now. They’ve established their reputation, and they have Elle to do their computer stuff. I think it’s time you cut your ties with the business.”
Harry started to protest, but his shoulders relaxed some. Which was a dead giveaway that the idea appealed to him.
“Honey,” Magenta said to stop his protest. “I think it’s time we moved back to Scotland.”
His gaze shot to hers, and he focused in on her, the way only Harry could: not missing one tiny thing. “You mean it?”
She nodded. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot these past few months. The charity is well established now, and there are a lot of skilled people in Africa who are far more knowledgeable about setting up a school than I’ll ever be. I’m self-aware enough to realize that working with the charity these past few years has been more about helping me deal with growing up dyslexic than it ever was about running the schools.” She knew her smile was rueful. “I think we should employ an African team to move around and set things up, then let them get on with it.”
“No.” Harry leaned in, ready to argue her case even against herself.
“You know it’s true,” she cut him off. “Finding out at twenty-one that I wasn’t dumb, that I just had a learning issue, rocked my world. Having you, and the bags of cash you don’t care about has made it easy to throw myself into setting up something to ensure other kids don’t have to suffer what I did.” She reached for his other hand, holding them both tight, as she stared into the eyes of the man she loved more than she loved breathing. “You’re an amazing man. Your support over the past few years has changed everything about my life and given me confidence in me. It’s time I gave something back to you.”
“You give me everything, baby. There’s nothing else to give.”
Damn, but she loved her man. “I want to move back to Scotland. I want to run my own caving company like I always planned. And I want you to have great internet access, lots of computery gadgets, and your brother close enough to watch football with on a Saturday. I want to go home to Invertary.”
His lips quirked. “Not
sure computery is a technical term.”
“We’ll make it one. What do you say, Hairy Boil? Want to go home to Invertary with me once we’ve sorted this school?”
His goofy smile made her heart beat faster. “Yeah, Maggie Fraser-Boil, I do.”
“Good. Then while I sort out the last few loose ends to get the school up and running, you need to ring Lake and sell your share in the business to him. Agreed?”
“Yeah, agreed. But you know we can still travel to check on the schools, right?”
“I know.” She leaned across the table and kissed her husband, long and hard.
The sound of a throat being cleared brought them up for air, and they turned to find their waiter grinning down at them. “Do you want these meals to take to your room?” he asked.
“This isn’t actually our hotel,” Harry told him.
The smile grew wider. “Do you want me to get you a room?”
“No,” Magenta said. “I think we’re good.” Then she looked at her husband. “But eat fast, yeah?”
“Oh, yeah,” he agreed with that sparkle in his eyes that she loved.
A London Night
This short story takes place after the events in Ransom.
Elle Roberts stepped out of her favorite Mexican restaurant in the heart of Soho and breathed in the unique fragrance of a London summer. As usual, the theater district was packed with people. The many restaurants overflowed with chattering patrons, and the scent of different cuisines battled for supremacy in the warm night air. A person could get lost in the crowds of Soho. Elle had spent years doing just that.
“Do you want us to walk you to the Underground?” Megan said as she came out of the doors behind Elle.
“No, I’m fine.”
“A woman shouldn’t walk alone in the dark in London,” Dimitri said as he threw an arm around Megan’s shoulders.
