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He was still watching as she vanished over the brow of the hill into the dusk.
CHAPTER FIVE
‘TWO salmon fillets, please.’ Jenna stood in the fishmonger’s, trying to remember a time when she’d bought food that wasn’t shrink-wrapped and stamped with a date. And she’d never bought fish. Clive had hated fish.
Was that why she now ate fish three times a week?
Was she being contrary?
Eyeing the alternatives spread out in front of her, she gave a faint shrug. So what if she was? The advantage of being single was that you could live life the way you wanted to live it. She had a dog and a garden, and now she was eating fish.
‘Just you and the bairn eating tonight, then?’ Hamish selected two plump fillets, wrapped the fish and dropped it into a bag.
‘That’s right.’ How did anyone have a secret life on Glenmore? After only a month on the island, everyone knew who she was. And what she ate. And who she ate it with. Strangely enough, she didn’t mind.
‘How was your dinner with Dr McKinley?’
All right, maybe she minded.
Wondering if the entire island was involved in the match making attempt, Jenna struggled for an answer. ‘Dinner was casual. With Evanna and Logan. Just supper—nothing personal.’ She cringed, knowing she sounded as though she had something to hide. ‘How’s Alice doing?’ Changing the subject quickly, she tried to look relaxed.
‘Still rushing around. I say to her, “Rest, for goodness’ sake.” But does she listen?’ Hamish added a bunch of fresh parsley to the bag. ‘No, she doesn’t. That’s women for you. Stubborn. Alice would die if it meant proving a point.’
‘Well, I saw her in clinic yesterday and the wound was healing nicely, so I’m sure she isn’t going to die any time soon.’ Jenna dug her purse out of her bag. ‘How much do I owe you?’
‘Nothing.’ His weathered brow crinkled into a frown as he handed over the bag. ‘As if I’d take money after what you did for my Alice. I said to her, “It’s a good job you fell outside Nurse Jenna’s house, otherwise it would have been a different story.” You sorted her out, fed her, had a lovely chat.’ He glanced up as the door opened behind her and a bell rang. ‘Morning, Dr McKinley. Surf’s up for you today. They had the lifeboat out this morning—two kids in trouble on the rocks round at the Devil’s Jaws. Place is roped off, but they climbed over.’
Jenna froze. He was behind her? She’d thought about him all night—thought about the way he’d watched her across the table. He’d made her so nervous she hadn’t been able to eat. And he’d noticed that she wasn’t eating.
Adopting her most casual expression, she turned and looked.
He was standing in the doorway, a sleek black wetsuit moulding itself to every muscular dip and curve of his powerful shoulders.
The bag of salmon slipped from her fingers and landed with a plop on the tiled floor.
Hamish cleared his throat pointedly and Jenna stooped to retrieve her bag, her face as red as a bonfire. ‘Good morning, Dr McKinley.’ She turned back to the fish counter and developed a sudden interest in the dressed crab that Hamish had on display as she tried to compose herself. Over the past few weeks she’d had plenty of practice. In fact she was proud of how controlled she was around him.
They worked together every day, but so far she’d managed not to repeat any of the embarrassing sins she’d committed on her first day, like staring at his mouth. Even during dinner last night she’d managed to barely look at him.
And if she occasionally thought about how his hands had felt on her shoulders that day in her kitchen—well, that was her secret. A girl could dream, and she knew better than anyone that there was a world of difference between dreams and reality.
Jenna continued to stare at the crab. It was a shock to discover that, having thought she’d never trust a man again, she could actually find one attractive. But even if she could trust a man, the one thing she couldn’t trust was her feelings. She knew she was hurt. She knew she was angry. And she knew that she was lonely for adult company.
This would be a bad, bad time to have a relationship even if one was on offer. Which it clearly wasn’t—because, as Lexi was always telling her, she was past it. Why would Ryan want a relationship with someone like her?
‘Thought I’d save you a journey and drop off that prescription.’ Ryan handed it to Hamish. ‘Did you know that crab personally, Jenna? You’ve been staring at him for the past five minutes.’
Jenna looked up, her inappropriate thoughts bringing the colour rushing to her cheeks. ‘He has the same complexion as my first cousin.’
The corners of his mouth flickered. ‘Yes? I can recommend a cream for that condition.’
She felt the breath catch in her throat because his s
mile was so sexy, and there was that unmistakable flash of chemistry that always occurred when they were together.
Imagining what it would be like to kiss a man like him, Jenna stared at him for a moment and then turned back to the crab, telling herself that even if things had been different she’d never have been sophisticated enough to hold a man like him. Ryan McKinley might be working on Glenmore, but she recognised a high-flier when she saw one. He was like one of those remote, intimidating consultants who strode the corridors of the hospital where she’d trained. Out of her league.
Hamish exchanged a look with Ryan and raised his eyebrows. ‘You want to take a closer look at that crab?’
