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‘It’s the only filthy bit about you. You’re way too clean for an island guy.’
Calum adjusted his watch. ‘Being messy isn’t a stipulation for living here.’
‘It should be. That’s another mission for me.’
‘What? To get me down and dirty?’
Her eyes nearly popped out.Shit, shit, shit, you idiot. What was he doing? Letting his mouth enter into her flirtatious chit-chat.
‘Now who’s got the way with words? Really, Mr Matheson, I’m shocked.’
‘Indeed.’
‘But if you’re looking for someone to show you a good time in the mud, you’ve found the right girl.’
‘I’ll bear that in mind.’ He wrapped his arms about himself, gazing out to the rolling sea. A gust of wind ruffled his short hair. ‘But not today. Right now, I’m leaving you to your mud pit.’ Yup, he had to get far away from her.
‘Ok.’
‘Just don’t go digging up anything too expensive.’
‘Aye, aye, Captain Matheson.’ She raised two fingers to her forehead.
Calum strode back to his car, jumped in and flung his head back into the rest.Shit, shit, shit… shit.What the hell was going on? The explosion in his chest should be because his project just got a lot more complicated, but it wasn’t. His body throbbed with unanswered need and he squirmed in his seat. She was good company. More than. He was drawn to her.No. No. No. Bottle it.Developing feelings for Rhona Lamond thrust against every boundary he’d constructed in the last sixteen years. Sensible Calum had to screw his head back on and stick to business.
Chapter 9
Rhona
Using a Portaloo on a daily basis wasn’t what Rhona had envisaged for her return to Mull. Neither was sneaking around, avoiding her parents so she didn’t have to explain why she was covered in mud. Judy spent a lot of time closeted in her studio and Alister often took himself off to fish; Rhona tried to time her returns with them being out the house. The one time Judy had quizzed her about her muddy clothes, Rhona told her she was helping a friend with gardening.
Lying, even by omission, felt wrong, but if she confessed now, they’d flip. Even saying the word Matheson triggered raised voices and angry words. Finding out she was working with one would tip them over. They’d start a witch-hunt, demanding Calum was publicly flogged, and forbid her going near Kilnarkie. She couldn’t allow that. Not since discovering the wall they’d unearthed contained the remains of what she surmised to be an Iron Age hearth.
She’d bagged several samples and sent them for carbon dating, then emailed photographs to Simon. He’d sent back some words of encouragement, pleased she’d got involved in such a project.
If only she could share it with her parents. She might not be pulling in as much money as her siblings but she was making discoveries, and important ones too. Surrounded by her tools, she sat in her muddy ditch gently picking off more layers of dirt. This was no better than anywhere else she’d worked but it was hers. The responsibility was all new to her.
‘Morning.’ Calum was striding towards her, adjusting his gold wristwatch. This made up for the drudge work. Her mood lifted and her senses tingled as he got closer. She could forgive his complete lack of interest in anything historical because she enjoyed talking to him.
‘Hi.’ Her gaze connected with his and her tummy swooped. He was in a dark navy t-shirt again and it fitted well around shapely pecs and nicely formed biceps. No words passed between them but their eyes made out, overloading her system with bolts of electricity. Did he know what was happening inside her? Did he sense it too? How could he not?
He blinked and unfolded a navy cushion pad, laying on the edge of the trench.
‘Seriously?’ Rhona frowned, getting to her feet. ‘You have a cushion? Is that to protect your delicate rear?’
‘No, it’s to protect my designer jeans.’ He plonked himself on top of it. ‘Now, how’s it going today? Has anything else turned up?’
Rhona dusted her hands together, then did her knees. A lost cause. ‘I’m clearing out the wall. Once I’ve exposed as much as I can,’ – she shook flecks of soil from the neck of her t-shirt – ‘I’ll examine the hearth.’
‘Ok.’ Calum’s focus flickered over her chest.
She folded her arms.Only the wall!She wasn’t exposing herself. Her skin tingled under her t-shirt and it was nothing to do with the soil particles. Their gazes locked again, moving in sync from eyes to lips and back.Oh god, yes.He could do whatever he wanted. She ran her fingers along her collarbone.
‘So…’ Calum cleared his throat. ‘Can I ask you something?’
‘Sure.’ She parked herself beside him, dangling her legs into the trench while his feet almost touched the bottom. The skin on her upper arm tugged like it was trying to drag her closer and attach itself to him.
‘Once you’ve unearthed everything within the proposed house boundaries. What happens then? Will I ever be allowed to build here?’
