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‘It’s fascinating. People learned diverse skills and quickly. Societal norms, expectations, and beliefs were so different.’
‘You should be a teacher.’
‘A lot of archaeologists go into teaching but I still enjoy field work. Just not all the time. I’d like some variety. The last few years I’ve spent bent over in ditches with very little to show for myself.’
‘You’ve shown me you have lots of talents. You just need to find a job that matches.’
Easier said than done.Rhona pulled up her knees and huddled on the bench. The boat dipped and rose, ploughing through the waves. Early morning sun poked through the clouds like lasers. When they reached open water, Rhona stood and stretched.
‘Would you like a turn driving?’ Calum glanced over.
‘No thanks. I’ve never loved driving anything.’ She sidled over and placed her palms on his shoulders from behind, then bent over and kissed his cheek. ‘This is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me.’
‘You’re easily pleased.’
‘This is hardly easy. You’re giving up time, fuel, and goodness knows what else for me.’
He raised his hand and rubbed it over hers. ‘It’s not a case of me giving up anything. It’s about spending time with somebody I like.’
‘Aww.’ She leaned in and nuzzled his neck. ‘I like you too.’ Her arms slipped down and she traced the neat shape of his pecs before holding him close. ‘You see, it’s possible for a Lamond to like a Matheson.’
‘It is. Why don’t you look around? Maybe familiarise yourself with the kettle, then a Matheson can have a cup of tea with a Lamond.’
‘Oh, haha, you cheeky thing.’ She gave him a final squeeze before letting go. ‘Ok.’
‘I wouldn’t mind a green tea.’
‘Ooh, a green tea. How very balanced.’
He shook his head and she was sure he’d rolled his eyes. She could have gone directly from the cabin steps but she fancied nosing around first so she exited onto the deck. A sharp gust of wind buffeted her. The sea had changed from the clear blue of the morning to grey and menacing. White foam churned in their wake and Mull grew distant. A thick blanket of cloud descended. Rhona opened the hatch and lowered herself down the ladder. ‘Oh my god.’ She goggled around. This was the stuff of dreams. Built into the prow was a navy and white striped sofa area with nautical cushions. It must fold out to make a bed. Crossing the highly polished wooden floor, she lounged on the sofa. Wow. This was luxury.
A neat little kitchen area fitted around the ladder, extending until it met the end of the sofa. Every space was used but perfectly neat and uncluttered. She located the sink and kettle, mugs in the cupboard, along with boxes of teabags, a jar of coffee, sugar, even biscuits. He’d made such an effort. She fanned her face, stifling an unexpected wave of emotion. Wow. Overwhelm. This was Calum Matheson. A mini fridge was packed full with supplies. What a romantic. For someone people believed to be a heartless miser, he had a soft side – one that needed to be woken.So far, so good.She set the kettle to boil.
Getting the teacups up the ladder without spilling them was a feat in self-management. She wobbled and steadied herself, over and over. Almost all the liquid was in place when she got to the cabin.
‘Everything ok?’ asked Calum.
‘I dread to think how much this boat cost.’ Rhona handed him a cup. ‘It’s totally stunning.’
‘Thanks. Blair Robertson helped me fit it out.’ He took a sip. ‘It’s not new, but after the refurbishment, you can’t tell.’
‘Honestly, Calum, if you said it was brand new, I’d believe you. It’s gorgeous.’ She cradled her mug, inhaling the warm tea. ‘It’s got quite windy out there.’
‘Yeah. It’s coming across us, so it’s not the easiest conditions to steer in. I saw there was the chance of stormy weather beyond Coll, this could be the edge of it.’
‘Eek.’
‘It didn’t look like it would reach this far. Then again, in the Hebrides, who can tell?’
‘Don’t I know it. But it’s still safe, isn’t it?’
‘Yes. These boats can handle a lot of wind. We can moor when we arrive at Coll and see what’s what. There’s a beautiful little bay where we can drop anchor.’
Calum’s words didn’t hold any double entendre but Rhona’s imagination went haywire. A lonely beach with Calum. Her pulse revved up.
On the horizon, Coll loomed as a long grey shape. It wasn’t huge but for two people in a small boat, it was big enough. A couple of hundred people lived there and it was popular with tourists, alongside its neighbour Tiree – the windsurfing capital of Scotland.
The landmass drew closer and Rhona stood to get a better view. Calum skirted the edge of the island until slowly they drew close to a small bay. A serene, white sandy beach rolled out before them.
