Page 15 of Not Quite a Scot


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Chapter 7

The red in his neck deepened. “Of course.” He cleared his throat. “Give me just a moment. I won’t bother you again. I’ll hang a shirt on the doorknob. Goodnight, Duchess. Come on, Cinnamon.”

“Oh, please let her stay. I’d enjoy her company.”

I could swear the dog understood every word. Cinnamon rubbed against my legs, her tail wagging enthusiastically.

Finley hesitated. “I’ll need to take her out soon.”

“Can it wait until I’ve showered? I’d be happy to do the honors. I won’t forget, I promise.”

“If you’re sure. You’ll need to put her on a leash when you go out. The harness is on a nail beside the kitchen door. She’s stronger than she looks. If she gets loose, I’ll be half the night finding her.”

“I’ll be careful, I promise. Goodnight, Finley. Thank you again for everything.”

When he left with only a brusque nod of his head and closed the door behind him, I sank into a chair and exhaled slowly. Cinnamon laid her head on my knee. Stroking the dog’s ears absentmindedly, I wondered if I had the energy left to get in the shower. On the other hand, I’d been traveling all day and that bed was clean and sweet smelling. The sheets had been dried in the sun. It was hard to fake that scent.

Cinnamon made a perfect, undemanding companion. I talked to her as I washed my face and brushed my teeth. She guarded the bathroom door while I showered. Afterward, I thought the hairdryer might spook her, but she watched, rapt, as I used the small appliance and a round brush to put the sleek curve back in my hair.

With a towel wrapped around my damp body, I tiptoed across the bedroom. After pressing my ear to the door and hearing nothing, I opened it a crack and stuck out my hand to feel the knob. Finley had made good on his promise. He’d left me one of his shirts, a much-laundered, faded blue chambray that came down almost to my knees.

I rinsed out my bra and undies and left them hanging on a bar in the bathroom. They would be dry by morning. My only remaining problem was what to wear on my feet when I went outside to let Cinnamon do her business. Oh well, it wouldn’t take long. And it was summer, after all. A Scottish summer, but summer nevertheless.

“Are you ready, girl?”

She scampered to the door, tail wagging madly.

Mindful of Finley’s warning. I found the leash exactly as he had described it. Cinnamon was already wearing a collar, so it was a simple matter to fasten the braided length of mesh to a loop and check that it was tight.

Before I opened the door, I wrapped the leash around my hand so there would be no surprises. “Behave yourself,” I muttered. “Do what you have to do and let’s go back inside so I can sleep.” There was no sign of Finley. Presumably his bedroom was on another level of the odd house.

Outside, the night was cool and fragrant. Though my feet were bare, the cobblestoned walkway wasn’t difficult to negotiate. Cinnamon barked at a squirrel and chased a moth. Soon, she found a spot near a tree and took care of urgent needs.

Suddenly, I was in no real hurry to go back inside. Here I was, halfway around the globe from my life back in the States. My whole plan was a bust so far, but that was the nature of travel at times. I couldn’t regret meeting Finley. His sweet, goofy dog was a bonus.

Emboldened by a sudden burst of energy, I stepped cautiously out into the road. As far as I could tell, Finley’s was the only house up here. The lane ended in a cul-de-sac just beyond where I was standing. I curled my toes against the pavement. It still held a trace of warmth from the heat of the day.

“Oh, Cinnamon,” I said. “How did I wind up in such a mess?” Even if I hadn’t wrecked the car, I still would have been faced with the wretched condition of Cedric’s rental house.

The dog pulled at the leash, eager to explore. I was warm and comfortable in the long-sleeved shirt, so I let her lead me down the hill a few steps. As we rounded a curve, I caught a glimpse of the harbor below. Lights on boat masts bobbed up and down like nautical fireflies. I wondered if Finley sailed. I’d had several friends over the years who were boat people. Though I loved the water, I’d never had any desire to learn the ins and outs of sailing. Perhaps this would be the time to try.

A huge yawn took me by surprise, popping my jaw. “Come on, girl. Time to go in.”

She whined and sat down.

Good grief.Were we really going to have a battle of wills at this hour? “Please be a good puppy. Let’s get back to the house. I saw your water bowl in the kitchen. I’ll bet there’s a treat there, too.”

Cinnamon was unimpressed. She cocked her head as if to point out the stars and convince me this was the best time of day to play. A single, happy bark emphasized her point.

“I get it,” I said, smiling even though my legs felt like spaghetti and my whole body ached. “It’s a gorgeous evening.” In Scotland, no less. Suddenly, I flashed to a vision of Jamie Fraser galloping over the hill on horseback, ready to scoop me up and put me behind him as we rode off into the wild night.

Hayley and Willow and I had promised to look for our own versions of Outlander’s hero, Jamie Fraser, while we were in Scotland. Unfortunately, I didn’t think Finley was mine. He did have the same striking face as my TV crush, though the eye color and shade of hair were all wrong. Even worse, the timing was off kilter.

Everyone knew that in a TV drama the lead can’t work out all the details of the plot until the last five minutes. Fate certainly wasn’t going to hand me Prince Charming with so little fanfare. Any prize worth having deserved a quest…a hunt…an adventure. I was going to be here for almost an entire month. I’d likely have to sort through a handful of candidates at least before I found my one true love.

I giggled, a little high on sleep deprivation and my near-nakedness. Besides, there was something about Finley, something not quite right. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it made me skittish.

He was gorgeous, yes. His in-your-face masculinity gave off a sexual vibe that made my breath catch and my heart beat faster. A man like Finley wouldn’t be easy to control. Sadly, I crossed him off my mental list. I was a woman who always liked being in control. Whether it was in the bedroom or the boardroom, I wanted to call the shots.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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