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His words shone a light into all the little empty spaces inside me until I ached from it. I’d never thought of myself as sunshine before. I seriously loved that he would see me like that.
“I feel the same way. You glower a little bit more than you glow,” I conceded, squeezing his hand. “But I don’t want this to end either.”
I could almost see that dream world with him happening.
Almost. On the heels of the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to me, all the reasons I couldn’t possibly be with him crashed into the moment. Under the weight of reality, my heart shrank back down to normal size. My job, Shatner, my home, Jill, my parents—my life was in Seattle, not Scotland or London. The thought of never seeing Duncan again left me heartsick, but what else could we do?
“I need some time to think about it.”
His eyes glinted as he caressed my hand. “The invitation stands. Now. Today. Tomorrow. Come as soon as you can.”
It was a flattering, incredible offer, but one I couldn’t realistically entertain. For now, I would have to be satisfied with making the most of the trip I was on. That would have to be enough.
* * *
We strolled through Portree as the evening sunlight shone its golden rays on the loch, making the water sparkle like jewels. A few fishing boats skimmed slowly through the harbor, and a kayaking group set out toward the mouth of the loch for a paddle.
“It’s a glorious day.” I leaned against a railing, gazing into the harbor.
He nodded assent, looking me up and down. “Where’s your camera? Shouldn’t you have taken forty pictures by now?”
“I left it in the lodge.” The arch look he shot me said he doubted I could have parted with it so readily. “Really, you can check my pockets.”
“Check your pockets? Don’t mind if I do.” He pulled me close, the weight of his hands perfect on my waist.
I hugged his sides, laughing against his neck. “I don’t have it.”
“Best if I do a thorough inspection.”
Our mouths found each other like we’d been waiting for this all day. This kiss was luxuriously slow, as though Duncan had all the time in the world to explore me, and not a single care that we were on display in the little harbor town. I couldn’t remember ever being so bold.
It was glorious.
Last night, he’d joked about getting lost in Portree. I loved the idea of being completely alone with him somewhere. Anywhere. But for now, I would take what I could get.
“Do you want to get a drink?”
His answer was immediate. “Absolutely.”
The pub still crawled with tourists. It must stay like this all through the high season as hikers explored Skye in the warmer months. Did it die down in winter, when snow might blanket the island and only locals made their way in for a dram of whisky to warm them?
Actually…a trip to Skye in the winter with Duncan sounded perfect. A little snowy wandering by day, a lot of warming up by night.
We sat together at the bar, where he ordered his ever-present whisky, and I ordered a glass of cabernet.
“I take it you don’t do much traveling,” he said after his first sip.
“Not by air.” As if my clarification made his statement any less true. I shrugged. “I don’t do much traveling.”
“No Tahiti for you then?”
“Not likely. Jill and I took a trip right after college—to Disneyland, of all places—and I kind of freaked out on the plane. I passed right out. It was pretty awful.” Coming to in a cold sweat with multiple people fussing over my supposed medical emergency? I don’t recommend it. “We had to rent a car and drive all the way back to Seattle. After that, I just resigned myself to not flying.”
I gestured absently with my hands while I talked, brushing against his in the process. I pulled back, but he moved his hand closer until the backs of his fingers lightly played against mine. Warmth unfurled inside me at his soft touch. Nothing about his gaze was coy or sensual. I might have thought he didn’t realize we were touching but for the subtle movement of his fingers on mine.
“This is the first time I’ve tried to fly again,” I said, catching back up to my thoughts.
“Then I can count myself lucky.”
