Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 19091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 95(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19091 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 95(@200wpm)___ 76(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
A bungalow had come up for sale just yesterday, though, and although it needed renovating, it was perfect for me. I’d viewed it, put in an offer right away, and it was accepted.
I told Sloane as much.
She frowned. “But that means you’ll still be in the caravan over Christmas? While it snows?”
Not wanting to explain to her that I was spending Christmas alone and would be freezing if it kept snowing, I told her the same lie I’d told Haydyn. “I’m staying with family for Christmas.”
She relaxed immediately.
I’d told Haydyn the same lie because things were strained between us too. I blamed Halloween, too much truth, too much bonding, and the electric chemistry that had zipped between me and my boss since he’d opened his door to me.
I knew he was a mistake as soon as I saw him. Dr. Haydyn Barr. A professor of civil engineering at the University of Highlands and Islands in Inverness. Handsome, clean-cut, chiseled jaw, almost pretty with his large dark, thickly lashed eyes and full mouth. Laughter lines around his eyes gave him some rugged weathering I found way too attractive. He was six feet tall, stylish, classy, intelligent, warm, a doting father—and ten years my senior.
The whole time he’d been interviewing me, I knew, despite how desperate I was for a new job and a new beginning, that I couldn’t work for him. Not after what happened at my last job. However, Michael had blasted into the house, adorable and smart, and so desperate for female attention. I’d later learn that his mother abandoned him when he was a baby and hadn’t reached out again until last year. Haydyn had taken the reconciliation with Deena slowly for Michael, but Michael wanted to get to know his mum. It was going well so far, though I knew it was still a worry for Haydyn.
When Deena asked to have Michael for Christmas, Haydyn had wanted to say no, but Michael pleaded to go and won. I was nervous about it too. Deena was married to a solicitor and they lived in Inverness. They had no children of their own, and the guy seemed nice enough, but I wasn’t convinced he was interested in Michael.
Only time would tell.
So Michael was in Inverness for Christmas, and I’d told Haydyn I would be as well. That I had a friend back in the city who’d invited me to stay. That wasn’t true. All my friends were back home in Aberdeen, and not one of them had thought to invite me for Christmas.
Even though they knew it would be my first alone.
Tears thickened my throat and I fought them back. “I better get on the road before the snow gets too heavy.”
Sloane and Callie bid me goodbye and I waved to Flora, the owner, before I ducked out of the café. The cold white flakes weren’t falling fast, but they were starting to stick.
Oh, bugger.
I burrowed into my scarf and hurried across the street to Morag’s to pick up some last-minute groceries. I planned to watch a marathon of romantic comedies on my laptop and try very hard not to think about the fact that I was all alone.
Morag, a lovely middle-aged lady with pink-rinsed hair, owned the deli and grocery store. We chatted for a bit before I bid her a happy Christmas and opened the door to leave with my bag of premade meals I could heat up in my microwave, as well as wine, chocolates, and other snacks.
I hurried outside and smacked into a hard body.
“Oof.” I staggered back, dropping my bag, as gloved hands grabbed my arms to steady me.
Blinking rapidly, my stomach flipped as I looked up into familiar dark brown eyes. Eyes that narrowed on me. “Kenna?”
“Haydyn,” I squeaked out, looking and sounding like I was caught in a lie. Avoiding eye contact, I lowered to my haunches to pick up my fallen wares.
Unfortunately, so did Haydyn. He shoved my meals and the thankfully unbroken wine bottle into my bag and handed it to me.
“Thanks,” I murmured.
“Shouldn’t you be in Inverness?” he snapped with uncharacteristic belligerence.
“I-I’m just leaving,” I lied.
Haydyn scowled. “And you’re taking premade meals with you?”
“I—”
He held up a hand to cut me off. “I swear if you lie one more time, I’ll … I’ll …”
Amusement cut through my embarrassment as he failed adorably to find an appropriate punishment for me. Suddenly, the image of him taking me across his knee filled my mind and I squirmed, my cheeks flushing.
As if he read my mind, Haydyn’s gaze turned low-lidded as it fell to my mouth.
And this was absolutely why he’d been avoiding me since Halloween. Every time we were alone, this sexual chemistry sparked between us, and it didn’t take a lot to ignite it.
Seeming to shake himself, Haydyn straightened and cleared his throat. He wore a scarf knotted stylishly and tucked into his fitted black peacoat. The man dressed like he’d just walked off the pages of GQ, and it really did it for me. I’d never shown much interest in the way a guy dressed, but since meeting Haydyn, it was something I noted about the men I met.