Fire Maidens Scotland (Billionaires & Bodyguards #6) - Anna Lowe Page 0,56
the other?” Lachlan asked as they continued down the path.
“No. Both feel like home.” Then she bit her lip and slowed down, looking around. This was probably her last visit to Gleninnis. She’d better take it all in now that she had the chance.
She stopped and closed her eyes.
“What is it?” Lachlan asked, alarmed.
“Shh,” she whispered, touching his arm. “Just a second.”
She half expected him to protest or ask what was wrong, but after a moment of tense silence, Lachlan stilled.
Her gut warmed as she sensed his alarm turn into understanding. Yes, she was tuning in. Was he doing the same?
He gets it, her dragon hummed happily. He finally gets it.
She stood there, quietly rejoicing that little milestone.
When her breathing slowed, his did too, and she could sense his nostrils flaring, testing the breeze. Taking in the scene without looking, in other words.
“Salt air,” she whispered.
“Dry thistle,” he added a moment later.
“Seaweed…”
“Mungo,” he added, making her chuckle — and make a mental note to give the dog a bath.
“Sage,” she whispered a moment later.
Bit by bit, they expanded their list. Not just smells, but sounds and impressions, too.
“Dry grass…” She rustled her foot through the thick blades.
Lachlan’s hand moved at her side. “Southwest wind…”
She nodded, sniffing deeply. “Carrying a hint of peat.”
“And fish.”
They both laughed. Not too loudly, but from the heart. When their laughter petered out, they stood silently, soaking in their surroundings.
“Nice,” Lachlan whispered, putting a hand on her shoulder.
“Nice,” she echoed. Not just the island, but being there with him.
Concentrate, she reminded her dragon. On the place, not him.
But that was impossible, and with every passing moment, her senses tuned in to Lachlan rather than the landscape. His oaky scent. The light flap of her jacket in the breeze, tapping against his, hinting at how close he stood. The sense of a solid wall, protecting her. Gradually, the island’s impressions faded until all she was aware of was him and her. Just like on the street in Edinburgh or beside the crackling fireplace the previous night — they could have been transported to a decade in the past or even the future.
Her heart thumped, holding on to that thought. The future. Did hers include him?
A gull cried, and a sliver of cold air brushed her cheek. She opened her eyes. The wind was building, the clouds creeping closer.
“Maybe we should go.”
Lachlan’s hand tightened on her shoulder as if he begged to differ, but a moment later, he nodded.
“Aye. We’d better go.”
The house wasn’t much farther, but that was almost too bad. She could have stretched out that walk forever. Still, when Mungo strained ahead, excited at the scent of home, she broke into a jog, laughing. A few steps later, she pulled up and unclipped him.
“There you go. Just don’t go far.” She watched him run ahead and circle the house gleefully. And, damn. She nearly turned in a circle too.
The house was just as picture-perfect as ever, and Trevor’s words echoed through her mind.
Not too big, not too small. And what it lacks in comforts, it makes up for with the view.
It sure did, commanding a panorama of the turquoise bay, neighboring islands, and open sea.
Ava loved it here, Trevor had said.
Holly sighed. I love it too.
Henry had left her bag on the front porch, together with the urn and a box of supplies. The door was ajar — no locks needed on a private island — and Mungo ran inside, snuffling around. Holly hesitated at the doorstep, then did an about-face before nostalgia overwhelmed her. Judging by the clouds, she would soon be forced indoors to face all those emotions. But right now…
“Lunch?” she offered, rooting around the box.
Lachlan laughed, and his eyes sparkled like she’d just said the funniest thing.
“What?” she demanded.
He shook his head, still chuckling. “You never fail to surprise me, lass.”
She looked at the sandwich in her hand. “With lunch?”
He grinned. “Never mind. And yes, please, to lunch.”
She handed him a sandwich, shook out some dog food for Mungo, and sat on the front steps. Lachlan settled in beside her, so close that his thigh touched hers. Together, they munched away, watching the clouds slowly cloak the view. Just as she finished her sandwich, raindrops started to splatter.
“Better head in.” Lachlan gave her a hand up.
“Come on, Mungo. Good boy,” she called, closing the door after the dog darted in.
Lachlan busied himself making a fire while she gazed out the window. “Amazing how quickly it changes.”