world have to work day in and day out just to make ends meet. There was a little bit of self-hatred that came with it, too, because I saw just how privileged a life I’d been leading, even if I did have my troubles with Dad. After a while, I wanted to use some of my acting money to buy my own boat, contribute to the local economy and create jobs, so I did.”
“Seems like a very noble thing to do,” said Rose. “Did you name the boat yourself?”
“Aye. After Mum.”
She didn’t say anything then, only laced her fingers with mine and squeezed my hand as we both stared out into the vast and unending waters that surrounded us.
A couple of hours later, we were home. Danny had saved us a small bag of shellfish that I started preparing for dinner, while Rose played catch with Charlie outside the cottage. I thought that perhaps it wasn’t just I who felt more peaceful here. Rose had seemed even more beautiful to me this last day or two, more at ease, if that was even possible.
Glancing out the window, I saw Sheila approach. She ruffled Charlie’s fur, then stood talking with Rose for a bit before heading in the direction of the cottage. She stepped in the back door, and I continued de-shelling the fish.
“Something smells good,” she said, commenting on the broth I had simmering on a low heat.
“I took Rose out on the boat today. Brought home some produce, if you’d like to stay and eat with us.”
She smiled and waved me away. “Oh, no. I won’t intrude. I just came to check in and make sure you’re enjoying your weekend.”
“We are.”
A moment of quiet ensued as Sheila eyed me. I almost told her to spit it out, but then she spoke, so I didn’t have to.
“She’s a lovely lass,” she said.
I grunted and went to pull a dish from the cupboard. “Lovely” was too tame a word to describe Rose. She was stunning, ethereal, incandescent. Now, if only I could tell her all this in words, rather than simply thinking it.
“You’re smitten.”
I cast my eyes to the ceiling and shook my head. Sheila had a knack for making me feel like an embarrassed teenager with a crush on a girl at school. We didn’t converse for a while, Sheila watching me work in quiet for a bit.
“What will happen, though, when you have to leave London?” she asked, voicing a fear I’d been pushing to the back of my mind for a while now.
I’ll take her with me, I thought. Wherever I go, I’ll always take her with me.
I tried not to ponder the fact that London was Rose’s home. She’d lived there all her life. She was a dancer, and there weren’t exactly many job opportunities for choreographers here in Skye.
I met Sheila’s gaze and answered soberly. “We’ll figure something out.” There were lots of things we could do. Spend half our time in the city and half our time on the island, perhaps. I was sure that together we’d figure it out. Really, though, it was too soon to be thinking of these things. Last night was the first time we’d slept together. Everything was new. Fresh. I just wanted to enjoy it for a while.
Sheila moved to my side, giving my arm a decidedly solid squeeze for a woman of her age and stature. “I just don’t want to see you setting yourself up for a fall, Damon,” she said, her wise old eyes taking me in.
“I’ll be fine,” I told her gruffly.
Her gaze went soft. “Yes, I hope so. Anyway, I better be getting home. My Ned will be wondering where his dinner’s gotten to. Like always, I’m only a phone call away if you need me.”
I waved her goodbye as she went out through the back door again. Rose came inside, Charlie heavy on her heels. Her cheeks were pink and flushed from the outdoor air, and Sheila’s dog seemed to be even more taken with her than I was. She sat by the counter and watched me cook, and afterwards we ate and spoke of our day.
Later on, as we were lying on the couch by the fire, Rose’s head on my chest and a thick woollen blanket thrown over us, I felt completely at ease in the quiet. I could feel her soft heartbeat where my hand rested just below her collarbone. The longer we stayed like that, the more aroused I