Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
An arrested look fell over his face. “Does that mean … does that mean you’ll be living with me?”
Oh shit.
Oh, I completely jumped the gun. I winced. Too soon for that analogy. “Well, I mean … oh … well … crap.”
Quinn let out a bark of laughter and then cuddled me close. “At least give me a chance to ask you to move in.”
I buried my face in his chest and groaned with embarrassment.
“Taran Macbeth … will you move in with me?”
I stiffened. “Are you mocking me?”
Quinn shook his head. “I have never been more serious in my life. So … do I need to get a set of keys made?”
It would surprise anyone who came to hear this story that the morning after a deranged criminal shot a man, kidnapped me, and got shot by one of my closest friends, I’d never been happier in my life. “Definitely.”
His responding kiss was passionate but careful. When he finally released me, we just stared into each other’s eyes in contented silence for a while.
Until something else occurred to me. “Ramsay used to be a spy, didn’t he?”
Quinn’s chin jerked with surprise. Then he grimaced, leaning his head back to stare at the ceiling. “Fuck.”
Oh. My. Goodness.
He wasn’t denying it.
Everything from last year, plus the wee comments Tierney made here and there, and his “contacts” who tried to find my assailant with my phone … That and the military background just screamed international man of mystery. Also … the Austin Powers ringtone!
But I didn’t actually believe I was right.
“Holy shit, he was a spy …”
Quinn groaned again. “Mo luaidh, I can neither confirm nor deny your suspicions.” His expression was serious. “But I’m going to ask you to never repeat what you just said to me.”
Stunned, I could only gape and nod. “I promise.”
He relaxed in relief and cuddled me close again.
Perhaps five minutes had passed when I whispered, “He saved your life yesterday, so I really think it’s only fair you change that Austin Powers ringtone to the James Bond theme.”
There was a moment of silence from Quinn, then a snort, then another, and then he was laughing so hard, he followed it with a curse as his wound pulled with the mirth.
I grinned, grateful that this was our morning the day after such a trauma.
What’s His Face Pollock and Edward White would not win this one.
It was my turn.
Lying in bed with this beautiful man I’d loved my entire life … I was the winner, and no one could ever take that away from me.
Epilogue
Quinn
Christmas Day, This Year
Laughter, music, conversation, and the tinkling of glasses and cutlery on plates filled my living room. There had never been a Christmas like this one. Taran and I had to borrow a dining table from Laird and Finella to make it happen.
After everything we’d been through to get here, Taran wanted to celebrate our first Christmas back together with all our family, and that included the friends who had become family to us.
Cammie always decorated for me, but Taran insisted that me, her, and Angus decorate the tree on his weekend in Leth Sholas, so the multicolored chaos of it looked out of place next to the elegant dark blues and whites of Cammie’s wreaths and Christmas garlands and baubles.
Taran sat at one end of the table, laughing with London about something as I approached with a tray of hot caramel sauce for the puddings. We’d pushed the two tables together to accommodate my sister, our parents, Laird, Finella, and their boys, Angus, Heather, her girlfriend Hazel, London, Ramsay, Murray, Tierney, and Forde.
Kiera and Gary would have the kids for Hogmanay. Heather had even promised to forgo New Year’s plans back in Glasgow to spend it with her mum and Gary. Taran had invited them to Christmas dinner, but they were taking this opportunity to go on holiday for the first time in ages, so they were in New York.
Heather and Hazel were engaged in conversation with Cammie while Angus turned in his seat to chatter away, hands gesturing wildly to Taran’s nephews Aird and Finn. Another of Taran’s confessed worries was her disconnect from her nephews. She felt badly about all the time she’d spent off the island and how little energy she’d given to getting to know them since her return, because they were so distant with her. Together we were putting in more effort to see Finn and Aird, and slowly Taran was growing closer to them.
Hazel had arrived with Heather on Leth Sholas a few days ago. She was reserved compared to Heather, polite and well-spoken. Helpful around the house and really a very sweet girl. It was unfathomable to me that her relationship with her parents had worsened since she’d come out to them a few months ago. But it was my pleasure to give her a safe place to be during Christmas.