Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Like a splash of cold water, however, I remembered the last man who kissed her had treated her with force and aggression.
It cooled my blood and I retreated from the kiss.
London’s gaze was searching, a world of confusion in her eyes that made me feel like shit for taking advantage of our situation in the first place. She cleared her throat and sat abruptly back in her chair, turning to stare determinedly at the band.
It was a tense twenty-minute set as I watched her out of my peripheral, trying to gauge her disposition. After the lads finished and pulled up chairs to join us, it grew impossible to know what was going on inside London’s head as she engaged with our group.
“Did you see, Murray?” Taran shoved a piece of paper down the table toward me. It was a small poster.
London leaned into read it with me. “Open mic night on Thursday?”
“It’s become a regular thing at the Lantern. London, you have to convince your husband to play,” Taran urged. “Quinn says you have a fantastic voice, Mur.”
“He does,” London agreed. She looked up at me. “You should do it.”
I played and sang for me and my family, not for public gratification. “Nah, I’m good.” Letting go of the poster I took a sip of my ale.
Aodhan appeared at the table, his English mastiff, Shakespeare, at his side. Shakespeare sniffed curiously at the air near Akiva. The Alaskan malamute narrowed her eyes as if in warning and Shakespeare comically jerked his gaze away as if to say, I’m minding my own business over here.
Aodhan chuckled at the doggy exchange. “You’ve raised that one to be as aloof as she is bonny.”
Ramsay shrugged, reaching down to stroke Akiva’s fur.
Unbothered, Aodhan turned to me and London, beaming at us. “I just came over to offer my congratulations. You make a fine pair.”
“Thank you.” I slid my arm around London’s shoulders and was relieved when she leaned into me.
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Aye, a bonny pair indeed.” Aodhan nodded. “Happy for you, Murray.”
Emotion tightened my throat. I’d known Aodhan Macduff my whole life and I’d looked up to him. He knew exactly the kind of bastard my father was and the trials Jill had put me through. To see his genuine joy for me filled me with gratitude and guilt for lying.
More than that, I wished that London really was the light at the end of the tunnel and not just another business deal.
She felt right in my arms.
Looking down at her, I recognized her own guilt and uncertainty. The impulse to soothe her just happened to coincide with our need to present a united front. Kissing her again didn’t seem to be the right thing to do, so I pressed my lips to her temple, giving her shoulders a reassuring squeeze.
Her soft hair tickled my cheek, the scent of her shampoo so enthralling I lingered against her far longer than I should. Her hair smelled like some kind of exotic flower with a hint of coconut. I could bury my face in the silky strands and stay there forever.
When I pulled back, I couldn’t help but murmur, “Your hair smells amazing.”
London let out a wee laugh of surprise as I released her from my hold. “My one little luxury. It’s this expensive shampoo and conditioner that stops my hair from frizzing. Natural redhead.” She shrugged almost shyly.
“I like it,” I offered gruffly, looking at my pint so she didn’t recognize the desire thrumming through every inch of me.
“Well, I’ll leave you all be.” Aodhan gestured to the bar. “Remember to order more drinks.”
We chuckled as the older man wandered off with Shakespeare to a table in the corner where some of the older members of the island community sat together.
“Do you think that will be us in thirty years’ time?” Cammie asked.
“I hope so.” Tierney leaned into Ramsay. “I don’t want to be anywhere else but here.”
I glanced at London, wondering if she’d feel the same way in ten years’ time.
“Hey, did anyone else catch the news tonight?” Cammie inquired.
We all shook our heads.
She grimaced. “Britain has a new serial killer.”
Taran leaned in. “Where?”
“That’s the thing. They think this person has been active for four years, but they’ve been committing murders all over the country, so it’s taken them awhile to piece it together. They think the first one was committed just outside Aberdeen.”
A somber mood fell over us at the disquieting news.
Cammie grimaced. “The police in Newcastle finally put together that all of these murders have the same MO.”
Forde pulled out his phone and typed into it with speedy thumbs. “Shit, Cam’s right.”
“Did you think I was lying?”
Ignoring her, Forde read out the article. Five women had been murdered over the course of the last four years. Two of them in this year alone, and it wasn’t even summer yet, so the police were worried the situation was escalating. The women ranged between the ages of eighteen and forty years old and the police said they were of a similar coloring and build. Forde read out the few details that had been published regarding their violent deaths, and I shuddered to think of the sick mind that could commit such atrocities.