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)
I knew that deep but gentle voice wrapped in a Scottish accent, and I cursed the fates that he would be the one to witness this moment.
Wiping at my mouth, I straightened, and his arm dropped away.
I stared up into the rugged face of Murray Shaw and into his beautiful mossy-green eyes. Even in my state of panic, awareness shivered through me as our gazes locked. He searched mine with an intensity that had me coming back to myself. Reminding me that right now I was in Leth Sholas and I was safe.
“What happened?”
It had to be the shock that caused me to blurt out that my ex had threatened to derail my visa. As soon as the words were out, I wanted to pull them back. Only the girls and Ramsay knew Nick had been abusive. Murray wouldn’t understand why going back to the US scared me so much.
“I … uh … I just … I’ve made a life here,” I tried to deflect, even as I felt the nausea rise again. I swallowed it. “It would devastate me to have to return to the US.”
“Do you really think your ex has that kind of power?”
“I don’t think he’s bluffing.” I screwed up my face as I saw the deep concern in his eyes.
Murray of all people didn’t need to shoulder my problems. He had his own problems to deal with. He owned the largest fishing company on the west coast. Word had it, he’d taken his father’s little business and expanded it into a small empire. He now supplied many of the national supermarkets with fresh fish. And his company offered guided fishing tours around the western isles. According to Cammie, Murray was the wealthiest person living on Glenvulin.
You’d never know it from his untrimmed hair and scruffy beard. Or his clothes. His cable-knit sweater had seen better days. As he stood before me, the wind ruffling over us both, I could smell the sea air on him. Everyone said he didn’t need to go out on the boats, especially considering he had a large company to run, but I’d seen him down on the harbor working with a crew.
Mingled with the salty sea air was something citrusy and fresh. His soap or cologne. Maybe both. His broad shoulders looked massive in his sweater as his tall frame filled my vision.
“So I’d start packing, London. You’re coming home. To me. And you and I are going to have a very difficult conversation once we’re reunited.”
Nick’s threat echoed in my mind, and I tried to throw it out before I started panicking again. Instead, I focused on Murray’s handsome face that would be even more handsome if he trimmed his beard.
The word was Murray was not only trying to win sole custody of his daughter from his ex-wife but that his ex-wife, because of some marriage contract, was taking a hefty salary out of his company every month. The guy had his own issues to deal with.
“I’m sorry for bothering you. I should—”
“You didn’t bother me.” Murray lifted a hand as if to reach out to me, but he clenched it into a fist and dropped it at his side again. “Can I help?”
“No.” I walked backward away from him. “I’ll be fine,” I lied and then hurried away before he could stop me.
3. Murray
Ididn’t get the chance to chase after London, to make sure she was okay, because Kelly called, asking me to pick her up from my mum’s.
She sounded distressed, and as much as I was worried about London Wetherspoon, my daughter needed me.
The Easter holidays hit Edinburgh later than it did here on the island and Kelly spent all holidays and one weekend a month here with me. She’d arrived on Glenvulin eleven days ago, which meant I only had a few days left with her before I had to take her back.
That morning I’d dropped Kelly off at Mum’s place and went into the office. The office for Half-Light Harbor Fishing Company was in a modern building fifteen minutes from the harbor town with a view across the water. It had once been called Leth Sholas Fishing Company, but we’d changed the name to the town’s nickname as we expanded because it was easier for outsiders to pronounce.
My company had nearly one hundred and fifty staff but only a small percentage were islanders who worked out of the office. Of course, there were multiple fishing crews plus the charters that did fishing guides. But most of the administrative staff worked from home. Payroll staff, legal, advertising and marketing, accountants, customer service, sales and distribution, website and technical. At the head office was Christina, my CFO, my cousin Fraser, who managed the charter side of things, and Christina’s daughter, Angela, fresh out of uni and now part of my marketing and advertising team. There were about twenty staff who came in and out of the main office, sometimes taking the ferry in from the mainland.