Chapter 3

Rose drove home gripping her steering wheel and cursing under her breath like a demented maniac. Trying to remove the feeling of his hands on her body, hating the way it still felt as though she could feel him touching her. Ignoring the rosy blush which had spread up her chest and cheeks and the warmth low down in her pelvis. The feelings she couldn’t explain happening inside of her, common sense batting the observations away.

Rose was still spitting nails at home an hour later. She’d come home almost ripping her dress off, trying to remove the feeling of him on her skin and was systematically scrubbing every inch of her living room like a fevered crazy person on a mission. No one had ever ignited this kind of response in her, and she was damned if she was going to dissect it in any way at all. Instead, she was trying to shift it out of her very core with exertion.

She’d hauled the covers and plastic from the old leather couch finally and pulled it into place by the fire. Had dragged the mismatched armchair to the other side and started ripping into random boxes in a mad rage, determined to put all the pent-up energy into something productive.

Three hours later she was still slamming around, dragging tables around, moving footstools from the closet, and dragging out an array of thick woollen throws, all heaped on the floor. She really had no method to her madness. Just the need to pull things, rip things, and use a box cutter to stab at cardboard aggressively.

Muffin had sensed the psychotic rage and had been hiding under the bed since their return, he was happy with a huge bone the butcher had gifted him. He knew a crazy woman on a cleaning mission when he saw one and knew best to keep a distance.

It was the sharp knock at her door which brought her back to reality with a swift slap. It was pitch-black outside, she’d seen no headlights appear on the gravel road in front of the house and it was getting late. This sudden realisation of her own vulnerability was sobering, a lone woman in a remote and dark area with no one to call for help. Cooling her hot temper and making her simmer back down to an almost submissive state; she tried to peer out the window, pushing the curtains aside, but could only make out a dark figure.

Damn, she needed lights out there.

Going to the door, she called out bravely, aware that it could be anyone. Praying that wandering psychopaths were few and far between in the Highlands, keeping her hand on the lock, and asking who was there. She was relieved at Abby’s response and opened the door to the girl whose arms were laden with a brown bag filled to bursting. The most welcome sight she’d ever seen, an instant surge of genuine happiness and joy.

‘Can I come in for a few minutes?’ Abby looked nervous and awkward, but Rose smiled and pulled her in from the dark and cool night air enthusiastically. Her smile wide and encouraging; she was so happy to see her again and the anger and need to massacre boxes dispersed at the sight of her. Like a calming breeze. She’d wondered how she’d get in touch with the girl again after the way she’d left things.

Abby looked around the hall as she came in, noticing the art and canvases on the wall, all painted by Olivia Grey. Her aunt had been an amazing artist in oil paints. That had been Rose’s first mission, her first week here. Her inspiration and joy; a gallery of her most treasured paintings to warm her heart when coming and going. A reminder of that amazing figure in her life and a way to keep her with her.

Motioning for Abby to follow and relieving her from the burden of the brown bag, they moved through to the living room, Rose apologising for the mess and clearing some cushions from the couch so they could sit. Abby complimented the efforts at getting it cosy and admired some of Rose’s new purchases: cushions, candles, and trinkets. She’d only ever been at this cottage as a small child many years ago, Olivia had given her some tuition in drawing at her father’s expense, but she still remembered it vaguely.

Abby dipped into the bag full of cakes and doughnuts from a nameless shop and explained she’d have been around earlier, but she’d gone out with Rob for a bit while he sorted some business in the next town and was only just back. He had dropped her at the opening of Rose’s road, knowing she was coming here. It seemed the whole town knew who Rose was now. Strangers didn’t stay that way for long in a town like this, everyone knew everyone, and everyone knew each other’s business before long.

‘And he was okay with that?’ Rose was surprised.

‘Why not? I like you. Even if he doesn’t.’ Abby smiled, throwing a wink at her, the hint of cheekiness behind those sparkling eyes. Rose bashed her with a soft cushion and they both laughed, there was something so familiar about Abby, like an old friend returned, and it had made for instant ease between them. Rose tried to ignore the bitter knot in her stomach that Rob Munro didn’t like her. She tried to convince herself it was because the feeling was mutual, and he simply left a bad taste in her mouth.

‘I’m sorry about acting like such a crazy weirdo at the bakery, Abby; he just seems to bring it out of me.’ Rose felt her cheeks redden, fidgeting with the glazed doughnut she was turning in her fingers.

‘Rob seems to do that to women. Don’t worry about it, you said he almost wiped your car out. I would’ve been pissed too.’ Abby gave her a reassuring smile and patted her knee in a very mature manner. ‘Rob’s my brother, so I know better than most that he can be an asshole. You don’t need to apologise at all.’ Both girls regarded each other for a second and broke into wide smiles.

‘Coffee?’ Rose offered brightly, relieved that Abby understood, and Abby nodded.

‘If it’s not a bother, I mean if you’re busy I can head off.’ Abby smiled politely.

‘Don’t be daft, I could use the company.’ Rose smiled and beckoned the girl after her as she made her way to the small kitchen. Abby, lifting the bag and following her, seemed relieved. There was an immediate sense of calm and companionship. No awkward silence or uneasiness.

‘You know what though?’ Abby butted into Rose’s thoughts as she hauled out mugs and coffee granules to fill them. ‘Rob isn’t one to spark quite so quickly, you two certainly have a fire.’ Abby watched Rose carefully, every movement of the teaspoon as though waiting for a reaction. A strange look and a twinkle in Abby’s eye; Rose could almost swear it was a look of mischief.

‘I think what we have is mutual dislike. Instant disagree-ability. I’m very partial to my car and not being run off the road.’ Rose threw her an airy look and tried to steer the topic away from the man who was currently making her heart beat up a gear. ‘So, tell me, this ball … Are you attending? Do you want a date?’ Abby broke into a wide grin.

‘Don’t I ever! That would be so much better than being a third wheel with Rob and whoever he drags along. I’m currently man-less and it sucks.’ Abby slid into one of the kitchen chairs and began laying out the pastries on the platter Rose had put out. Rose finished up with the mugs of coffee and brought them over, sliding into the chair opposite and mirroring Abby’s casual slump.

‘You’re kidding, right? How can a girl, looking like you, not have a date?’ Rose raised eyebrows with genuine surprise; Abby was stunning.

‘Aww, are you calling me pwetty?’ Abby jested with kissing noises and lots of dramatic eye fluttering. ‘Seriously though, people in this town tend to give me a wide berth. When my mum died, I became a bit of a loner and people are just used to leaving me alone. I think boys think I’m weird.’ She gulped down some hot liquid and messed with the handle of her mug.

‘That’s understandable; maybe people didn’t know how to approach you. People aren’t good with grief. They never know what to say, especially younger folks.’ Rose lifted her mug and turned it in her palms, enjoying the heat it gave off and remembering the awkwardness of her flatmates when she got the news of Olivia’s car accident.

‘You sound like a granny saying things like that.’ Abby jested. ‘What, are you like fifty?’ She poked with a twinkle in her eye and a cheeky wink.

‘Twenty-eight, actually. Cheeky!’ Rose dipped her fingers in her hot coffee and flicked them at Abby childishly, smiling as she did so.

‘Old then. Not as old as Rob, but almost. You two are totally ready for slippers by the fire and matching bathrobes.’ Abby flicked some sugar from her doughnut back at Rose and received a pout in response.

‘Shut up, weirdo. I guess it’s a date, we can be sad and single together. Maybe it’ll be you and me buying matching bathrobes soon enough.’ Rose giggled at that and Abby only cheered.

‘I actually like the sound of that, it’s about time I had a decent girlfriend. Most of the chicks my age suck. They either moon over my brother or just want to know how much money he’s worth.’ She pouted and blew a strand of hair off her forehead in the most childish manner.

‘I promise to do neither of those things; if you’re lucky I may even be persuaded to go to second base at the party.’ Abby laughed at Rose’s joke.

‘Then I’m most definitely taking you.’ Abby jested with a wink and a smile and both girls laughed.

Somehow, the conversation seemed to flow even more fluidly after that, lost with a mug in hand and cakes on a plate. The subjects they covered were vast and random. Two minds alike in so many ways, both with a quick sense of humour.

After their coffee, they went through two pots of tea and more than half of the confectionery, giggling like school girls and finding the most insane things to talk about as the time drew on and they chatted and laughed, finding more in common than they ever thought possible.

Abby had a quick wit about her, a cheeky tongue, and almost verging on the crude when it came to her jokes. She was refreshing and honest and said exactly what she meant. There was no second guessing. She was upfront and didn’t mince her words which Rose absolutely loved; she was the kind of friend Rose missed having, the kind she’d left behind in Edinburgh to embark on a career as a freelance illustrator so many years ago.

When Abby’s phone lit up and beeped she made her apologies about leaving. Explaining her brother was here to collect her so she didn’t attempt to walk home; it was getting late. He had obviously returned home, from wherever, and discovered she was still here. Rose felt her heart quicken at the thought of him coming here, sitting outside in his purring black car only feet away and pushed down the blush she felt rising.

How the hell could that ass have such an effect on her?

She walked Abby to the door and stood in the open frame, feeling the cool night air on her skin and getting hugged goodbye. She was relieved when she saw he’d waited for Abby part way down her road, far enough to keep his distance, but close enough she could make out his profile in the car when Abby illuminated the interior by opening it. Looking at his sister and saying something that made her smile, she saw him smile too, an easy, happy natural smile as his eyes ran over his sister’s face. He pinched her cheek and received a bat on the arm from Abby before they were drawing away and heading into the darkness.

For an asshole, he really was incredibly handsome! It did crazy things to Rose’s stomach, in a way that wasn’t entirely bad. But then enraged her for the ability to do it.

Jerk!