She scrunched her brow as she wondered how he knew this already and if everyone on Skye was as obsessed with their canine companions as they were here. She nodded and he continued.
‘Good to meet you. I’m Kendric, I’ve been told you’re quite the hero to my nephew, Evin.’ He had the most lilting accent, more subtle than Reid’s, and very smiley eyes. He held out his long, tanned hand. She could immediately see what Caitlin had meant about his striking good looks. He was definitely movie-star material, although there was no movie star,orfamous man for that matter, to whom she could compare him. All she knew was that he was probably the best-looking man she’d ever laid eyes on – she sent up a quick apology to Laurie, who she knew would simply laugh at her goggle-eyed stare and tell her to stop catching flies.
‘Is the sun getting to you too, Jules?’ Archie asked, snapping her back to reality.
She touched her hair, then her forehead as her cheeks almost spontaneously combusted through embarrassment. ‘Oh, good grief, yes, I think it must be. I’m so sorry. Jules Fairhurst. Lovely to meet you too, Kendric.’ She shook his hand. He had a very firm grasp and smooth skin.
Bloody hell, get a grip, will you?
‘There’s no wonder. It’s such a scorcher today.’
‘It is.’ She glanced around. ‘Is Reid not with you?’
Kendric frowned and cleared his throat. ‘Ah, no, he’s… erm…’
‘Still down with the flu?’ she interjected, not wishing to force him to explain things.
He nodded. ‘Yes, that’s right. Poor guy. He might make it down a little later.’
‘Ah, good. So, have you brought your camera crew?’
He glanced around him as if expecting to see them behind him, then he laughed. ‘Oh no. Not this time. I was considering doing a piece on the games, but I figured what the heck, all work and no play, et cetera. So, I’m going to spend some quality time with Evin and keep Reid stocked up on flu meds.’ He laughed awkwardly.
‘Well, I’m glad you’re here for him. And it’s nice to meet you.’
‘Likewise. See you later, maybe.’
‘See you later,’ Juliette replied as she turned and wandered off to look at the other stalls. When she glanced back, she saw that a small crowd had gathered around Reid’s brother, but, strangely, his eyes were fixed on her. She immediately turned away.
She made her way to a row of portacabin toilets and waited in line, tapping her foot to the music before one became free. Once inside, she locked the door and heard loud whispers.
‘Do you think she wants him back, then?’ a female voice asked.
‘Pfft. Well, she can swivel if she does. Although, I’ll say one thing, Evin should definitely go and live with her. It’s where he belongs. And if it was up to me, that’s what would happen.’
Leanna.
‘So, you’d get him all to yourself, you mean?’ the first woman giggled.
Juliette held her breath and strained to hear.
‘Erm, I’m a married woman, Celia. What do you take me for?’
‘I take you for someone who’s obsessed with a man she can’t fecking have, that’s what.’
‘I think you’ll find that if I made itknownthat I want him, I’d damn wellhavehim,’ Leanna scoffed.
‘So, what’s stopping you? Apart from the obvious, of course.’
‘If I wanted to have an affair, Donny couldn’t stop me. But, anyway, that dog snogging bitch is trying to get her claws into him. Have you seen how she swoons over him? It’s pathetic.’
‘Oh, that Janet woman? What do you mean dog snogging?’
‘She probably gave Chewie the kiss of life to impress Reid.’
‘Oh yeah! Probably. It’s pathetic.’
Juliette opened her mouth in a silent growl, her brow creased, and her fists clenched.Janet? My name’s Juliette, you cow. And I didn’t snog Chewie!
