She lifted her chin slightly and noticed the distance between them had reduced again. Her heart hammered at her chest and, for the first time in so long, she felt something akin to desire begin to warm her insides. ‘I’ve just been a…’ she swallowed as he parted his lips, ‘a…friend,’ she stuttered.
He reached up and gently touched her cheek. ‘You have. And I’m grateful to know you,’ he whispered as he leaned and touched his lips to her cheek, his warm breath feathering lightly over her skin, causing a shiver to travel her spine. She closed her eyes and waited for his lips to move to hers, but when they didn’t, she opened them and cleared her throat, breaking the spell he’d cast.
‘Well… bye for now, Jules. Take care.’ He yanked the door open and sped off down the path.
When he was comfortably out of sight, she made her way to Kenneth and Morag’s shop, having berated herself a hundred times for her reaction to the man she absolutely didnotwant to want. Her sense of betrayal and guilt weighed heavy on her and she almost made a detour to cancel her plans with Caitlin.
Her friend, however, appeared from the direction of Lifeboat Cottage. ‘There you are! I thought you’d stood me up.’
Gathering her thoughts and plastering on a smile, Juliette replied, ‘Oh no, not at all. I just realised I’d forgotten the pizza.’
30
The next morning, Juliette was once again wide awake far too early. Not only was she nursing a hangover from the wine she’d consumed with Caitlin, but her stomach insisted on roiling every time she replayed what she now called ‘kiss-gate’ with Reid. Twice, this situation had arisen. Once, when he’dactuallykissed her and taken her completely by surprise, and once, when she’dwantedhim to kiss her, but he hadn’t. She could close her eyes and be back by her front door, the sensation of his lips so close to hers, the heat radiating from his body, the smell of him, tantalising and new. Then, she’d recall the way she felt when Laurie had first kissed her. Shy and sweet. How she’d fallen for him long before that even happened. How could she evenconsiderkissing another man? It was ridiculous and selfish and wrong.
But shehadwanted Reid to kiss her, nonetheless. And she hated herself for that.
There was a hammering on the front door, which startled her into action. It was a familiar sequence of knocks that she knew so well. She grabbed her robe and dashed down the stairs to see a huge figure looming at her through the stained glass.
Dex!
She flung open the door and launched herself into his arms. All the emotions she’d battled with over the last day or so bubbled to the surface and, feeling her brother’s arms around her, they spilled over in the form of tears.
‘Dex, I’ve missed you so much,’ she sobbed.
Concern crumpled his smiling face. ‘Hey, Jettie, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?’ he asked as he led her inside with his arm around her shoulder, slamming the door behind him. Once inside, he crouched to meet her gaze. ‘Come on, tell me what’s happened. Who do I need to have words with?’
She swiped at her eyes and waved her hands dismissively. ‘Oh, nothing, no one. Ignore me. I’m just happy to see you, that’s all.’
He stared at her; head tilted and with suspicion evident in his eyes. ‘Hmm. Not sure I believe you, but you’ll tell me in your own time, I suppose. Now, point me to my room and I’ll get my leathers off. Stick the kettle on, eh? I could murder a cuppa.’
‘Top of the stairs and to the left,’ she told him with a genuine grin replacing what was there before.
Dexter made his way up the stairs two at a time, his rucksack bouncing against his jacket. ‘Back in a sec!’
Juliette went to the kitchen and filled the kettle before getting out the fresh almond croissants she’d bought when she’d called for pizzas the night before. A few moments later, as promised, Dexter appeared in jeans and a T-shirt, his frame filled the doorway like a cuddly brown bear and his familiar smile warmed Juliette’s heart.
‘Ooh, croissants. Great. I’m bloody starving.’ He grabbed one and almost stuffed the whole thing in his mouth. ‘Delicious,’ he said, regardless of the crumbs he sprayed.
‘Disgusting!’ Juliette chastised with a smile and an eye roll. ‘Anyway, how come you’re here at seven in the morning? It’s a bit early isn’t it?’
He pulled out a chair and plonked himself down on it. ‘I stopped at one of the hotel chains on the motorway on the way and when I woke up early, I figured I’d get an early start. Quiet roads.’ He shrugged. ‘Anyway, how are you? I mean, how are youreally? What were the tears for?’
‘Honestly, it’s nothing, I’m fine,’ she insisted. ‘I’m just a wee bit hung-over, that’s all.’
‘Listen to you, all Scottish.Wee bit,’ he repeated in a terrible Scottish accent that made her giggle.
‘Don’t go talking like that around here, will you? You’re likely to get nobbled! Anyway, how was your ride up?’
He curled his lip. ‘Wet. Although, it’s good to see the sun’s shining here. Did you order the weather in especially?’ He grinned.
‘Well, of course I did. Only the best for my big brother. Look, I’m due to open the museum soon, so what are you going to do all day?’
He shrugged and stuffed in another croissant. ‘I’ll come and see the amazing museum that’s stolen your heart, then I might go for a wander. You could point me in the direction of that old croft of Mum’s.’
‘Great. Although don’t go being a nuisance. Remember, I’m here for a while longer yet.’ She was teasing.
He pouted and placed his hand over his heart. ‘Little old me? A nuisance? How very dare you?’
