Bad Boy (Invertary 5)

“That’s your plan? Wait until Millicent dies until you have a life you want? It’s not much of a plan, Vicki.”

“It’s not much of a life,” she whispered.

Before Lawrence could say anything else, Katy ran over to them, waving a bright pink Barbie car. “Look what I found. Do you think Muma will let me get it for school?”

Lawrence watched as Victoria’s face melted with longing. “I don’t think you need a Barbie car for school.”

Katy’s whole body slumped. It took Victoria all of three seconds to crumble.

“But it is the sort of thing an aunt can buy her niece,” she said.

Her reward was two small arms wrapped tight around her hips. “You’re the best aunty ever.” She squeezed hard before running back to the toys.

Victoria never took her eyes of her niece.

“Come work for me.” The words were out of Lawrence’s mouth before he knew they were coming.

Victoria’s head snapped up. Her shock was priceless and he knew exactly how she felt. He didn’t know who was more surprised by his offer.

“What?”

“Work for me.” He nodded. The words felt right. In fact, the more he thought about it, the better the idea became. “I’ll hire you. The firm will train you. You’ll earn a decent wage. I’ll help you to find somewhere to live. It’s the perfect solution. Work for me. Change your life. Do it, Vicki, before it’s too late.” He let out a sigh. “There are things in my life I regret. Things I should have dealt with, but waited too long. It’s how I lost my wife. I ignored my marriage and concentrated on building the firm. She wanted children, but I was too busy for them. Before I knew it she was gone, married to another man, starting a family with him. I don’t have children. I’m fifty-seven. The time for children is past. Don’t be like me. Don’t wait until it’s too late. You can change your life. You have no excuses now. If you want to work, if you want to move out from under your mother, then take my offer. Think about it.”

Lawrence left her to it and stepped out of the shop. Heavy clouds were gathering over the hills surrounding the town and the air felt balmy. Summer storm, he thought. Although June in the Highlands barely counted as summer. His hands trembled as he thrust them into his pockets. The past was too fresh in his mind. The mistakes he’d made were still there, raw and unforgiving. It wasn’t just the family he’d passed up on when he’d relentlessly chased his narrow-minded dream. It was a life he’d missed out on. His only friends were at work, and even then, they were more associates than friends. His family were long gone. His days

were spent working. His nights spent lonely, locked up tight in his expensive box, looking out on a vista he never actually had the time to get out in and enjoy. He couldn’t even remember the last time he’d had a holiday. It was all about work. And he was tired of it.

He looked around the small town that had welcomed them. Life in Invertary was different. Slower. People took time for each other. They knew each other. They enjoyed their town. As he said hello to a passing stranger, he thought about his words to Vicki. If it wasn’t too late for her to make changes, maybe it wasn’t too late for him as well. A small seed of an idea took root in his mind. His eyes fell on a sign in the empty shop facing him on the high street. And with a smile, he felt the seed begin to grow.

18

“A football team is like a beautiful woman.

When you do not tell her, she forgets she is beautiful.”

Arsène Wenger, Arsenal manager

It was a sign of how desperate Abby’s life had become that a trip to the bank was almost a holiday. When her business with the bank manager concluded, too quickly for her liking, she found herself dallying outside the bank in the hopes of stealing a few more minutes to herself. That was when she spotted him.

Flynn stood at the water’s edge facing out over the loch. He had on nothing but a pair of navy swim shorts, and his back rippled as he stretched his arms above his head. The sun caught the sheen on his skin, making Abby’s mouth water to taste him. She tried to pull her eyes away. She had to focus on her mother’s threat. Now wasn’t the time to get distracted by her libido.

Flynn dove into the cool water, making barely a splash. He sliced through the vast blue expanse, his strokes rhythmic, steady, powerful. Oh my...

“Here.” A tissue appeared under her nose, making her jump. “For the drool.”

Abby batted her best friend’s hand away. “Idiot.” It took serious effort to pry her eyes from Flynn to focus on Jena.

Her friend was decked out in work clothes—cut-off beige dungarees with a sparkly purple tee under them. She’d painted her nails to match the tee, and her hair was tied into a ponytail high on her head. She worked at the hardware store and had talked the owner into training her to become a handyman. She called it her apprenticeship, and she loved every minute of it. For a woman who looked like she belonged in a nail salon, Jena wielded a sledgehammer with glee.

“So you’re still kissing him?” There was no censure in Jena’s voice. No matter how annoying Flynn proved to be, if Abby wanted the man, Jena wouldn’t judge. Her friendship was a gift.

“No, we’ve stopped.” With a heavy sigh she pried her eyes from the loch. “We had a chat, decided now wasn’t the best time to get involved.” She thought about it for a minute. “Although I’m not sure we were getting involved exactly. Is three kisses enough to be involved?”

“For you, yeah.” Jena hooked her arm with Abby’s as she turned to walk back up the high street. “You don’t do casual, honey. And right now you’re under a lot of pressure. I’m worried you aren’t thinking with your brain. I’m worried you’re thinking with your—”

Abby smacked a hand over her best friend’s mouth. “Don’t say it. I beg you.”

Jena grinned against her palm. Abby dropped her hand. “Say what? Hoo-ha?”