Bad Boy (Invertary 5)

“Funny, oh so funny.” Flynn tugged her back into his chest.

“Are you feeling okay? Do you need to lie down?” Abby’s voice was muffled against him. She was grateful for the teasing, as it cut through the horrors Millicent left behind.

“I am seriously regretting falling for you now,” he grumbled.

And against all odds, Abby started to laugh. She felt Flynn lean down and whisper in her ear.

“I do love you, Abby.”

She held him tight and felt his muscles tense beneath her hold.

“Aren’t you going to say it to me?” He sounded so affronted at the thought she wouldn’t that it made Abby laugh harder.

She looked up from him to find the room empty. “Where’s Victoria?”

As she spoke, they heard a second car’s engine start. Lawrence walked into the room, grim and worried.

“She’s made a run for it,” he said.

“Lawrence?” Abby said.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go after her.” Lawrence patted Abby’s hand.

“Tell her...” Abby bit her lip, her mind a jumble of emotions and thoughts that might never be properly processed. “Tell her we need to talk.”

Lawrence nodded firmly, then headed out of the house.

As Abby watched him go, she felt pain overtake her.

“You do love me, right? I mean what’s not to love?” Flynn’s voice jarred her back to the present.

“I think you love yourself enough for both of us, Flynn,” Abby teased.

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Evil woman. I will make you say the words. You can count on it. I haven’t lost a challenge yet.”

“Shut up and kiss me.” She needed him to whisk her away from everything—if only for a moment.

And thankfully, he complied.

37

“Football is simple, but the hardest thing to do is

play simple football.”

Johan Cruyff, former Dutch national player

“I saw her heading to the loch,” Dougal said to Lawrence as soon as he entered the pub.

“Thanks,” he told the man behind the bar, as his shoulders sagged with relief. He’d feared she’d run further. Somewhere he’d never catch her.

“She was crying.” Dougal’s usual boom was toned down to almost normal levels. His face, which was a carbon copy of Santa Claus, held worry. “She seemed lost, as though she didn’t know what to do with herself or where to go. I don’t like seeing anyone in that state.” He eyed Lawrence speculatively. “Are you taking care of this?”

“Yes.” He headed for the door, before turning back to the pub owner. “Don’t give away our rooms. We’re moving to town and it will take a while to find a place to live.”

Dougal’s face broke out in a wide grin. “Will you be opening an office here?”

“When I can. There are a lot of loose ends to tie up in London.”