Some Kind of Wonderful (Puffin Island 2)

Tears blinded her and she gave a choked laugh. “Who needs GPS and radar when we have the Puffin Island spy network.”

“I’m observant. I ran past your cottage and you weren’t there. Which means you walked here from a different direction and that direction happens to come straight from Seagull’s Nest.”

Brittany wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “I thought you were a historian, not a detective.”

“There’s an overlap. I’m assuming Zach is the reason you’re looking as if your pet has died.” He offered her his water and she shook her head.

They’d known each other for years, since Alec had arrived on the island to write his first book on naval warfare. Introduced by Ryan, they’d discovered a surprising number of overlapping interests. Since then Alec’s career had soared, thanks to his on-screen charisma and talent for presenting complex information in a way that fascinated the general population.

He’d slotted naturally into their friendship group, although in reality, between her travels and his, they spent very little time together.

“Basically I’m crap at relationships,” Brittany muttered and he gave a short laugh.

“Then I’m going to be very short on good advice because I’m crap at relationships, too. There are some things man never seems to get better at, despite studying.”

“And woman.” She sniffed and leaned her head on his shoulder. “You studied it? Seriously?”

“I read a few books.”

Of course he had. Studying was Alec’s answer to everything. “But it didn’t help? How are things for you?”

“If by ‘things’ you mean my ex-wife, I can tell you that things have never been better between us.”

Knowing how scarred Alec was following an acrimonious divorce, Brittany was surprised. “You’ve reached an understanding?”

“We have.” He spoke in the smooth British accent that had American audiences swooning. “She doesn’t contact me, and I don’t contact her. It’s the happiest we’ve ever been.”

Brittany gave a choked laugh and shook her head in apology. “I’m sorry. I’m not really laughing.”

“Laughter is healthy.”

“Someone needs to invent a GPS that helps navigate relationships. They’d make a fortune. Do you ever think about your marriage?”

“I try not to.”

“Well, for the record, I think your ex-wife is crazy.” Brittany gave him an affectionate nudge with her

shoulder. “Does she know there are a million women out there who dream about being married to you? You are the original Action Man.”

“That was part of the problem. The outdoors was something she liked to admire from the other side of a double-glazed window. If it was something that was going to mess up her hair, she wasn’t interested. I can only stay indoors for so long before I want to break out. I’m like a caged tiger. That’s why the balance of writing the books along with the TV shows is perfect.”

“Do you ever think about what went wrong?” She did. Since coming home, she thought about it constantly. She’d been so upset, it had stopped her from taking a long hard look at her own actions. It had been easier to blame Zach for everything.

“I know what went wrong. Our problem was that we didn’t like each other. We had nothing in common outside the bedroom and sex is never enough to sustain a relationship.” He glanced towards her and frowned when he saw the tears on her cheeks. “Never seen you cry before. Do you want me to call Emily? Ryan?”

She shook her head, touched by the offer. “I’ll be fine, but thanks.”

“I hate to be the one to break this to you, but you don’t look fine, angel.” His kindness was the final straw.

She stood up and pulled herself together. “I will be after a few strong cups of coffee. How about you? Are you going back to England anytime soon?”

“December.” He stood up, too. “I have a meeting with my publisher and I’m giving a talk at the Maritime Museum in Greenwich.”

“You’ll be over there at the same time as Sky. You should give her a call. You could go to her exhibition. Have dinner or something.”

Alec gave a faint smile. “I don’t think so. I’m doing a twelve-step program to give up my addiction to having dinner with beautiful, high-maintenance women.”

“Sky isn’t high maintenance. Far from it.” It frustrated her how many people took one glance at Sky’s blond good looks and made that same judgment.