A Mother's Secret

Being sick over the side of a boat with a colleague could never be a good look.

After he’d navigated out of Millport harbour and set them well on their way he invited her down into the galley. It was cosy but certainly big enough for two people and a few kitchen appliances. He put the kettle on straight away.

‘You’re making me tea? I thought you promised me wine?’

‘Yeah, about that. Can’t get you drunk the first time you’re on my boat. I haven’t found out if you’re a good sailor yet.’ The kettle was already boiling and he was pulling teabags from a cupboard.

First time on the boat. Did that mean there would be a second? And, more importantly, would she want there to be?

‘How long do you think it will take to get back?’

‘A couple of hours. I’ve checked all the tide tables. We shouldn’t have any problems. Oh, and I phoned my mum to let her know what had happened. She’s happy to keep Isla until we get back.’

‘Thank goodness. I don’t know what I would do without your mum. She’s been a massive help.’

Logan shrugged as he poured the boiling water into the cups. ‘She likes it. She and Isla are good company for each other. I think she’d been getting a little bored lately. Isla’s given her the spark of life that she needed.’

Gemma paused for a second. ‘I met your sister the other day.’

He almost knocked over the cups. ‘What?’

‘Your sister Claire. She was at your mum’s house when I dropped Isla off.’

He hesitated, lifting a cup and handing it to her. ‘How did you find her?’

‘What do you mean?’ She looked up. She hadn’t been paying attention. It was clear from the expression on his face that he was choosing his words carefully.

‘Did she seem okay with you?’

What should she say? Was there really any point in tiptoeing around the edges? She took a deep breath. ‘I liked her. She’s a nice girl. But she did seem a little sad.’

Logan nodded slowly. ‘Anything else?’

Gemma shook her head. ‘Not really. She mentioned the fact she’d like a family and it hasn’t happened. We didn’t go into details. She invited me to join her book group.’

‘She did?’ He seemed surprised. His eyes fixed on the water outside. ‘That’s good. Claire hasn’t been very sociable lately.’

Gemma shrugged. ‘She was okay when I was there, but that’s the first time she’s met me.’ She hesitated. ‘And she seemed to like Isla. I was glad. I didn’t want her to feel put out that her mum was watching my little girl.’

Logan gave a half-smile. ‘I’d been a little worried about that too. But it seems to be fine.’

Gemma leaned back in her seat. ‘They are good company for each other, aren’t they?’ Should she mention the one thing that bothered her? Now was as good a time as any. ‘The thing is, Logan, your mum, she won’t let me give her much for minding Isla. I’m not paying her the rate I would elsewhere. Could you persuade her to let me pay her some more?’

He raised his eyebrows. ‘Seriously? You have met my mother, haven’t you?’ He shook his head firmly. ‘She won’t take any more and if you keep on about it, you’ll only offend her—so don’t.’

Gemma shifted in her chair. ‘I feel a little as if I’m taking advantage.’

Logan handed her a cup of tea and sat down next to her. ‘Like I’m taking advantage of you?’

They were close together. If she turned her head any more their noses would almost touch. She could feel her cheeks start to flush. What did that mean? Was this about the flirting?

After a few awkward seconds he broke in, obviously seeing that her mind was racing. ‘I mean, with the surgery and everything.’

Of course. Idiot.

‘Yeah, the surgery.’ She rested her tea in her lap. ‘You were pretty pushy about that.’

‘I was desperate.’

‘Obviously. But thanks for that.’

He lifted his hand, ‘No. No. I didn’t mean it like that.’ Then he caught the expression on her face and realised she was teasing him again. ‘Oh, stop it.’ He rested his shoulders back. The bench seat they were sitting in was snug. With his shoulders back like that, she would almost be more comfortable in his lap. He grinned at her. ‘Obviously I was desperate. Within two minutes of meeting you I’d glimpsed your underwear and started unpacking your daughter’s clothes for you. I can assure you that’s not a normal day for me on Arran.’

She started laughing. ‘Really? You seemed such a natural.’

He looked a little startled. ‘At seeing women’s underwear?’

She shook her head. The temperature in this confined space was definitely rising. Or maybe it was just the sparks flying between them.

This wasn’t the first time they’d experienced them. But this was the first time they hadn’t been surrounded by other distractions. There was nowhere else to go here.

‘No,’ she said quietly. His blue eyes were staring straight into hers. And even though her brain was telling her to look away, she just couldn’t do it. ‘At unpacking.’

His hand brushed against hers.

Her first instinct was to move it. But she wasn’t going to. Instead, she gave him a wary smile. Was there a chance she was reading this all wrong? It had been so long there was every possibility.

‘So, Logan. Other than with professional duties, how often do you glimpse women’s underwear?’

Talk about a loaded question. But she had to ask. She had to know if he was the local Romeo. Someone who should clearly be avoided. Her throat felt instantly dry and she willed herself not to go red from her toes to her forehead.

Playing cool, calm and collected was difficult for her. Mild flirtation she could handle easily. Being one to one on a boat in the middle of the sea? Not so much.

A lazy smile spread across his face, along with the glimmer in his eye that showed he knew exactly what she was getting at. ‘Now, Dr Halliday, is that a question you should ask your colleague?’

Had he just moved a little closer? Or was she imagining it?

And he certainly hadn’t wasted any time in asking her if she was a single parent. She ran her tongue along her dry lips. She could play this game. She might be out of practice but she could pick up the skills with the best of them. ‘Probably not, Dr Scott. But then again I’m not normally marooned at sea with a close colleague.’

The little lines appeared around the edges of his eyes as his smile grew wider. ‘How close a colleague would that be?’

His hips turned towards hers and his hand settled

on her hip. Her reaction was automatic, her hips turning a little, edging round to face his. She wanted to put her tea down, but anything that was going to make them break this stare or positioning was a definite no-no.

The air around them was practically sizzling. All of a sudden the thick, waterproof coat felt as if it was stifling her. Her lips were dry again. This time when she wet them with her tongue she was aware that he couldn’t take his eyes off them.

‘How close a colleague does he want to be?’ Her voice was barely a whisper.

He took the cup from her, setting it down then reached up his hand and ran a finger down her cheek lightly. ‘This close?’

She could barely swallow. She shook her head. ‘Closer.’

He moved forward, his lips brushing against her ear. ‘This close?’

She shook her head again, her hand reaching up and catching his.

His head moved, his lips hovering just above hers. ‘How about this close?’ he whispered.

‘I think so,’ she whispered, as her lips reached up to meet his.

Wow. No nudging of lips or gentle persuasion. This was a very definite full-on kiss. Logan was obviously a take-charge kind of guy, kissing her so thoroughly she was breathless. Then, as his lips finally released hers, he didn’t hesitate. He moved on to her neck, right at the sensitive spot beneath her ear. How did he know just where to kiss her? Just where would drive her absolutely crazy?

One hand unzipped her thick jacket. It was a relief. The temperature was rising considerably in this compact cabin and she managed to shrug the jacket off without breaking contact.

Her hands were itching to touch his skin. Her eyes were itching to see his skin. He might have had the pleasure of seeing glimpses of her that he shouldn’t, but she’d never had the same luck.

His jacket was already in a heap on the floor. He wasn’t wearing his usual work garb, he must have changed before he’d come to collect her. It made it so much easier for her to slide her hands underneath his T-shirt onto his bare skin and up over the planes of his chest.

She could feel the muscles rippling beneath her fingertips, feel the curly hair on his broad chest. His fingers were moving in return, unbuttoning her more sedate blouse—or at least the buttons that were left. He smiled as he pushed it open and looked at her pale pink satin and lace bra. ‘Now, there’s a sight for sore eyes.’