Page 19 of Knots About You
Between rounds, there was the usual low rumble of taunts. MacKay shouted something about retirement homes at Dad, who responded by reminding him he was a good five years younger than MacKay. Morag threatened to report the quizmaster to the council for favouritism in the question setting. The barmaid put a plate of chips in front of our team with a roll of her eyes.
‘So,’ Isla said to Claire during a pause while Kenny suffered through an argument about the definition of a peninsula. ‘How are you settling in?’
‘It’s an adjustment, but I started painting today, and it was so therapeutic. Who knew?’
Dad gave her a soft smile. ‘You let us know if you need a hand.’
‘Thank you. Owen has kindly offered to help in exchange for some marketing tips.’
Isla raised her eyebrows at me as if to saythat was my idea. I gave her a look that I hoped saidshut it.
Everything in me warmed and buckled at once.
The night wore on in a bubble of warmth. I couldn’t focus on anything but the redhead pressed against me. I barely knew her, but already I craved more, albeit maybe not in a pub with the whole damned village watching us.
When Kenny finally rang the bell and declared the Campbells the winners by a single point, I was itching to have Claire to myself.
People drifted over to say hello, both the curious and the kind. Claire held her own until finally she stood and pulled on her coat.
‘I should probably get back, I’ll have a thumping head by morning.’
‘I’ll walk you home.’
Isla opened her mouth, and I glared.
We said our goodbyes before tumbling out into the crisp night. I cursed that I could see Rose Cottage from the pub. I’d have preferred a much longer walk.
Her heels clicked, and I matched my stride to hers. Thankfully, she didn’t seem in a hurry to get home either.
‘Thanks for letting me crash your team.’
I wanted to thank her for crashing my life. But I didn’t want to let her know how pathetically I mooned over her already.
‘Anytime. We’re a welcoming bunch around here.’
Claire tipped her face toward me and narrowed her eyes just a touch. ‘And that’s all it is, just being a village welcome committee?’
My eyes caught on her lips, the porch light highlighting them as we stopped outside Rose Cottage. My breath caught as I lost myself in her gaze.
‘It’s not all it is.’
She smiled up at me, her tongue darting out to wet her lips.
‘Mutual trade, right?’ Claire leaned just a touch closer, and our hands grazed, her pinky sending a jolt of need through me. Such a slight touch. It should have been insignificant, but it had my pulse skipping.
‘Yeah. Mutual?—’
‘Goodnight, Owen.’ Claire cut me off before standing on her toes to softly drift her lips over my cheek. And in her eyes there was a devious little glint that told me she knew exactly the impact she was having on me.
And that she was enjoying it.
Such a brat.
Well, two could play her game.
‘Goodnight, Claire.’
She waited a few beats, uncertainty warring in her face, before she let herself into the cottage. Turning to me, she gave me a sultry look that about knocked me socks off, before bendingover at the waist to remove her heels. Her dress rode up until it gave me the tiniest peek at a scrap of red lace beneath.
