Before Highland Sunset (Special Ops Scots #1)

Chapter 1

ONE

ALEX

I stared down at the final signature line on what felt like a mountain of paperwork and wondered if I was signing my life away. Not that I regretted going into business with two of my best mates, but buying property felt like a huge commitment when so much of my life had been lived for the short-term. Especially as I hadn’t even seen the place yet. But I trusted Callum Quinn and Finley Patterson with my life. We’d survived far worse than purchasing joint real estate during all our years together in the Royal Marines. All of us were retired now, and this was the first real step in putting down roots. If I came to regret it, it wouldn’t be because of my friends. I had unfinished business here in Glenlaig that they knew nothing about.

Resigned, I scrawled my name one last time.

Alexander Conroy

“I reckon that’s the last of it.”

Hamish Colquhoun, the local lawyer who was overseeing the paperwork and title transfer, flipped through the contracts to verify all three of us had signed and initialed in the requisite spots. “Aye, everything seems to be in order, gentlemen. My office manager will see that everything is filed appropriately and copies are made for each of you. You’re welcome to stay here while she does that, or you can take the keys now and pop back by later.”

Finn predictably shoved to his feet. The man waited for nothing unless he had to. “I’m for picking up the paperwork later.”

As Theo Gordon, the seller, had already done his bit earlier, in order to get back to a job site, it was Hamish who handed over the keys. “Congratulations. We’re all very excited about your outdoor adventure company.”

Callum paused, fingers clenched around the keys. “We havenae said what sort of business we’re opening.”

Hamish’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “Ewan mentioned it at poker night a while back. And, well, it’s a small village, aye?”

Ewan McBride—aka Sentinel—aka our former section leader, who’d retired before all of us and come home to buy the local pub. He was most of the reason we’d chosen to settle here instead of elsewhere in the Highlands along more typical tourist routes.

Callum grunted in a tone I knew meant annoyance. As the last of us to retire, it would likely take him the longest to acclimate to civilian life, especially since he’d had no intention of giving up his career for years more. I knew what that was like, though it hadn’t been injury to put an end to my service.

Three years into my own retirement, I was still finding my way, feeling almost as untethered as I had the day I’d walked away. There’d been a moment when I’d had another choice. A shot at a very different life. But I’d chosen the familiar instead and botched that chance beyond belief. I’d been waiting for it to bite me in the arse all this time. By moving to Glenlaig, the wait would be over. I just didn’t know exactly how soon I’d have to face the consequences of that decision.

“We will actually have to advertise, ye ken?” Finn prodded. “There’s no business without customers.”

Callum’s grey eyes narrowed.

I pushed back from the table. “Aye. Right. We’ll be going then. Thanks, Hamish. C’mon, lads. I want the full tour.”

The village itself wasn’t large. Our new building was easily within walking distance of the law office. But as it was currently pelting rain, we elected to drive. I was fine with that. From my position in the backseat, my head stayed on a swivel, scanning the street and buildings beyond the water-streaked glass. Few people were braving the weather, though I expected that to change after working hours. For many, the warm, inviting pub on a rainy evening was just the thing. I fully expected my business partners to suggest we head that way for a toast after the tour, and I was already trying to come up with an excuse. I wouldn’t be able to put them off long. In truth, it was pure cowardice that had prevented me from dealing with this years ago. But I just wanted another day to find my footing before I faced what—or rather, who—potentially awaited me inside Ewan’s pub.

Finn turned off the high street just past the newsagent and onto a tree-lined road that wound away from the village proper. A quarter mile down, he pulled to the kerb in front of an unassuming building that disappeared back into overgrown trees. The sign out front read Furry Friends Highland Haven.

I leaned forward. “What exactly did this place used to be?”

Finn shut off the motor. “A pet spa, apparently.”

“Seriously?” I squinted at the red brick facade and tried to picture it. “I can’t imagine there’d be much need for such a thing somewhere like this.”

“Aye. Which is why the building’s been for sale for more than a year.” With that pronouncement, Callum got out of the car and rounded the bonnet.

Finn and I followed, reaching the door just as Callum got the lock open. We stepped inside, out of the chill autumn rain. Someone switched on the overhead light. A half-dozen anemic fluorescent bulbs flickered madly for a few seconds before finally deciding to stay on. I looked around the front of the shop, which contained only a dusty counter set on peeling linoleum tiles. It was clearly meant to be a reception area of some sort. The bulk of the building presumably lay beyond the door on the back wall, but I suddenly had grave trepidations about what they’d gotten me into.

“Really? This is what we just paid for?”

Finn swung an arm around my shoulders. “Just wait till you see it. It’s got lots of potential.”

“Lots of work, he means,” Callum grumbled. “But it’s the best pre-existing building in the village that can be converted to suit our needs. It would’ve been a lot more expensive to buy land and build from scratch.”

As I noted a wet spot on the ceiling that needed addressing in short order, I hoped he was right. I’d spent most of the last three years working for my brother’s construction company, doing restoration work and additions. I well knew how much rot and ruin could be hidden behind walls and beneath floors. We wouldn’t know for sure what we were in for until we started ripping things out. At least I had the skills to do something about most of it.

I followed Callum through the door into the back. Again, we were met with fluorescent lights. The back of the building was fairly massive for a village this size. The walls were lined with empty chain-link kennels. Most of the center portion was covered in artificial turf that had, presumably, been the play area during snowy winter months and rainy days. I appreciated the fact that it had been cleaned and there was no lingering odor of pet waste. Small mercies. As I walked around, Callum began talking about what needed doing.

“Obviously, we’ll need to do a facility build-out to better suit our needs.”

I was only half listening as I scanned for signs of impaired structural integrity or other major issues. It didn’t look too bad on the surface, though I wouldn’t know for sure until I had a look at the foundation outside and checked the beams and joists in the attic. This part of the building had clearly been added on to a previous structure at some point in the distant past. There was no guarantee it had been joined correctly, so we’d want to make any necessary repairs there before we got too far down the list on Callum’s build-out.

“—split our time between renovations and exploring the area for adventure opportunities.” Of course, Finn would want to get out in nature immediately. The man would probably never come inside if not for inclement weather.

“Aye, that’s grand as a plan,” I interrupted, “but before we get started on any of that, I’ve got to find a place to live.”

Finn blinked. “I thought you were bunking with me.”

He’d rented a cottage on the outskirts of the village, within a stone’s throw of the nearest trailhead. The best descriptor of the place was cozy—which was fine for one person. But for two—well, I’d done my time in small spaces with my former teammate. I didn’t relish the idea of sharing with him, or anyone else, for that matter.

“For the short term. But much as I love you, mate, I want my own space.” Not least because Finn was a nosy bastard, and there were things that would come up from being here that I didn’t want to talk about.

Unconcerned, Finn just crossed his arms. “I’m sure we’ll find you something in a week or two. Now, what do you think about converting these kennels into individual storage for equipment?”

As the two of them continued discussing the potential of the space, I added more items to my mental to-do list. I wondered just how much of it I’d be able to accomplish before running into the one person I’d been avoiding for the past three years.