Chapter Thirteen
Brann
B rann levered off the remaining window frame of the old boathouse, using the crowbar that had offended Ophelia in this very spot when they had first met. There was something incredibly satisfying about the crack as the frame broke away. He grabbed it and tossed it aside.
Barbara had organised some people to clear the place as she’d promised all those months ago. It still stank of damp and would take some work to get it habitable, but what a location. Once it was finished, holidaymakers would pay big bucks to stay here. This was the place of dreams. Even working here this week had been nice. A retreat with its own loch, woodland all around and peace, perfect peace. He dusted off his hands and went inside, picking up the pieces of frame that had fallen in.
A clicking sound broke the silence and Brann checked around the doorway, back into the main room. The front door opened, and Ophelia nipped in, dressed in running shorts, a tight crop top, and very white trainers. Her long hair was tied back in a slick ponytail. Why was she here? By the looks of things, she hadn’t noticed him. She tiptoed across the room to a window he hadn’t knocked out yet and peered out. Was she hiding from someone?
Brann crept up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. She shrieked, jumped a mile, and whipped around. He burst out laughing.
‘What the bloody hell are you doing here?’ She fanned her hand on her chest. ‘You scared the living daylights out of me.’
Still chuckling, he patted her on the upper arm. ‘Sorry. My bad, but why are you here?’
She gave a little shrug. ‘I asked you first.’
‘I’m doing the work I’m employed to do. This place was next on the list you gave me, so here I am.’
‘I didn’t see your van,’ she said.
‘Harrison took it to pick up some supplies.’ He folded his arms. ‘Now, your turn. What are you doing here? If you didn’t know I was here, you can’t be here to check up on me.’
She let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead.
‘Are you hiding from someone?’
‘My father invited James for another visit, but I can’t face him today. I went out for a run to get away from them, but I saw the Land Rover on the track. My father must be giving him a tour of the estate and probably trying to find me at the same time.’
Brann smirked. ‘You’re a funny one, aren’t you? Will you still be doing this after the wedding? Running into the woods and hiding from your husband?’
‘I want this to work, but on my own terms. When my father sets things up, it’s so horribly fake. Please, if they come looking, don’t tell them I’m here.’
‘I won’t.’
‘Thanks.’ Ophelia gave him an appreciative nod and scanned around. ‘It’s looking good in here. You really are a good builder.’
‘Um… Ok. I’ve barely started yet. Are you after something?’
‘Why?’
‘Because you’re being so nice.’
She huffed out a little laugh, then squinted out of the window and frowned.
‘Have they found you?’ Brann asked.
‘No. But come see this.’
Brann moved in close behind her. His carnal instincts pushed him to put his arms around her and keep her safe from her pursuers. He didn’t want them to find her. The caveman inside him said, she’s mine . Which, of course, was rubbish on so many levels, but he couldn’t completely suppress the urge to take care of her. Standing behind her so he was almost touching her, he peered over her shoulder, following her sightline. A dishevelled man was staggering along the lochside, close to the edge of the trees.
‘He looks a bit suss,’ Ophelia said. ‘Do you think he’s a poacher?’
‘Looks more like someone who’s been sleeping rough for a while.’ He resembled a homeless person crossed with a hippy.
‘Should I confront him?’ Ophelia said.
‘Unfortunately, someone has taken your antlers, and it looks like a job you shouldn’t attempt without them.’
She turned around and gave him a dry look.
‘Let me.’ He placed his hand on her shoulder. ‘Just in case he’s violent.’
‘You think I can’t handle myself?’
‘I know you can, but you’re too beautiful for this.’ He raised his hand to her face and ran his thumb down her cheek, the raw urge to touch her winning over common sense. ‘I wouldn’t want him rearranging these features.’
‘Brann, really.’
‘Yes, really,’ he whispered.
The sound of an engine made them both stop.
‘Shit. That might be my father. I have to hide.’
‘It might only be Harrison. Let me check.’
‘I’m hiding anyway. And if it is my father, don’t let him in here.’ She disappeared through the doorway into the side room.
Brann opened the front door as Rupert heaved himself out of an old Land Rover. On the other side, James got out, adjusting his tie and looking like he’d just survived a ride across the desert in a dune buggy.
‘Hello,’ Brann said.
‘Ah, you’re here,’ Rupert said. ‘Where’s your van?’
‘Harrison’s nipped to the hardware store. We need a lot of supplies to get started here.’
‘I’m just popping in to show this place to James. It’s quite rundown, as you see.’
James nodded.
‘But the plans are very ambitious. This part would only be the living area and there’s to be a full extension out the back for the rest of the house.’ He stepped inside and James followed.
Brann moved to block the doorway to the other room, where Ophelia was hiding.
‘It’s a great location,’ James said.
‘Indeed.’ Rupert looked at Brann. ‘You haven’t seen my daughter coming past, have you?’
‘Nope.’ Brann leaned on the door frame. ‘I’m going to have to ask you gents to keep out of this room.’ He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder. ‘It’s got… um, faulty electrics, and I can’t guarantee the safety of it until it’s checked properly.’
‘Ah, right. No problem,’ Rupert said. ‘We’ll leave you to it.’
Brann followed them to the main door and watched them get into the Land Rover. Once they’d driven away, he returned to the side room. ‘You can come out now. They’ve gone.’
Ophelia sidled out and let out a low moan. ‘This is such a nightmare.’
‘Of your own making, I might remind you.’
‘Don’t. Is that man still hanging about?’
‘Nah.’ Brann checked out the window. ‘Your dad might see him and tell him to clear off.’
‘I should probably tell him.’
‘I would have told him, but I was too busy hiding you.’
‘Yeah. Thanks for that.’
Another engine sound caught their attention and Ophelia stared at Brann. ‘Not my father again, surely.’
‘Jump in, just in case.’ Brann held open the door to the side room, then went to the front door and opened it. ‘It’s Harrison. You can come out.’
‘Thank goodness for that.’ Ophelia came out and dusted herself off. ‘It stinks in there.’
‘Damp.’ He eyed her, and she smiled at him. The words he’d said before drifted back. He meant them. She was beautiful, and that smile made her even more so. Harrison’s arrival made it impossible to say anything else. Just as well. Brann had betrayed more than enough – not only to her, but to himself. Whatever harmless obsession he had with her didn’t need to get real. Not that it could… Don’t let the feelings get too deep .
Harrison came in and glanced between the two of them. Heat rose in Brann’s neck. Explain yourself or he’ll suspect. And with good reason.
‘So, you think it’s, um, big enough then?’ he asked, cursing himself straightaway.
Raising her left eyebrow slowly, she smiled. ‘For what exactly?’
‘The utility room.’
‘Oh, it’ll be fine. Size isn’t everything, after all.’
Harrison smirked, shaking his head. ‘So, I got all the stuff. I’m just gonna bring it all in. Do you need anything else from the van while I’m there?’
‘Some more three-inch nails.’ Brann picked up his hammer and play-smacked it on his hand. ‘For my coffin.’
Harrison sniggered and went out. Brann turned to Ophelia. ‘I—’
‘Dad.’ Harrison reappeared. ‘Do you want the planks in too, or will I leave them there just now?’
‘Leave them for now.’
‘Ok.’ He left again.
Ophelia was leaning on the windowsill. She let her arm fall nonchalantly, then slow clapped. ‘Ha, ha, ha…very funny, I’m sure.’
‘What?’
‘Getting him to call you “Dad”.’
‘What?’
‘I know he’s your brother.’
Brann furrowed his brow. ‘Um, no, he isn’t.’
‘Yes, yes, very good. You can keep this up all day if you want, but why bother?’
‘Because it’s true.’
She stared at him with narrowed eyes. Brann didn’t flinch. Not the first time someone had mistaken Harrison for his brother, but somehow it bothered him more that Ophelia didn’t know the truth. What had she taken him for? A baggage-free single guy? He’d have to disappoint. He was a single father of two, with a lot of baggage.
Harrison returned with armfuls of boxes.
‘Who am I?’ Brann turned to him.
‘What?’
‘What is my relationship to you?’
Harrison grinned. ‘You’re my dad.’
‘Well, obviously he would say that.’ Ophelia shook her head. ‘Is this some little scenario you’ve cooked up between yourselves to make me look silly?’
‘Not at all. I swear he’s my son. I’ve got birth certificates and photos to prove it. I’ve also got a daughter, Caitlin. You maybe saw her at the Highland Games.’
‘That was your daughter?’ Ophelia’s eyes widened. ‘I thought she was somebody you were seeing.’
Harrison doubled over laughing.
‘Are you kidding me?’ Brann’s jaw dropped. ‘She’s only sixteen.’
‘Well, I could see she looked young. I thought she was about twenty. But so what? I don’t know what age you are. You definitely don’t look old enough to be his dad though.’
‘I’ll take that as a compliment, but I assure you I’m old enough. I’m thirty-seven, he’s nineteen.’
‘Wow… Well, that’s… nice.’ She met his eyes, and he read something new there – appraisal perhaps, or judgement. Definitely questions. Were her insides burning to ask for details? If they were, she kept her cool and said nothing. ‘I better leave you to get on.’
He watched her go, then shut the door behind her as she left.
‘Ouch,’ Harrison said.
‘What?’
‘She’s not happy about that.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Because guys with grown-up kids aren’t as attractive as rugged single blokes. She doesn’t want to be my stepmum.’
‘Shut the fuck up! Like there was ever any danger of that.’
‘Stop denying it. You wanna do her. Why was she here? Were you two snogging in the backroom?’
‘No, we bloody weren’t. Now, stop talking about this.’ He needed to rid himself of her, not keep going on, but whatever he did, every path seemed to lead back to her, and he couldn’t find an escape route.