Chapter 12
MAIRI
Mairi paced her bedroom in Holly Berry Lodge.
She’d served Margo, Adam and Scott and had encouraged Greer to go for a walk so she could enjoy the scenery, hoping it would improve her mood – or at least give her one nice thing to write about.
Then she’d got Effie into bed, leaving her with Bear because the dog had refused to leave.
She’d made mince pies, a large fruit cake along with cupcakes and had left it all cooling in the kitchen, then she’d returned to her bedroom for a few moments to freshen up.
When she got there, she’d checked her mobile which she’d left on charge and had discovered Harry had called three times and texted twice. When she hadn’t responded, he’d resorted to sending an email.
A few days ago, his ardent attention would have had her jumping for joy – now she felt confused.
She’d come to Aberlinnie to secure a divorce before things got more serious with Harry.
There was no way she was going to get into anything while she had a husband.
Now she had no idea what she wanted. Things with Jed were more complicated than she’d thought – after hearing he wasn’t dating Bonnie, she had this tiny slither of hope lodged in the pit of her stomach and she wasn’t sure she was ready to let it go.
Added to that, Harry seemed to be getting more lovesick every day – which, considering they’d only ever been on chaste work-related dates, seemed excessive.
She frowned as she scanned his email for the third time.
From: HarryJMiles@
To: MairiFraserWriter@
Hi gorgeous lady,
I know you’re busy, but I just wanted to check that you’re still enjoying the flowers? I hope you understand they’re a sign that I’m thinking about you and I haven’t felt like this about anyone for a long time.
I was shopping yesterday and passed a jewellery shop. Something in particular called to me, and I’ve chosen your Christmas gift. I’ll give you a hint – I know this is fast, but I think we’ve connected on a spiritual level. I’m ready for a commitment, Mairi, and I’m hoping you’re on the same page.
Do you know when you’ll be back in Edinburgh so we can discuss it? Once you tell me, I’ll clear my diary and book that Chinese restaurant you love.
When you left, you said you’d only be gone for a few days. It’s almost Christmas and of course I can be patient, but I want you to know that I can’t wait for you to return. Once you do, I never want to be parted from you again.
Yours forever,
Harry xx
‘Oh boy,’ Mairi put the mobile down, feeling sick.
‘First, I don’t like Chinese food, Harry, which I’ve told you,’ she muttered, shaking her head before pacing to the window.
Things were getting out of hand. Harry’s feelings definitely were.
They hardly knew each other and now he was…
Well, these messages – while sweet – were over the top.
She swallowed. But this was what she’d wanted, wasn’t it? The security of a relationship where she knew exactly what was coming next?
She’d been into him, had enjoyed his company and had considered taking things to the next level.
But was that because she’d been so happy to have a man’s attention after what had happened with Mike and then Jed?
Had she been so desperate for love that she’d accept attention from any man?
The question soared around her brain, rattling her to the core.
She’d respond to the email later. Let Harry know she wasn’t going to be back until after Christmas, then they had to talk.
It wasn’t fair to keep him hanging on like this, feeding all his hopes and dreams. She knew exactly how that felt…
But she had to speak to Jed first, then decide what she wanted from Harry.
But as Mairi headed into the hallway to pick up fresh linen, she suspected she already knew what the future of the relationship was…
Mairi saw Jed in the hallway coming out of Effie’s room before he spotted her. She was carrying an armful of bedsheets, so her face was partially hidden which gave her the perfect opportunity to study him.
He was still wearing the tight underlayer from earlier.
It hugged his broad frame, drawing attention to his muscular chest and arms. She swallowed a wave of desire.
She could still remember the first time she’d seen him naked – just a few hours after they’d skipped down the aisle together in Las Vegas.
He hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her and he’d pretty much half stripped her in the elevator of the hotel before carrying her to his bedroom, dropping pieces of clothing in the hallway, some of which they’d never found.
‘Mairi?’ Jed said as he spotted her and froze.
She wriggled, trying to shake the powerful bolts of lust coursing through her limbs as the memory engulfed her.
‘Yes,’ she said hoarsely, ducking her head so he wouldn’t see the flush colouring her cheeks.
Would he guess what she’d been thinking?
‘Did you just see Effie?’ She tipped her head towards the door of his aunt’s room.
‘Yep. I topped up her medicine.’ He frowned, his eyes boring into hers.
‘She’s not going to be better for a few days.
’ He cleared his throat. ‘I know you’ve got your book to write and your—’ He swallowed.
‘He’s waiting for you to return to Edinburgh…
’ He looked at her intently, his expression unhappy.
‘I’ll get to the book,’ she said. ‘And Harry will have to wait.’
Jed narrowed his eyes. ‘Harry.’ He rolled the name around his tongue as if he were trying to smother it.
Was he jealous? The thought came from nowhere and lifted her mood. Jed wasn’t dating anyone and he wasn’t happy about Harry. Did that mean—
‘Where is everyone? I was promised interviews.’ Mairi flinched when Greer’s voice boomed from the ground floor. She must have cut her walk short. Probably so she could complain about the snow being too white…
Jed sneaked a look over the hallway banister and pulled a face. ‘She’s coming up the stairs,’ he whispered urgently. ‘Where can we go?’
Mairi shot back up the hallway and opened the door of the bedroom that had been allocated to the honeymooners arriving tomorrow.
‘In here. I’m supposed to be putting fresh sheets on the bed, so we have an excuse if she finds us.
’ She ducked into the large room and looked around.
Effie had stripped the bed earlier and this had been next on her to-do list.
Jed shut the door and leaned against it looking relieved and Mairi felt her stomach leap. They hadn’t been alone together in a bedroom since…
She cleared her throat as the oxygen seemed to dry up, and she put the bedding on a pretty patterned chair beside the large picture window, her hands trembling. She could see it was snowing outside and when she turned, Jed was staring – only she couldn’t tell if it was at her or the mountains.
‘You wish you were out there teaching?’ she asked, grabbing the bottom sheet so she could spread it over the mattress because she needed to do something with her hands.
The bed was queen-sized with a pretty white wooden headboard and there were matching bedside tables with blue lamps on either side.
‘Not really,’ Jed said and then paused, as if he were surprised that he’d admitted it. ‘I mean, I like teaching, but being out there hasn’t been the same since the accident.’ His face darkened.
‘Because skiing is uncomfortable for you?’ she guessed, smoothing the creases on the sheet.
Trying not to focus on the wide, open space between them – or think about how it had felt when they’d been tangled together, naked and beaded with sweat.
They’d been honeymooners once. It felt like a lifetime ago.
Jed swallowed as if he were thinking the same thing.
The slight imprint of his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat making Mairi remember how it had felt to run her tongue down his neck.
He’d tasted so good – of salt and snow. She’d never realised that snow had a flavour – or that she was addicted to it – until she’d kissed him.
The first time had been when she’d gone to see him in Vegas.
Until that point, she’d tried to hide her crush – he was Quinn’s best friend and he wasn’t interested in her.
Any long looks she’d caught him giving her hadn’t meant anything.
But then they’d been alone and suddenly all the feelings they’d both kept hidden had spilled out…
‘Not anymore.’ Jed abruptly grabbed the other side of the sheet and pulled it into place, then worked with her as she tucked it in.
The action was so domestic, so… well, it was the type of thing she’d dreamed of doing with him when they’d married.
Simple household chores, that would have meant so much more because they were doing them together.
Only – her stomach squeezed – they’d never had the chance.
‘Why aren’t you competing then?’ she blurted.
She’d never understood why Jed had gone back to Holly Berry Lodge after his long stint in the hospital.
She knew from Quinn that his collarbone and knee ligament had healed, and she had expected him to get straight back on the slopes.
When he hadn’t, she’d wondered if it had had something to do with her. Although how could it?
‘I’ve got my reasons,’ Jed rasped, avoiding her eyes.
Irritated, she turned and grabbed a pillow before hurling it at him, hitting him mid-chest.
‘What was that for?’ His expression was part shocked and part annoyed like he couldn’t decide how he was supposed to react.
‘So you can put this on.’ She held out a white pillowcase, trying her best to look innocent.
His forehead creased. ‘You’ve changed,’ he muttered as he took the case and put it on.
‘You mean I’m no longer following you around like a snow groupie, doing everything you ask? Like living far, far away in Edinburgh while you get to pretend I don’t exist?’ she said, the anger spewing out of her, surprising them both.