Chapter 34 Quinn
“It all looks good.” Ramsay strode out of the Keatons’ house to stand with me as we looked up at it.
I tossed the keys into the air, studying our handiwork and feeling proud. “It’s crackin’.”
“It is. All signed off?”
Building control had been this morning, followed quickly by the building warranty officer, who had just left, leaving me and Ramsay to lock up.
“All signed off. The Keatons arrive this weekend to pick up the keys and see it for the first time.”
“One thing off your plate.” Ramsay rubbed the nape of his neck. “Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful.”
I shook my head.
Yesterday, Taran and I had met Ramsay in the Lantern.
While he had been able to trace where the call came from using phone mast trilateration there had been only one call made on the phone and that was to Taran.
It was clearly a burner phone and there were no other call or text records.
And while Ramsay had traced the call, he couldn’t trace the phone, which meant it had been switched off or destroyed.
Strangely, the call had come from Glasgow.
Which had Taran racking her brain, thinking of any confrontations she’d had in recent history when she lived there. I reminded her that Eoghan McCall had moved to Glasgow with his wife, so he surely had contacts there too.
Ramsay had his own contacts search the CCTV in Oban. Taran had many questions about how he’d managed it, but Ramsay evaded and Tierney distracted. Unfortunately, they’d lost Taran’s attacker too.
“You’re doing what you can.” I winced. “Taran might be onto you, though.”
Ramsay frowned. “How so?”
“She kept asking me how you could get access to the camera footage from Oban. Why you knew about phone trilateration and tracing. I told her you were in the military and had some connections who could help. But … your ringtone is the Austin Powers theme song. It’s made her suspicious.”
To my shock, Ramsay let out a bark of laughter.
Eyebrows raised, I was incredulous as he grinned at me. “I thought you’d be pissed off.”
“So, Taran’s a bit suspicious. As long as you don’t tell her, we’re good. But Austin Powers?” He shoulder-checked me as he passed. “Cheeky bastard.”
I chuckled, calling after him. “Tierney’s changed you!”
He grunted and pulled open the door to his SUV. “Change my ringtone. I’ll see you back in Leth Sholas. What time are we meeting Taran?”
“In two hours.” I gave him a two-finger wave and headed toward my truck, eager to get back to town. To get back to Taran.
“Quinn!”
My pulse jumped at the sound of my name, and I glanced over my shoulder only for it to start racing.
Taran wore her hair loose, and it blew back from her face in the strong breeze as she strolled toward where Ramsay and I waited for her.
Right on the plot of where the LSLS Charity Shop would soon stand.
My blood heated at the way her shirt molded to her breasts and stomach against the wind.
Last night, it had taken me ages to fall asleep, wishing she was in my bed with me.
Wondering if she wished the same. Hoping that the giant fucking risk I was taking by entering into a casual relationship with her would work out for us in the end.
She tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear as she stopped before us, and she didn’t avoid my gaze, which I took as a good sign. “Hi. What’s happening?”
“Planning permission was approved.” I gestured to Ramsay. “We’re going to start work on the foundations today, but we wanted you to know. The kit company started the building before approvals since Aodhan was so sure it would happen. The kit will be here in two weeks, and we need to get started.”
Taran beamed, her gorgeous smile lighting up her entire face. I didn’t think I’d seen her smile like that since before her return to the island. It momentarily stunned me. “That’s fantastic!”
It took a minute to breathe past my sudden windedness. “We’ll get on with it, then. Any questions, let us know.”
“It’s not just you two doing the foundations, is it?”
“No, a few lads from our crew are on their way to help. We should have them done in time for the kit’s arrival.”
“Amazing.” She searched my face. “I’ll … um … so just keep me updated?”
“Aye. And … I’m here. If you need me.”
A slight flush crested her cheeks as she understood my meaning. Taran’s smile was surprisingly and adorably shy as she nodded before striding back toward Pages & Perks.
“You’re fucking, then?” Ramsay asked bluntly. “I thought so yesterday, but that just confirmed it.”
I flicked him a dirty look. “Do you have to be so crass?”
His pale gray eyes sharpened. “Was it crass? Or are you just feeling a bit sensitive?”
“I remember you being very sensitive anytime I mentioned you had feelings for Tierney.”
“Aye, and you were right.” Ramsay shrugged. “Look … I just … if you need to talk, ay …”
I rubbed at my beard in frustration. “She just wants it to be casual.”
“Trust me, she’s lying to herself. I recognize the signs.”
His words let me hold on to my hope because I remembered how stubbornly my friend tried to keep things casual with Tierney, and how he broke it off with her when he realized he was in love with her. Yet they’d found their way back together.
“Just give it time.” Ramsay clapped me on the shoulder. “And plenty of great sex.”
I grunted but nodded. “Aye. I will. And this”—I gestured to the plot of land—“I’ll make this happen for her.”
“Then let’s get a move on.”
Ramsay had barely said the last word when my phone rang. It was a standard ringtone, which meant it was just an acquaintance, a stranger, or Kiera. For some reason, it felt inappropriate to give my ex-wife a tongue-in-cheek ringtone.
I pulled the phone out of my pocket. “Kiera.”
My friend jerked his chin up in response and walked away to get started on the work.
Phone to my ear, I listened as Kiera told me she was returning my call.
It had been too difficult to tell her about what happened to Taran in Oban last Saturday, but I wanted her to be aware of the possible situation and be vigilant with the kids.
I’d called her several times, but she hadn’t been around to pick up. Now, I relayed everything.
“You really think it could be Eoghan?”
Kiera had obviously been around for the entire tragic incident and the aftermath of Eoghan trying to blame me and Forde.
“We have no other suspects. Just … keep an eye on the kids.”
“They’re really looking forward to seeing you on Friday but … Quinn, is it safe?”
“Do we let this person dictate our actions? Normally I’d be extra cautious, Kiera, but this is my last weekend with Heather before she leaves for uni.”
“I know. And I know you’re the best person to look after them. Angus would throw a fit if we cancelled. He’s been talking about seeing you nonstop.”
Pleased, I smiled at my feet, anticipating seeing my son in just a few short days.
“He likes Taran.” My ex-wife’s tone was tentative.
“Good. She likes him too.” I cleared my throat. “Speaking of Angus, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I need you to have a word with Gary about this ice rink thing.”
Kiera’s sigh was a weary one. “Och, don’t you think I already have? Gary … he means well, Quinn. He adores Angus and just wants the best for him.”
“He’s also fairly new to the Highlands and doesn’t understand how these things work. I want my son to dream and shoot for those dreams, but I don’t want someone filling him with hope for something that won’t happen and will only break his heart.”
“I know,” Kiera agreed. “Gary and I had a bit of an argument about it on Sunday. He gets it now. He’ll stop. I mean, he’s still going to follow through with the petition, but he’s not going to mention it to Angus anymore.”
“Good. I don’t mean to be a prick about it.”
“You’re his dad. You get to ask about these things.”
There went my ex-wife proving again how cool she was. How lucky I was that this was the state of play between us. Knowing how bad things were between Murray and his ex made me extra grateful for Kiera.
“He loves Angus, Quinn. Know that your son has three parents who love him very much and just want the best for him.”
“I do. I know that.”
“Maybe … maybe one day it’ll be four parents …”
It was strange how not strange it was talking to Kiera about this, considering Taran had been the reason our marriage was over long before it ever legally ended. Maybe because she was one of only three people who really understood what happened to us. “I’m not getting my hopes up.”
“She still loves you.”
My heart stopped. “How … how do you know that?”
“Because … Taran Macbeth has always looked at you like you hung the moon. She still does. I don’t think even she’s aware of it.”
Christ, I wanted that to be true.
“Selfishly, I want you two to get back together so I can forgive myself for my part in it.”
“There’s nothing to forgive, Kiera.”
“I think there is.” Her tone was sad, remorseful. “I wouldn’t change having Heather and Angus … but I would change how it happened. For Taran. For you. For me.”
“We can’t.”
“I know. But I can hope that you’ll get her back, Quinn. I’m happy, and I just want you to be happy too. Taran, as well.”
Emotion thickened my throat.
So much fucking pain and loss and torment for almost two decades, and yet there were no villains here. Just fate and circumstance.
“Thank you for being you, Kiera.”
Her reply was shaky with emotion. “You too, Quinn.”