Chapter Twenty-Three
Monty
M onty picked up the clothes that were strewn around the annex. His two weeks were nearly up. He only had tomorrow left. How the hell had it gone so quickly? His chest was heavy, and he was only packing up now because he wasn’t sure what else to do with himself.
The conversation with Sophie earlier had been unsettling. His mind was clear on one thing though. He wasn’t getting back together with her. But her appearance had thrown a big ugly spanner in his well-oiled holiday fling. Iona had disappeared into the farmhouse as soon as they got back, saying she had things to prepare for her surf class the following day. He knew her well enough to know she was lying. She didn’t do prep work for starters.
Grumpy Iona had reappeared. He huffed out a sigh as he folded his clothes and dumped them on the bed. Maybe it was better this way. They’d have to part anyway, but falling out over nothing seemed silly.
He’d find her later and talk to her. He didn’t want to leave on a low note – and he wanted to thank her for everything she’d done for him.
Rain had drifted in with the wind and Monty had arranged to have dinner in the farmhouse. Catriona was still feeding him free meals in return for his help with the business and possibly because she liked the idea of him being a distant relative. Monty couldn’t deny that was pretty cool, if a little difficult to get his head around.
‘Is Iona about?’ he asked her as he took his seat at the dining table.
Catriona paused for a moment, rubbing her hands together. ‘She is, but she didn’t seem in a very good mood.’
‘I need to talk to her.’
‘Yeah… She, um, told me about the two of you.’
Monty nodded and put his forehead into his hand, leaning his elbow on the table. ‘I’m not sure I want to know.’
‘She didn’t say anything bad about you. It just surprised me a little. Iona is… Well, she doesn’t usually stick to the same person. Maybe my brain is warped after what happened to me with Eilidh’s dad, but I’m scared for her.’
‘She’s a very determined person, so I suspect she doesn’t listen to what you have to say.’
‘Not really. But I don’t mind that. She has her own life to live and her choices are her own. But she’s really taken to you. So, I guess that means she likes you… Quite a lot.’
He gave her a weak smile. ‘And I like her, but it’s difficult. This relationship, if we can call it that, can’t go on once I leave. It just wouldn’t be possible with the distance. I’m just sorry if I’ve broken your trust.’
‘How do you mean?’
‘By fooling around with your friend. Your lodger.’
‘You’re grownups. You can do what you like. Iona is my friend and you’re part of my family, even if I didn’t know that originally. But you seemed genuine from the first day and I don’t want either of you to get hurt.’
‘That’s why I need to talk to her. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I’d like us to part as friends.’
Catriona rocked her head from side to side and sighed. ‘Shame you can’t stay. You’ve got a good business head; you could help us out.’
He gave her a weak smile. ‘It’s a lovely thought, especially now that I have a historical connection to the place, but my job…’ He held out his hands. ‘I can’t leave it just like that.’
‘I suppose not. And island life isn’t for everyone. It’s not an easy lifestyle. I grew up here so I’m used to it, but Iona gave up her job to come here. That was a brave thing to do and she’s coped well.’
‘Yeah. She’s a strong person. And look at the talents she has. She wasn’t born for an office. She belongs to the sea and the wind. I don’t – no matter who my ancestors were.’
Catriona nodded. ‘Well, if you ever want to come back, you know where we are.’
‘I’d like to come back. There’s so much more to discover. I’d love to have more time to talk to your mum and hear her stories. I feel like I’ve only just scratched the surface of the island.’
‘It never runs out of surprises.’ She opened the kitchen door. ‘I’ll just get your dinner, then I’ll see if I can find Iona.’
‘Thanks.’ He rested his chin on his hands and looked out the window. Most nights, other guests were in here too, but no one had arrived yet and the room was quiet except for the ticking clock.
Catriona reappeared with his dinner and put a plate down in front of him.
‘Would you like some wine with that? You’re not paying for it, so I can serve it to you as a friend.’
‘Sure, if it won’t get you into trouble.’
‘It’ll be fine. But if any other guests come in and ask, just say you brought your own.’
‘Ok.’
She returned with a bottle and a glass. ‘Drink as much as you want.’
‘Thank you. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me this week. You’ve made me feel very welcome.’
‘For my third cousin… Anytime.’ She grinned. ‘I appreciate you helping me with the business. It’s really helped clear things up in my mind.’
‘I’m glad.’ He ate quietly, after pouring himself a liberal amount of wine. Why not? Maybe Iona wouldn’t want to talk to him, and he’d need to drown his sorrows, something he’d never done in his life before.
Catriona’s meals were always delicious, and tonight’s spaghetti Bolognese was no exception. He wolfed it down, adding plenty of cheese from the little bowl in the middle of the table.
The door opened and Iona came in. ‘You summoned me?’
He shook his head. ‘As if I have that power. You’re a free spirit who answers to no one.’
‘Am I?’ She gave him a little shrug. ‘Right now, I’m not sure I know who I am.’
‘You’re Iona. And there’s no one quite like you.’
She sat down beside him, leaned her elbow on the table, and rested the side of her head on her fist. ‘So, what did you want me for?’
‘Just to talk. To thank you.’
‘Thank me?’
‘Yes. To thank you for letting me have so much of your time… and you.’
She glanced down at the table. ‘Honestly, you don’t have to thank me. It was a pleasure… Literally.’ She side-eyed him with a smirk. ‘Shame it went so quickly.’
‘Yup. We knew this day would come, but no matter what arrangement we had, it doesn’t take away how difficult it is. We had something special and now it has to stop. That’s never going to be easy.’
‘I guess so. I suppose I’m just…’
‘Sad?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Me too.’
‘And now that you’ve got the prize you were after, we have to behave.’
He frowned. ‘What prize?’
‘Well, Sophie. She called. I heard it all, remember?’
‘Sophie isn’t a prize. She’s a person. I can’t win or lose her. All I did was in the hope that she’d see me for who I am… who I always was deep down – not someone boring and unworthy. I hoped if that happened, we might get back together. But I don’t want that now. It’s irrelevant because I’ve discovered parts of myself that I never knew existed, and that’s enough for me. I don’t need her opinion or her approval.’
‘That’s good, but maybe she likes the new you too.’
‘Maybe, but she never said anything about getting back together. She just wants to talk to me.’
‘But it’s pretty obvious that’s what she wants to talk about.’
Monty took a large swig of wine. ‘Maybe, but that’s on her. I don’t want to think about that right now.’
‘Ok. What do you want to think about?’
‘You and me.’ He leaned over and lifted a spare glass from the dresser, then poured some wine into it and handed it to Iona.
‘Thanks.’ She almost downed it in one.
‘I’d like to finish my holiday fling properly.’
‘Oh yeah? How exactly is that going to work?’
‘Well, it means we have to keep being nice to each other. I don’t want us to fall out, be in a huff with each other, or refuse to talk.’
‘I like the sound of that.’ A small smile crept onto her face. ‘But do you realise how many rules I’ve broken by seeing you for a whole week?’
‘Then thank you again.’ He leaned forward and tilted her chin to face him. ‘I appreciate your sacrifice. And I know you’re probably sick of me saying it, but I really do feel honoured that you’ve devoted a whole week of your life to me.’
‘Monty.’ She grinned and knocked his hand away. ‘Stop being such a sap.’
‘I mean it.’ He took another sip of wine. ‘I value every minute we’ve spent together and I want to cherish every minute we have left.’
‘I want to do that too.’
He met her eyes. All the beautiful moments they’d shared seemed to play in her dark irises. She’d given him a week, which, compared to what she usually gave, was something special. ‘You owe me nothing,’ he said, ‘But if you’re willing to devote one more night to me, then I’ll not only be privileged but gratified beyond belief.’
‘Sometimes you really sound like the banker you are.’
He raised his eyebrow, then choked out a laugh. ‘I blame my upbringing. With a father who wanted me to inherit a castle and a mother who thought I’d be Prime Minister by now, I hardly stood a chance, did I?’
‘You really didn’t. And I can sympathise. I definitely haven’t lived up to my parents’ expectations. But let me tell you something.’ She leaned closer.
‘Anything.’
‘I’m quite sure I’ll be up to the task of gratifying you in any way you please.’
He leaned his forehead on hers. ‘That wasn’t exactly what I meant, but how can I refuse?’
‘You can’t.’
Later that evening, Monty sat in the annex, staring at his phone, but not really focusing on anything. His mind drifted from Sophie to returning to work, to his mother, to his father’s ashes, to Iona. Always, he came back to her. He’d never known anyone quite like her and he wasn’t ready to say goodbye, even though he knew he must. A soft knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. He got up and opened it, his jaw dropping.
‘Iona… Wow.’ He ran his fingers through his hair, gazing at her.
She smiled, leaning her hand on the doorframe. A stunning black satin dress clung to her lithe figure, and her hair was styled in a messy updo. She wore makeup, which Monty had never seen her in before. Certainly, she didn’t need it, but it accentuated her features, making her look sultry, sexy and a little dangerous. She was almost eye to eye with him and when Monty saw the height of the heels she had on, it made sense. Her shapely legs looked even longer than usual. Monty gaped.
‘Good evening,’ she said.
‘You look incredible. I mean, there was no need to dress up. You’re beautiful just the way you are.’
Iona smiled. ‘I rarely get the chance to dress up, so I’m using this opportunity. Do you like it?’ She spread her arms wide, fanning her fingers.
‘I love it. You’re absolutely stunning. You always are, but this is…’ He shook his head. ‘Special.’
‘That’s what I want.’ She slipped inside and closed the door. ‘To make this special.’
Monty looked down at his own clothes and pulled a face. ‘Now I’m completely underdressed.’
‘You look pretty hot to me.’
He smirked. No one else had ever called him that and the funny thing was, he knew she meant it. If she’d thought him boring when he arrived, she didn’t think so now. She saw him for who he really was, liked him for stepping out of his comfort zone, but didn’t see the need to pressure him into being someone he wasn’t. She just encouraged him to try new things and didn’t mind if he didn’t get it right the first time or made mistakes. God knew how many times he’d fallen off that surfboard. But none of it made her judge him or think him unworthy.
‘Give me a second.’ He turned and rummaged through his bag, pulling out the white, smart shirt he’d worn the first day he met her. He whipped off his t-shirt and replaced it with the crisp shirt, buttoning it up as he turned around.
Iona closed the gap between them, putting her hand over his, preventing him from fastening any more buttons. ‘Why bother?’ She raised an eyebrow. ‘When I’m about to undo them all again?’
He moved his hands to her hips and held eye contact. ‘I’d love to kiss you, but I don’t want to ruin your make-up.’
‘Not yet.’ She pulled away and took out her phone from down the front of her dress.
‘Why is your phone in there?’
‘This dress has no pockets.’ She opened it up, flicking through screens until soft music played from it. She propped it on the windowsill and returned to Monty. Putting her left hand in his, she placed her other on his shoulder. He instinctively moved into a waltz position, and keeping their eyes firmly on each other, they revolved to the music.
Monty rubbed his palm against hers and she mimicked the action until the friction become oddly sensual. He drew her closer, inhaling her wonderful sea breeze scent. She rested her head on his shoulder.
‘This has been one heck of a ride, hasn’t it?’ She breathed the words onto his neck.
‘It really has.’
‘I don’t do relationships. You know that, but in a different world and under different circumstances, I would choose you.’
He let go of her hand and pulled her into a tight embrace, splaying his palms across her back. ‘Thank you.’ He could hardly get the words out. The soft music was a melancholic background, mourning the impossibility of their situation. Having a holiday fling had never been something he’d even deemed a possibility, and now it was happening. He hadn’t expected it to have such a profound effect on him. But she was right. This was something for another world. His life was in a totally different place. Neither of them could easily uproot and even if he did, she’d made it quite clear long-term relationships weren’t her thing.
What mattered now was making sure these last moments together were the best they could be. That meant holding on, not just to Iona, but to every precious second. This dance was beautiful and when he kissed her, it held so much depth and meaning. Later they’d make love, but it would be so much more than just a meeting of bodies. He would show her just how wonderfully special she was to him.