Page 30 of Highlands Homecoming

“Aye. I do. I’m … coming to Scotland,” he said with a chuckle.

“Great! Can’t wait to see you!” Melissa laughed. “How long are you staying?” she asked, sipping her dram, her tone more serious now.

He stared into the fire, unsure what to stay. “As long as you stay,” he said, finally looking up into her blue-green eyes.

Melissa was stunned. Now the tears returned, but this time they really were tears of joy.But was it really real?“But what about your job?”

“I quit.”

Melissa’s eyes widened. “You quit? Just like that?”

“Maybe with a little help and inspiration from my last client, but yes, I quit. And it was my decision. My boss was more than willing to work with me, but I realized I’m just not living the life I want to lead, so I decided to make a change.” A determined furrow settled on Colin’s brow.

“What about your friends, condo, furniture, your car …”

“I’ll rent out the condo, and the rest is not important. I need to be here,” he said. “With the people I love,” he added.

“And if I didn’t live here …?”

“I’d be searching for you. There’s been something missing for a long time. My spark. The zest of life. It sounds rubbish, but it’s true, Melissa. You’ve reminded me how to enjoy life, and I want to do that … with you.”

Melissa drew in her breath as Colin reached out to gently caress her cheek.

“I know we’ve only been seeing each other for a few months. And you had no idea I was going to live here. It’ll take some time to process everything. But … let’s at least start dating. Can we do that?”

Melissa threw her arms around Colin. He held her close and gently kissed her neck, cheek, and finally her lips.

“Fancy a treat?”asked Sandy as he held a treat out for Bella, the beautiful golden retriever with an unhealthy fascination with gloves.

Bella tilted her head to the side, gazing intently at the treat.

Sandy set the treat down. Just as before, Bella bent her head down, let the glove go for a nanosecond, then wolfed down the treat. But this time, Sandy snagged the glove and quickly stuffed it into his pocket. Bella looked at him, bewildered.

“Where’d that glove go, Bella?” he said with a chuckle. “I think it’s time we go outside and try the whistle.”

Steadying himself with his cane, Sandy slowly made his way across the living room to the front door. He slipped on his jacket, stepped into his boots, and opened the front door. Bella dashed out as if she’d never had any training at all. He chuckled.One step at a time.

Chapter12

To keep her mind off of her troubles, Melissa spent as much time as she could at the inn. She hung the artwork in the dining room, entryway, and upstairs hallways and guest rooms. She hung lovely blue tartan curtains in each window. A small wooden cutout of a sheep and a Highland cow sat on the front desk where guests checked in.

Lindsay had finalized the menu, and Elspeth had taken it to the printers. Sydney was putting the final touches on the seating arrangements for the big opening night. She tapped Melissa on the shoulder. “Melissa, I have a man who says he knows you and wants to sit at your table?”

“Colin MacGregor?”

“No, it’s a Dave something?—”

“No!” Melissa spat out the word so fast that Elspeth, used to Melissa’s sunny demeanor, was taken aback.

“Please, no. He’s my ex-husband, and he … he shouldn’t be here.”

“Enough said.”

But it wasn’t enough said for Lindsay. “How dare he try to follow you around, haunt the places where you’ll be?”

“He’s just trying to get a rise out of me.”

“Definitely don’t let him come, Elspeth. This is a soft opening for locals only. That means people we know.”