Page 114 of Love Bomb

Rona shrugged. “Mainly because I didn’t want my parents getting their hands on it.”

“And it would have been ours,” her mother said as she shot to her feet. “We would have won in court. I can’t believe you’ve done this to us. You should be ashamed.”

Probably, Rona thought. But not so much.

She looked back at Caroline, who was making notes on her iPad.

“Is it true that you were about to dismantle the explosives and call off your attempt to blow up the folly, right before someone accidentally got hold of the detonator?” Caroline said smoothly.

Her mother paled and abruptly sat back down.

“Yes,” Rona said. “And I’d like to add that I forced Bain into helping me in the first place. If anyone is going to be prosecuted, it should be me. This was all my idea and it had nothing to do with him. He’s only here because I blackmailed him.”

The microphone was yanked from her hand.

“I didn’t give in to her blackmail.” Bain glared at her. “I made my own decision to get involved, and I take full responsibility for it.”

“Will you shut up,” Rona said, snatching the microphone back off him. “If they press charges, you’ll lose your license. Just nod and agree that I made you do it.”

He turned to frown at her. “I cannae do that, because it isn’t true.”

“Bain,” she hissed at him. “Sit down.”

Couldn’t he see that she was trying to save his career?

“You’re still talking through the microphone,” Dougal said. “You might want to cover it when you ask Bain to lie about stuff.”

Rona glared at him before speaking to Caroline. “Ignore Bain,” she said. “He’s sleep deprived. I bullied him into helping. Blowing up the folly is all on me.”

Again, he snatched the mic from her hand.

“That’s rubbish,” he said. “I did it because I wanted to do it. And I’d do it again if Rona asked.” He glared at Caroline. “And don’t you go judging me for it. I’ve seen the daft things Josh has done for you.” He looked around the room. “The bloody stupid things you’ve all done for the women you love. Even you, Matt Donaldson. You might be a cop, but you’d steal the Mona Lisa if Jena asked you to. That’s just what we do for our women. It’s the Invertary way.” His expression dared anyone to disagree with him.

Mostly people looked amused.

“Wait a minute,” Rona said. “The women you love?”

He looked at her like she was an idiot. “Why else did you think I helped you? There had to be a damn good reason for me to risk getting a criminal record and losing my license.”

“Love?” Rona said again, as she was having some trouble processing the word. “You love me?”

“Don’t be an idiot,” he said. “Of course, I do.”

Rona saw red. “Don’t be an idiot? DON’T BE AN IDIOT?” She put her hands on her hips. “You’ve never once mentioned love. Not once. Not when you proposed. Not when you asked me to stay in town. Not when you rambled on about needing more sex. Not once have the words come out of your mouth.”

He thought about that for a second before he winced.

“I thought it was implied,” he said.

“Implied?” Rona roared.

“Aye,” he looked a little sheepish, before he flashed that sensual smile of his. “Are you sure I didn’t say it?”

“Not. Once.”

“Well, it’s true.” He seemed to think about it. “Does that change your answer to staying in town?”

“I’m not talking to you right now.”