Page 44 of Midnight Mooring

As they discussed the coming festivities, I stewed silently at her side.

Conversation continued without me, and I caught Quinn staring with puckered brow before he mouthed You okay? I nodded, listening to my friends discuss everything from the Highland Games to Torin hiring some woman out from under Tierney to manage his hotel.

A tap on the shoulder drew my gaze from Cameron’s profile up to a familiar face. A woman I recognized from a gig we’d done on Scaris stood at the table, smirking down at me with a knowing flash of heat in her eyes.

Fuck.

I’d hooked up with this woman.

I struggled to remember her name, which made me feel even more shit and awkward.

The conversation at the table died, and I was afraid to look in Cameron’s direction when the blond put her hand on my shoulder. “Forde, it’s so good to see you again. We’ve missed you on Scaris.”

I shifted out of her touch, and her expression fell ever so slightly. “Aye, it’s been busy here.”

She bit her lip, considering me, and then, all props to her, she pushed on. “Can I buy you a drink?”

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I could feel Cameron watching out of my periphery. “Eh, thanks but no. I’m just here with my friends tonight.”

“Oh.” The blond stepped back, her gaze turning suspicious as she looked toward Cameron. “Right. Another time, maybe.”

I didn’t watch her walk away because my head was too busy whipping toward my neighbor. Cameron was already chatting to London about Kelly’s progression with her piano lessons. It turned out London had once been a bit of a piano prodigy and when she married Murray, she’d started teaching her stepdaughter how to play.

“It’s been difficult because we’ve been so busy with the cooking school,” London replied. “But hopefully we’ll get a better hang of things the more experienced we get.” She referred to the school she and Murray had opened. It was mostly for tourists who wanted to learn how to cook local Scottish cuisine. London was the teaching chef at the school. However, quite a few locals had signed up for lessons too.

I was happy their business was doing well.

I just didn’t want to talk about it right now.

In fact, I didn’t want to talk to anybody but Cameron.

Pissed off and never good at hiding it, I brooded at the table for the rest of the evening until my friends took turns darting concerned looks my way. Finally, Taran announced she was exhausted, and she needed to get up early to open the charity shop she ran that helped keep the lifeboat service funded, and she and Quinn departed.

Murray and London were quick to follow their lead, and Cameron gave London a very obvious pleading look that was ignored.

“I’ll walk you guys out.” She shoved back from the table.

My hand shot out before I could think about it and I wrapped it around her arm. “Wait. Please.”

Cameron sighed. “I’m tired, Forde.”

“Then let me walk you out.”

I deliberately took long enough collecting my drum from Aodhan’s office for the others to have left the Lantern, and Cameron seethed with irritation as we finally stepped out into the cool evening air. A strong breeze blew up off the harbor and within seconds, we felt the spit of rain droplets on our skin. It made a musical sound as it hit off my drum.

“Better get home before it pours. ’Night.” Cameron moved to rush off.

“Wait! Please.”

She halted, her back to me.

I waited, impatience riding me.

Finally, she turned. Her expression wary. “What is it?”

“You haven’t unblocked me on your phone,” I blurted out, not even knowing that was the first thing I’d say. But it had hurt when I realized she’d blocked me and now I was fucking pissed off about it.