Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105748 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Especially as Taran brought coffees over to the site every day and wasn’t shy with her affection.
In other fantastic news, Eoghan McCall had left Glenvulin. He would be charged for dangerous driving and vandalism, but it wouldn’t go to trial. With him gone, we’d hopefully never have to see him again. Since his departure, there had been no more disturbances, proving my theory that he was behind the attack in Oban too. It galled me we didn’t have the evidence to put that one on him.
Even though he was a bastard, I’d once felt a tiny spark of sorrow for a man who genuinely seemed to be grieving his son. Now, however, I had no sympathy for him. The rage in that man was a danger to everyone around him. I didn’t want him near Taran.
Good fucking riddance.
It was a drizzly day, not the best weather to be working in, but if we didn’t work in days like this, we’d never work. Taran had been back and forth with coffees for the crew, and I turned to watch her hurry toward me in her rain jacket, two more cups in hand.
One for me and one for her.
She leaned up on her tiptoes to give me a quick kiss before handing the coffee cup to me.
“Thanks, Mo luaidh.” My voice was a bit rough with emotion because it was still surreal that Taran was here, kissing me … that she was mine again.
“It’s almost finished.” Taran beamed toward the store. We were just fitting windows now.
“Start the interiors after the weekend.”
“I can’t believe how quickly this has come about. I’m so excited to start tabulating inventory and taking in donations.”
Affection warmed through me. “It’ll do a lot of good.”
Something flickered over her expression, and she exhaled a bit shakily. “And provide you all with better equipment.”
When she didn’t meet my eyes, I understood.
The fears Taran lived with weren’t just going to magically disappear because she decided to take a chance on us. Grief and loss had been a part of her life since she was eight years old, and losing her mum was a second life-altering trauma. It had hit me like a lightning bolt that day at the lighthouse, realizing that Taran wasn’t pushing me away because of the past anymore. She was pushing me away because of her fears for the future. I couldn’t protect her from those fears; I could only support her through them. However, after much deliberation these past few weeks, I’d decided I could do my best to minimize her anxiety.
“Aye for the team … but that won’t be me anymore.” I took a casual sip of my coffee, enjoying the heat of it.
Taran was visibly confused. “What are you talking about?”
“I told Forde I can’t volunteer anymore. I’ll do what I can to help with fundraising and I can volunteer to man the station … but I won’t be going out on rescues.”
“Because of me?” She gripped my arm. “Quinn, no, I won’t let you do that.”
“I’ve made up my mind. It’s not just about you and putting you through undue stress. When I was out there, Taran, there were genuine moments I thought that was it. We were dead.”
Her breath stuttered. “It really was that bad?”
“We capsized at one point. And, aye, the boat can right itself, but we had to go out on the deck to throw a tow, and at any point a wave could have taken me. All I kept thinking was I had to get back to Heather, Angus, and you. No one knows what life will throw at them, and as much as I feel good that we saved people, I don’t think I can justify jeopardizing my family’s future happiness to save strangers. Not very heroic but …” He shrugged. “It’s time I start putting the people I love above everything else.”
“Quinn, you’ve sacrificed enough. If being a part of the rescue service means something to you, then you should keep doing it.”
“It doesn’t even come close to meaning to me what you and the kids do.”
“You’re sure?” she pushed.
“I’m absolutely certain.”
Taran wrapped a hand around my neck and tugged me down to her for a kiss that made me spill my coffee. I didn’t fucking care. I grunted into her kiss with feeling, wrapping my free arm around her to pull her deeper into it.
It was only the catcalls that drew us apart.
I flipped my crew the bird behind Taran’s back, making them laugh, but I kept my focus on her. Her beautiful face was soft and warm with the kind of love I thought I’d never see her direct at me again.
“I take it you’re glad?”
Taran nodded, stroking her fingers down my beard. “I never want to go through a night like that again.”
“What a mess this is!” a loud voice interrupted.