Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Now I knew why.
“You are all a very special family,” I said gruffly. “I hope you know that.”
“I guess … we’ve all been through a lot. It makes you appreciate what’s truly important. And reminds you every day to take care of it.” Robyn squeezed my shoulder. “I need to get back, but it looks good.”
“It does. Thank you.”
“Oh. The photo looks great. But I was talking about you. Being in love looks good on you.” She winked at me and strolled out the door, closing it softly behind her.
I was on absolute tenterhooks waiting for Eilidh to come home.
Wanting a direct line of sight so I could see her reaction without giving anything away, I sat at the island with my laptop. The little beep on my phone had me tensing on the stool. My head turned toward the door as it opened and Eilidh stepped inside, her gaze on me. “I think that went well.” She ran a hand over her hair, kicking her shoes off, and her attention snagged on the photograph for a second before she started walking toward me. “I mean it—” Eilidh abruptly halted and spun robotically back toward the photograph. Her jaw literally dropped.
“What the … how …” She gestured to it. “That’s … when … how …”
Chuckling, I hopped down and strolled across the room. I embraced Eilidh, huddling her against me. “Do you like it there?”
She gaped up at me. “How … explain?”
I shrugged with more casualness than I felt. “I offered to pay Robyn for it. She said no. So I explained how much I wanted to give it to you, and she presented it to us as a gift.”
“But how?” Eilidh’s fingers curled into my shirt. “I’ve been pleading for years for it.”
“Remember Robyn said she wouldn’t give it up for money?”
“Aye?”
“Well, she didn’t. She gave it up for love.”
Tears brightened Eilidh’s beautiful eyes. “She gave it up because you love me.”
My voice was hoarse as I replied, “So much, Eilidh Adair, I can’t even begin to explain how much.”
“I can’t believe you did this for me.”
“Do you love it?”
She nodded, wrapping her arms around me, her cheek pressed to my chest as she looked up at the landscape. “I love it so much. But I love you more. There will never be anyone for me but you.”
It had taken me too long to believe that was true, but finally I did. I pressed my cheek to the top of her head, cuddling her tightly. “Aye, nor for me, baby. Nor for me.”
Forty-One
EILIDH
My starting-over adventure had been going way too well these last few weeks.
I’d thought the gnawing pit in my stomach had something to do with how quickly my TV show was coming together, a complete industry anomaly.
It turned out, that feeling of dread, of waiting for the other shoe to drop, had nothing to do with how well my career change was going.
It also had nothing to do with me and Fyfe. We’d fallen remarkably easy into a serious relationship and embraced our family unit with Millie.
I was packing for a long weekend business trip with Theo. We were heading to London to meet with the London office of the streaming service who were showing all the signs that they were ready to greenlight this project. Fyfe was at Ardnoch Estate discussing new updates to the security system on the program that housed all their members’ personal and financial details.
Contemplating whether three pairs of shoes was overkill, my phone rang and I strolled toward where I’d placed it on the bed. It was Mum. “Hi,” I answered. “Do you think three pairs—”
“Eilidh.” Mum gasped out, tears in her voice.
My heart stopped. “What? What is it?”
“Someone took Millie,” Mum sobbed. “I’m so sorry.”
“Who took Millie?” I demanded, adrenaline rushing through me. An image of a woman I’d never met floated through my mind. Pamela. Millie’s mum. “How? When? Who? Have you called the police? Fyfe?”
“Yes. The police are out looking and Fyfe is on his way. I said I’d call you. I wasn’t there. My staff were. The kids started screaming at something in the playroom so all my staff went running, leaving the nursery empty for just a few seconds. Millie was napping in one of the cots. When they returned, Millie was gone.”
I felt abruptly lightheaded. “Was it Pamela? Did Pamela take her?”
Mum sounded breathless with emotion. “I don’t know who did it. I’m driving back from Inverness with your dad. The police are checking the camera feeds. Fyfe is on his way to check them too.”
Sickness rolled in my stomach as I hurried downstairs in search of my car keys. “I need to go to him,” I told Mum before hanging up. I couldn’t fall apart. I had to keep it together. Forcing myself not to think about Millie and how scared she must be, and that someone had stolen her … I shoved the horror from my mind. Fyfe and Millie needed me to keep my shit together.