Jess gave her an inquisitive look. “What?”
“That first night, when you kindly walked me home, you said you had conjured up a picture of me from other people’s descriptions.” She raised an eyebrow. “What were you expecting?”
“Umm, I’m not sure. I don’t know.” Sighing, she continued. “I’ll be honest. I usually work for this women’s walking company in the summer, as a guide. There’s often, quite a few well-off, middle-aged American women on them.” She chuckled. “They tend to be a little more, err…forthright than most and don’t necessarily beat around the bush when they have something to say. Much like some of the guests we get here.” She cringed and quickly glanced at Rachel. “Not all of them I hasten to add.”
“You thought I might be like that then?”
Jess fidgeted. How on earth had she got into this? “No not exactly, no one around here has a bad thing to say about you. As far as they’re concerned, you’re wonderful.”
Rachel gave her a sideways glance. “And this made you skeptical?”
Jess mock pouted. “You’re making fun of me?”
Rachel laughed. “No I’m not. You just obviously have a very biased view of Americans.”
“Now you’re being sarcastic. My experience is just limited, and I’ve been proved to be wrong on many occasions. Anyway, if Julie can still like you, after Tom let slip one drunken night what a lovely and attractive person he thinks you are and still be married to her, believe me, that is something. It conjures up a person who is almost perfect in every way.”
Rachel looked a little embarrassed. “You’ve never heard a bad word about me in six years?”
Jess shook her head. “No.” She grinned wickedly. “Except…”
Rachel nudged her with her shoulder. “Funny.” And then had the urge to ask Jess if she found her as attractive as Tom had. Instead she said, “Just so that you have the full picture, I was born in America. I came to England with my parents when I was six, and shortly afterward my sister was born. My parents split up when I was fourteen, and I chose to stay with my father until I finished school. My mother and sister went back to the States. Since then, I’ve split my time between here and New York. At least, that is, once my mother got over my betrayal. My mother’s American and my father’s English.”
Jess nodded, interested that Rachel was giving her this information. “And your career?”
Rachel smiled. “I went to the Royal College of Art and then became a reasonably successful illustrator, much too both my parents’ disappointment…No, that’s not the right word. Disillusionment, maybe. It’s not what either of them had in mind for me.”
“Are they happy with your choice now?”
“Fairly. My father’s second wife is the most enthusiastic. My father wanted me to follow him into corporate business and my mother wanted me to be either a doctor, or married to a successful man. They both would have been happy if I’d been an accountant though.”
Jess chuckled. “Umm. I can imagine, but maybe not as happy?”
“No, you’re right. I like what I do.”
Rachel wanted to ask Jess’s history, but wasn’t sure if the redhead would want to discuss how she came to live with her uncle. She knew the basic story. What she didn’t know was anything about Jess as a person, only that she was loved and liked by those around her. She was too afraid to ask and Jess didn’t volunteer the information.
***
Jack stepped into the conservatory. “You all right, Jess?”
“Yes. Why?” She turned around and smiled as her uncle handed her a mug of tea before easing himself down into one of the wicker chairs next to hers.
“You’ve sat here for the last twenty minutes, staring out of that window at nothing.” He looked at his watch. “You’re never here midmorning.”
Jess often looked out of the window, usually the large one in their beloved observation room where she could watch the birds at the feeders. This one simply looked over to the yard. “I’m just a little tired and waiting for Mark. He should be along shortly. He’s dropping off the wood I ordered from Farley’s.” She was lying. Well not entirely; she was tired and she was waiting for Mark, but her thoughts were somewhere else.
Jack stood. “Want some fruitcake?”
“That would be good, thanks. Want me to get it?”
He squeezed her shoulder. “No, you just sit there. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Jess sighed. Rachel had been here, what? Three and a half weeks? Apart from the dinner on her arrival and yesterday when she had helped her with the gate, they had spent very little time in each other’s company. There was the occasional “Hi” and a quick chat, but that was all. Jess hadn’t even intruded on her afternoon teas with her uncle. So why then was she thinking about her? Why was she getting a stupid giddy sensation every time she saw her? Why when she touched her in the cab had she felt a rush of heat? She closed her eyes. And why on earth had she invited her to dinner tonight? She groaned. It was supposed to be Jack’s thank you to Tom and Julie for their support over the last few months.
“Why the groan?”
She jumped slightly before taking the offered cake. “Was it that loud?”
“Obviously because my hearing certainly isn’t what it used to be.”
Jess chuckled. “I’ve done a silly thing.”
Jack tentatively asked, “What?”
She looked over at her uncle and took a deep breath. “I’m afraid I invited Rachel to dinner tonight.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “And the problem is?”
“It was supposed to be for Julie and Tom. A thank you.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to make a big deal of it, that would just embarrass them.” He shrugged. “They know and like Rachel.”
“I know, but that’s not the point.”
“I really can’t see the problem.” He paused. “Why did you invite her anyway?”
Jess relaxed a little and leaned over toward him and said conspiratorially, “Don’t tell Marie, but she helped me with the gate at Earn Lodge.”
“Oh.” He looked disappointed and then said slightly irritated. “I thought Mark was going to help you with that?”
Jess dismissed her uncle’s look. “He couldn’t until this morning, and I didn’t want to chance leaving it, so I was trying to do it myself.”
“Good grief, Jess. Are you trying to kill yourself?”
“Rachel did a good job,” she replied defensively.
He rolled his eyes. “Well you’re both still in one piece I suppose. So I take it dinner is a thank you?”
“Right.”
“Well, you said it yourself that it was a thank-you meal.” Jack took her hand and smiled. “You worry too much.”
Chapter Four
Rachel looked up at the roof. Jess hadn’t noticed her. She was humming away to herself replacing a section of tiles that had been dislodged by a fallen tree. Rachel couldn’t help but admire the gusto of this woman, who didn’t appear to be afraid of anything. It was a cool, sunny day and Jess worked away in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. She was beautifully slender with small breasts that pushed pertly against the fabric. A faint tan, which would only grow as the summer took hold, emphasized every muscle in endless arms and legs. Rachel imagined her whole body was just as firm. She shook her head, surprised she was imagining what it would be like to run her hands over that body.
In your dreams Rachel, you wouldn’t know what to do with her. You’d probably bruise yourself if you got that close.
Jess suddenly felt a presence and looked over her shoulder. “Hi. Are you spying on me, or just waiting for me to fall?”
Rachel laughed. “I didn’t want to shout out in case I startled you. Jack would never forgive me if I was the cause of you seriously injuring yourself.”
Jess headed down the ladder. “I was just about to have a break. Care to join me? I have a spare mug.”
“Do you always carry two mugs?”
“Of course. You never know who might turn up and it’s always a good excuse for a break.” Jess poured out two teas and handed Rachel a large piece of carrot cake as she settled down on a step leading up to Ness Lodge.
“Oh this is good, your handiwork or Marie’s?”
“Cake, bread and puddings are Marie’s department. I couldn’t keep up with the amount we consume. I may have the biggest appetite, but Marie and Uncle Jack eat their fair share.” Jess frowned. “Maybe not so much Uncle Jack, but his appetite has definitely improved lately.” She gazed at the open space of where the tree had fallen. “How do you think he looks?”
Unsure of what she should say, Rachel decided such an open question deserved an honest answer. “I was shocked at first. He’s lost an incredible amount of weight. But it’s good to see the sparkle in his eyes is still there.”
Jess continued to look at nothing in particular. “Yes.”
Rachel felt the need to say something, but didn’t really know what, so she offered to help. It succeeded in diverting Jess’s thoughts as they decided Rachel could start loading the wood onto the trailer, along with the materials no longer required. Jess said, “It’s not that I don’t trust you up on the roof—”
“But if Marie caught me up there, she’d skin you alive.”
“Something like that.” Jess smiled at Rachel. “You know, you’re exposing a lot of prejudices, I never realized I had.”
Pulling on a pair of work gloves Rachel asked, “Besides me being American, what do you mean?”
Jess chuckled. “You’re not going to let that drop are you?”
“I might, it depends what you’re going to say now.”
“The way you tiptoed through the snow that first day, in your walking boots, I…”
Rachel glared playfully. “You thought I was all show and incapable of anything truly physical?”
Jess coughed and turned to hide her reddening face. “You’ll just have to prove me wrong.”
***
Later, as Rachel was loading the last of the logs onto the trailer, Jess could only admire her. It was obvious she wasn’t used to physical labor, although she was reasonably fit and certainly in good shape. Very good shape. Her enthusiasm was great and far outweighed the lack of experience. Also for someone who always looked impeccable, she wasn’t afraid to get dirty either. Jess shook her head in astonishment. Even dirty she looked neat and tidy. How on earth could one person be so perfect? She looked Rachel up and down and wiggled her eyebrows. Yes, perfect. All rounded in exactly the right places.
Rachel suddenly stopped and looked her way. Flustered at being caught, Jess croaked, “Not much more to load, I’ll come and give you a hand.”
An awkward silence engulfed them and Jess was convinced Rachel could read her mind.
Say something.
“I believe you’re going to Edinburgh on Sunday?”
Rachel paused, stretching her back as she looked at Jess. “Yes, there’s a meeting with the publishers first thing Monday morning, regarding the release of the book. Then I’m meeting a couple of friends who’ve never been before. I’m looking forward to showing them the sites. Apparently, our first stop is to be the castle, they want to see if it’s as amazing as it’s portrayed. Sitting high on that rock and overlooking the city below. London’s full of history, but it’s palpable in Edinburgh and they love that sort of thing and so do I.”
Jess nodded at Rachel’s excitement. “It is a beautiful city and that sounds like a good plan, getting business out of the way first so that you can enjoy it.”
“Yes, especially when you’re not particularly looking forward to it.” She glanced quickly at Jess, hoping she wouldn’t pry any further into the book publishing situation. Thankfully, this time she seemed preoccupied with other thoughts.
Chapter Five
“Jess, that’s Rose and Mark pulling up.”
Jess grabbed her bag and went through to the conservatory. “Told you they’d be here. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jack pecked her on the cheek. “Enjoy yourself.”
She smiled at his frown. “I will.” He’d been annoyed at her for not mentioning the party. It’s not that she’d deliberately omitted to mention it, she just wasn’t entirely sure about spending a night away from home at the moment. Julie hadn’t realized this when she’d asked her uncle if Jess was looking forward the céilidh.
***
Mark sounded a little anxious when she jumped into the back of the Land Rover. “Now Jess, we’re going to drop you and Julie off at the party first and then take your bags to the hotel. It’s just the other way around from what we planned.”
“Don’t worry. It’s good of you to give us a lift.”
Mark and his wife Rose laughed in unison before Rose said, “Too late, we’re already worried. We just want to be prepared with our strategy before we pick Julie up. And we’ll need you on our side.”
“Don’t tell me you’re frightened of her?”
Again, they replied in unison. “Yes.”
They all chuckled and Jess, agreed that it probably was the best plan to pacify Julie, who would be panicking at this very moment.
A little over an hour later they entered the outskirts of town. Julie looked at her watch. “Are we nearly there, Rose?”
Jess patted her knee. “We have plenty of time, stop pestering the driver.”
Julie glared before looking anxiously ahead. “I don’t want to be late. They said to be there by eight thirty, it’s supposed to be a surprise, remember.” She looked back at her friend. “I thought we’d decided on your black shirt for tonight?”
Jess raised an eyebrow. “
You
decided on my black shirt. It’s a céilidh, a family one. I don’t want to look like I’m on the...” She stopped. “I don’t want to stick out.”
Mark turned around with a mischievous look on his face. “You still look very good Jess, and you’re right, you wouldn’t want to give Maddie the wrong idea.”
Rose elbowed him in the side. “Mark.”
Jess looked from Julie to the two grinning faces in the front, as Julie quickly looked out the side window. She frowned and tugged at Julie’s arm. “What’s this about Maddie? Is she here?”
Julie turned around. “It’s her brother’s birthday party. Of course she’s going to be there. Why wouldn’t she be?”
“She lives in Canada.”
“She came back a few weeks ago and plans on staying. She’s finally left her husband.” Julie quickly added. “Didn’t you know?”