Free Sealed With a Kiss by Rachael Lucas Page B

adding little details to the
plans he had made. He explained that there was an opportunity for the ailing estate to make some money.
    ‘What I plan is to renovate the old cow-byre and rent it out, along with a couple of old cottages on the west side of the island, which have been lying empty for years.’ He tore out
a sheet of paper, sketching his plans for the inside of the byre. ‘We can turn it into a bunkhouse – a hostel – for schools and colleges to use, and we can hire it out. They can
come here and use it as a base for wildlife studies in the bay.’
    ‘And my job is to renovate these cottages?’ Exciting as the ideas were, Kate sounded dubious. Her DIY skills extended to painting, changing a plug and some extremely haphazard
tiling.
    ‘No, no. You’re going to help me oversee the whole thing.’
    ‘Oh,’ Kate took a gulp of whisky. ‘Yes. Of course I am.’
    He grinned at her. ‘But not until you get that shoulder sorted. I’ll take you down to the surgery in the morning.’

4
Selkie Bay
    A week later, with the strapping only just removed from her shoulder, Kate was busy overdoing things at the cottage. Her boxes of belongings had finally arrived, having been a
victim of ‘island time’ – a phenomenon unknown to mainlanders, but very much a part of life on Auchenmor.
    Jean’s husband Hector, a man of few words but much kindness, had helped her to move the boxes from the wide hall of the cottage into their respective rooms. They seemed to have survived
their unscheduled holiday in a storage unit near Glasgow, and it was bliss to stack her much-loved books and DVDs on the deep bookshelves on either side of the fireplace. Having been instructed
that she wasn’t to do a bit of work until she’d recovered, Kate had explored the grounds of Duntarvie house thoroughly, spending hours sitting on the tiny beach that looked out towards
the mainland. She’d crept through the woodlands, catching wild deer unawares, and then collapsed back home by the fire, exhausted after broken nights with Willow, who was utterly adorable,
but woke as often in the night as a newborn baby.
    Kate hadn’t caught a glimpse of Roderick since the morning he’d dropped her off at the surgery. Morag, who had taken to popping by for a cup of tea mid-morning, once she’d done
the ponies, filled her in.
    ‘According to Jean, he’s off the island, seeing to the final details of this funding he’s sorted for the cottages.’ Morag’s eyes swept around the room.
‘You’ve made a good job of this kitchen. It’s a lovely shade of blue.’
    ‘I spent years living with Ian’s taste for neutral colours,’ Kate explained, opening a tin of biscuits. ‘I think it’s a little rebellion.’
    ‘And you found it in the town? I have to confess I usually make a trip to the mainland when I’m planning any decorating.’ Morag raised her eyebrows. ‘I know we’re
supposed to support local business, but I draw the line there.’
    ‘Ah. Phil in the hardware shop told me he hit the wrong button when he did his first online stock order. Apparently it should have been Marvellous Magnolia and not Morning Mist. He found
three cans in the storeroom, covered in dust.’
    ‘Sounds like you’ve had a spot of luck, then. I still think you should have let Ted give you a hand with the painting. Dr Sergeant would have a fit if he knew what you’d been
up to.’
    ‘I didn’t use my bad arm.’ Kate laughed. ‘And it’s not exactly the most perfect paint job you’ll ever see – look!’
    She pointed to the ceiling where several daubs of paint had missed their mark. Morag noticed, but didn’t comment on, the fine blue specks that covered Kate’s hair.
    ‘Och, nobody looks up at the ceiling anyway.’
    There was a scuffle as Willow, ears flapping, hurtled for the door, hearing approaching footsteps.
    ‘Did someone say the kettle was on?’
    Susan clattered through the doorway, nose pink with the cold. She scooped the excited