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Rainne and Alastair

“I have nothing to say to you”

Alastair’s words sliced through the fragile courage Rainne had wrapped around herself She looked down at her purple ht back the tears that prickled The boots, which she’d thought were fun when she’d bought theainst the pristine white snow

“I’d like the opportunity to explain” Rainne looked back up at him

He’d bulked out in the past three years, er, harder, colder Yet there were still touches of the man she’d known—hair that flopped onto his forehead, sinfully lush lips that begged to be nibbled and sharp, intelligent eyes that

“I don’t need explanations, Rainne” He folded his ar the doorway to the old abandoned church “It was a long tilanced behind hiet back to work”

There was scaffolding around the building and a sign saying it was being renovated Invertary was going to get its first ever spa It wasn’t where she’d expected to find Alastair She’d gone to his workplace first, the fishing tackle shop Alastair oith his father, but there had been a sign on the door saying they were closed due to bad fishing weather It said in case of an eo to the old church She wasn’t sure what constituted a fishing en led her to Alastair

“You’re doing building work now?” Rainne said, trying to buy a minute more of his time with inane small talk It was pathetic She was pathetic

“Helping out a friend”

They stood in aard, heavy silence

“Can we talk, Alastair, please?” Yeah, she had no proble she deserved “I’m really sorry about what happened and want to explain”

He shook his head “You’ve had three years to explain You could have taken the chance when I found you in Glasgow the week after you ran away As I remember it, you wouldn’t even open your door to h “Look, we both know you’re only here because Lake’s gettingIt’s best for everyone if you just enjoy your brother’s wedding and forget about the past I have It’s over It’s done You want absolution, you’ve got it You can carry on with your life guilt free You were right; I was too young I jurown up now and I won’t ain”

His golden brown eyes stared right through her His face was blank He was utterly closed off to her

“We done here?” he said

She flinched at his words Were they done? Yes, it seemed so Rainne wanted to curl in on herself, but she didn’t She wasn’t that person anyeous, but she’d worked hard to stop cowering and hiding at the first sign of conflict Alastair wasn’t the only one who’d grown up

“Yes Yes, it seems like we’re well and truly done” She wrapped her ared herself She took a deep, shaky breath and looked up at the only ain But I want to let you know I’m sorry for how I behaved I was lost, inside ht the tre to coain I thought about it every day but I was afraid It took Kirsty and Lake’s wedding to force my hand” She took a deep, shaky breath “I want you to know that I still love you I’ve only ever loved you”

She gave hiht tears to put on a brave front, while Alastair stared at her, stony-faced and silent “Okay, well, I’d better get over to the castle It’s the hen party tonight” She was raue to stop herself and nodded “Okay,” she said again “I should go Have a good life, Alastair”

She turned on her heels and walked back to her tiny, ancient Ford Fiesta The light frolow around her She picked her way carefully, her vision blurred frolow around her disappeared and she heard the door click shut behind her

One tiny sob escaped as she unlocked her car She cli wheel and wept silently She’d gotten exactly what she deserved, and yet, even knowing that, it still shredded her heart