Off Kilter (26 page)

“About what?”

He looked at Roan with a steady gaze. “Seriously?”

Roan swore. While he’d been perfectly fine pushing Tessa to consider the possibilities between the two of them and completely impatient about starting things with her, he was in absolutely no hurry to share this new occurrence with anyone else. He supposed it wasn’t going to remain a secret much longer. “We were scouting sites for the calendar photos we have to send in. That’s all there was to it. Or all there was supposed to be. Things between us are—I don’t know how to explain it—complicated. But good. Why is anyone discussing it in
the first place? How the hell does anyone even know? We were on the high trail up from Smuggler’s Cove back behind Flaithbheartach. Who would even know that?”

Shay lifted his gaze and gave him a steady look. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I meant the conversation between Katie and her parents. I’ve been in Castlebay since right after the wedding, working out a problem with Gunderson regarding our sharing communal waters for fishing. I know that Katie and Graham got home late yesterday from their honeymoon. I came back over this morning in time to see the senior McAuleys set sail. I was talking with Blaine earlier, and he got me partly up to speed. I understand they stayed moored offshore after the wedding and he said the reason they stayed was because they were threatening to find a way to get the marriage annulled and prove Graham is keeping her here against her will. They were demanding that Katie leave with them, and their lawyer was apparently using the fact that she refused to do so as proof of their claim. Have you talked to Katie yet?”

“
What
?” Roan sat back and raked his hand through his hair. “When did that happen? That’s insane. How can they make that stick? I don’t care how much money they have, anyone with eyes in his head can see she’s head over heels. Can’t they fathom she doesn’t want to go back? Is there anything you can do to stop this farce before it starts?”

“I’m planning on calling her later today, but I wanted to get the full story from you. Are you honestly just hearing about this from me?” He rocked back on his heels, more than a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Must have been one hell of a hike yesterday.”

“In more ways than I can describe,” Roan said, too stunned by the news regarding Katie to be guarding his own comments. “But I want to hear more about this meeting.”

“What meeting?” Tessa stuck her head in the door, then belatedly knocked on the edge. “It was open. Sorry, I don’t mean to intrude.”

“No, that’s quite all right,” Shay said, almost jovial as he
motioned her to come in. He shot a quick look at Roan, quite clearly enjoying himself, then stuck his hand out to Tessa. “I know we’ve crossed paths several times now, but I wanted to personally thank you for taking on this calendar project for us. And it was good of you to take on the wedding photographer assignment, too. I know Graham appreciated it, and Katie talked about it nonstop the last we spoke.”

She took his hand in a quick shake and smiled. “It was a lovely ceremony. I was flattered to be a part of it.”

Roan watched them, thinking it all seemed quite … normal. So why he was sitting there, tense, he had no idea. It felt as if he was watching two worlds collide. Or something equally apocalyptic. His private fascination with Tessa was about to become anything but. He wasn’t done processing what in the hell he was getting himself into. When he was with her, it all made complete sense, and he knew exactly where he wanted to be. But when they’d parted yesterday, and he was thinking about it all in what had to be a more rational state of mind, he’d started to question things.

Not his desire for her, or his intent to pursue a relationship with her … but whether or not they had any real hope of making that happen. He was thrilled … and terrified that she was finally willing to give it a go. But just because she’d said yes didn’t make the process any less complicated.

He shoved his chair back and stood. “Are we ready to head off?” Not that he didn’t want the two to make further acquaintance, but Shay was looking far too pleased with himself, and Tessa’s change of heart was fresh enough that he didn’t want to risk exposing her to too much of his world, too fast. He knew Shay and Graham would support him in anything he did, but while getting there they would be blunt and direct. Though he would appreciate their input … he wasn’t quite up for the grilling session that would precede it just yet.

“We are,” she said, and he noted that she looked … happier. And more rested, less haunted.

That made him feel good, eased his mind a little.

“I looked at the files you sent over last night,” she added. “If you’re as good as you say you are with digital photo editing, I think there are several locations that could work.”

“Good.” He rounded the desk and gave Shay a good-natured, perhaps a bit harder-than-necessary clap on the shoulder. “It’s good to have you back,” Roan said to him. “Will you be sticking closer to home for a wee bit now? Or will you have to go back to the mainland?”

“I’m hoping to be here for at least the immediate future, but I’m no’ sure as yet. We reached a settlement on the case I’ve been working on all this time, which was a relief to us all as it was setting up to be a lengthy court fight. But there is another on the horizon that could prove challenging. Young ingénue French film starlet trying to get out of her marriage to an Oscar-winning British director twice her age. She’s hoping for a rather substantial piece of his net worth.”

“He had no prenup? Marrying a French actress? Who was his lawyer?”

“Oh, there’s a prenup,” Shay said. “We wrote it.”

“Ah.”

“Indeed. But that’s still in the early stages. I’m no’ going anywhere today,” he said, with a meaningful look. “We’ll have to catch up.”

Roan narrowed his gaze, but Shay maintained a positively innocent demeanor. Roan knew better. “Don’t wait for me, but if I get back in time, we’ll do that. See what you can find out about … that other matter.”

“Rest assured.” Shay turned to Tessa, who was watching the byplay with open interest. “Good luck today with getting the right photos. We’re all grateful for your superior expertise. I’m sure it was your keen talent that fooled the calendar folks into thinking my rather homely friend here was actual cover model material.”

“Well, though the wedding gig was my pleasure,” she said, “I don’t know that I can say the same for the calendar shoot. The calendar subjects were a bit more challenging.” She shot a
dry smile Roan’s way, then looked back at a far-too-satisfied Shay. “It’s a shame you were gone, though.” She gave him a quick, clinical onceover. “You’d have definitely given him a run for his money.”

Shay’s face turned ruddy, and Roan took a moment to apprecíate his discomfort. “Aye,” Roan said. “To think … this could be all about your coronation as the world’s most eligible Highland hunk.”

Shay frowned then, his expression growing more serious than embarrassed. “Ye know, speaking of which”—his gaze shifted to Tessa briefly, then back to Roan—“you should let me look over all the documentation we got from them regarding how the remainder of this promotion plays out. The calendar release schedule, any promotional plans, and payment structure, general requirements, that sort of thing. Simply to make certain we’re complying with all the guidelines. We wouldn’t want any last minute concerns because we didn’t pay attention to the details.”

Roan didn’t immediately understand Shay’s sudden concern, but shrugged and said, “It’s all in the file there on my desk if you want to go over it while we’re out. Looked pretty straightforward to me.”

“Except the part where you’re responsible for sending in the photos. That seemed a bit odd. Why is it you’re taking them?”

“Actually, they have two shoots scheduled for all the winners, but they’re all the way in Aberdeenshire. Seemed a bit of a bother, so I contacted them and explained who we had used for our winning photography and they agreed to let us send in our own shots—per their final approval. If we don’t give them what they want, I’ll have to travel over. Hence the tight deadline. We have to get them there before the final shoot.”

Shay looked to Tessa. “Sounds like we really do owe you. If there is anything I can do in a legal capacity to make you feel more comfortable about lending your name professionally to this endeavor—”

“No, that’s okay,” Tessa said. “I’m fine with this. I trust that you will handle it properly.”

“Us, aye, but if the calendar folks see an opportunity to sell more copies by exploiting your name …” He shrugged. “I’ll look into that for you, if you dinnae mind.”

“Not at all, and I appreciate the concern. But if it will help sell calendars and that forwards your cause here, I’m not opposed to my name being used. Though I wouldn’t mind finding out what the parameters are and I’d prefer to give personal permission for anything beyond copyright notices being posted for my specific shots.”

“I’ll take care of it,” he said. “If you get the shots today, or as soon as they’re done, let me know, and we can finalize it at the same time.”

“We’re hoping to get them all today. We’re setting them in the exact places where I’ve taken other shots during the winter months. That, along with a little creative Photoshop-ing, should do the trick to imbue them with Christmas-in-the-Hebrides appeal,” Roan explained. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Good. We’ll talk later,” Shay said, holding Roan’s gaze a bit longer than necessary.

“We will, aye,” Roan said, not sure if Shay wanted to talk to him about Tessa, or if there was something else that had triggered his ever-so-serious self.

Shay was already snagging the contract file from Roan’s desk as the two of them said their good-byes and headed out.

Once outside, Tessa glanced at him, a wry smile curving her lips. “He seems a rather straightlaced sort,” she commented.

“He’s the mediator of the group, has been since we first became friends as children, and generally a rather overly serious sort—which makes him quite good at his chosen profession.” He smiled. “I particularly enjoyed your having him on there for a moment.”

“Oh, I wasn’t having him on. I quite meant what I said.” She
barked out a short laugh. “You should have seen your face just then.”

“If you believe I’m remotely jealous, have another thought. I’d have given much to be rid of this particular assignment and you know it.”

She wagged a finger. “Faces don’t lie.”

“Yes, well, at least mine didn’t go all dark and ruddy at first glance.”

“True enough. Has he ever looked in a mirror, though? He must catch the wandering eye all the time. Does he not notice?”

“He’s well aware, trust me. He’s no’ got much of an ego that one, no’ about his looks at any rate.”

“Oh, come on. I was hoping you were going to tell me that when you three are hanging out and he gets a few beers in him, he’s like some wild, raucous party animal.”

Roan chuckled, boggling at the very idea of it. “No’ hardly. Though I’d admittedly pay large sums to see it. And would pay you even more handsomely to record it for all posterity.”

Tessa was walking to Kira’s little Fiat, but Roan pointed to his truck. “I thought we’d take the lorry. It will likely do better on some of the rougher tracks we’re looking at today. Should we drop the Fiat back off for her so she’ll have use of it for the day? We can start out in that direction if need be. I could follow you there.”

Tessa shook her head. “She’s already buried in the st udio doing sketches for that Italian contract. I doubt she’ll come up for air anytime in the next day or two at least.”

Roan leaned past her and opened the passenger door. So far, it wasn’t awkward between them at all. Quite the opposite, which surprised him, though he wasn’t sure what he’d expected. She’d always behaved professionally. He had typically been the instigator, provoked, perhaps, by that very staunch professionalism.

More recently, he’d been aware of any opportunity to keep his hands on her, keep her aware of him, but, faced with even
the casual touch required to help her up into the passenger seat, he found himself pausing.

She turned to climb in on her own, unaware of his dilemma, and he immediately reached to assist her, feeling rather idiotic for over-thinking even that small gesture. He didn’t want the entire afternoon to go awry straight off, so he needed to get right with himself and quickly. “So, you’ve had a chance to talk with her then,” he asked, trying not to sound tentative, or leading—though he was both.

“I have. She’s very excited and a little intimidated by the specific request for one-of-a-kind pieces by her. But I think she’s going to surprise herself at how she’s going to rock this assignment. She’s really … starting to blossom, I guess is the right way to put it. It’s good to see. I’m pleased and excited for her.”

At the last second, she turned back to him, which landed her almost directly in his arms, as he’d been reaching to help her up.

They both went still … and silent.

Finally, she said, “But that’s not what you meant, is it? Talking to her about the Italian contract.”

He shook his head.

“You wondered if I’d talked to Kira about … yesterday. The ledge.”

“It’s crossed my mind. But I’m glad to hear she’s excited about the work challenge. It’s a wonderful opportunity.”

“It is. And to answer your other question, no, we haven’t had the chance. She was weaving last night and focused and … it wasn’t the right moment. Actually, that’s not entirely true. She wouldn’t have minded the intrusion, but I was still sorting everything out. I needed to think about what happened out there, put it in perspective, and make sure I was good with my choice. Then I got the photos you sent for us to work with today, and I looked through them. When I finally surfaced it was the wee hours, and she’d gone to bed. Then this morning, that Italian thing came, so …”

“Had you changed your mind about talking to her, or were you relieved to put it off?”

“Actually … I did want to talk to her about it.” She tilted her head and focused more intently on him. “What about you? I know Graham just got back from their long honeymoon weekend, but did you and Shay talk?”