Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43714 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
“That’s a relief,” I say, grinning, realizing I actually mean it. “I was so worried. Do you think we will have a chance to see them today?”
Finlay nods, a grin breaking out across his face. It was dazzling, his white teeth practically flashing as his brown eyes twinkled at me. “I can take you out right now if you’d like.
“The herd is likely to be a bit more flighty than usual, and they might not stick to their usual schedule, but if we have patience, we might be able to see them,” Finlay replies with a bit of lightness in his tone.
“That sounds great.” I grin. I gesture down at myself, the dress combined with boots just in case, and the small purse I have slung around my shoulders.
It couldn’t fit as much as my backpack did. Still, I was able to fit in some band-aids in case my shoes began to rub again, my cell phone, and a small packet of trail mix in case I got hungry.
I pick up a physical map of the surrounding area from the leaflet stand just in case I end up lost without any cell service.
“Do I need to go back to my room and get anything?”
Finlay’s eyes rake over me slowly, from top to bottom, traveling every inch of my body in a way that seems hungry.
I tremble as my cheek flame pink again.
I wasn’t imagining it, was I?
“No,” Finlay says slowly and extends a hand toward me in invitation. “I’d say you’re good to go.”
I trembled as our hands met, my body on fire again with desire for him that showed no sign of dimming down.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Finlay
Driving up to the hides with Alana has to be one of the best ideas I’ve ever had. And some of my ideas had made the estate a hell of a lot of money, so that was really saying something.
The hides were ranged out along the sides of the loch and in specific sites across the hills, all of them positioned to give people a perfect view of the local wildlife while remaining hidden.
They had been designed for hunters – the last time most of them had been updated in any way was when I was a boy. Now that hunters didn’t need to hunt, they served another purpose.
The camouflaged dens included a viewing window (without glass – simply an opening to look out of, through which you could also thrust the muzzle of a gun in times past) and were large enough for two people and a couple of dogs.
The idea was that each one would contain a gentleman, his loader, and the dogs they would send out to drag the carcass of whatever bird, rabbit, fox, or other animals they had taken down with their shot.
All of which meant they were pretty cozy – and perfect for sharing space with someone you secretly wanted to cuddle up next to.
“Here,” I say, standing aside to let her in.
There’s a flap of camouflaged roofing covered in fake shrubbery, which serves as a kind of door when lifted up – which I do now as Alana ducks inside.
“Oh, wow,” she says as she enters, looking around. “I didn’t expect it to be like this inside.”
“It’s basic, but it works,” I say.
There is a kind of bench right at the front of the hide that serves as a place where you can kneel to look out, allowing you to steady your gun on the ledge of the window opening. Or your elbows, if you’re just enjoying the view.
The back of the hide is lined in simple wood to stop the earth from encroaching on the space, and it’s kept dry by the roof, creating a little hideaway from the world, which is perfect for sitting for hours.
I follow Alana inside, showing her how to climb onto the kneeling bench to look out.
It also serves as a great place to sit once you turn the other way in order to have your lunch or take a break from watching, but we can get to that later.
“It’s like we’re completely in a different world,” Alana says. “Even though we’re open to the outside, it’s quieter here. And warmer.”
“I’d have to say the warmth is one of the biggest draws of the hide.” I smile. “On a cold winter’s day, you don’t want to be out there trying to do a count of the herd, believe me.”
Alana draws in a deep breath and then lets out a sigh of contentment. “You can see so much from here,” she says in awe. “The hills, the view down to the loch and the water, everything. It’s beautiful. And with the buggy parked behind us, it’s like there are other humans in the world – just us and nature.”
“That’s what I love about it,” I tell her, turning my eyes away from her beauty at last to check the view myself.