‘So you’ve been stopping by several times a week, encouraging her?’

‘I like her.’

They were making conversation, but he knew she was as aware of him as he was of her.

Looking at her rose-pink mouth, he wondered if she’d had a relationship since her husband.

‘Evanna upset you this evening.’

Her gaze flew to his. Guarded. ‘Not at all. I was a little tired, that’s all. Rebel sometimes wakes me up at night, walking round the kitchen. I’m a light sleeper.’

Ryan didn’t push it. ‘I walk on the beach most mornings. If you want help with the dog-training, you could join me.’

‘I’ll remember that. Thanks.’ She dipped her head so that her face was in shadow, her expression unreadable. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow, Ryan.’

He was a breath away from stopping her. A heartbeat away from doing something about the chemistry they were both so carefully ignoring.

What would she do if he knocked her off her bike and tumbled her into the heather that bordered Evanna’s garden?

‘Goodnight.’ He spoke the word firmly and then watched as she cycled away, the bike wobbling slightly as she found her balance.

He was still watching as she vanished over the brow of the hill into the dusk.

CHAPTER FIVE

‘TWO salmon fillets, please.’ Jenna stood in the fishmonger’s, trying to remember a time when she’d bought food that wasn’t shrink-wrapped and stamped with a date. And she’d never bought fish. Clive had hated fish.

Was that why she now ate fish three times a week?

Was she being contrary?

Eyeing the alternatives spread out in front of her, she gave a faint shrug. So what if she was? The advantage of being single was that you could live life the way you wanted to live it. She had a dog and a garden, and now she was eating fish.

‘Just you and the bairn eating tonight, then?’ Hamish selected two plump fillets, wrapped the fish and dropped it into a bag.

‘That’s right.’ How did anyone have a secret life on Glenmore? After only a month on the island, everyone knew who she was. And what she ate. And who she ate it with. Strangely enough, she didn’t mind.

‘How was your dinner with Dr McKinley?’

All right, maybe she minded.

Wondering if the entire island was involved in the match making attempt, Jenna struggled for an answer. ‘Dinner was casual. With Evanna and Logan. Just supper—nothing personal.’ She cringed, knowing she sounded as though she had something to hide. ‘How’s Alice doing?’ Changing the subject quickly, she tried to look relaxed.

‘Still rushing around. I say to her, “Rest, for goodness’ sake.” But does she listen?’ Hamish added a bunch of fresh parsley to the bag. ‘No, she doesn’t. That’s women for you. Stubborn. Alice would die if it meant proving a point.’