If Not For Love - A Highland Romance

Chapter 9

 Nine

 Tavish

Tavish is worried. He has driven around looking for Adia, checking every place they have gone together. He has walked in and out of shops, searching with no luck. She is a grown woman, but he is worried and prays nothing has happened to her.

"Any luck?" Brandy asks as he enters the pub.

"None." He takes a seat at the end of the bar. It is still early enough that the lunch crowd hasn't started trickling in yet.

"I hate ta add more to yer worries, but Molly was in here th' other day askin' about ye and Adia. I told her nothin', but she's like a dog wi' a bone. Finally had ta ignore her."

"I'm sorry, Brandy. She tracked me down at the Cottage that day, askin' ta talk to me. I gave her a moment and she blethered on about how she missed me and came back ta work things out."

"There was never anythin' ta work out."

"Something that we all know." Tavish shakes his head. "I dinna understand it. She's been gone all this time, then from nowhere she shows up starting the same auld game again."

"I'll don think ye'll ever understand her, sae don even try. There's no rhyme or reason ta what she does. I'll do what I can ta steer ye clear of her."

"I thank ye."

"Can I get ye anythin'?"

"No, I'm going ta head back to my place, maybe stop by Adia's again on the way."

"Dinna worry, she'll show up soon."

Tavish gives her a half smile of thanks and leaves. He stops by Adia's again, hoping to find her there, but his hope is in vain. Swallowing his frustration, he heads home.

* * *

When Tavish turns into his driveway, he spots an unfamiliar car. He pulls up next to it, sees the red curls and swears. Would he never be free of this woman?

"What do you want, Molly?" he asks, getting out. There is no kindness in his voice or expression. The time for civility has passed.

"I just want ta talk to ye."

"I have nothing ta say to ye, and there is nothing you can say that I want ta hear."

"She's not good enough for ye. That woman ye're seein'."

"You dinna know anything about her."

"I know she's some pitiful American writer who latched onto the first available Scot she saw."

"How did you . . ." Closing his eyes, Tavish takes a deep breath and counts to ten, swallowing his anger. "Get off me property, Molly," he says, his voice chilly but controlled. "Dinna come back. Stay away from me, and stay away from Adia."

"You don't mean that," she says, grabbing his arm as he starts up the front porch steps.

"Aye, I do. Go back ta where ye came from and leave us be."

"No, I won't," she says. Then grabbing his head, she presses her lips to his."

Disgusted, Tavish shoves her away, but not before turning to see the shocked look on Adia's face as she pulls up.