Just like the bunkhouse the night before, however, the greenhouse seemed far too small this morning with Angus, Douglas, Leslie, Boone, herself—and a camera crew—inside it.
Byron had brought reinforcements this time, and cameras focused on them from all angles.
“We’re starting seeds today,” Boone said. “We do a lot of succession planting, Douglas. Angus works on the hydroponics. I’m in charge of growing things in pots—and outside in the garden when we’re able to. We figured we want a lot of redundancy in the system since we’re reliant on our own food supplies. I’ve got it all planned out.” He fished in one pocket, then another. “Heck, I forgot my notebook at the bunkhouse.” He handed several packets of seeds to Douglas. “Be right back.”
“Makes a lot of sense,” Douglas said to the others as Boone left. “You know, we have a bonnie operation at our wee croft back home.” He got to work filling trays with potting soil. “I’ve always loved working with my hands.”
“I don’t remember you liking hard work all that much back in Scotland,” Angus said. “Thought you wanted to be a big shot.”
A muscle flexed in Douglas’s jaw. “Last time you saw me I was twelve. Not everyone gets the opportunities you get here, do they? I’ve grown up a bit since you knew me, Angus. I’ve come to learn you do what it takes to get ahead.”
“I just bet you have.”
Douglas turned to Win. “You’d make a bonnie addition to our family at home. But maybe you’d prefer to stay right here. I could get me a green card and settle down. Keep an eye on my cousin.” He winked at Angus.
“For heaven’s sake,” Win retorted. “I’m not marrying you so you can get a green card.”
“How about because you’re falling for me just a little bit?” He batted his eyes at her in an exaggerated swoon.
Win shoved him aside and reached for another packet of seeds. “You’re incorrigible.”
“You’re absolutely right. Incorrigible and nosy as hell. I’d love a tour of the place if you’ve got the time.” He’d dropped his joking tone and for once sounded… normal. His cousin always played a part, didn’t he?
Maybe it was hard for him to be himself.
Angus wondered how things were back home. It could be hard to get ahead in a small town.
“Do you mind, Angus?” Win asked, ignoring Leslie’s scowl. “It’s pretty crowded in here.”
“I don’t mind. Show him around, but you behave yourself,” he ordered Douglas.
“Will do, cousin.”
Angus watched them leave, the camera crew dithering for a moment, until Byron sent them out the door after them, remaining behind on his own. Boone was still gone, which left him and Leslie…
“Alone at last,” Leslie chirped. She put down her tools. “I think Douglas and Win are the perfect match, which leaves nothing in our way. We can forget all about Win and finally get to know each other.”
With each word she drew closer. “We haven’t spent much time together alone, you know. Isn’t there something you’d like to do that you can’t do when everyone else is around? I might look young, but I’m not. I’m a woman of the world.” She cocked her head flirtatiously. Angus was reminded of a preschooler fooling around in dress-up clothes. “You could kiss me.”
Like hell he could. “I don’t really believe in fooling around before marriage,” he said desperately.
She reared back, her flirtatious smile replaced by openmouthed outrage. “That is a downright lie, Angus McBride, and I don’t know how you can look me in the eye and say it.”
“I… uh.”
“Win is PREGNANT!” she shrieked at him when he didn’t follow her logic.
“Oh.” Hell, she had him there, didn’t she?
“I caught you two fooling around together twice. Remember the yoga pants? Remember both of you ‘going for a walk’ at midnight?” Leslie advanced on him again. He hadn’t seen her this angry before. It was rather remarkable. Her brows drew into a tight V. Her eyes flashed, and her jaw was as set and stern as a stallion’s before it went hell for leather after a rival sniffing around its herd.
“I’m not fooling around with you.” Angus edged around her again. Leslie matched him step for step. “I mean it,” he said. “That wasn’t part of the deal.”
“Deal?” Leslie cried. “We’re not talking about a deal! We’re talking about lo—”
Angus feinted left, side-stepped right, ducked around her and raced for the door. He burst through it, nearly bowling over Boone, who had just reached out to open it and come in.
“Where’s the fire?” Boone shouted after him.
Angus didn’t answer. He had a head start on Leslie, and he was going to use it.
“Angus McBride, you get back here—” Leslie’s words cut off among shouts and exclamations. Without looking back Angus knew she and Boone had collided and done each other some damage.
He didn’t stop running until he reached Base Camp’s trucks, yanked open the door of one of them, hopped inside, fished a set of keys from the glove compartment and gunned the engine. He didn’t know where he was going, how long he would stay or how he’d pass the time.
As long as it wasn’t kissing Leslie, he’d be fine.
“What really brings you to Base Camp?” Win asked Douglas when they reached Pittance Creek, camera crew in tow. Douglas kept looking over his shoulder at them. Win realized she’d gotten comfortable with being filmed, but she couldn’t keep from scanning the forest to see if anyone was hiding out there. Surrounded as she was with people, she didn’t think she was in any danger, but there’d been someone out here twice before. Were they still hanging around?
“I’m here to sweep you off your feet, lass. Am I doing a good job?” Douglas joked.
“Tell the truth.” They stood on the banks of Pittance Creek listening to the light burble of water running.
Douglas took his time answering. “It’s not often
