Page 32 of Of Heather and Thistle

His grin turned a shade cockier. “Might’ve had the lads tidy up a bit.

Or at least prepared a speech about why I’m the best man for the job.

” Flynn leaned back in his chair with a grin that could’ve come straight out of a rom-com, his eyes glinting with mischief.

“I’m full of surprises,” he said, giving her a wink.

“You’d be surprised to hear I do more than muck about with cows and rescue damsels in distress. ”

Heather raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “Ah, a humble brag. So, it turns out men across the pond share that particular trait, too. Good to know.”

Flynn laughed, clearly enjoying her sass. And God help her, she was enjoying it too. She was here to fix a house, not develop a ridiculous appreciation for the way a man smirked like he had all the time in the world. “If it helps, I usually need rescuing—mostly from my own bad decisions.”

She chuckled, the initial shock of the situation melting into something a little more comfortable. “Well, that makes two of us. First, I get lost in the middle of nowhere. Then, I wreck my new shoes stepping in cow shit. Oh, and let’s not forget the wardrobe malfunction.”

Flynn’s grin widened. “Ah, yes. The legendary transparent pants incident. I’ll admit, that’s a first for me. But at least you didn’t get stuck in the cow pen. That could’ve been a whole different level of embarrassing.”

Heather groaned, rolling her eyes. “Please, don’t give me any ideas. I’m already traumatized enough.”

Flynn’s grin grew wider. “Well, I must admit, I’ve never had someone make such a memorable first impression. The pants incident alone could be a story for the ages.”

Heather rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. “I’m glad I could entertain you. Maybe I’ll throw in a herd of sheep for extra flair next time. ”

He raised an eyebrow and muttered under his breath, “Mo chreach! Now that I’d pay to see. ”

Heather winced. “Let’s not tempt fate. I’m not sure my dignity could handle any more wildlife-related disasters.”

Flynn chuckled, leaning forward. “I’ll be sure to keep the wildlife—and your dignity—at a safe distance from now on.”

She smothered a smile, but when she looked up, Flynn was watching her—amused, but with something unreadable flickering behind that lazy grin.

For a brief second, her stomach did that stupid, traitorous flip.

Nope. Not going there. She had a house to fix, not time to entertain ridiculous thoughts about attractive Scottish contractors.

She crossed her arms, shifting her weight.

Flynn was still watching her, head tilted slightly, that infuriating smirk tugging at his lips—like he knew exactly where her mind had just gone.

Flynn nodded towards her. “You can keep the flannel, by the way. Suits you.”

Heather scoffed. “And the sweatpants?”

He sighed, all faux regret. “Aye, those too. A great loss.”

Heather huffed a laugh. “Tragic.”

Flynn grinned. “Och, a noble sacrifice, nonetheless…”

Heather gave a mock glare, then took a deep breath, shifting gears back to business.

“Alright, well, in all seriousness, I’m really going to need some help with Glenoran House.

It’s a mess. There are leaks, and the floors are squeaky—actually, the whole place is just begging for some TLC…

I’m not sure where to start, but I know it’s going to be a huge project.

” She hesitated for a moment, rubbing the back of her neck.

“And I’ve never had to take on anything like this before, so if you know anyone who can help me get st arted… ”

Flynn’s expression softened, the teasing grin fading into something more thoughtful.

“Well, that’s right up my alley. Duncan Restorations specializes in historic properties, after all.

If you’re serious about restoring it, I can help you figure out where to begin.

And no, it won’t involve any cows, I promise. ”

Heather looked at him, her brows raised in surprise. “You really think it’s possible to restore it? It’s been in such bad shape for so long.”

He gave a reassuring nod. “Absolutely. It’ll take time and money, but with the right approach, you can bring it back. And if you need help with the heavy lifting, we’ve got the crew for that, too.”

Some of the weight she’d been carrying seemed to lift. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I found you then.”

Flynn raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. “So, just to be clear—are you here for the house, or have I won you over already?”

His grin was smug, and she really wished it wasn’t attractive. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze lingering on her with just enough intensity to make her heart skip a beat. “Either way, I’m happy to help. You’re in good hands.”

Heather scoffed, shaking her head. “Right, because nothing’s more appealing than a crumbling estate and an overwhelming to-do list.”

Flynn let out a bemused huff. “Could’ve fooled me. You still walked into my office.”

Heather gave an exasperated huff. “Desperation makes people do crazy things.”

He leaned in slightly, voice dipping just enough to make her breath catch. “Aye, well, not every day a woman strides into my office asking for a miracle. Makes a man wonder if it’s fate.”

Heather swallowed, forcing herself to hold his gaze. She refused to fidget, refused to react—but God , did he make it difficult. “Well, I do like to keep things interesting,” she said, aiming for light and teasing—but her voice came out softer than she intended.

Flynn’s smirk deepened—he’d caught it.

She cleared her throat, shifting her stance. “But seriously, I appreciate the offer. I just… don’t know where to start. If you’re willing to help, I’m all in.”

“Of course, I’m in,” Flynn said, his grin tipping just enough to be dangerous. “This place has potential. And let’s be honest, if I can survive another run in with your four-legged fan club, I think I’ll have earned a medal.”

Heather huffed a laugh. “Oh, so now you’re looking for hero status?”

Flynn’s eyes twinkled as he leaned in. “Lass, I’m just trying to keep you in one piece.”

Heather groaned, scrubbing a hand over her face. “I will never live that down, will I?”

He tilted his head, eyes glinting. “Not a chance.”

She shot him a dry look, but couldn’t bite back a smile. “Fine. I’ll do my best to avoid any more near-death—or near-naked—experiences.”

“Good. Wouldn’t want the cows thinking you’re easy prey,” Flynn teased, his grin pure mischief.

Heather shook her head, biting back a laugh. “Alright, alright. But I’m not making any promises.”

She crossed her arms, tilting her head. “So? When do we start? ”

Flynn raised an eyebrow, mischief glinting in his blue eyes. “Eager, are we?” He leaned back in his chair, arms crossing over his chest. “Well, first things first—I need to see Glenoran up close. If we’re going to make that place livable, we’ll need a plan.”

Heather nodded, excitement buzzing beneath her nerves. “Sounds like a plan. Lead the way, Mr. Duncan.”

He beamed, “Flynn,” he corrected smoothly. “Let’s stick with Flynn.” His voice dipped just enough to feel personal, like he wasn’t just talking about names.

Heather grinned. “Alright, Flynn. Lead the way.”

He stood, pushing his chair back effortlessly, his gaze lingering on her for half a second longer than necessary before he turned toward the door. “Right this way, then.”

They stepped out of the office, the Inverness air still crisp from the morning chill.

Heather inhaled deeply, already feeling the weight of what lay ahead.

But beneath it, something else stirred—excitement.

A new chapter. A fresh start. And maybe, just maybe, a little help from a very attractive contractor.

Flynn fell into step beside her, his stride easy, effortless. “So, tell me about Glenoran. You said it’s been in your family for generations—what’s your vision for it? Restoration? Modernization?”

Heather hesitated, rolling his question over in her mind. She hadn’t thought much past survival—patching leaks, fixing the most urgent repairs, keeping the roof from caving in.

“A bit of both, I guess,” she admitted. “I don’t want to strip away the character, but it needs a lot of work. The roof leaks, the windows groan, and don’t even get me started on the floors.”

Flynn let out a low chuckle. “Sounds like a dream.”

Heather huffed. “Sounds like a headache.” She hesitated, then added, “I haven’t decided if I’m keeping it. At first, I thought I’d fix it up and leave. But now…” She exhaled, shaking her head. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s not worth the effort.”

Flynn nodded thoughtfully. “It’s a lot to take on, especially when you’re still figuring things out. But from what I’ve seen, the house has potential. Sometimes, it just takes someone to see that vision.”

He glanced at her. “I’m guessing you want to keep some of the charm—modern amenities without sacrificing history. Not an easy balance, but it can be done.”

Heather studied him, surprised. “Exactly. You’re good.”

Flynn smirked. “Well, I do know my way around a restoration project or two.”

They reached her car, and Heather hesitated for a beat, fingers grazing the door handle. Anticipation hummed beneath her nerves. This was it—the real start of something new. Maybe even an adventure.

Flynn leaned against his truck, arms crossed, watching her with a knowing glint in his eye. “I’ll follow you to the house.”

“Great,” Heather said, flashing him a quick grin as she slid into the driver’s seat. Her fingers tightened around the wheel, nerves humming beneath the surface.

She wasn’t sure what she expected when she came here—maybe some answers, maybe just a chance to close a door she never meant to open. But instead, she found herself at the start of something that felt bigger than her.

The engine rumbled to life, and as she pulled onto the road, Flynn’s truck stayed close behind. This was happening. Glenoran, the renovations, all of it. She let out a slow breath. Sink or swim, she was in it now. Glenoran. Flynn. All of it.

And she had enough to deal with without getting distracted by a smug Scottish contractor and his stupidly charming smirk.