"This is really embarrassing." She said out loud, once again scanning the horizon for signs of her ride.

Jamie followed her eyes and looked towards the waves as well. "It's not your fault." Jamie said easily, giving her hand a squeeze. "Some things are beyond your control, you know."

"I know, but I'm really sorry for taking up so much of your day when you could be doing other things." Juno replied.

"Like what?" Jamie smiled.

"Well, like pursuing all those interesting hobbies you told me about – beating up men, picking up women, gambling… all that stuff. You could be off doing that right now." Juno said levelly but with a glint of a smile.

"What's to say I'm not doing that right now?" Jamie said, raising one eyebrow sexily in her direction.

"Which one?" Juno asked in confusion.

"Picking up a woman." Jamie answered evenly.

Juno felt the urge to look around to see who else was sitting around them that Jamie was eyeing. With a squeak, she realized he meant her. "Who? Me?"

"Yes."

"You aren't picking me up."

"What if I was?"

"You'd be nuts."

"And we're back to the starting gate." Jamie said in exasperation. "Juno is going to verbally beat herself up again for everyone's enjoyment."

"Stop teasing me." Juno said quietly, looking down at the table. "I can't help it."

"Good thing I'm here, then." Jamie said, puffing out his chest. "I'm going to break you of the habit."

"Oh really?" Juno challenged. "How so?"

"Well, first, I think you're due for some intensive…"

"Sir?" A voice interrupted Jamie's plan from behind them, making both Jamie and Juno swivel in their chairs. One of the employees of the port authority office was approaching them, giving Juno a small nod of greeting. "We've had word from the Shadow. Apparently, they are still out to sea battling gale force winds. We're due for a heavy, heavy fog tonight, so she's going to stay offshore until morning, when the weather might cooperate. Sorry for the inconvenience, sir." The man gave a small half nod, half bow to Jamie, who nodded his thanks.

"What's the weather report for tonight on shore?" Jamie asked the man.

"Calling for fog within a few hours, and then a nasty heavy rain throughout the night. Hopefully it will clear by morning." The man replied courteously.

Jamie bit his lower lip absently. "Thank you kindly. I appreciate the update."

The man gave them another nod then turned on his heel to walk quickly back to his office. Jamie sighed and looked at Juno. "Blast. I was hoping that the weather might be better tonight so we could go out, or that your friends would arrive tonight."

Juno shrugged. "Well, the good news is I'm stranded here instead of on a ship being thrown around in gale force winds." Juno gave a shudder and thanked her lucky stars for missing her boat.

"True." Jamie smiled at her. "What do you say we look around the local market up the road to find something to grab for an early dinner before the weather hits, and then take it from there?" Jamie asked, and then winced as his cell phone rang. "My boss has incredible timing, doesn't he?"

"Impeccable." Juno agreed as Jamie answered his phone with clenched teeth. He muttered and murmured for a few minutes before hanging up and throwing Juno an apologetic glance. "I have to do a pick up and delivery. I'm so sorry."

Juno shrugged and stood up. "No problem. Maybe I can wander the market while you do your thing, and see what looks good for dinner for us?" She suggested and Jamie smiled.

"Perfect. I shouldn't be long at all."

**

Twenty minutes later, Jamie was talking to Juno as though she were a four year old on her way to kindergarten for the first time. She was surprised he hadn't supplied her with a fresh box of crayons and a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"Stay right in this square, and I'll find you as soon as I get back." Jamie was saying for the fiftieth. "Don’t go anywhere, just wait right here. I'll find you."

"Jamie?" Juno said with a teasing tone in her voice. "Do you want to tie me to a lamp post until you get back or do you trust me to behave like an adult?"

Jamie sighed and apologized. "I just… I don't want to lose you." He said, taking her hand and lifting it to his lips. He kissed the top of her hand softly, and then turned it over to press his lips against the palm of her hand. Juno gasped at the touch of his lips against her skin. "I just found you." He said huskily, his eyes meeting hers and robbing her of any air left in her lungs.

"I'll be here." Juno said, hating herself for sounding so breathless.

"Twenty minutes, I promise." Jamie said, and then he was gone, ducking through the throngs of people towards Thor the Thunder Car.

Juno sighed and turned to face the booths that were crammed into the town square of the town. Booths were filled to overflowing with fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, crafts and fabrics of all kinds, cheeses, wines and everything else one could possibly want. Juno wandered up and down the aisles, wishing that her local grocery store had as much character as these booths and these booth owners. She'd been offered a pound of lamb, a necklace of jade, a silk sari and two fresh artichokes in the span of about three minutes, and she was thoroughly enjoying her browse through the mini shops.

Juno felt, rather than saw, someone trailing her through the crowded market area. Figuring it was Jamie following her around, she whirled around with a smile, only to look on in confusion. She was being followed, but not by Jamie.

"Hello, lass." A man a few years older than Juno said with a leer. "I've not seen you before. I'd remember you."

Juno gave him a half smile then turned away to avoid talking to this man who was giving her a serious case of the creeps. He seemed to be a cross between Sonny Crockett on Miami Vice and Colin Ferrell on one of his famous all night binges – neither of which was a compliment.

"Don't ignore me." The man wheedled, coming up to stand beside her. "I could be your tour guide if you're new around here."

"I don't need a tour guide, thanks." Juno said shakily, not liking the way this man was eyeing her up and down. "I was just leaving."

"Don't go." The man smiled, a glint in his eye. "Talk to me. Tell me your name."

"No." Juno said stiffly. "I'm leaving."

"God, what I would do with that mouth of yours." The man said, murmuring to Juno as he stared at her.

Juno felt the sudden urge for a shower to wash away the creepiness of this man. "Goodbye." She said with as much gumption as she could muster. When she turned to walk away from the man, he grabbed her arm and pulled her close against his chest.

"Don't walk away from me, pretty one." He whispered so that only she could hear.

"Leave. Me. Alone." Juno enunciated each word and tugged on her arm. "I'm not interested." The man watched her closely, judging how serious she was, or if she was just playing the game like he was.

When he didn't let go, Juno debated on running like hell and taking her chances in the streets of Nairn until she could find Jamie again. "Tell me your name." The man said again. "Tell me everything."

"Let me go." Juno said softly, unable to find her voice. "Let me go!" She said a little louder this time, tugging on her arm.

"What?" He asked as though shocked by her response. "You aren't interested in a good, hard f—" The man's last word was cut off as he flew to the ground, the victim of a flying tackle from Jamie Fulham.

1422 / 20556 / 50000

before . after