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was time to turn the conversation away from her mother, which was obviously a sore subject. “So how did you get involved with your photography?”
    â€œI’ve been fascinated with cameras for as long as I can remember. I received my first one when I was seven. It was a Christmas present. I was never without it. When Mum and I left Scotland, I hid behind the camera much as other children did their favorite stuffed animal.”
    â€œAnd you found a passion,” Sammi guessed.
    Iona’s smile was slow but wide. “Yes. I worked relentlessly to hone my craft, and entered countless photography contests. I knew I wouldn’t win, but I always got incredible feedback from the judges. I then took what they said and poured it back into my art.”
    â€œYou have a gift. There’s no denying that.”
    Iona looked down, but the pleased smile remained. “Thank you. I’m lucky to get paid to do something I love.”
    â€œI know what you mean,” Sammi said and looked around the bar. “My pub was bought with the help of my mother. It was precious to me, and when I lost it, I didn’t know what I was going to do. Then there was Tristan, and luckily Laith offered me a job. It feels good to be back behind a bar.”
    â€œMixing drinks isn’t exactly an easy thing to do. That takes talent as well.”
    Sammi laughed and looked at her. “Perhaps. I learned a lot about others behind my bar. You discern to read between the lines of what people say to what they really mean.”
    â€œAh, so you’re a psychologist, only with drinks instead of a couch?” Iona asked with another chuckle, this one louder.
    Sammi threw her head back and laughed. “I’ve never thought of it that way.”
    â€œBut you help them, don’t you?”
    â€œI suppose I do. I listen. Most times that’s all people need.”
    â€œIs that what you’re doing to me?” Iona asked, her dark eyes still crinkled in the corners.
    Sammi shook her head, and then smoothed her hair out of her face. “Of course not. I’m not behind the bar,” she added with a sly smile.
    That had Iona laughing out loud, and just as Sammi suspected, it brought Laith out of his office. From the corner of her eye, she could see him standing in the doorway staring at Iona.
    â€œWhat about any men in your life?” Sammi asked, knowing Laith could hear them.
    Iona snorted as she set down her glass and swallowed the last of the ale. “There aren’t any men.”
    â€œThomas MacBane would like to be one.”
    â€œUgh.” Iona dropped her head in her hand and groaned. “He’s persistent, I’ll give him that.”
    Sammi glanced at Laith to see a small frown on his face. “Thomas will ask you out again. I’m afraid you might have to be very firm with him.”
    â€œMost likely.”
    â€œDo you have this kind of problem often?”
    Iona ran a hand through her long hair and studied her empty glass. “No. I tend to keep my distance from men as a general rule.”
    â€œBecause you don’t trust them?”
    â€œBecause of how I watched my mother go through man after man as if they were pieces of candy. She showed me there is no such thing as love or soul mates or any of that nonsense.”
    The smile was gone from Sammi’s face now. She was looking at Iona with new eyes. “I hate to disagree with you, but there is such a thing as true love and mates.”
    â€œIt’s what everyone wants to believe. A few even manage to keep their vows, but take a look around, Sammi. How many people stay married? How many of them actually work at a relationship? How many take the vows seriously? Not many. People live with each other as if it’s no big deal. Moving in with someone isn’t just important, but significant. We went from living with one man after another constantly. It’s why we moved around so