Page 30

Bex couldn’t help but study this bulk of a man in front of her. On the outside, he looked like he should spend his days chopping wood and carrying full logs on his shoulders – which he may well do – but there was this other side to him. The side that had looked after himself since he was young, wasn’t ashamed for anyone to know how much he loved his sister and his cat, and would spend hours of his afternoon helping a woman he didn’t even know. Although, there was a small part of her that suspected the help he had given her wasn’t just to do with going for a drink, but also for Fergus. Helping out this old man who’d had such a tempestuous relationship with his grandfather that they’d stopped speaking altogether. It was a strange dynamic, that was for sure.

‘Talking of which, Ruby really seems to have taken a liking to you,’ Duncan carried on. ‘It’s strange. She’s normally quite aloof with people she doesn’t know.’

‘Fergus said the same, but I think she just likes the fact that if she hangs out with me, it means she doesn’t have to go out walking all day with Fergus.’

Duncan gave a laugh, one so full-bellied and warm that Bex couldn’t help but feel her cheeks rise in response.

‘Aye, you might be right about that,’ he replied. ‘Now, it’s Friday night. What are your plans? A drink at the White Hart? Dinner at the Lion?’

She laughed. ‘You don’t give up, do you? And no, my plans are a cheese omelette, an early night, a catch-up with my friends on the phone, and hopefully, if I don’t get woken up by the damn birds, a lie-in in the morning.’

A frown formed, crinkling his otherwise creaseless face.

‘You’re having trouble sleeping here?’ he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.

‘Sleeping, no,’ Bex replied. ‘Staying asleep, yes. Had I known how early these damn birds wake up in summer, I think I would have asked my boss to send me here in winter.’ She let out a chuckle, to which Duncan replied with a smile, although it was notably more distant than normal. A second later, his expression cleared.

‘Well, like I said, I need to get back to Kenna. I’m sure I’ll see you over the weekend, but if I don’t,’ he said, ‘I’ll see you on Monday. Only two days left until we go on our date.’

‘Um, no,’ Bex said, placing her hands on her hips. ‘It’s three. You have to help me for five days, remember?’

He grinned. ‘Oh, I remember what you said. I just think that after two more lunches with me, you’ll be the one asking me out on a date instead.’

With that, he flashed her a smile bright enough to light the whole damn castle before offering Ruby one quick stroke, then he opened the door through which both of them disappeared.

30

‘You clearly like him,’ Daisy said on the phone that night. ‘Half the dates you go on don’t even make it to the hour point. You were with him most of the day.’

‘Yes, because he was useful,’ Bex countered. ‘And I told you most of the time we weren’t even talking, we were just working. Besides, I like Lorna too much to do anything. I don’t think she’d forgive me.’

Bex had received a couple of messages from Lorna since she’d dropped in, mainly apologising for being so busy and also saying that she had the following Friday night off and would be meeting up with the others if Bex wanted to join them. Immediately she had sent a reply saying she would be there. The question she wasn’t sure about was whether or not she wanted Duncan to be there too.

‘Just… make sure you’re being sensible,’ Daisy said.

‘Sensible? What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘I mean, protect your heart, okay? He’s lived up there his whole life, and he’s probably got no intention of leaving. I just don’t want you getting hurt.’

‘Did you not just hear me say I’m steering clear?’ Bex said.

‘Oh, I heard you, but I also know how the ones you’re supposed to steer clear of are the ones you find yourself wanting to spend more time with.’

Bex hummed in annoyance, although she didn’t outright disagree. It wasn’t an intentional thing to go after the wrong type of men; notorious players who were certain to string her along and break her heart when they got bored. She already knew Duncan wasn’t the string-along type. He was the propose-to-your-childhood-sweetheart type. A guy who could show that type of commitment was a far cry from the ones she should have steered clear of in the past.

‘Don’t worry,’ Bex replied. ‘I know exactly what I’m walking into. He’s a rebound, 100 per cent, and I’m not getting dragged into it. But he’s good company, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to, especially with the amount of work I have to get through right now.’

‘Hopefully it will get better, now you’re on the actual accounting part,’ Claire said. ‘You know, the part you like.’

‘Hmm.’ It was Bex’s second noncommittal hum in as many minutes, but she suspected that the entire job was going to be one uphill battle. A very steep climb, with a well-deserved promotion at the top of it.

‘All right, well, let’s catch up again over the weekend,’ Daisy said. ‘Maybe Sunday evening?’

‘Perfect,’ Bex agreed. ‘Love you both.’

‘Love you too.’

With a long sigh, Bex dropped her phone down onto the bed, then flopped down beside it. Fingers crossed tomorrow would be so cloudy that the birds didn’t even notice it was morning and would let her sleep in until midday. She could always hope.