Page 34 of A Summer House on Arran (Scottish Romances #3)

Logan picked up his phone and put it down again.

Was it too early to text Kitty to suggest meeting up?

Should he wait until later in the day? If he texted her now, would she think he was too keen?

He was horrified at how nervous and fidgety he had become.

It was like he’d regressed to being a teenage boy again.

Or maybe he should just call her? But what should he say?

‘Hey there,’ he said out loud. ‘How are you? How about a drink?’ He could actually feel a wobble in his voice as he spoke the words, and he cleared his throat, quite horrified.

He was a jabbering mess. What was going on with him?

He never ever lost his cool. It just didn’t happen.

The truth was that he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Kitty since the moment he’d seen her at the bakery.

There was something about her that was spellbinding.

Not only was she beautiful, but she was intelligent and kind and very funny.

He was just relieved that he had managed to keep his professional head in place during the tour.

It would have been awful if he had come across as a creepy tour guide who chatted up the customers.

Kitty had got under Logan’s skin in a way that nobody else had before.

He now had a bit more of an inkling as to how James might feel about Amy.

James! Of course. He would know what to do.

He would go and grab a coffee at the distillery café and see if James was free for a break.

At the very least he needed to get out of the flat and move, otherwise his head would explode.

‘Everything okay, buddy?’ James asked when Logan walked in.

‘Yes, just fancied a proper coffee rather than the instant rubbish in your flat,’ he joked. ‘Have you got time to join me?’

James glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘No bother. The next tour won’t start for another hour or so.’ He glanced over to his colleague at reception. ‘I’ll just be in the café. Shout if you need me.’

Logan followed James across the lobby and towards the café, where they ordered their drinks and took them to a table by the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.

‘Not bad a view, is it?’ said James.

‘Not bad at all.’

‘How’s things then? How did the tour go?’

‘Aye, it was fine,’ Logan said, wrapping his hands around the mug in front of him. ‘They were a nice bunch. No tricky customers, although a few called off Goatfell yesterday.’

‘Any nice women?’ asked James suggestively, as he always did every time Logan finished a tour. There was a silence and Logan didn’t respond, which caused James to give a low whistle. ‘Okay, mate. Tell me what’s going on. You’re acting weird.’

‘See when you started dating Amy . . .’ started Logan.

‘Don’t try and change the conversation,’ said James, laughing.

‘I’m not. Honest. I just . . . Oh, this is tougher than I thought. I thought talking to you might help, but now I’m not so sure. You’re not being particularly helpful.’

James leaned towards him, both elbows on the table and his hands clasped together. He narrowed his eyes. ‘Is there something you want to share, Logan?’

‘Um, yes. Well, kind of.’ He knew that James was enjoying every minute of watching him squirm. ‘There’s this woman . . .’

James smirked. ‘Oh, how I have waited and waited to hear you say these words.’

Logan felt the blood rush to his cheeks and he gulped some coffee. ‘You’re really not helping. I’m trying to have a deep and meaningful and you’re taking the piss.’

James held up his hands in apology. ‘You’re right. I’m sorry. Please continue. Tell me about the woman . . .’ He winked.

‘Okay. Well, I’ll admit it, when you started dating Amy again, I thought you’d lost the plot. You just seemed so . . . smitten.’

‘I was,’ said James dreamily. ‘And still am.’

‘Right, well, now I think I’m getting a bit of an inkling as to how you felt.’

‘Whoa,’ said James in shock. ‘Can I record this?’

Logan threw him a look.

‘What’s her name? Start with the basics.’

‘Her name is Kitty, and she’s staying at Lilybank Cottage.’

James’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘One of the women that Amy told me about in the shock house share?’

‘Yes. She’s called Kitty and she’s . . .

well, she’s smart and funny and kind and beautiful and .

. . I can’t stop thinking about her. There you go, I’ve laid my soul bare.

’ Logan shook his head, not quite believing what a mess he was and how on earth he could be uttering these words.

‘Please be gentle with me.’ He leaned back in his seat.

‘This is a very unexpected turn of events,’ said James, looking so very pleased with himself. ‘I mean, I thought you were the eternal bachelor. But this, my friend, sounds like you’re falling in love .’

‘Don’t be daft,’ said Logan unconvincingly. ‘It’s early days . . .’

‘What’s the problem, then? Is your love unrequited?’

Logan shook his head in frustration. ‘James, will you be serious for just a minute, please?’

‘Okay, I’m sorry. I’m all ears.’

‘There’s definitely something there, and there was almost a moment last night after we left the pub . . . but we had to get her housemate home. That’s another story. But I’m leaving the day after next to do the Loch Lomond tour and . . .’

‘You’re wondering what to do because you’re a nomad? And because it’s been a while since you asked a woman out?’ suggested James.

Logan nodded. ‘I told her that I’m back in Arran a couple of times over the summer. But I don’t know if that’s enough.’

‘Enough?’ said James questioningly. ‘Do you mean for her or for you?’

‘I don’t know,’ admitted Logan. ‘Maybe me.’

‘Look, one step at a time. How were things left last night?’

‘Well, I said I would get in touch so we could meet for a coffee or a drink before I leave.’

‘And have you done that yet?’

Logan shrugged. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

James shook his head in exasperation. ‘I can’t believe you’re sitting here telling me this. You must have it bad, buddy. I’m assuming you have her number?’

Logan nodded.

‘Just say something along the lines of, Are you free later for a drink? Or tomorrow if that’s easier for you? Then the ball is in her court.’

Logan took a deep breath and stood up. ‘Okay.’ Then he abruptly sat down again. ‘Do you mean now?’

‘Why not?’ said James. ‘No time like the present. And let me wage a bet that, if she is keen, she’ll have replied by the time you’ve finished your coffee with me.’

Reluctant to wait any longer, Logan quickly typed out a message.

Hey, Kitty. Hope you’re okay and Olivia’s head isn’t too sore this morning. About that drink. How about later tonight? Or tomorrow if that would work better for you? Logan

‘Do I add a kiss? Or an emoji?’ he asked James.

‘How do you normally sign off texts?’

‘Just with my name.’

‘Stick with that, then. Don’t start going all weird already. Save that for later.’ James couldn’t stop himself from chuckling.

‘I know, I know, you’ll have a field day with all of this.’ Logan pressed send and then put his phone down on the table next to him.

‘It’s a good thing you’ve got so many tours planned here this summer,’ said James. ‘Otherwise, can you imagine what state you’d be in?’

Logan took another sip of coffee, his eyes flitting between James and his phone. ‘Did I mention that her cousin is Fergus?’

‘Fergus in Lamlash? What a small world. Well, he’s a great guy, so based on that we can assume that this Kitty is a good woman. So you better not mess this up.’

Logan nodded, his stomach a knot of tension. He just hoped she was the type to send a rapid response and not leave him hanging. ‘Sorry, mate. I’m not being a very good friend. I’ve not even asked how you’re doing? How is work and how is Amy?’

‘Great,’ he said with a beam. ‘We’ve just booked a holiday to Crete in September. I think we’ll both need it by then. She’s had a lot on with the building works and her dad and—’

Logan’s phone buzzed on the table next to him, making him jump. He held his breath as he picked it up and read the message.

‘Is it from her?’ asked James.

Logan nodded.

‘What did she say?’

He looked up and grinned. ‘She said yes. She said a drink tonight would be great.’

‘Thank the Lord,’ said James, holding his hand up to high-five Logan. ‘Now you just need to spend the next eight hours worrying about what to wear.’