Page 41 of A Summer House on Arran (Scottish Romances #3)

Much to his frustration, Logan spent his days reliving every detail of his time with Kitty.

Especially when he was away from the island.

In fact, even more so. When he thought about her, he was consumed with a feeling of excited trepidation about seeing her again and kissing her and holding her.

Being with her was so easy and exhilarating, and he found himself longing to get back to her.

Logan knew Kitty was used to her independence, and he certainly didn’t want to suffocate her, even though he was desperate to see her whenever he could.

They had both been enjoying the excitement of a new romance, and he kept reminding himself not to think too far ahead or to worry about what would happen when the summer came to an end and she went back to her life in Rosemarkie.

Although she had given him a brief summary of what had happened with her late husband, he suspected she was holding something back.

But he didn’t want to pry, and he hoped she would tell him when she was ready.

Today he was leading a group up Goatfell, and although he had invited Kitty along she had declined, which was not a bad thing.

There would have been no way he would have been able to do his job properly or focus on the group if she had been there.

She was already dominating his thoughts and she wasn’t even in the vicinity.

Everything today felt magnified. The sound of the breeze swishing through the trees, the feel of the scree under his boots and the scent of pine in the air.

He rubbed a hand over his jaw. He didn’t think he’d ever felt like this.

He certainly couldn’t remember a time when he felt so alive after spending time with a woman.

This latest group of walkers were enthusiastic about the climb, and he had been pleased for Henry that the numbers had started to look up for the summer, not only in Arran but across Scotland generally.

Henry had made a point of thanking him for updating his Instagram account, saying there had definitely been more enquiries as a result of his posts.

Logan had shrugged. It wasn’t really anything to do with him.

Scotland’s outdoors could sell itself. There really was no place in the world he would rather be.

Where else would you find mountains, hills, glens, lochs and sandy shores, wild swimming pools, waterfalls, forests and glaciers and scattered islands in such a small and concentrated geographical area?

He loved the history and the culture and the nuances between all the areas and communities.

It was a place he was proud to showcase, so he took no credit at all for his posts gaining extra traction.

Yet he felt completely buoyed up today and couldn’t wipe the grin off his face.

He felt as though he was on top of the world.

* * *

Later, when he waved the guests farewell and made sure everyone was okay, he pulled out his mobile to ring Kitty.

They’d made a loose plan to meet up, but she didn’t answer her phone.

Assuming she hadn’t heard the call, he didn’t think anything more of it.

He went back to James’s flat to have a shower and change his clothes, and was about to call her again to suggest a walk, when he heard his phone vibrating.

It was Kitty. Snatching it up, he grinned.

‘Hi, gorgeous. I’ve just come out the shower and was thinking about you.’ It was the sort of comment that would normally illicit a cheeky response, but it was met with silence. He knew she was there, he could hear her take a shuddery breath.

‘Kitty?’ he asked, immediately concerned. ‘Are you okay?’ His heart was pounding now, wondering what on earth was going on.

‘No,’ she said, her voice subdued.

‘What’s happened? Where are you?’

‘I’m at the cottage . . .’ Her voice trailed away.

‘You sound different. Kitty? What’s wrong?’

He could hear her choke back a sob. ‘I don’t know what to do,’ she said with a wail.

Grabbing his keys, he quickly pulled the door of the flat closed behind him. ‘It’s okay, I’m on my way to you now. I’ll be there as soon as I can.’ He had never heard her sound so scared.

‘Oh Logan,’ she said, her voice shaking. ‘What am I going to do?’

‘What’s happened?’ he asked gently. ‘Whatever it is, Kitty, I’m here for you. You’re not alone.’

‘It’s Cameron.’

Logan felt a knot at the pit of his stomach. ‘What about him?’

Kitty was so overcome with emotion that she was struggling to speak. Logan listened in shock as she garbled out a few words. ‘There’s been an accident.’