Page 1 of A Summer of Secrets on Arran (Scottish Romances #5)

Isobel had to pinch herself. She couldn’t quite believe she was here in this amazing city so far from her home in Glasgow, Scotland.

For the past few months she had been backpacking around Australia, with her best friend Rosie, making new friends, exploring, having the fun and adventures that a young, free and single twentysomething should have.

They had seen the most beautiful beaches, with white sands and aqua waters, tried their hand at surfing on Bondi Beach, been sailing in the Whitsunday Islands, seen kangaroos, gone to open air festivals and concerts and drunk copious amounts of the local wine and beer.

And they had laughed until their bellies had ached and their jaws were stiff.

There had also been plenty of hook-ups along the way for both of them, neither keen to be tied down.

Not when they were moving on the next day and the world was their oyster.

They both just wanted to have fun. And they had been doing exactly that.

Until now.

As Isobel stood in the middle of what was currently the biggest celebration and party in the world, she realised that this was where her current adventure was going to come to a premature end.

She was surrounded by thousands of delighted people, yet she also felt completely alone.

Even with her best friend in the world standing next to her.

She couldn’t bring herself to tell Rosie what had happened. And what she had done.

‘I wish Ash had stayed on with us a bit longer. What a thing to miss!’ said Rosie, a huge grin stretched across her face. ‘This is immense. ’

Ash — Ashley — was their good friend from home who had jetted in to meet them a few weeks ago and was now travelling up the Gold Coast towards Brisbane and a scholarship in architecture at the university there.

It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and Isobel felt a pang of envy at having that freedom to live your life exactly the way you always wanted to and do exactly what you pleased.

The three of them all had a great time partying, sightseeing and hanging out together, not knowing when they would next be reunited.

It might even be years before Ash returned to Scotland, if at all.

‘Isn’t this ace?’ said Rosie in her ear now. Her breath was warm and smelt of peach cider. ‘I mean, where would you rather be, Isobel? Here or dodging the pissing cold rain in George Square back home.’

Isobel forced a smile. ‘I know,’ she said, trying to muster up as much enthusiasm as she could.

‘That’s a tough one.’ She forced a laugh.

‘This is incredible.’ But the truth was that right now she would have done anything to be in George Square.

Even if it was cold, dark and wet. At least it was familiar, and she would feel less overwhelmed.

She was desperately homesick and had spent the past few days actually being physically sick.

She’d realised, in utter horror, what was going on.

She didn’t quite know how she was going to break the news to Rosie, but Isobel was going to have to cut her trip short. Earlier that day she had taken a pregnancy test. It was positive. Her partying days were over. It was now time for Isobel to go home.