Page 33 of A Summer of Secrets on Arran (Scottish Romances #5)

With the excitement of Ben’s sudden arrival home, Rosie hadn’t seen Luke since their walk together in the woods but she had exchanged a few texts with him and he assured her he was churning out the words.

That made her happy. She had told him that Ben had arrived back and would be working and living in Brodick.

It was probably best he was keeping a low profile and that they did have some space from each other anyway.

The last thing she wanted to do was distract him.

However, today she had asked him if he would like to chum her and Rosie to Lamlash.

Ash was due to arrive later that day and they needed to get some shopping in.

Luke had texted her back saying he would love to come.

‘What if anyone recognises you?’ said Isobel as they got out the car beside the Co-op.

He shrugged. ‘I don’t think anyone will. I’m just a regular guy. It’s amazing how you can go about your business if you stay low key and don’t make a big deal of things’, he said.

‘I suppose that’s true,’ said Isobel. ‘I once saw that big hunk from Game of Thrones in Boots in Buchanan Galleries. I didn’t know it was him.

It was just some bloke trying to decide which brand of toothpaste to buy.

I just wondered why the assistant was paying special attention to the dental section.

I asked her where the floss was and she glared at me.

It was only when the chap walked away, with the tooth whitening variety by the way, that she told me who he was. I would have been none the wiser.’

Rosie had no idea who Isobel was referring to and shrugged.

She glanced at Luke unable to think of him as just a regular guy .

It was a bit cooler today and he wore his jeans, a sweatshirt and had pulled his beanie hat on.

‘Saves me worrying about my hair,’ he had said earlier when Isobel had made a comment and asked him if he was going busking.

She was becoming more and more like her mother every day.

As far as Rosie was concerned his hair was perfect.

‘Right, what’s the plan?’ Said Isobel. ‘Get the shopping done and have a wander? Or get the shopping done and then have a coffee?’

‘Shopping and coffee,’ said Rosie and Luke in unison.

Isobel smirked. ‘You’re both so in tune with each other.’

Rosie looked sheepishly at Luke then glared at Isobel. ‘Come on. And Isobel, just remember it’s your turn to buy the coffees.’

‘No bother at all,’ she said, completely unfazed.

Rosie had made a list of things to buy for Ash’s stay.

She planned to make a spicy sausage pasta that night and then do a barbeque tomorrow as the weather looked set to be fair.

Then, after that, if Ash decided to stay longer, they could eat out.

It didn’t take Rosie and Isobel long to gather all the necessary ingredients and then drop them off at the car.

Luke was waiting on a nearby bench which overlooked the sea.

‘I love this place,’ he said. ‘It’s like a painting.’ He pointed over to the island. ‘That’s the Holy Isle?’

‘Yes,’ said Rosie, opening the car and putting the shopping in the boot. ‘You can go over and visit it. Or volunteer there. I think they’re always looking for people to help in the kitchen and the garden. I would imagine that is another good place to escape to.’

‘Have you been over?’ asked Isobel curiously.

‘Yes, I did a mindfulness course there last year.’

‘Did you?’ said Isobel. ‘You kept that quiet.’

‘Because you would accuse me of going all woo-woo,’ said Rosie, shaking her head at her friend. ‘I know how sceptical you can be. But actually, it was great.’

‘I’m sure it was,’ said Luke. ‘Mindfulness can be really great. I know it’s helped me with stuff.’

Rosie gave him a small smile. ‘Anyway, they have a website in case you want to find out more.’

He nodded thoughtfully.

Isobel clapped her hands together. ‘Right, let’s go and get some coffee at Cèic. What would everyone like?’ Isobel took their orders and walked ahead then disappeared inside the café.

Rosie and Luke took their time to wander over and then decided they would sit outside.

‘You’re a bit quieter today, Rosie. Is everything okay?’ said Luke, touching her on the elbow.

Rosie felt her arm tingle at his touch and she was glad she had her sunglasses on as he was right.

She did feel out of sorts. And not just because of his current proximity to her.

She knew that Ash’s arrival would completely shift the dynamic in the cottage and Isobel was already starting to behave strangely, which she tended to do when she was nervous.

It would, of course, all settle down after Ash had been there for a day or so.

It was always like this. ‘Yes, just thinking about Ash arriving and all that needs to be done.’ She flicked her hand dismissively.

‘It will be fine . . . it’s just been ages since we were all together and it can sometimes take us a while to readjust to being in each other’s company.

Ash can sometimes be a bit full on, you know.

’ Rosie could already hear what Ash would have to say about Luke which made her feel a bit edgy.

Luke nodded thoughtfully. ‘I can understand that,’ he said, and then his mobile started to ring. ‘Sorry, I had better take this,’ he said apologetically as he looked at the caller’s number. He stood up and walked away to take the call. ‘Hey there,’ he said softly into the phone.

Rosie watched him as he leant against a wall a few metres away.

He rubbed his hand over his jaw, which she noticed he did when he was stressed.

She wondered who he was talking to. From the way he answered the call, it sounded as though it was a woman.

Not that it was any of her business, but she couldn’t help being curious.

She also felt a stab of envy at the thought of Luke and another woman which was not how she wanted to feel at all.

‘Here I am,’ said Isobel in her sing-song voice which was kept for when she was feeling anxious.

‘They will bring them right out and I wasn’t sure whether to get cake or scones and figured it was morning so too early for cake so I got a variety of scones.

Lemon and blueberry, fruit and plain. I thought we could share them.

And I got butter and jam. I wasn’t sure who wanted what.

You know what my mum is like with the butter and jam and how she was never allowed both when she was young because of rations.

And so having both is a real treat.’ Then she suddenly sat down seemingly exhausted with her verbal offload.

Rosie reached over and patted her arm knowingly.

It was all she needed to do. There was no need for words.

They knew each well enough to know what was going on.

Just noticing was enough. ‘That all sounds great. I’m sure it will all be fine,’ she said soothingly.

She moved her gaze back to Luke, who was still on his mobile and now pacing around.

‘Who’s lover boy on the phone to?’ said Isobel flippantly.

‘I have no idea and he is not my lover boy,’ said Rosie.

‘Well, he should be,’ said Isobel. ‘You both look at each other with absolute longing . It is quite fascinating to watch. The sexual tension is outrageous.’

Rosie sighed as Cano arrived with their drinks and scones on a tray. Luke was still on the phone but he gave Rosie a small nod to indicate he had noticed and would be with them soon. His eyes were now fixed on Rosie and she blushed and looked away.

‘See what I mean,’ said Isobel.

Rosie shook her head but couldn’t stop grinning.

‘Sorry about that,’ he said with an apologetic smile as he strode towards them and sat down at the table.

‘Everything okay?’ asked Isobel quickly.

‘Mm, yes. Just work stuff, you know.’

Rosie and Isobel waited, expecting him to elaborate but when he didn’t, they changed the subject.

Isobel was very good at filling silences and started talking at great length about a series on Netflix she had been watching.

Now it was Rosie’s turn to notice that Luke wasn’t quite himself.

He nodded politely as Isobel talked, but Rosie noticed a real shift in his energy since he had taken the call and he was definitely distracted.

She tried to catch his eye but his mind was clearly elsewhere — as was Isobel’s, who was chattering nineteen to the dozen, even though Rosie and Luke weren’t very engaged with what she was saying.

She didn’t seem to realise her words were going over their heads.

Rosie grimaced. It didn’t matter that they were all in this beautiful location together at this moment.

None of them were present and all of their minds were elsewhere.

Rosie took a bite of scone and chewed thoughtfully.

It was a reminder that you couldn’t escape your problems no matter how hard you tried.

Their walk in the forest seemed a distant dream.

She had been reliving it ever since and now thought she had completely imagined their connection.

Especially as Luke was now being a bit offhand.

Who had he been speaking to on the phone just there?

Because whoever it was had completely ruined his mood.

Isobel had drained her coffee in record time and the caffeine was making her extra fidgety.

‘Right,’ she boomed. ‘Would anyone like another coffee?’

‘Thanks, but no,’ said Luke glumly, glancing up at the sky which had fittingly turned grey.

The wind had also picked up and dark clouds had rolled in from nowhere. Rosie took off her sunglasses and groaned. It looked as though it was about to start raining. ‘I think we had better make a dash for it,’ she said. ‘It looks like there is about to be a downpour any minute now.’

The café staff were clearing away cups and plates from the other tables and Rosie, Luke and Isobel were the only people left sitting outside.

‘Come on,’ said Luke, gathering the things on the tray and handing it to Cano who had just come outside to help. ‘Thank you,’ he said to Cano. Then turned to Rosie and Isobel and called, ‘Let’s make a dash for it.’

They just made it to Rosie’s car before huge fat raindrops started to pelt down.

‘Yuck,’ said Isobel. ‘Summer in Scotland. Just brilliant. Fabulous sunshine one minute, pishing rain the next.’

‘Doesn’t matter,’ said Luke. ‘At least we managed to have coffee and delicious scones before it started. Thanks, Isobel. I must get it next time.’

‘I’ll hold you to it,’ said Isobel.

The atmosphere in the car was sombre as they drove back to Kildonan and Rosie couldn’t help thinking that the weather matched everyone’s gloomy mood.

Everyone seemed lost in their thoughts and as the windscreen wipers screeched as fast as they could to keep up with the rainfall, she couldn’t help thinking that the miserable weather had set the tone for the rest of the day.

She just hoped the ferry that Ash was on wasn’t cancelled.