Page 40 of A Summer of Secrets on Arran (Scottish Romances #5)

Luke sat on a bench overlooking Kildonan.

Rosie had told him it had always been one of her dad’s favourite spots and he could understand why.

With a view of the islands of Pladda and Ailsa Craig, it was the perfect place to sit and think.

On a clear day like today you could see the Ayrshire coast. He had noticed and loved the numerous benches which were thoughtfully placed all over the island.

It told him how proud the locals were of their island and that they wanted to share its beauty with everyone.

The benches were there as reminders to take a break and be still for a while.

It was good advice and something he hoped he could hold onto when he returned to London.

The thought of which was now preying heavily on his mind.

Taking a moment to notice things and appreciate them was becoming increasingly important to Luke.

‘Hey there,’ said a voice.

He didn’t need to turn round to see who it was.

‘Mind if we join you?’ said Rosie.

He patted the seat next to her and grinned. ‘Of course not.’

Rosie sat next to him, close enough for their legs to touch. Coisty sat at their feet. Her eyes were sparkling and she was smiling. She somehow seemed lighter and freer. He wondered if something had happened.

‘Look at that,’ he said, pointing to islands ahead. ‘Pladda and Ailsa Craig. Is that right?’

She nodded.

‘Wow,’ he said, ‘and is there anything on them?’

Rosie shook her head. ‘Not a lot other than birds and, of course, the lighthouse on Pladda. Though there was some chat about developing holiday lodges there too. But who knows.’

‘It is really stunning,’ said Luke thoughtfully.

‘I think so,’ said Rosie. ‘And another random piece of information is that curling stones are made from the granite that is harvested from Ailsa Craig.’

‘This is like having my own personal tourist guide,’ murmured Luke, who was just glad that they could now relax in each other’s company again after being a bit awkward at the start.

In that instance, he was transported back to a Sydney bar and she was laughing loudly at something he had said.

Then he had leaned forward and kissed her.

A memory floated through his mind of them lying together in his hotel room cocooned from the rest of the world.

He gave her a sideways glance. If only he had known then what he knew now.

How different might his life have been? He and Rosie obviously weren’t meant to be together back then.

They were too young and neither ready to settle down.

But what if he had settled down with her?

Or what if he had met someone else who wasn’t Cindy?

What would his life have been like if Rosie hadn’t met her husband?

But then that would have meant he wouldn’t have his boys and Rosie wouldn’t have Ben.

He knew that neither of them would have been without their kids.

Life had a way of unfolding as it should.

‘What have you been up to?’ said Rosie with a smile, nudging him.

‘I was out walking. It helps me think,’ said Luke, rubbing a hand over his jaw which was now covered in stubble.

‘About?’

‘About how much I love it here. How wonderful it has been to have space and not be surrounded by people. It made me realise how much I appreciate the countryside and the sea — and this.’

She looked at him. ‘Who would have thought that a summer on Arran would have transformed you like this?’

Luke knew it wasn’t just the place that had done that and he turned to look at her. ‘How amazing it has been to reconnect with you after all these years. Do you remember the Q bar?’

Rosie nodded. It was the Sydney bar they had met in all those years ago. She nodded and looked at him curiously. ‘Especially the sticky floor.’

He laughed and reached for her hand. ‘All this time alone writing and walking and thinking means I have been doing a lot of soul searching, Rosie. And remembering things from way back.’

‘What sort of things?’ said Rosie gently.

‘That night when we met at the bar. I’d never laid eyes on such a stunning girl.’

Rosie stared straight ahead, her cheeks burning red and he wondered if she was remembering it too.

‘The thing is I did recognise you when I saw you here that night I arrived with Bella. But everything was so out of context. It just took me a while to piece things together.’

Rosie shrugged. ‘That’s okay.’

Luke took a deep breath then exhaled a long sigh. ‘I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m sorry. For being young and stupid and for disappearing. But most of all, I’m sorry for ever letting you go.’

‘Well, I have to say that I do now see you in a different light.’

‘Oh,’ he said hopefully.

Rosie glanced at him. ‘Yes, I no longer think you’re the selfish and self-absorbed prick that you were in your twenties.’

‘Ooft. I suppose I deserved that,’ he said. ‘And now?’

‘Now, I see the real you. I feel like over the summer I’ve got to know the real Luke who is kind and compassionate and funny . . .’

Luke waited for her to finish. ‘And . . .’

Rosie laughed. ‘And you’re not bad looking either, given your age.’

Luke felt a surge of excitement in his stomach and tried to shrug casually. ‘You’re not too bad yourself.’

As they sat together on the bench, holding hands, Luke realised there was nowhere else he would rather be right now.

He wasn’t exactly sure how Rosie might respond if he opened up in the way that she had.

But at least they seemed to be on the same page.

Then she leaned over to kiss his cheek and her grip on his hand tightened.

His heart was racing with excitement as he wondered if he should kiss her properly.

It felt as though he was a teenager again, unsure how to make his next move.

He wished he didn’t feel like this but he was stuck and had no idea what to do next.

‘Well, I was not expecting you to be here and us to be having this conversation,’ said Rosie finally.

‘And I was just having a Sliding Doors moment as I walked up here. I was thinking how different my life might have been if I hadn’t met Dermot.

Hindsight’s a wonderful thing, isn’t it?

But it doesn’t matter. What’s done is done and I for one wouldn’t be without Ben.

I do think life has a way of happening the way it should. ’

He nodded thoughtfully. ‘True,’ he said softly. ‘Life has a funny old way of working itself out.’

‘That is exactly what a wise friend of mine told me earlier,’ said Rosie. ‘ Whits Fur Ye’ll No Go By Ye. That means, what’s for you won’t go past you.’

His breath caught in his throat as Rosie turned towards him and leaned in to kiss him.

Her lips brushed very softly against his, hesitant at first and then more probing.

This time Luke didn’t hesitate to return her kiss.

Eventually, they pulled apart and grinned.

Rosie’s cheeks were flushed and he traced the curve of her face with his hand.

‘I think we should head back, don’t you?

Unless you want the neighbours to start talking. ’

Rosie giggled and stood up, grabbing his hand. ‘You are the neighbours.’ She reached up on her tiptoes to kiss him again and he pulled her close.

‘Still,’ he said with a groan. ‘I think we should take this inside. I don’t want to be charged with engaging in lewd behaviour outside.’

Rosie sniggered. ‘True. You don’t want to get done with breach of the peace.’ She grasped his hand and tugged Coisty’s lead with the other and they walked briskly down the hill towards the cottages.

But as they approached Creel Cottage, he sensed a shift in Rosie’s energy.

She seemed nervous and fidgety and paused at the lavender filled wheelbarrow next to the front door.

She scuffed her shoe against the gravel.

Luke realised what was wrong and when he suggested that she come next door instead, a look of relief crossed her face.

‘Thanks, Luke. It just feels a bit weird to be taking you back to mine, if you know what I mean . . .’

He reassured her with a nod then a lingering kiss.

‘Let me just pop Coisty in,’ she said, her cheeks still pink.

‘Sure thing,’ he said. ‘Though only if you are sure . . .’

She answered him by kissing him firmly.

Luke had just opened the door at Beach Cottage when Rosie appeared behind him.

She wrapped her arms around his waist as he walked into the hallway where they stood, awkward at first, until Luke turned round and gently put his hand behind her neck.

He pulled Rosie towards him. Then he paused.

‘Are you sure about this?’ He traced a finger across her lips and then down her neck to her collarbone.

Rosie raised an eyebrow then cupped her hand around his. ‘I most certainly am.’