Page 29 of Kilts and Kisses at Highland Hall (Kilts and Kisses #1)

When they finally finished, it wasn’t because they had run out of work to do, but because Ruby was standing at the closed door, scratching to go out.

‘What time is it?’ Bex asked, having left her phone somewhere in the detritus.

‘Um, six,’ Duncan replied as he looked at his watch. ‘I guess she must be ready for her dinner.’

‘Six?’ Bex grabbed Duncan’s wrist so she could turn his watch around to face her. ‘Where the heck did the last three hours go?’

‘Well, you know what they say about time flying when you’re having fun.’ Duncan grinned. ‘I guess it must be the company.’

‘Yeah,’ Bex said in a very noncommittal way. Not that she hadn’t enjoyed Duncan’s company, but at some point in the last three hours, they had pretty much stopped talking and just got on with work. Now, as she stepped back, she was incredibly grateful for that.

‘This actually looks like we’ve made progress,’ she said, surprise raising her voice. ‘This is great. Thank you so much. I don’t think I would have been able to do this without your help.’

‘Well, how about I get to take you out for that meal now? I mean, if you don’t need my help with any more sorting.’

Bex offered him a withering glare.

‘I said we’ve made progress, not that we were done. There’s still that extra cupboard at the end that I haven’t opened since the first day because I’m pretty sure there are mice living in there.’

Duncan let out a chuckle. ‘Well, I can do that one for you then. But I ought to go back now. Kenna hates it when I’m out all day. I’ve tried to have her come to work with me, you know, just hang around in the truck while I go off and do things, but she doesn’t like doing that either.’

‘Kenna the cat?’ Bex replied. ‘You wanted to take your cat to work with you?’

‘Why not?’ he said, looking most put out by the comment. ‘People take dogs to work with them. Why should it be any different?’

Bex couldn’t help but study this bulk of a man in front of her.

On the outside, he looked like he should spend his days chopping wood and carrying full logs on his shoulders – which he may well do – but there was this other side to him.

The side that had looked after himself since he was young, wasn’t ashamed for anyone to know how much he loved his sister and his cat, and would spend hours of his afternoon helping a woman he didn’t even know.

Although, there was a small part of her that suspected the help he had given her wasn’t just to do with going for a drink, but also for Fergus.

Helping out this old man who’d had such a tempestuous relationship with his grandfather that they’d stopped speaking altogether.

It was a strange dynamic, that was for sure.

‘Talking of which, Ruby really seems to have taken a liking to you,’ Duncan carried on. ‘It’s strange. She’s normally quite aloof with people she doesn’t know.’

‘Fergus said the same, but I think she just likes the fact that if she hangs out with me, it means she doesn’t have to go out walking all day with Fergus.’

Duncan gave a laugh, one so full-bellied and warm that Bex couldn’t help but feel her cheeks rise in response.

‘Aye, you might be right about that,’ he replied. ‘Now, it’s Friday night. What are your plans? A drink at the White Hart? Dinner at the Lion?’

She laughed. ‘You don’t give up, do you? And no, my plans are a cheese omelette, an early night, a catch-up with my friends on the phone, and hopefully, if I don’t get woken up by the damn birds, a lie-in in the morning.’

A frown formed, crinkling his otherwise creaseless face.

‘You’re having trouble sleeping here?’ he asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.

‘Sleeping, no,’ Bex replied. ‘Staying asleep, yes. Had I known how early these damn birds wake up in summer, I think I would have asked my boss to send me here in winter.’ She let out a chuckle, to which Duncan replied with a smile, although it was notably more distant than normal. A second later, his expression cleared.

‘Well, like I said, I need to get back to Kenna. I’m sure I’ll see you over the weekend, but if I don’t,’ he said, ‘I’ll see you on Monday. Only two days left until we go on our date.’

‘Um, no,’ Bex said, placing her hands on her hips. ‘It’s three. You have to help me for five days, remember?’

He grinned. ‘Oh, I remember what you said. I just think that after two more lunches with me, you’ll be the one asking me out on a date instead.’

With that, he flashed her a smile bright enough to light the whole damn castle before offering Ruby one quick stroke, then he opened the door through which both of them disappeared.