Page 36 of Kilts and Kisses at Highland Hall (Kilts and Kisses #1)

Bex was too stunned by Duncan’s appearance to think straight as Eilidh and Niall instinctively slipped in next to each other at the table, meaning she was next to Duncan.

Maybe it was better this way – better than having to look straight at him the entire time.

How was he so damn attractive? His cheekbones were as sharp as the axes she had imagined him chopping with, and those damn eyes – the candlelight from the table was obviously doing something to them, Making them even more mesmerising.

Not that she kept looking at them. Or at least, she hoped she didn’t.

This pub had a very different atmosphere from the White Hart. This, in her opinion, anyway, was more of a gastropub, where people were coming for the food and the atmosphere, rather than just a place to catch up with their friends and a pint.

‘The haggis here is great,’ Eilidh said as they browsed the menus. ‘I’m not sure if you’ve had haggis yet, but if you’re going to try it, I’d definitely recommend it here.’

‘Well, I really like bridies,’ Bex replied. ‘Duncan’s brought me them for lunch a couple of times.’

Bex only realised what she’d said a moment after the words slipped out. Fingers crossed it wouldn’t get back to Lorna that Duncan had brought her lunch, although from Eilidh’s response, she didn’t seem to notice anything odd about the comment.

‘Really? Oh wow, we’re already turning you into a local!’ Eilidh laughed.

‘Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but yeah, trying haggis sounds like a good idea.’

‘Don’t worry about driving,’ Niall said. ‘I’ve got work early tomorrow, so I can drop you home.’

‘I brought my car,’ Bex replied. She had ummed and ahhed about walking, but the heels had cinched it for her.

Dry weather or not, she was likely to twist an ankle on all the gravel and cobblestones.

Besides, the last thing she needed was to have too much to drink in front of Duncan while there were other people there.

‘Well, if you decide you want a couple, your car’ll be fine to leave overnight,’ Niall assured her.

‘I’ll remember that,’ Bex said, although at that moment, her mind was a million miles away from the thought of getting home, or even whether she wanted to enjoy a couple of drinks.

Instead, all she could focus on was the fact that Duncan was seated just inches from her, and every time she moved slightly, their thighs brushed. Sometimes it was just for a brief moment, but at other times, like now, the moment lingered, causing her breath to stutter.

She needed to stop thinking about it. She needed to stop thinking about how easy it would be to slip her hand onto his knee or intertwine her fingers with his. This was ridiculous.

‘So, what is it you do?’ she asked Niall, desperate to distract herself from the feel of Duncan’s eyes constantly looking at her.

‘Oh, it’s not very interesting at all. I work in farm machinery.’

‘What do you mean, “not interesting”?’ Eilidh said. ‘He’s downplaying how hard he works massively. He’s already a director at the company.’

‘Wow, that’s great going,’ Bex said.

Niall shrugged. ‘I know, but Eilidh makes it sound better than it is – I mean, it’s a company of three people. Two of us are directors.’

‘It’s still a company,’ Bex said. ‘Most people don’t have the courage to take risks like that.’

‘Is it something you’d do?’ Duncan asked. ‘Start your own business?’

Bex considered the question. ‘The thing with accountancy firms in London is that there are so many big names, going on your own is just career suicide unless you’ve got a massive client list that’ll come with you, and even then there are all these non-compete agreements.’

‘You don’t have to do it in London,’ Duncan said. ‘Surely you could set up somewhere else, somewhere that needs an accountancy firm.’

‘Like here?’ Eilidh suggested, voicing the unspoken idea that Duncan had implied. ‘That would be amazing! Set up an accountancy firm here.’

‘I’m not sure there’d be enough business for me around here once I’m done with Fergus’s castle books.

’ Bex laughed, unsure if she liked the way all the attention had currently shifted to her.

But then, what had she expected? They already knew everything about each other. To them, she was the interesting one.

‘Are you kidding?’ Niall said. ‘Loads of businesses around here need help. We’d employ you and I’d bet my right leg I’m not the only one. I’d bet there’s an absolute goldmine here for someone with your skills.’

‘And she’s amazing, honestly. An absolute work horse.’

The compliment came from Duncan, and when Bex turned to look at him, she couldn’t help but feel a smile lift in her eyes. Not to mention a flurry of butterflies in her abdomen. Still, it was Niall’s comment that played on her mind.

Bex thought about it. When she had first started out, being the director of her own accountancy firm had been the long-term goal, but then, since she’d learned more about the business, she’d shifted her mindset to assuming she’d stay at Smiths and Bears.

After all, the fact that she was here was a sign of how many hoops she was willing to jump through for them.

‘I’m happy where I am for now,’ she said.

‘Oh well, we’ve still got a few weeks to persuade you otherwise, right?’

‘Yes, we do,’ Duncan replied, flashing her another of those grins.

Eilidh laughed before picking up the wine bottle and topping up Bex’s glass, followed by her own. Perhaps Bex would grab that lift from Niall after all.

The rest of the meal passed with constant chatter and laughter, with the only quiet moments coming when they were all digging into their food.

Just as the others had said, the haggis was delicious, as were all the side dishes, which only helped the wine flow even faster.

As did the fact that she needed something in her hand to stop it from accidentally brushing up against Duncan.

The first time it happened was when they both went for the water jug at the same time, then again when she reached across him to get the salt.

She had finished her main course when she reached out to get her glass only to find she had picked up his instead.

A fact he let her know by gently stroking the top of her knuckles.

And when she dropped her napkin, he was the one who reached down and picked it up, only for his arm to graze the outside of her thigh, which caused her pulse to rocket as a flash of heat flooded her entire body.

It was a far cry from the way he had been slinging his arm across her the last time they had been in the pub together.

The gestures were so small, so intimate, they were probably imperceptible to anyone else, and at times, Bex had to remind herself that there were other people around the table too.

Not just her and Duncan. Something she managed by keeping the conversation going as much as possible.

‘One of my best friends is a painter,’ Bex said when she learned Eilidh was a textile artist. ‘She does it part-time and runs a café, but she’s absolutely incredible. I have to show you some of her paintings. Hold on a sec.’

She flicked through her phone to find photos of Daisy’s watercolours, then passed it over to Niall and Eilidh to look at. As she did, she felt Duncan’s gaze lingering on her.

‘Your friends mean the world to you, don’t they?’ he said.

‘Yes, they do. We’ve been best friends since we were kids.

I don’t think anything can ever replace relationships like that.

’ As soon as the words left her mouth, she knew what she’d said.

What was it with her putting her foot in it?

No doubt Duncan’s Friday nights used to be spent with his best friends too, before everything had happened.

And once again, she had reminded him of that.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean?—’

‘No, it’s fine, really.’ He smiled, his eyes fixed on hers. ‘You’re right; it is lucky to have friendships like that. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t open yourself up to what else is out there. Don’t you think?’

‘Maybe.’

Their eyes were locked on one another again. As if the rest of the room was just a vignette, blurring out of focus, so all that mattered was them.

‘Those are incredible,’ Eilidh said, handing Bex her phone back and breaking the moment. ‘She’s so talented.’

Bex cleared her throat. ‘Right, I know. She’s phenomenal.’ She cast another quick glance at Duncan, unsure why it was so hard to look away from him. But considering the number of times their eyes had met, she was pretty sure she wasn’t the only one having the issue.

Still, for the first time all night, silence threatened to take hold of the table, but before it could, Niall lifted his hand to his mouth to cover a wide yawn.

‘Guys, I hate to do this, but I think I’ve got to head off. It was an early one this morning.’

‘I was thinking the same,’ Eilidh said. ‘And you’re giving me a lift back, so I guess that’s my sign that I’m going too. What about you two? Do you want a lift?’

Bex knew what she wanted. She wanted Duncan to say they would finish off their wine. Subtext for spending time alone together. But it was reckless of her to want that, wasn’t it?

Still, she glanced at him, hoping to read his expression to see if he wanted the same. Yet before he spoke, Eilidh’s phone pinged.

‘It’s Lorna,’ she said, glancing down at the screen. ‘She’s just checking we’re all having a good night and not having too much fun without her.’

A pang of guilt shot through Bex. Lorna had been so good to her, including her in their friendship circle, checking on her at the castle. And she’d asked only one thing – that Bex steer clear of Duncan. Bex tried to ignore the tension buzzing between them as she turned to him.

‘You know what, I think I’m going to head back too,’ she said. ‘I thought I might go for a walk by the loch tomorrow.’

‘Really? Do you want some company?’ Duncan asked.

She smiled but shook her head, surprised at how blatant he had been in front of the others. There was no chance that wouldn’t get back to Lorna.

‘Thank you, but I’m not sure what time I’ll be going. If it’s raining, I’ll go later, and I don’t want to mess you around.’ She could feel the tension simmering between them. ‘It’s fine, really. But I should get home now.’

‘Right, of course.’

‘So do you guys want a lift?’ Niall offered.

Bex readied herself to accept the offer, but before she spoke, Duncan cut in.

‘Actually, I was going to walk,’ he said. ‘As it’s a nice evening. Bex, do you want to join me?’

She did – she desperately did – but it was the wrong thing to do. She knew it was the wrong thing to do.

But she had already declined his offer to join her at the loch tomorrow and they had all heard.

Walking home with him now was harmless, surely?

Particularly since they practically lived in the same place.

A bubble of apprehension threatened to rise and make her see sense, but before she could contemplate all the reasons that Duncan walking her home was a bad idea, she quashed it.

‘Why not?’ she said, flashing him a smile. ‘Although just so you know, I’m in heels, so it’s going to be a very slow walk back.’

‘Oh, I’m sure I’ll cope,’ he said, grinning back at her.