Page 40 of Kilts and Kisses at Highland Hall (Kilts and Kisses #1)

As Bex stepped outside, she pulled her car keys from her bag, only to stop in her tracks. There, on the driveway, was a sleek black sports car, and standing in front of it, dressed in a light green-blue shirt that perfectly matched the colour of his eyes, was Duncan.

‘You didn’t think you were going to have to drive yourself, did you?

’ he said, stepping forward and kissing her on the cheek.

Somehow, he felt broader than normal. Like if he would wrap his arms around her, she would simply disappear.

And yet before there was any chance of that happening, he stepped back and cast her a much longer gaze.

‘You look incredible,’ he said.

‘You don’t look bad yourself.’

‘Maybe… but you…’ It was as though he couldn’t hear her. Like he was totally absorbed by what he had seen. Totally absorbed by her. For a moment the pair of them stood there in silence, the weight of his gaze causing her to shudder as her pulse continued to rise.

‘I thought we had a reservation we needed to get to,’ she said, breaking the tension as she moved towards the car. A moment later, Duncan had regained his focus and was opening the door for her.

‘So, whose car is this?’ Bex asked as they drove towards the village. ‘I feel like it doesn’t have enough mud on to be yours.’

‘Wow, that’s rude,’ he said, before he offered her a quick grin to show he was only joking. ‘Technically, it’s Ishbel’s.’

‘Ishbel.’ It took her a moment to remember where she’d heard that name before. ‘Fergus’s sister.’

‘Aye. Fab woman. She loves her cars, but doesn’t have the room for them in London, so she keeps a couple up here.’

‘And she’s fine with you driving them?’

‘As long as Kieron doesn’t find out,’ he said with a chuckle.

‘He can be funny about stuff like that. You know, with me being “help” and everything. Ishbel’s not like that though.

Last time I saw her she was saying how much like his dad he was, and Ishbel’s been divorced these last fifteen years, so it wasn’t a compliment. ’

Poor Kieron, Bex thought. It seemed like people here didn’t think too highly of him, but if he’d grown up in London, he probably found it difficult to understand how things worked around here. She knew she did.

Given that she had already looked up The Haven Hotel online, Bex thought she knew what to expect as they drove down the country lane. But as she stepped inside the building, she felt her breath hitch.

‘This is beautiful,’ she murmured.

‘So, does it meet your London expectations?’ Duncan asked, holding out an arm for her to take.

‘Absolutely.’

As they strode in through the hallways, where light from crystal chandeliers was reflected in gilded mirrors, Bex struggled to know what to look at next. Unlike the castle, everything here was modern. Sleek and stylish, and yet somehow still fitting with the authenticity of the place.

‘They’ve done really well here,’ Duncan said. ‘I wouldn’t have expected a high-end restaurant in the middle of nowhere, but it’s become a bit of a destination spot for food bloggers.’

‘Bloggers?’ Bex arched an eyebrow.

‘Isn’t that still what they call people who take photos of everything?’ Duncan said.

‘I think “bloggers” is a bit 2010 – we’re onto influencers now.’ She laughed.

‘Right. Influencers,’ he replied, straightening his shirt as if brushing out invisible creases, although his entire outfit was pristinely ironed. It was almost as if he was nervous.

‘Hey, Dunc.’ The ma?tre d’ stepped forward.

When it became clear she was going to greet Duncan with more than just a ‘hello’, Bex stepped back, giving her room to kiss him lightly on the cheeks. Both sides, and lingering too. Bex might have been wrong, but she was pretty sure she saw her sigh a little too when they broke apart.

‘Hey, Liz, I’ve booked the table in the corner,’ he said, immediately reaching out to take Bex’s arm again.

‘The best view? Must be a special night,’ she said, offering Bex a look, which could have been a smirk, or it could have had a different meaning. Still, Bex smiled politely, before letting Duncan lead her to her seat.

‘So, is this a place you come often?’ she asked as Duncan pulled out her chair.

‘Aye. I try to come by whenever they change the menu,’ he said. ‘The chef was an old friend of my ma’s, so they let me know when there’s something new. She sometimes gets me to do tasting when they’re trying something a bit more adventurous.’

‘Sounds like a dream job, sampling luxury food.’

‘It’s a good gig.’ He grinned. ‘They’re a nice bunch.’

‘Well, they seem very intrigued by your current visit.’

Bex nodded towards the bar, where the ma?tre d’ was whispering to the bar staff. All three of them were throwing less than subtle glances over towards the couple.

‘Yes, I suppose nobody expected me back here with anyone so soon,’ he said before biting down on his lips. ‘I might as well tell you know, but this is where Katty had wanted to have the wedding reception.’

‘Not the castle?’ Bex said, more surprised by that than how Duncan had brought her to his planned wedding venue as a first date. She had seen enough of LochDarroch to know there probably weren’t many places like this about, and he clearly wanted to make a good impression.

His eyes glinted with a smile. ‘That was what I wanted, but she thought it was a bit dated and dusty. Not to mention not special enough, given that I practically live there and everything.’

She scoffed. How the hell someone could think that the castle wasn’t special was beyond her.

‘Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m starting to think you got a lucky escape with her.’

‘Yeah, I have to admit, things are definitely looking far brighter now,’ he said, locking his eyes on hers.

His hand was lying flat on the table and Bex found herself desperate to feel their fingers interlocked again, the way they had done on the walk back from the pub.

The pub where she had told him he couldn’t kiss her.

That he would have to wait for another date. This one.

‘We should look at the menu,’ she said, swallowing back the heat that was threatening to colour her cheeks.

‘We should,’ he said, but neither of them moved.

Despite the fact they weren’t even touching, the static had returned with such a force that Bex felt like her whole body might combust if she didn’t do something about it soon.

Her heart was pounding and from the way his eyes were locked on hers, she was sure he was feeling it too.

She was going to place her hand on his. That was what she was going to do. After all, it was only a small gesture.

Her fingers twitched, as if begging to move, and she lifted her arm ever so slightly, wondering why the hell she was feeling so damn nervous, when there was a slight cough to her side. Bex turned her head to see a waiter smiling broadly at the pair.

‘So, can I get some drinks for you?’

Perfect timing, she thought, and just like that, the moment was gone.