Page 49 of Kilts and Kisses at Highland Hall (Kilts and Kisses #1)

It was warmer than Bex expected as she walked.

Or maybe it was simply the pace she’d set that made her so hot.

She crossed the castle grounds and headed towards the loch, her eyes fixed forward, careful not to glance in the direction of the lodge.

There would have been tears, she thought.

Lots of apologies. Promises that things would be okay.

Lies they knew they had to say to one another because their lives were changed forever now. They were going to be parents.

As she wiped the tears from her cheeks, she wondered how it was possible that she still had any left.

This wasn’t the first time she’d cried over a man, but all those other times it had felt like something she needed to do to get them out of her system.

And half the time it hadn’t been about them anyway.

It had been about her. Her failure to find that happy ever after that she dreamt of.

Her failure to find someone who thought of her as theirs and theirs alone.

But Duncan had thought that, hadn’t he? After only two weeks knowing each other and one night together, he had said those words to Katty.

‘I’m not yours any more.’ That’s what he’d said. But words meant nothing. Not now.

By the time she reached the pub, it was three o’clock in the afternoon and she was sweaty and hot.

Even though she wasn’t particularly hungry, she knew better than not to eat anything.

And so she headed to the Lion, wanting nothing more than to hide herself away, but when she walked in, she realised her mistake.

There, standing behind the bar, doing one of her countless jobs, was Lorna.

The redhead’s eyes lit up at the sight of Bex and before she realised what was happening, Lorna was out from the bar, squeezing her in a hug.

‘So?’ Lorna said when she broke away. ‘I believe you’ve got something you need to tell me? Something about my brother.’

Bex froze, wondering if Lorna already knew about the pregnancy.

‘Liz rang me last night,’ Lorna said, giving her a wink.

‘She said you and Duncan were all over each other at The Haven. I mean, I should be mad. I am mad, but from what Eilidh said after you four had dinner, apparently it was inevitable. According to her, you two were sneaking glances at each other the entire night, and he offered to walk you home… She also said Duncan was the happiest she had seen him since… well ever, really. And I’m guessing that’s down to you.

So I take back what I said before. You have my blessing to date my brother, for what it’s worth. Not that it stopped you before.’

Lorna’s smile was genuine, her happiness clear. She approved of them, was actually happy about it, and now Bex had to crush that happiness.

‘It’s not quite that straightforward,’ Bex said hesitantly.

‘Why? What happened?’

‘I’m not sure it’s my place to tell you.’

Bex didn’t want to break down again. She had only just got a grip of her tears and the last thing she wanted was to turn into a blubbering wreck in the middle of the pub, even if it was on a Wednesday afternoon.

But she could feel her eyes welling and her breaths growing shallower, and she already knew there was nothing she could do about it.

‘Bex?’ Lorna’s eyes narrowed. ‘Either you tell me what happened right now, or I’ll march right over to my brother’s house and kick his arse for making you look like that. So, which is it going to be?’