Page 51 of Kilts and Kisses at Highland Hall (Kilts and Kisses #1)

Two hours later, Bex was opening the door to the castle, her stomach full, but the feeling of heaviness was coming from far more than just the weight of food.

Even though it was now late afternoon and Fergus had given her the day off, she wanted to head into the study and sort through a few more things.

See if it really was possible to get things packed away so she could work at home for at least a couple of weeks.

During the walk back, Duncan had tried to call her several times, but each time she had sent him to voicemail.

Whatever he wanted to say to her, it wasn’t going to make things easier.

A clean break, the way she was trying to do, would be best in the long run, yet as she stepped inside the hallway to the castle, a surge of adrenaline swept through her.

Fergus was talking to someone. Was it Duncan?

And if it was, what the hell was she going to say to him?

She could hardly tell him to leave when he had as much right to be there as she did.

She strained to hear who the laird was talking to, only to realise that it was only Fergus’s voice she could hear. He was on the phone.

As she walked into the hallway, she saw him still standing there, with his mobile pressed against his ear.

She couldn’t help but feel surprised. She’d assumed he had a mobile phone, given how he’d mentioned ringing his sister a couple of times, but she’d never actually seen him use it.

Unable to quench her sense of curiosity, she peered around into the drawing room to find Fergus standing with his hands on his hips, a deep scowl on his face.

‘No, I’ve got to go. Aye, whatever. Aye, I hear you, lad.

No. No. Yes, love to your ma too.’ A moment later, he hung up and let out a long sigh.

‘You might as well come in, rather than haverin’ out there,’ he said, raising his voice so Bex was in no doubt he was talking to her. Sheepishly, she slunk into the room.

‘Everything all right?’ she asked.

‘Oh aye, just my nephew Kieron wanting another shoot here, sorting out dates in December. Why does it need sorting out now? He has free rein of the place; it’s not like I’m holding any great balls or galas.’

‘Would be nice, though,’ Bex said absentmindedly. ‘You know, a ball, when you’ve got all this space for it here.’

‘Don’t you start; you sound like him. And we have balls – we have Burns Night, and we have a ball at Christmas. Twice a year – that’s plenty, as far as I’m concerned.’

A pang of sadness struck Bex. It would’ve been lovely to be here for one of those balls, she thought – to see everybody dressed up in their finery.

To see Duncan dressed up in his kilt, a tartan that perfectly picked out the colour in his eyes.

A shirt tight enough to outline the curve of his shoulder muscles and the strength of his back.

She caught herself. No, don’t do that. It was better this way.

Better that she got going as soon as possible.

‘Well, I was going to come looking for you anyway,’ Fergus said. ‘Young Duncan came around asking after you.’

‘Did he?’ Bex tried to sound neutral, but she felt her jaw clench.

‘Aye, he left a note.’

‘Oh.’

‘The envelope was already open,’ he added. ‘I didn’t read it.’

‘I didn’t think you did,’ she said, holding it for a moment.

Fergus looked at her and raised his eyebrows, as if urging her to read.

Bex wasn’t sure why her hand was trembling.

Why did it matter what Duncan had written?

She could already imagine what would be on that piece of paper – apologies; long heartfelt words about needing to do the right thing; right person, wrong time, that sort of thing. That was what she expected.

But when she unfolded the note, she discovered it was far shorter than she’d anticipated.

Just two lines. Apparently, that was all he had to say to her.

Had to go away for a couple of days. Will explain when I get back. Sorry. Dx