Page 16 of Summer Escapes on the Scottish Isle (Coorie Castle Crafts #2)

‘You know she’s famous, right?’

Mack narrowed his eyes and stared at Jinny.

He’d dropped into the castle to see Cal, but Jinny had spotted his truck before he’d got out of the cab and had beckoned him over.

He was early, having run some errands that hadn’t taken as long as he’d thought, so he had a bit of time to spare before Cal expected him.

Having lured him into the cafe with the promise of coffee and cake, his sister-in-law was now in the middle of quizzing him about what he thought of Freya.

He’d just finished telling her that Freya had taken loads of photos when she was on the boat yesterday, and that not only did she teach, but she also had her own studio complete with a half-tonne kiln, when Jinny dropped this particular bombshell on him.

‘What do you mean, famous ?’ he asked.

‘As in well-known, renowned, her ceramics in demand – that kind of famous. Hang on.’ She played with her phone for a moment, then turned it around so he could see the screen. ‘That’s her website.’

He took it from her and examined it. ‘Flipping hell, is that price in pounds ?’

‘It is.’

‘I’ll be jiggered. I’d never pay that for a vase. It’s a weird shape for a start.’

Jinny rolled her eyes. ‘Heathen!’

It was the second time he’d been called that in less than twenty-four hours.

‘Why are you looking so glum?’ she asked.

‘I don’t look glum,’ he protested. ‘This is my normal expression.’

‘Aye, right-o. Is it because she’s got a boyfriend? If so, Tara got the impression it wasn’t serious.’

‘Why’s that?’ he asked, knowing he’d regret asking, but curiosity getting the better of him.

‘Apparently, she’s not too bothered about rushing back to London, so it can’t be serious, can it?’

‘That might be the case, but she’s not staying on Skye. As soon as Vinnie’s better, she’s away. She’s been offered a job in New York.’

‘She’s moving to New York ?’

He shrugged. ‘Or back to London. She’s not decided yet.’

‘You sure talked a lot on the way home.’ Jinny waggled her eyebrows.

‘We were on the loch for a wee while,’ he hedged.

‘From what I heard, the pair of you didn’t actually speak much when you were on the boat, but you were sniffing around her like a stag after a hind.’

‘You paint a lovely picture. Who did you hear that from? Was it Angus?’ Mack would have his guts for garters.

‘Never you mind.’

‘It was either him or Graham.’

‘Does it matter?’

‘I don’t want my crew yammering about my private life.’

‘I thought you were doing Cal a favour? I didn’t realise taking Freya Sinclair out on your boat was private .’

‘I was, and it wasn’t.’

‘So you can’t have a go at Angus or Graham for saying anything, can you? Besides, I thought you would have been proud to be likened to a stag.’ She placed her hands on her head, fingers spread wide, and wiggled them. ‘What would you be, a fourteen-pointer? A sixteen?’

‘Since when do you know so much about red deer antlers?’

‘I know lots of things. Did you know that the stags with sixteen or more points on their antlers are called monarchs?’

‘I did, actually. Can we talk about something else?’

‘We certainly can. Why don’t we talk about how you managed to find the time to have an in-depth convo with Freya?’

Mack groaned. Carter always said that Jinny could be like a dog with a bone, so he decided to come clean, and it wasn’t as though he had anything to hide.

‘She had some Thai curry at mine afterwards,’ he admitted.

Jinny’s eyebrows shot up so fast that Mack was surprised they didn’t escape Earth’s gravity.

He said, ‘I cooked while she sorted out the photos. It saved me a job.’

His sister-in-law’s smile was knowing. ‘Is that how you’re going to play this?’

‘I’m not playing anything.’

Abruptly, she sobered, her gaze fixed on his face. ‘No, I don’t believe you are. It’s about time you found someone special, Mack.’

‘I don’t need anyone special. I wish everyone would stop trying to marry me off! I’m fine as I am.’ It came out as a growl.

Jinny opened her mouth to say something, but closed it again, which was just as well, because he was done with the conversation.

Getting to his feet, he said in a softer voice, ‘I’d better go find Cal – he’s expecting me and I’m late, thanks to you. We must do this again sometime. I enjoyed our little chat.’

‘Liar.’

She was laughing at him, and he couldn’t help but laugh back. Jinny might be as irritating as hell, but he thought the world of his sister-in-law.

When he entered the castle, Mack asked the woman on the reception desk where he could find Cal, and she informed him that he was with Mhairi in the parlour, and that Mack was to go on through.

Mack had a soft spot for Mhairi and a great deal of respect for her.

She still took an active role in the running of the castle, despite her advanced years, and her business acumen was second to none.

She was as sharp as a tack, yet she was also warm and generous.

He intended to tell Cal that he was turning down the offer and although he knew Mhairi wouldn’t hold it against him, he couldn’t help feeling he was letting her down.

‘Mackenzie, my dear!’ Mhairi cried as soon as she saw him step into her parlour.

This was the hub of the castle, where Mhairi conducted her business, made decisions and held meetings. There were old paintings on the walls, a marble mantlepiece and antique furniture, including the desk she used, which was probably worth a fair bit.

She wasn’t sitting at it now, but was perched on one of the two chintzy sofas, her back ramrod straight, her legs neatly crossed at the ankle. She held out both hands, and Mack walked across the room. Taking them in his, he bent to kiss her cheek.

It was like an audience with a senior member of the royal family, without the bowing.

‘Tea?’ she asked, letting go of his hands and reaching for the teapot sitting on a low table between her and Cal.

Mack gave Cal a nod of acknowledgement, then said, ‘No thanks, I’m not stopping. I’ve just come to tell Cal—’

‘Nonsense! There’s always time for a cup of tea.’

Mack glanced at Cal, who raised his eyebrows and shrugged, and Mack knew when he was outgunned so he took a seat, saying, ‘That would be grand.’

He watched her pour the tea into a delicate china cup, which sat on an equally delicate saucer. When she handed it to him, he took it from her with a rattle. Worried he might spill his drink, he balanced the saucer on his knee.

Mhairi began, ‘Cal tells me you’ve taken your first client out on the Colours of Skye tour.’

Mack gritted his teeth and shot Cal a venomous look, sensing he was being set up. ‘Not exactly. I had a trial run.’

‘How did it go?’

‘All right, I suppose. The lady seemed to get something out of it.’

‘Would you say it was a success?’

‘Difficult to tell, what with it being only the one person and only the first trip.’

‘In that case, you must organise another. I’ve been canvassing opinions among my guests and they think it’s a good idea.’

Wait till he got Cal on his own…

He said, ‘Mhairi, I’m not sure this will work. My boat takes fifty-three and it runs at between 90 and 95 per cent full capacity at this time of year. For me to put on an additional excursion, what with the fuel, the additional staff costs, the—’

Interrupting him, Mhairi said, ‘I’ve worked out some figures, and of course I wouldn’t expect you to do this for nothing. You have to make a profit. Cal?’ She inclined her head, and Cal placed a sheet of paper on the table.

Mack looked at it, swiftly working out the figures in his head. They added up. ‘Your guests would pay this?’

Mhairi smiled. ‘They would. I don’t think you appreciate quite how exclusive our clientele is.’

‘Why wouldn’t they just book on a normal trip?’

‘As I said, they enjoy exclusivity.’

Mack shook his head, bewildered. He was aware that staying at the castle wasn’t cheap, and that it catered to what his mum referred to as ‘the more discerning guest’ and what he silently called ‘those with more money than sense’, but for them to pay four times what he normally charged for a whale-watching trip was beyond his ken.

‘I’ll consider it,’ he said, cautiously.

Mhairi inclined her head again. ‘That’s all I ask.’

Assuming he was dismissed, Mack carefully placed his untouched tea on the table and made to stand.

‘There is something else,’ she said. ‘I wonder if you could arrange for Ms Sinclair to pop in and see me? I want to chat to her about her experience yesterday and ask her whether any improvements can be made from the client’s point of view.’

Mack was taken aback. ‘Can’t Cal do it? I hardly know the woman.’

‘You probably know her better than Cal, considering you spent some time in her company yesterday. Anyway, I expect you to be there as well. You will be, won’t you? Please indulge an old lady and say you’ll come.’

Mhairi might look like a pussycat, but she was a leopard underneath the sweet, gentle exterior. And that leopard had sharp claws; once she got them into a person, she didn’t let go easily.

‘I’ve got a lot on,’ Mack hedged. ‘Work… and stuff.’

‘Tosh! You don’t work in the evenings. We’ll have dinner. Seven p.m. sharp.’

‘Tonight?’

‘Is that a problem?’

‘It’s a bit short notice.’

‘For whom?’

‘For me, for one.’

‘Had you anything planned?’

‘No, but Freya might.’

‘There’s only one way to find out. Ask her.’

Mack knew when he was beaten. He had come here to tell Cal that he wasn’t interested in operating the castle’s bespoke tours, and he was leaving having been strong-armed into it by a little old lady half his size.

Not only that, but he’d also agreed to have dinner at the castle this evening with a woman who he feared he liked more than was good for him.

Freya wasn’t in. The disappointment Mack felt was balanced by an

equal measure of relief. Deciding it was best not to delve too deeply

into the reasons behind either emotion, he turned away from her door to

get back in his truck.