Page 10 of Summer in the Scottish Highlands (The Scottish Highlands #5)

Surprisingly, Jake suddenly felt a lump in his throat. He was going to miss this place when he had to return to London. If he lived in The Lake House, they’d be neighbours.

Jake dismissed that thought. If he wanted to be with Faye and Natty, that was never going to happen.

‘Look, it’s been a long, long time since I cooked with someone …’ Jake knew this was going to seem a strange request, but it was the truth.

‘You and Eleanor?’

‘Oh, no – not us. It was William and me.’

‘William Ross?’ she said in surprise.

Jake didn’t really want to get into how all that had started – when he’d first lost his parents.

He’d been a withdrawn little boy, but it was William who’d coaxed him out of his shell, encouraging him to join him baking.

It had become something they’d always done together, especially at Christmas when they’d all meet at The Lake House.

But sadly, he hadn’t seen William in months, not since the accident, and he knew those days of gathering in the kitchen at Christmas to cook the Christmas dinner together were over.

‘Jake?’ Gayle touched his arm.

‘Oh, sorry. Lost in thought there.’ Jake tried to make light of it.

‘Did you just say William Ross likes to cook?’

Jake caught her expression. She looked very surprised indeed. Jake guessed it wasn’t because William was a guy, but because he was a Ross, and she imagined he had far more important things to do with his time than cooking.

Jake wanted to say, yes, he cooked, and even took the rubbish out on occasion. ‘You’d have liked William.’ Sadly, Jake doubted she would ever have the chance to meet him. ‘He’s a very down-to-earth guy.’

‘I heard. That’s what my father told me.’

‘Oh, yes, I forgot your late father met him once.’

‘Not in the most auspicious of circumstances.’

Jake remembered. It was over Christmas one year, and William had thought he was having a heart attack. It had turned out to be indigestion.

Jake was about to tell Gayle that if she met him on the street, she’d have no idea he was the head of a global business empire – he was that down to earth.

‘So, what is William Ross’s favourite dish?’

‘He loves a roast dinner, most especially Christmas dinner. But he also loves to bake.’ Jake doubted he still did. He seemed to have lost interest in everything – apart from golf – since the accident.

‘Cakes and pies?’

‘Pies especially. ’

‘I don’t suppose you remember one of his recipes, by any chance?’

Jake grinned. ‘Oh, yes. Would you like me to show you?’

‘But you’re my guest, and I’m meant to be cooking the dinner …’ She trailed off before asking, ‘Would you mind?’

‘No, no, not at all. Have you got another apron, by any chance?’

Gayle grinned. ‘I do.’ She opened the pantry door. Hanging on the back were several. ‘Here we are.’ She held it up. It said, World’s Second-Best Cook.

Jake smiled. ‘That’ll do.’ He tied it around his waist and clapped his hands together in anticipation of the task ahead. This was just what he needed. He found baking very therapeutic, and even more so when he had someone to share the task with.

Gayle reached up to a shelf above the cooker and took down a well-thumbed recipe book which was years old.

‘Mother used this for all our meals when we were children, and I must say, she was a marvellous cook – unlike her youngest daughter.’ Gayle looked at Jake, waiting for him to agree, but he just smiled. ‘Who says? Your stew was amazing.’

Gayle eyed him for a long moment. ‘Still, I’m looking forward to learning one of William Ross’s pie recipes this evening instead.’

Jake watched her put the recipe book back on the shelf, and happened to glance out of the kitchen window into the front garden. He saw Natty and Faye throwing a frisbee, and Olive in between them, running to try and catch it. They were both laughing, having a tremendous time. Jake smiled.

Gayle glanced out of the window too. ‘I bet with her teaching career, and that headship course you said she was doing, Faye doesn’t get a lot of time to spend just having fun with her daughter.’

Jake hadn’t really thought about that until now. He was so wrapped up in thoughts of winning Faye’s heart this holiday that he hadn’t spared a thought for Faye’s relationship with Natty. They needed time together too.

‘I’ll be right back,’ said Gayle.

‘Where are you going?’ Jake asked. He was looking forward to cooking with her.

‘Oh, don’t worry, I won’t be long. I wouldn’t miss learning one of William Ross’s recipes for the world. I’m just going to let them know they can play in the back garden. The lawn is bigger, so they’ll all have a lot more room to throw the frisbee.’

Jake watched Gayle nip out into the front garden. He waved at Faye and Natty, and craned his neck watching as they walked around the side of the house, until he could see them no longer.

Jake nodded to himself. This whole day, the first day of their holiday, had gone so, so much better than he could ever have envisaged. As he collected the ingredients to make the pie, he thought that now the day was going to end on the right note too, with a fabulous home-baked pie.

Faye’s father Patrick had given him some simple advice about this holiday with his daughter – don’t screw it up .

As far as Jake was concerned, day one was in the bag, and with his help, not even Gayle’s cooking could spoil such a perfect day.

So why did he have a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach?

‘Right, where were we?’ Gayle asked, rolling up her sleeves.

Jake was staring out of the window, wishing Natty, Faye and Olive hadn’t gone into the back garden where he couldn’t see them. He turned to Faye. ‘Is the fencing secure at the back? Olive won’t get out – will she?’

‘Oh, don’t worry. Rest assured, she’s better off in the back garden than the front. ’

‘Oh, yes – of course.’ Gayle’s driveway was open to the road if the gates were left open. They were closed, but then again, she might still have guests arriving.

It wasn’t the dog he was worried about. But he couldn’t put his finger on what exactly was bothering him.