Page 24 of Summer in the Scottish Highlands (The Scottish Highlands #5)

Jake and Faye were waiting in the car for Natty.

‘Natty!’ Faye called out, sounding exasperated. She lowered her voice and commented, ‘How long does it take to say goodbye to a dog?’

Jake shrugged as he looked past Faye, out of the car window. Natty was giving Olive a hug and not letting go.

‘Well, that wouldn’t be a problem if it was our dog, because we’d all go out together. After all, pets are part of the family.’

Jake winced the moment he’d said that, wishing he’d just kept his thoughts to himself.

Faye did not want a dog. She probably didn’t want a family either, not that sort of family, not with a stand-in dad at any rate.

Jake rubbed his forehead. It was Tuesday, halfway through their week’s holiday already, and the romantic week away he was daydreaming about had remained just that – a daydream.

Each evening since they’d arrived, once Natty was in bed sound asleep, they’d joined Gayle and her mother, Doris along with Nick and Marty in the lounge.

They’d chatted, played board games, watched TV and just hung out together.

Marty had a girlfriend, Dee, so one evening she’d joined them when she stayed over.

Two of the new guests had wandered into the lounge too after their evening meal out.

It reminded him of the Christmases in The Lake House, when the Rosses would enjoy spending time together – which, with their hectic corporate lifestyles, was a rarity.

It was a delightful atmosphere at Lark Lodge, and they all got on well, but Jake was beginning to see a huge downside to staying at the guesthouse, which he should have anticipated – he never had any time alone with Faye. If they’d rented a little cottage …

Jake sighed heavily. It was too late for that now. He heard Natty’s parting words to Olive. ‘I’m sorry you can’t come with us to the castle. But don’t worry, Olive, I’ll be back later, and then we can play in the garden.’ Natty looked toward the car.

Faye sighed. ‘She still doesn’t get it – does she?’

Jake knew what she was on about. He’d seen the look Natty had just thrown her mother.

Faye had already made it clear to Natty at the breakfast table that taking Olive with them that day just would not work.

Olive couldn’t go with them on a tour of the castle, and it wasn’t fair to leave her on her own for long periods cooped up in the car, not to mention being dangerous.

Although it wasn’t exactly going to be a hot summer’s day, the sun was out, and even with the windows wound down a little, it could quickly get too hot for a dog left in the car unsupervised.

Faye and Jake waved at Gayle, who was standing on the doorstep holding onto Olive’s collar. Olive was trying to wriggle out of her grasp.

‘Well, that conversation wasn’t awkward at all,’ commented Faye, eyeing her daughter as she approached the car.

Jake frowned. ‘Look, I shouldn’t have mentioned getting a dog …’ And us being a family either, thought Jake miserably.

‘Oh, I’m not talking about the dog. I wouldn’t be surprised if we do end up getting one.’

Did she just say, we ? Was that just a figure of speech or worse, was she just referring to her and Natty? He stopped himself from querying the comment, preferring to believe that she meant the three of them. Instead, he said, ‘Then what are you talking about?’

‘That conversation with Gayle before we left.’

‘Oh – that .’

Natty opened the car door and got in the back seat. She put her backpack down beside her and opened the booklet about the castle. Jake noticed that Natty was ignoring her mum, obviously still cross with her about Olive.

Faye turned in her seat. ‘Why did you tell Gayle we’re staying on another three weeks, and that we’re moving into The Lake House? I thought I made it clear there are things we’ve planned to do in London next week.’

Jake pursed his lips. Unfortunately, those plans didn’t involve him. He knew why that was; Faye was aware he still had that blasted promise to Marcus to keep – stepping back into a suit and into his old role in the Ross Corporation, covering for Marcus while he went into rehab.

Jake had been checking his phone. There had been no more texts or calls from Marcus since their arrival in Scotland.

Marcus hadn’t left any messages – he didn’t have to.

Jake knew what he wanted to ask: where was he, and when was he coming back?

Marcus had obviously got the message that wherever Jake was, he was avoiding his calls.

Jake knew what Marcus would think – that he’d changed his mind about that promise to return to the fold, albeit for a short time.

Jake hadn’t changed his mind. He’d still do it.

But he’d changed his mind about doing it straight away.

He’d been secretly hoping he’d get a message from Marcus to say he’d checked into rehab anyway, which would absolve Jake completely of his promise to return to the Ross Corporation.

He felt guilty about thinking like that.

What he was dreading, as a consequence, was getting a message from Lydia, Marcus’s fiancée, telling him something had happened – like last time, when Marcus had gone missing and had turned up at Jake’s house after he’d been mugged.

Natty’s question cut across those unwelcome thoughts. ‘What things?’ Natty asked.

Jake had lost the train of the conversation. He turned to look at Natty. She was sitting with the dog-eared guidebook in front of her face.

‘I thought we went over this too?’ Faye said. ‘Grandpa is looking forward to seeing you.’

Natty slowly lowered her book. ‘And I thought I told you that Grandpa could come here and see me.’

‘Don’t be rude, Natty.’

‘ You’re being rude.’

Jake slowly turned in his seat, wishing he was anywhere but there.

This was getting awkward. He imagined they did have words at home, but they never rowed in front of him.

And to think this was all because they were there in Scotland.

And Natty had seen his house. Now he was beginning to think this holiday was a bad idea altogether.

He’d thought, hoped, that the holiday would bring them closer.

He’d never for one second thought that taking them there would be anything other than a positive experience.

Now he really hoped it didn’t just prove to Faye that she couldn’t let another man into the inner circle to be a permanent part of their lives, their little family.

Jake stole a quick glance as Faye shook her head, folded her arms, and turned in her seat.

‘You’re very quiet. Aren’t you going to say anything?’ Faye asked.

Jake kept his eyes on the driveway as he put the car into gear.

He shook his head. She was in a bad mood.

He’d known her long enough to be aware when not to answer her question in case he instigated something far worse.

If he wasn’t careful, Faye might, on the spur of the moment, decide the holiday was over, go and pack their bags, and leave.

That would be a bit extreme, when they had but a few days left, but she was under no obligation to stay.

And to think that a moment ago I was only worried about getting some alone-time with Faye in Lark Lodge. Now, he was really worried she’d bail and go home.

‘Are we …’ meaning you , ‘still up for a visit to a Scottish castle today?’ he asked tentatively.

Faye turned to him. ‘Of course – why wouldn’t I be?’

‘Oh, er … right. I thought …’ he glanced over his shoulder. Natty had put her headphones on and was listening to something on her iPad.

‘Oh, I have this all the time. We’re both strong-willed. She’s just a lot more well-behaved when you’re around.’

‘Really?’

‘Oh yes.’

‘I don’t understand …’ Jake said, although he was incredibly happy to hear that.

‘I do. You spend time with her, Jake. You’re such a calming influence.

With my job, and having the sole responsibility of raising her, I obviously get stressed, and I’m not always …

well, present, you know. Always got things on my mind.

Then sometimes the least little thing descends into an argument because I haven’t got the time to spend talking to her or working out what’s going on with her.

And it’s hard. I’ve got nobody to share my worries and anxieties with. ’

Jake looked at her, and blurted, ‘You can share them with me – always.’

Faye smiled. ‘I know. But you’re not my—’

Jake looked at her. Was she going to say partner, husband ?

‘But I could be. I want to be.’ He dropped his gaze, wishing he hadn’t said that.

He’d played his hand, told her how he felt about her, and now his stomach was churning at the thought of what she was going to say next, or worse, do.

Would she call the holiday off? But surely, she knew this wasn’t just a holiday with a friend.

He wanted something more. She did too – he was sure of it.

She just had to get out of her comfort zone and let him into her life, their lives – permanently.

Commitment – that was Faye’s problem. Not to her job, or her daughter, but to relationships.

He inwardly squirmed. He’d avoided just this sort of scenario.

He knew she felt the same way about him.

After all, they had nearly kissed when they’d stopped at the loch in Glenmore Forest during their bike ride.

But he didn’t just want a casual fling with Faye like the other relationships she’d been in that had gone no further.

‘Will you have dinner with me?’

Jake’s eyes went wide. He had not expected that question, and certainly not now. Was she seriously asking him out on a date?

‘Gayle said she’d babysit so we could go out and have a meal together in Aviemore this evening.’

Jake swallowed. She was asking him out on a date.

‘Don’t get me wrong. I love the guesthouse, and spending evenings with Gayle, Doris, Marty and Nick, and some of the other guests, but I was hoping we could spend some time together – just you and me …’ She trailed off.