Page 50 of Summer in the Scottish Highlands (The Scottish Highlands #5)

Jake kept looking in Faye’s direction, catching her smiling to herself as he drove back to Lark Lodge.

He caught her looking his way too, checking, like he was, that they were both okay with what had just happened.

There had been no awkward silences or embarrassed looks as they’d stepped out of the cabin, Jake tucking in his shirt, Faye doing up the last button on her blouse.

They were a couple in love. What had just happened was the most natural thing in the world.

They exchanged a smile. ‘Faye, do you mind if I drop you back at Lark Lodge and just pop round to The Lake House before we go out today?’

Faye raised her eyebrows. ‘But you’ve been to the house already, and checked everything was in order for Bonnie to start work.’

‘Yes, but I want to see Bonnie.’

‘Can’t you see her another day?’ Faye glanced at her phone. ‘Natty texted again. Everyone’s waiting for us.’

‘I won’t be long, I promise. It’s just I need to see her.’

Faye fell silent for a moment. ‘It’s not really about the redecorating – is it?’

Jake shook his head.

‘It’s about something you think she’s holding back about Eleanor.’

‘Yes, I can’t get it out of my head, the fact that I’m sure she was avoiding me at the party. There’s something she’s not telling me.’

‘Jake, we’ve been over this before. Look at what she’d just been through with the hypnotherapy, and finding out who she really is. I think you’re reading way too much into things.’

‘Well, I don’t.’ Jake bit his lower lip. ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.’

Faye stared at him. Was this the real reason he wanted to stay on in Scotland – was it still all about Eleanor, and getting to the bottom of what had happened on that mountain?

Don’t think like that , she told herself. He proposed. He’s in love with you . She just had to accept that there were still things that were not yet resolved. She knew that. What if there was something Bonnie had been keeping from him?

Faye was about to tell Jake she’d much rather he didn’t go to see Bonnie when she realised she was a fine one to talk.

She thought of what she was keeping from Jake about the identity of the dead man they’d found on the mountain – a former employee of the Ross Corporation.

Faye was afraid of what else he might find out.

More than that, she didn’t want anything to intrude on their summer.

She didn’t want him called back to London unexpectedly.

Thinking of which, she looked at Jake. ‘Have you heard from Marcus?’

‘No. Nothing.’

That’s worrying , thought Faye.

‘He’s just sulking because I reneged on my promise. He’ll come round,’ Jake said.

Faye really hoped that was all it was and that he didn’t get a frantic call from Lydia saying that Marcus had gone missing again.

Her thoughts turned to Bonnie. She was sure that Jake was just being paranoid, and Bonnie knew nothing more about Eleanor than she’d told everyone in the hypnotherapy session.

But the thought occurred to her that even if there was something, why would she tell him now, at The Lake House?

Perhaps, like the secret Faye was keeping from Jake about that former employee, Bonnie’s thinking was that whatever she knew, it would do him no good now.

Perhaps, if she did know something, she felt the same way as Faye.

Perhaps she was keeping things from him to save him from further heartache.

‘All right,’ said Faye.

‘You mean you’re okay with me going round to the house to see her now?’

Faye still wasn’t, not really. But if he didn’t go now, it would be there hanging over their heads all day, when they had the stress of the mountain trip to deal with, and Faye didn’t want that either.

Jake leaned towards her and kissed her. He drew back. ‘I promise I won’t be long.’

‘I’ll walk up Gayle’s drive if you just want to drop me by the gates to Lark Lodge.’

‘Great idea. Then I can turn the car around and go to The Lake House. Look out for me because when I arrive back, you can both just jump in the car, and we’ll head off.’

‘Okay.’ Faye looked at her phone. ‘I think Natty wants to go with Evie in her parents’ car.’

‘Oh, okay. Just you and me then.’

‘We’ll meet them in the car park.’

Faye thought it was for the best – then they could chat about Jake’s meeting with Bonnie. Faye was crossing her fingers that there was nothing of consequence to talk about.

‘Will you give her my best wishes? I hope things are working out with Judith staying on at the boathouse. Perhaps they’ve made some headway with the search for Robyn.’

Jake nodded. ‘Perhaps.’

They exchanged a knowing glance, aware that neither of them imagined that Bonnie and Judith were any closer to finding Robyn.

Jake waved and sat watching Faye walk through the gates to Lark Lodge before he turned the car around.

He had a knot in his stomach at the thought of meeting Bonnie.

Despite Faye’s assurance that Bonnie wasn’t avoiding him or keeping something from him, he imagined she was thinking he was being paranoid – even if she hadn’t actually said it.

But Jake was convinced he was not being paranoid.

The problem was that if Bonnie wouldn’t tell him at the party, why would she tell him now at The Lake House?

That thought had crossed his mind, and so had something else – it had been over a week since the party.

She’d be more inclined to talk to him now she’d had time to get over the shock of finding out her true identity during the hypnotherapy session.

As Jake turned down the single-track lane to The Lake House, he pulled over in a passing place as he saw a van approach.

He recognised it before it passed – the van belonged to Mr Gillespie.

He wasn’t surprised. He’d overheard Natty’s loud voice down the phone earlier saying that Bonnie had arrived with David in the van, and he was helping her unload some things .

Rather than pass as Jake expected, the van came to a halt beside his car. David wound the window down. ‘Jake?’

Jake wound his own window down and waved. ‘Hi, David – how’s things?’ Jake knew that was a bit of a loaded question after what David had discovered.

‘Yeah, um … fine.’

He caught David nervously glancing over his shoulder, back in the direction of the house. David turned back in his seat. ‘Are you heading to The Lake House?’

Jake nodded, avoiding a sarcastic, where else would I be going? There were no other houses along the stretch of road.

‘Bonnie didn’t mention you were visiting.’

‘She doesn’t know. I heard she was resuming work on The Lake House today, so I thought I’d pop along and say hi.’

Jake anticipated that David would say, great, that’s handy, as she’s going to want to go over the plan for the house, or some such reply. Instead, David frowned and mumbled, ‘I told her not to phone Gayle.’

Jake regarded David for a long moment, wondering why he was getting the impression neither David nor Bonnie would be pleased to see him. Then it dawned on him. It was something he hadn’t considered, but should have. He stared at David. She told you. Whatever she’s hiding, you know too.

David said, ‘I’ve got to go.’ He started winding his window up.

‘Wait – can we talk?’ Perhaps he’d get more out of David than Bonnie.

He knew David had heard him because he turned to look at him out of the window.

Was that a mobile phone in his hand? As David sped off, Jake caught him speaking into his phone.

Jake looked over at the house at the end of the lane.

He knew David was calling Bonnie to warn her of his arrival – and why.

‘Oh no!’ Jake exclaimed. Bonnie would be prepared for his visit.

He had been hoping to arrive unexpectedly and catch her unawares.

There was no malicious intent, and he wasn’t spying on her to check she was doing her job.

As far as that was concerned, he had every faith in her choice of décor, and the furnishings would be spot on.

But he did want to see, if he caught her off-guard, whether she’d spill the beans – if there were any to spill.

Jake adjusted his rear-view mirror so he could watch David’s van disappear down the road.

He shifted his gaze to the road ahead as he pulled out of the layby and continued to his house.

He was surprised to find Bonnie standing on the doorstep when he arrived.

He thought she’d be inside and would say she was far too busy to stop and talk.

She approached his car, her mobile to hand. As Jake opened the car door she said, ‘David just phoned to say you were on your way. I didn’t expect you.’

I bet you didn’t , Jake thought as he slammed the car door shut and turned around to face her.

He was surprised she was smiling. He’d anticipated she’d be a little nervous, meeting him there at his house, especially as she was hiding something.

If doubt had been creeping in before, while he was talking to Faye, he was convinced of it now he’d spoken with David. He was hiding something too.

Jake decided not to open with the real reason he was there. He said, ‘You look well, Bonnie.’ In fact, she looked very well, positively radiant. ‘The Highlands agree with you.’

The area agreed with Faye too. In a week, her pale complexion had been replaced with rosy, red cheeks and her fair hair was noticeably glossy.

She was taking more exercise and getting more fresh air than she was used to, and eating properly.

In her normal working routine in London, there wasn’t time for exercise and hearty meals, and time spent outside in the fresh air, having fun .

It made him wonder if the hours working as a head were worth it. She’d no longer need the money once they were married. In fact, neither of them needed such a stressful job. They could retire on the money he had in his bank account, albeit modestly, and live off it for the rest of their lives.