‘Um... why not?’ I shrug as if I don’tmind either way. I don’t want to seem too eager. I’d hate to think he’s puttinghimself out just to cheer me up.
But when he says, ‘Okay. Great!’ I can tell his smile isgenuine. He probablydoesjust want to see the clock tower for himself,but that’s fine...
The town of Little Havlock is a thirty-minute drive away,and most of the journey takes us through picturesque countryside. Although tobe honest, we’re too busy chatting – finding out more about each other – tofully appreciate the pretty, snow-adorned fields, woods and cottages flashingpast the car windows.
Logan, it transpires, is the youngest of four children born toLorna and Gregor Mackay, and he confesses to being spoilt rotten by his threeolder sisters, Elspeth, Kirsty and Ailsa.
‘Lovely names. Say them again,’ I beg.
He looks at me quizzically. ‘Elspeth, Kirsty and Ailsa?’
‘I just like your accent.’ I shrug, feeling embarrassed.
‘Yeah?’ He smiles. ‘My sisters would approve of you.’
‘Really? Why?’
‘My taste in women hasn’t always been great. I’ve dated someproper Scary Marys in the past.’ He glances over. ‘I mean, not that we’redating or anything.’
‘No. No, of course not,’ I say quickly. ‘No, I knew what youmeant.’
We exchange an awkward smile and lapse into silence.
‘So... these Scary Marys?’ I venture atlast. ‘Just how terrifying were they exactly?’
He does an over-the-top grimace. ‘Do you really want toknow?’
I chuckle at his expression. ‘I really want to know.’
‘Okay... well... therewas the lovely Mindy, memorable mainly because she got a kick out of throwingthings onto railway lines and daring me to retrieve them for her.’
I laugh. ‘You’re joking, right?’
‘No, I amnotjoking. She was a serious nutjob,looking back. But I was only twelve and she had the most amazing long darkhair, as well as a PlayStationandXbox.’
‘Ah. Understood.’
‘Then there was Hilary, who I dated at college in Edinburgh.’Shaking his head, he blows out a long breath. ‘So... theadorable Hils lured me in with her beauty and quick wit, and by the time Idiscovered she had a possessive streak longer than the Water of Leith, I was inlove and totally beyond help.’
‘Oh, hell.’
‘Precisely.’
‘So how did it end? I’massumingit ended?’
He grins. ‘Oh, yes. She issued me with a formal ultimatum.Either I stopped seeing my friends during the week and saw her instead, or wewere finished.’
I laugh in disbelief. ‘I hope you told her where to go.’
He nods. ‘Aye, and it was the best decision I’ve ever made. Nokidding, thefreedomI felt after being released from her clutches.’
‘Youhavebeen out with some horrors. My ex was justtotally unsupportive of all my hopes and dreams for the future. He wanted me tobe the little housewife, waiting at home with the slippers and thefreshly-cooked three-course dinner. Oh, and he shagged his tennis coach as well.’I smile and shrug. ‘That’s all.’
‘That’s all, eh? Seems more than enough to send himpacking.’
‘Absolutely.’
We exchange a smile of understanding and lapse into acompanionable silence that’s broken only by Logan flicking on the radio.
