‘Anything.’
‘Can you go and drag Rae out from wherever she’s hiding? I need to thank her, and also find great entertainment and writing inspiration in the way you two are pretending not to be in love or lust, or whatever it is.’
He tried to hide his flush behind a flute of champagne retrieved from the bar. ‘Don’t know what you mean.’
‘Shut up. You look at her like Warren is currently looking at Eiley.’ She motioned her head to the tall guy currently cradling a chocolate-covered toddler in his arms. Struan hadn’t talked to Eiley’s boyfriend much, but knew he was the reason why the bookshop owner recommended so many romance novels at bookclub these days.
And that intimate devotion was written all over his face while he twirled Saffron around, magnetised by Eiley’s melodic laugh. He looked…proudto have put that adoring grin there, both on Eiley and her daughter. Struan knew that feeling. Felt it every time one of his jokes cracked through Rae’s composure.
He turned away before the ache set into his stomach. ‘I’m that obvious?’
‘Yup. You’re going to marry her one day. I just know it.’
‘Martha would sooner have hell freeze over.’
‘Ah, yes. Best friend’s brother. Excellent trope, lots of forbidden pining.’
He only understood about fifty percent of that sentence, but didn’t dare ask what she meant.
Hewascurious why Rae hadn’t joined them yet. Probably enjoying washing up, but there would be time for that later. She deserved to celebrate the work she’d done tonight.
Also, Struan really hoped there were leftovers. He was starving.
‘If I bring her out, do you promise not to talk romance in front of her?’
‘No,’ Harper deadpanned. ‘But you’ll still get her. It’s illegal to go against the bride’s wishes on her wedding day.’
Unfortunately, she was right. The only thing keeping him upright was the thought of seeing Rae, and every second until that moment drove him closer to his knees.
He set down his champagne and saluted Harper, then snuck out of the tent before Martha could stop him.
The kitchen was empty save for Doug, who stood at the sink, elbow deep in dirty plates.
‘Does Rae know you’re taking her favourite job?’ Struan quipped.
Doug’s craggy face was reflected in the windowpane as his head lifted. ‘I’ll take any excuse to avoid the noise out there.’
‘Well, just don’t stay in here all night. I’m sure Myra would like a dance.’ He slapped Doug’s shoulder. ‘Is she upstairs?’
‘Not sure. She disappeared an hour ago. Not seen her since.’
He frowned, the anticipation of finding Rae suddenly replaced by apprehension. Why would she be hiding away when she’d spent the day making everything so special?
And why hadn’t anybody checked on her? Martha, her dad?
He paused to stroke one of the dogs – Milly, he thought, who had one brown spot over her right eye – then climbed the stairs. The silence of the landing was a stark contrast to the din outside, making Struan’s ears ring. He paused only to smile at the dozens of photographs of tiny Rae lining the faded, wildflower-patterned wallpaper, remembering that timid smile she’d had once. She’d grown into herself so much since then.
Since he wasn’t sure which bedroom was hers, he called out, ‘Rae?’
Nothing. He leaned on the banister for support, listening for even the slightest hint that she was up here. He sung her name, albeit out of tune, the second time, stepping closer to the white doors. An arched window at the end of the hall peered out onto the fields, where the guests began to stumble and giggle a little more drunkenly. He could make out the orchard from here, rose-covered wedding arch still lit up in the distance.
If she was here, she clearly didn’t want him to know. He scratched the back of his neck, willing himself to just go – but when his feet finally obeyed, a sniffle came from behind one of the doors.
He followed the sound, pulse ratcheting. ‘Rae? It’s just me.’
‘I’ll be out soon.’
Her words were fractured, like shards of glass stuck in her throat. He crept closer to the voice, unsure where it had come from when he found both of the rooms on that side empty.
