Page 134 of A Secret Scottish Escape

“Faith?”

I narrowed my eyes at their odd expressions and turned around, picking up on a growing commotion taking place only feet away by the boathouse door.

My heart stilled.

Chapter Seventy

A tall, shadowy figure in an upturned hood was standing beside Ed.

They were surrounded by staring members of the audience and audible muttering.

“Layla’s over there,” said Ed, an apprehensive smile tugging at the corners of his wide mouth.

I watched, trying to process what was taking place right in front of me under the glowing lights and the hush of clinking glasses.

The figure moved. I caught a glimpse of a dark mask.

“Oh my God!” shrieked Heather over everyone’s head. “It’s him! It’s Mask. Can I get a selfie?”

Rafe turned towards her and smiled nervously. “Sure.”

Heather let out a prolonged squeal and I blinked over at her and then at him.

Rafe was pinning me to the spot with his gaze. He hovered a few feet away from me, before raising one hand and slowly tugging down his hood.

Oblivious to the dozens of wide eyes that had settled on him, he shrugged off his grey hoodie and draped it over the back of a vacant chair. There was a moment’s hesitation before his fingers reached up and pulled at his mask. It fell away from his face and into his right hand.

He dumped that on the chair too. Excited chatter swirled up into the air.

Rafe stood in front of me now, in a beige waistcoat and dark trousers. His white shirt sleeves were rolled to his elbows.

My heart twisted in on itself.

“Layla,” he faltered, “do you think I could have a word with you in private please?”

My eyes swept him from head to toe, struggling to process what he was doing here and why.

“Go outside,” advised Faith. She indicated the jetty. “It’s quiet out there at the moment.”

I snatched up my shawl and led the way, with Rafe following close behind. The crowd parted for us.

I hugged myself in my cream shawl and clattered over the wooden jetty towards the loch. I hadn’t expected to see Rafe again. I didn’t know what to think.

I drew up close to the jetty edge, where the waves of silver water danced with each other in the shadowy darkness. There was the promise of autumn now in the air.

Over my shoulder, I could sense intrigued faces at the closed patio doors, pretending they weren’t watching us.

Rafe studied the tealights on each deserted wooden table. “You’ve done a terrific job. The place looks great. Magical, even.”

“Thank you.”

I tried not to stare as he appeared beside me. His scar melted away while I looked at him. For me, it didn’t exist.

He shot me a sideways glance and then trained his attention across the water. “I’ve behaved like a prize twat.”

I didn’t disagree with him.

“This is where you’re supposed to assure me that no, I haven’t.”