Page 23 of A Secret Scottish Escape

“I sense a ‘but’ coming. Is it in the form of a cheeky-faced little boy?”

Faith tilted her head back and then turned to look at me. “Shit, Layla. Are you part witch or something?”

I rolled my eyes up to the setting sky. “No, I just know my best friend.”

Faith’s profile was troubled as she stared at the rugged vista of hills reflected in the loch. “I must sound a right cow, but you know what a commitment-phobe I am at the best of times.”

“Oh, I do. Only too well.” I chose my words carefully. “Is it so bad that he has a child?”

“Of course not,” she answered, squinting ahead.

“Then I’m confused. What’s the problem? Is he still married or something?”

“Divorced,” clarified Faith quickly. “His ex decided she wasn’t cut out to be a mum and took off to Canada with someone she met at work.”

“Bloody hell. Poor guy and that lovely little boy.”

Faith made me jump as she suddenly slapped her hands down on top of her thighs. “I’m the problem, not Greg and certainly not Sam.”

I attempted to lighten the darkening mood. “If I can unravel this, what’s the star prize?”

Despite herself, Faith flashed me a smile before her pensive expression took over again. “You said so yourself. I’m frightened of commitment. What if things start to get heavy and then I finish with Greg? I wouldn’t just be hurting him, would I?”

I pulled my jacket tighter around myself against the crisp loch breeze. “Ah. Now we’re beginning to get somewhere.” I playfully nudged her arm. “So, the Ice Queen does have a heart after all.”

Faith poked out her tongue and nudged me back. “That’s why I didn’t ring Greg back. I started thinking that if things got serious and I backed off, it’s not just him I could hurt, but Sam too.” She pulled her glossed lips into a line. “I would feel so guilty.”

My eyes raked over her. “So, Greg was straight with you from the beginning and told you he had a child?”

“Yes, about halfway through the evening of our first date. I didn’t think too much about it at first, but then on our second date, he forgot his wallet and had to go back into his house to collect it.”

Faith shrugged her shoulders. “Greg’s mum was babysitting and I caught a brief glimpse of Sam waving from the window. And now I’ve seen him for the first time up close…”

“Don’t you think you’re getting a bit ahead of yourself here?”

After a considered pause, Faith shifted round on the bench. “I really do like Greg. He’s not like a lot of the other guys I’ve been out with. He talks about wild birds and trees and he has a wicked sense of humour.” Her eyes clouded over. “And he loves Sam so much. I can see why. He’s adorable.”

Realisation dawned. Well, who knew?

Faith Robertson, the femme fatale who left broken men in her wake, had finally met a man who had got to her. But this time, he wore frog wellingtons and sang songs about baby sharks.

“You’re overthinking things,” I said, patting her hand. “Why not give this a chance? Phone Greg tonight and arrange to see him again. Maybe you could even suggest the two of you take Sam somewhere?”

I frowned as Faith got to her feet and switched the conversation back to me. That’s what she always did when she felt she was at risk of being exposed.

I would speak to her about Greg again, I decided. She couldn’t let this chance of happiness slip by, just because she had been cautious in the past.

I got up and followed her up the path.

“Layla. Layla! Are you listening to me?”

I blinked back. “Yes, sorry.”

She straightened her shoulders. “I do think you would be making a big mistake leaving here,” she announced in a rush, not able to help herself. “And for what it’s worth, I also think you’re being stubborn and stupid not taking that money.”

I stopped on the path. My white quilted shoulder bag almost slid off my shoulder. “Ah. Here it is. I wondered when you would bring this up again.”

“Well, can you blame me? I think it’s the least you’re entitled to.”