Page 107 of The Cottage in the Highlands

“I think that’s a bit of an exaggeration. It’s more like a copy of War & Peace.”

I gave him a playful dig with my elbow.

“Ow!

“Yes. Ok,” he grinned. “I admit I did play the field a bit up until I met you.”

He held me a little tighter and I snuggled into him. “I did date a lot of different women. I suppose being a sexy, handsome, and successful photographer has its advantages.”

I pretended to look around. “Well, if you tell me where he is…”

Flynn pulled a comical face that made me laugh. “But then you came along and it made me realise what an empty, vacuous lifestyle I was leading.” His gaze softened further. “It’s not just because I think you’re gorgeous. I love the way you care about other people and how you always want to do the right thing.”

I leant up and planted a graze of a kiss on his lips. “Say that again.”

Flynn arched one thick, dark brow. “Now you’re milking it.”

As the sound of the traffic and Christmas crowds echoed around us, we kissed again, lost in each other.

“So, what now?” I asked after a few moments.

Flynn ran one playful finger down the length of my nose before tapping the end of it. “Well, I was going to invite you out to dinner. Something tells me my grandfather will approve.”

Oh bugger! I jerked out of Flynn’s arms. “Your grandfather!”

Flynn blinked down at me, confused. “What about him? You don’t fancy him as well, do you?”

“Very funny.” I fished about in my bag by my feet and dialled Flynn senior, who told me he was en route to the police station with the two arresting officers and a rumpled Seth Gordon who would soon be in the company of one of his detective friends.

“Life with you is never boring,” exclaimed Flynn, shaking his head. “Now will you please tell me what’s going on? Once I’ve explained to Courtney back up there where I’ve got to?”

I took Flynn’s hand in mine when he returned from dashing back up to his studio to explain to Courtney what was happening and to apologise for his sudden and prolonged disappearance.

Luckily, she took it in good part, seeing as her photo shoot with Flynn had almost finished by the time I rocked up with Kerry anyway!

I encouraged him to get into Kerry’s stationary car. “Come on I’ll explain on the way.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

“What the hell did you think you were doing, going to that guy’s offices on your own?”

I stared up at Flynn. “I had to find out the truth. Lulu Stark asked Kerry and me for help.”

Flynn, his grandfather, Kerry, and I were loitering outside the police station, after Flynn senior, Kerry and I had been questioned further by the police and more statements were taken from us. We all looked and felt mentally and physically exhausted by that afternoon’s events – like the three of us had been put through a spin cycle.

We had emerged, blinking, into the early evening which was now all but extinguished by the descending darkness. The lights of the office blocks, shops, and flats intermingled with the festive ones, sparking against one another in a dazzling display. It was as if a box of precious stones had spilled across the city.

Weary office workers shuffled past, ties askew and blouses crumpled, desperate to get home and wash off the rigours of their working day.

Flynn shook his dark head in exasperation. “You could have been killed.”

“But I wasn’t and I’m ok. That’s thanks to Kerry and your grandfather.”

Flynn sighed. “What on earth am I going to do with you, Leonie?”

I gave a small, cheeky smile. He broke into a devastating grin, but we were interrupted by Flynn senior’s commanding voice.

“Right, Flynn, I’d like you to give your parents a call and tell them to come over to my place.”