Page 122 of A Scottish Country Escape

I turned to look at him, my chest fizzing.

‘I don’t know what to say to you.’

‘You don’t have to say anything to me, Dexter.’

He reached out and cupped one of my hands in his. Bolts of excitement rattled though me like an express train. ‘We need to talk.’ His eyes lingered a little longer than necessary on my mouth.

‘About you going back to London?’

‘Yes.’

My heart shrivelled. What was I expecting him to say? He felt such a responsibility to Nadia, and the fact he did was one of the things I loved about him. He had to do what was best for her.

I forced my lips into a smile. OK, so I was losing him, but at least I’d been able to help put something right before he departed. I struggled to remain composed, trying not to engage with the pain stabbing at me.

‘Can we can tomorrow, after the meeting?’

I pushed out another smile. ‘That would be good.’

I should have felt elated that night. There was still hope for Dexter and me, surely? Why had he insisted that we needed to talk?

Instead, a sliver of worry gnawed at my insides. I didn’t want to entertain the fact that I could again be losing someone I loved and, if that was the case, there was nothing I could do about it.

Chapter Seventy-Seven

Gran ushered me out of Pebble Brook just before 9 a.m. the following morning.

I pulled at the pussycat-bow of my candy-pink blouse. ‘I’m so sorry for deserting the shop again and leaving you and Cate to hold the fort.’

Gran dismissed my concerns. ‘Listen, young lady, what you’re doing is far more important. The future of our town is at stake here.’

She gave me a supportive grin. ‘Now go and knock ’em dead!’

* * *

Dexter had decided to hold the meeting with Atticus Development and the local council in his library.

I didn’t even realise he had one, until Elsa escorted me into it. It reminded me of Beast’s library in his castle. Cherry-wood shelves glowed with polish, housing all the modern classics like The Great Gatsby, Animal Farm, and To Kill a Mocking Bird.

There was a long, narrow table surrounded by several high-backed chairs in a Charles Rennie Mackintosh design, and a black and white zebra-style rug thrown in front of the smouldering fireplace. In the middle of the table was a gorgeous floral display of orange and amber germini, sunflowers, and assorted grassy fronds. The colours reminded me of winter, all burnished nights, autumnal leaves, and pumpkins.

It was a formal but comfortable setting, with a pitcher of water and glasses set at each place, together with paper and pens.

I smoothed down my knee-length navy skirt. Right now, I didn’t know whether I felt more nervous about seeing Dexter again or taking part in this crucial meeting.

Elsa indulged me with an encouraging smile. ‘You look lovely, Elle. Very professional.’

I rolled my eyes. ‘I feel almost as sick as I did when I was about to sit my driving test.’ I glanced around. ‘No Shelley or Nadia this morning?’

Elsa pulled a face. ‘Shelley said she has an urgent appointment with her manicurist.’

‘And Nadia?’

Elsa broke into a fond grin. ‘Eating all the cereal in my kitchen. Josie, one of the cleaners, is fussing over her.’

The sound of feet tapping across the hall drew my attention towards the library door.

Cameron Lomax and Dexter entered, talking in hushed serious tones. When Dexter saw me, he stopped talking. ‘Hey.’