Page 26 of A Scottish Country Escape

When I hesitated, she picked up one of my hands and gave it a squeeze. ‘Please, Elle.’

‘All right,’ I murmured. ‘I will.’

‘Good girl. Thank you.’ She moved into the small, bright kitchenette at the rear of the shop. ‘You call him now.’ Her eyes glittered with renewed optimism. ‘Then we can also talk about what action we can take to save our reserve.’

When Gran vanished into the kitchen in a swirl of citrus scent, I rubbed my weary eyes. A new business; a grandmother who was being secretive; a crime writer with a chip on his shoulder the size of Loch Ness, convinced he’d had his writing mojo torn away from him; and now our gorgeous nature reserve was under threat.

So just another ordinary day then.

* * *

Ringing Dexter back to tell him I would help after all and that Gran had come up with a suggestion for a starting point for our investigations was not something I was relishing.

While Grandma prepared a pot of tea in the kitchen, I took my time serving a young family and insisting their two little girls avail themselves of a cupcake each.

Their wide doll-like eyes threatened to fall out of their faces as they cupped the domes of baby-pink and white in their hands and their happy but exhausted parents helped themselves to the last of the champagne.

I just wanted the customers to vanish for a bit so Gran and I could have some time alone and then she would open up to me about all this.

They had only just bundled back out of the door when Gran reappeared, grasping two ceramic mugs of builder-strength tea. ‘So, what did he say?’

I dropped my eyes to the counter and fiddled with a notepad. ‘I haven’t rung him yet.’

Her expression fell. ‘May I ask why?’

‘We’ve been really busy the last ten minutes.’

She surveyed the now-empty shop, her attention sweeping from the wooden floor to the glossy white shelves. ‘Yes, I can see that. We can hardly move in here right now.’

I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. ‘I was serving a young family and they only left a second ago.’

Gran set down my mug on top of the counter. ‘Well, you aren’t occupied at the moment, are you, darling?’

Oh, for pity’s sake! I made a frustrated sigh. ‘Point taken.’

I rummaged in my shoulder bag under the counter and pulled out my phone. I dragged up Dexter’s number and Gran disappeared back into the kitchen, sipping her tea.

This is ridiculous! Why am I so reluctant to ring him? What is the issue here?

I know, whispered a teasing voice. You’re trying to keep your distance from him.

Why is that? the rational voice inside my head asked.

I’ll tell you why: it’s because you find him attractive.

The realisation gave me a jolt and I tried to force it out of my head. It wasn’t that at all. After Lloyd, getting involved with another man was not on my list of priorities. Perish the thought! Dexter Grayling was louche, famous, and had a reputation to boot. Yes, he was also very good-looking and talented…

Oh bugger!

I refused to dissect my thoughts any more about Dexter. Part of me hoped he wouldn’t answer and that he would be too busy staring into the middle distance, looking moody and struggling to conjure up his next chapter. But just as I was about to ring off, his deep rumble rang in my ear.

Shit!

I studied my jewelled pumps and gathered myself together. ‘Look, this is against my better judgement but my gran has pleaded with me to help you look into all this crazy business, and I’m not prepared to let her down.’

There was a weighted silence, then he spoke again. I could have sworn there was a hint of bemusement in his gravelly voice. ‘So what you’re saying is you’re doing this solely for your grandmother’s benefit?’

I straightened my shoulders even though he couldn’t see me and pushed out my chin. ‘That’s about the size of it.’