Page 83 of A Scottish Country Escape

A weird concoction of emotions took over while I stood there, with just the faint drone of a car in the distance. ‘Is it?’

Mrs McVicar’s alert navy-blue eyes shone with knowing. She leant in and cast her attention around, as though scoping out the area for snipers.

‘That bonnie wee lass whose visiting up there at the moment, is a friend’s daughter by all accounts.’

Nadia. She’s talking about Nadia. Of course, that would be the official line. I assumed not many people would know Dexter had a little girl. I nodded along with her. ‘Yes, I believe so.’

Mrs McVicar pressed on, still in possession of some juicy bit of gossip by the looks of it. ‘Well, he hasn’t let the grass grow, as my mother, God rest her soul, used to say!’

I hoped I was feigning mild interest. In reality, my stomach was sinking. I tilted my chin up and tried to appear casual. ‘Oh? Why’s that then?’

Mrs McVicar looked like she was sucking vinegar. ‘A tall brunette. They’ve been seen together around town and in The Salmon & Swan. I think it’s the wee girl’s mother.’

She disarmed me with a cheery smile. ‘Tell your gran I was asking after her. Cheerio now!’

Chapter Fifty-Two

I made my way back to Paper Roses in a numb fog, melancholy thoughts skittering around my head.

Cate was tapping away at my laptop, her black lashes batting while she concentrated on the screen. ‘I’ve just rung those two kiddies’ entertainers to confirm their arrival time on the first. That was a quick walk! I told you to take a proper break.’ Cate pushed her chair back. ‘What is it?’

I feel so bloody stupid!

Cate insisted I sit down while she attended to a harassed-looking mother with two little boys.

Once they had departed with their purchases, Cate darted back behind the counter. ‘Right. Spill.’

And out it came in a torrent of embarrassment, about the arrival of a statuesque brunette up at Hawk West Hall. ‘I wouldn’t be at all surprised if she’s Nadia’s mum.’

Cate read my face with her huge black eyes glowing under the shop spotlights. ‘I took one look at you and I could see how upset you were.’

I dropped my gaze to the floor and examined my pink and white Converse trainers. ‘All this is self-inflicted, Cate. That’s what’s making me feel so stupid. I promised myself I wouldn’t get involved or hurt again and now look at me!’

‘Well, if it’s any consolation, I can see what you see in him – and I’m gay, for pity’s sake!’

I managed to laugh, despite my heart sagging in my chest.

Cate’s hair spun out of her red, dotted headband. ‘You don’t need a mess, Elle, and you certainly don’t need any complications.’ She fired me a mischievous look. ‘Maybe he does deserve this curse after all!’ She rested her elbows on the counter. ‘Whatever his motives are for bringing his daughter to Fir Haven, you don’t need to get involved.’ She paused. ‘I’m not saying he isn’t trying to be a good father, but we don’t know what’s going on.’

I sank back in my chair and pushed out my legs. Cate was doing her utmost not to say what I had been thinking. Was there a chance Dexter had brought Nadia here purely to show Linda Carlucci that he wasn’t the arrogant, selfish cretin she thought he was?

I glanced across the shop and out through the glass panel of the door. When would I ever learn? I’d thought I was beginning to get to know the real him.

Just goes to show how wrong you can be.

Cate slapped her hands down on both knees of her denims. ‘Right. Onto something far more interesting. Would you like the good news or the good news?’

‘Go on.’

She flashed her bright-white smile. ‘Have I ever mentioned to you that one of Lucy’s new clients is Dean Ellwood?’

The name marched through my mind. ‘Isn’t that the folk singer who’s been getting a lot of press coverage recently?’

Cate beamed with self-congratulation. ‘The very one.’

Enthusiasm radiated out of her. ‘Lucy has mentioned our plight with the nature reserve to Dean Ellwood personally. She makes a point of getting to know all her clients well and it turns out he’s very big on environmental issues.’

My excitement rose.