Page 90 of A Scottish Country Escape

‘Don’t worry,’ I assured her. ‘I’ll stay to help you out until Cate reappears.’

‘Thanks, Elle. I owe you one.’

While Lucy accepted the money for the various purchases of Cate’s jewellery, I wrapped what they had bought in small silver gift bags.

I was chatting to Lucy and Cate, who had returned with two takeaway cappuccinos and two packs of sandwiches, when I sensed someone hovering by Cate’s tree-inspired fashion rings. I looked up. ‘Can I help you?’

I was confronted by a pair of startling light-blue eyes.

Dexter mustered an apprehensive smile. ‘Hi.’

Beside me, Cate and Lucy edged to one side. If they were trying to afford us some privacy, it was going to be bloody difficult, seeing as the whole town was present.

I hoped he couldn’t sense the adrenaline charging through me right now.

His black hair had grown a little since I last saw him and was furling at the collar of his pale-grey shirt. It suited him.

Shit! Why did he have to turn up today? I knew I had impressed upon him the importance of getting more involved in the community, but now the idea was much less appealing.

I opened my mouth to say something – what, I wasn’t quite sure – when Elsa and Nadia materialised behind him. Elsa observed Dexter and me for a few moments.

There was a prickly silence. Nadia was performing some sort of skippy dance by her side.

Relief flooded me that I could at least chat to Nadia. ‘Did you enjoy your cupcake?’ I asked, eager to say something – anything – to fill the silent void.

‘It was great,’ said Nadia, licking her fingers, ‘but it wasn’t big enough. I’m still hungry.’

Despite my heart quivering at the sight of her father, I grinned. ‘Well, I’m not surprised. You are a growing girl.’

She nodded, her French plait waggling. Then she grew bored of talking to me and turned her attention to her cuddly robin.

‘Elle.’ Dexter saying my name made my chest flutter. ‘There’s something I need to—’

‘Why did you walk off just now?’

All our heads swung round to Nadia’s mother. She clip-clopped over towards Cate’s stall, draped in a navy jacket with brass buttons, a cream T-shirt, and stonewashed jeans. Her shoulder-length brunette hair was secured away from her face with a red Alice band.

‘Shelley, I didn’t walk off,’ answered Dexter. ‘I’ve been doing the same as you. Browsing the stalls.’

The woman’s lightning-strike look at me was brief but charged. ‘I can see that.’ She flashed her pouting gaze around. ‘I would have been more than happy to provide my expertise to the stallholders. I used to be an executive visual merchandiser before I became a celebrity.’ She offered Dexter a coy look.

‘A what?’ whispered Cate to Lucy.

‘I think she means a window dresser.’

Dexter glowered at her and turned back to me. ‘Elle, I really do need to talk to you.’

I blinked in surprise as Shelley’s manicured hand shot out and rested on Dexter’s arm. A look of brief panic flashed across her face. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea, do you?’

My attention rocketed back and forth between them. What on earth is going on?

I noticed the disapproving pinch of Elsa’s features.

Elsa squeezed Nadia’s hand and caught Dexter’s eye. An undecipherable look was exchanged between the two of them. He hesitated and sighed. ‘Right.’ He turned and began to walk away, but then whirled round. ‘Shit! It’s her! Elle! It’s her!’

I moved out from under the flapping canvas of the stall. ‘Who?’

Dexter bounded back up towards me. I gasped at the sensation of his warm fingers wrapping themselves around mine as he pulled me along. ‘Dexter! Hang on! What on earth?!’