Page 105 of The Christmas Highland Lodge

‘Oh, are you now?’

We clung to one another, the shimmering icy-cold water lit up by intermittent bursts of sunshine.

‘Have I ever told you how wonderful you are, Lottie Grant?’

‘No. Never. Not once. But I think you should start.’

Blake kissed me and grinned against my lips. Then a pensive angle to his features appeared. ‘Do you mind if I slip away and speak to Jason back at the cabins? After all, you said he and Rob are heading home tomorrow.’

I beamed up at him, delighted. ‘Of course, I don’t. You go back over there right now.’

I ran my hands up and down the sleeves of Blake’s bright-blue winter jacket. ‘Just go and hear what he has to say and take it from there. It’s a start.’

‘I will.’

I watched his retreating back start to disappear but then he stopped and fired me that smile of his, which sent my heart spinning into orbit. ‘Something tells me this Christmas is going to be something special for both of us.’

Chapter Twenty-Six

Christmas Eve had always been my favourite day over the festive period. It was because of all the excitement and anticipation; the thrill of what was to come.

And this year was no different. In fact, I had a feeling it was going to be even lovelier than usual.

There was still pain about my dad once again not being around to share in the festivities with us, but this had been tempered by Blake, who assisted me, Max, Stephanie and Kim in preparing for the arrival of our Christmas cabin guests. Ruth pitched in too, which was a relief.

Thanks to us all getting involved, their stay with us got off to a gorgeous, Christmassy start.

There had been a light fall of snow and the woodland looked like it had been dipped in icing sugar, as two families and two couples, one younger pairing and one older, arrived and we introduced them to each other before settling them in each of their allocated cabins.

I had arranged for Mrs Crill to provide us with some of her delicious cinnamon and hazelnut mince pies and Christmas cake from Sugar ‘n’ Spice together with some of Max’s mulled wine from his secret stash, and the guests said how delighted they were by the warm Christmas welcome they had received.

The Christmas trees stationed on each of the cabin’s porches twinkled like stars and the illuminated lights strung from the nearby bare trees gave the whole area a magical Santa’s Grotto-type feel.

Max had been concerned that the lit-up almost six feet high pair of gold reindeer that Stephanie and I had spotted on the internet might be a little bit too much, but they enthralled the children of both visiting families, so everyone was happy.

I breathed a huge sigh of relief as we all wished our guests a merry Christmas and began to walk back to Rowan Moore House.

Max and Stephanie had tried to persuade me, Kim and Blake to stay on a little longer for some champagne to celebrate, but Kim politely declined. ‘I’m catching a flight this afternoon down to Southampton to visit my parents but thank you anyway.’

‘And I have something to do,’ added Blake from behind me. ‘But Merry Christmas and thank you again to both of you for all your support this year.’

I frowned at Blake as he started to make his exit. He didn’t divulge where he was headed. ‘See you back at yours in an hour or so,’ he beamed, giving me a quick kiss as we stepped out of Rowan Moore House. ‘I won’t be long.’

I gave him a quizzical look. ‘And where are you off to?’

Blake gave me a wink. ‘Never you mind. See you in a bit.’

‘Ok.’

I jumped into my car and headed towards Mum’s. What was he up to? Last-minute Christmas shopping? What a different Christmas it was going to be this year.

Rowan Moore disappeared in my rear-view mirror, like a vanishing Christmas card, as I trundled back past Loch Strathe and down the network of country lanes.

I arrived back in Craig Brae to see that some of the local shops had already closed their doors for Christmas, while beside the town clock a Salvation Army choir were belting out carols, their brass instruments glinting in the watery sun.

Last-minute shoppers jostled past each other with apologetic smiles, everything from rolls of wrapping paper and Christmassy napkins poking out from their bags.

I slowed down as I drove past Christmas Crackers. It was all closed now until after Christmas, when it would open for a few more days until the 31st. The council Christmas lights shimmered against the darkened windows.