Page 30 of The Christmas Highland Lodge

I tugged off my beret and flicked a look at myself in the rear-view mirror. My dark-blue eyes popped out of my distracted face. I tried to smile at my reflection, but rather than looking confident, I appeared constipated.

I adjusted my ponytail and set off for Rowan Moore House. The hills were coloured in a kaleidoscope of purple and jade as the sharp winter sunshine played hide and seek with the scudding clouds.

As I drove along the winding country lanes, I hoped the weather on Saturday would be like this for the local Christmas lights switch-on. I reminded myself to mention this at the meeting with the Styleses and their other employees, although I knew I’d already taken a note to do so.

I was sure that everyone that was part of Stephanie and Max’s team would be welcoming. Well, apart from Beardy McGrump-face. Still, there was a good chance he might not be attending this meeting anyway. He might be marching up some mountain right now, barking orders at the wildlife to stay out of his way. Maybe, with any luck, one of the stags would take a dislike to him like I had and give him one almighty jab up his arse with one of their antlers.

I reached Rowan Moore House and parked beside a couple of other vehicles, one of which looked like a trades van. It had the company name Care and Construct splashed across it in multi-coloured lettering.

No sooner had I got out of the vehicle and fetched my things, than Max came bounding down the steps to greet me.

‘I’m sorry. I think I’m a bit early,’ I apologised, clutching the folder to my chest.

‘Not at all. Come on in Lottie.’

Max led me through a grand tiled hall that was studded with tall potted trees and boasting an ornate ceiling that looked like whipped cream.

He clicked open a heavy oak door on the right. The room had a thick chocolate-toned carpet with a long cream table and several high-backed chairs. Heavy, dark curtains framed two floor-to-ceiling windows at the end of the space.

Stephanie jumped up from her chair. ‘Welcome, Lottie. Coffee? Tea?’

I didn’t feel very thirsty, but smiled and said, ‘Tea please.’ Having a cup and saucer would give me something to do with my hands before the meeting started.

I set my folder down on the table and slipped my bag from my shoulder, removed my coat and draped them over the back of one of the chairs. A bundle of excited butterflies let rip in my stomach.

‘We’re just waiting for the other three to arrive,’ said Max, reaching for a steel coffee pot in the middle of the table. ‘Our construction guys are just taking an urgent call at the minute. But in the meantime, let me introduce you to someone else.’

Max glugged some tarry black coffee into his mug and took a welcome sip.

I turned, smiling. Then it died on my lips. Oh bugger. Not him again!

Blake Dempster strode over from the other side of the room. Gone was his woolly hat and the fleece. He was sporting a sharp navy three-piece suit, with a petrol-blue tie and white shirt. His black eyes flashed.

‘We’ve already met.’ I forced a tight smile.

Max pretended to slap himself on the forehead. ‘Of course. Silly me! Steph told me the other day that Blake got my note and was going to pop in to Christmas Crackers to introduce himself.’

‘Oh, he did that all right,’ I grimaced.

Max carried on, oblivious to the stony atmosphere. ‘I’m so sorry about that scribbled message, Blake. Steph said you told her you thought Lottie’s shop was some sort of sports freestyle outlet?’

Blake Dempster ran a hand over his short, dark hair. ‘Yes,’ he replied, firing up one thick brow. ‘It wasn’t at all what I was expecting. It’s certainly a unique experience going in there.’

I could feel my lips pulling themselves back into a ferocious snarl. I rearranged my expression. ‘Yes, well, it’s for discerning customers only.’

Blake Dempster’s dark eyes hardened.

Max afforded us both odd looks and let out an awkward cough. ‘Yes. Well. Blake has just opened up Rock Solid Ramblings, his new guided walking and hiking business in the town, but he has also very kindly agreed to provide his services to our cabin guests.’ Max flashed us another glance each. ‘So, I thought it might be a good idea for us all to get together, so we can update everyone on what’s happening with the cabins. After all, we will all be working very closely as a team.’

Max tried to lighten the atmosphere further. ‘After all, there is no “i” in team, is there!’

Oh shit! Dealing with hotel guests’ complaints about their cooked breakfasts and finding out what had happened to missing newspapers suddenly seemed a rather more attractive prospect than it had done before. ‘How wonderful,’ I forced. ‘I can’t wait.’

Blake Dempster stared back levelly at me.

I was grateful when the meeting room door opened and in trooped three other people.

Stephanie introduced the two men as brothers Andrew and Dominic Clark, owners of Care and Construct, who had built the lodges. They were both intense looking men in their late forties.