Page 83 of The Christmas Highland Lodge

I negotiated the bends in the road, fringed with naked trees. How had I got this so wrong? From when we had first met and clashed, we had taken exception to one another and been resentful of each other’s capabilities. Blake had been abrupt and cynical about my plans and hopes for the cabins. Then over time, we had moved on to where we began extending an uneasy truce towards one another.

Then there had been the friendlier chats, followed by frequent teasing smiles; intense looks; gazing down at my lips; flirting with me.

Then when we had been on the brink of taking things a step further, he had pulled back. Whether he was terrified of commitment or was a player, I wasn’t sure. Was it anything to do with that woman called Amy, who he had been having that charged conversation with, that day by the cabins?

I blinked and blanked out more images of him. Whatever his reasons for reacting like that, better to walk away now than risk any more hurt.

* * *

Kim had one ear clamped to her office phone when I entered.

She indicated for me to sit down, rolled her eyes and mouthed, ‘Won’t be long.’

When she finished, she gave me an apologetic smile. ‘Sorry about that. Max and Stephanie’s accountant wanted to arrange a meeting with them for a catch-up, but trying to get them all together in the same room on the same date and at the same time is a nightmare!’ She offered a small smile. ‘And how are you?’

‘I’m fine.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Of course. Why do you ask?’

Kim’s look was pensive. ‘You’re avoiding Blake, Lottie. Has something happened between the two of you?’

I couldn’t resist a brief, wry attempt at a smile. ‘No. Nothing happened.’

She arched her plucked brows at me.

I sighed. Good grief. I wasn’t going to get away with being evasive that easily. ‘I made a fool of myself.’

‘How?’

I shook my head, my cheeks heating up. ‘Let’s just say I read far too much into the situation. So…’ My voice vanished. I didn’t want to talk about Blake.

Kim’s kind smile made my eyes sting. ‘Well, I’m here if you want to offload, ok?’

‘Thanks.’

Kim gestured to some notes she had scribbled down on her notebook. ‘So, let’s not chat about moody mountain climbers and talk instead about the odd phone call I had about twenty minutes ago.’

I sat up a little straighter, my attention snapping away from Kim’s cute Christmas tree on her desk. ‘That sounds intriguing. What was that?’

Kim’s satsuma-orange pinafore dress was almost as bright as the lights draped around her PC screen, but she carried the whole ensemble, complete with long black boots, with her usual aplomb. ‘Well, you know that the four cabins are going to be occupied from the 24th of December?’

‘Yes.’

Kim arched her brows in a dramatic fashion. ‘Well, a gentleman rang a short while ago asking if he and his partner could reserve our Winter Wonderland cabin for tomorrow for one night.’ She paused. ‘He was literally begging. At first I didn’t think anything of it. I presumed they might be travelling through Craig Brae and on to somewhere else.’ Kim gave a shrug. ‘Anyway, I started to explain that the cabins aren’t officially opening till Christmas Eve, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. He wasn’t rude or anything, just sounded desperate.’

I frowned at her. ‘Ok. So, what happened?’

‘He asked if there was any chance at all they could stay that one night and to tell you the truth, I felt a bit sorry for him. He said he wouldn’t have bothered us if it hadn’t meant a lot to him.’

Intrigued, I asked Kim to carry on.

‘So, I spoke to Max and Stephanie and they said it would be all right, just for the one evening.’

I nodded. ‘Ruth will still have time to change the bedding and get the cabin ship-shape again for our Christmas guests who have reserved it.’

‘Exactly. No harm done. He also insisted on paying upfront.’