Page 102 of A Scottish Highland Hideaway

I heard the sound of chattering and clinking glasses travelling up from downstairs.

His deep, dark eyes locked with mine. “I knew I was beginning to fall for you, Bailey. But I didn’t want to put you in danger.”

“Danger? What do you mean?”

Zach sighed as he gazed down into my eyes. “That’s why I lost my job a couple of years ago at the London Inquirer. I got too close to a high-profile media mogul who was taking backhanders from a political party.”

I stared up into his face. “What?”

Zach rubbed at his stubble. “You’ve heard of Sir Clifford Bain?”

I frowned up at him. “Of course. Always wears a cravat and smokes a cigar. Didn’t I read recently that he’s invested a lot of money in boxing?”

“Yes. That’s him. I’ve learnt that the cash he’s pumped into it comes from the party he’s been pushing in his newspapers.” Zach eyed me. “Bain’s name has been attached to a few other dodgy deals as well, which I’m also looking into.”

Zach explained further. “Bain has majority shares in the London Inquirer and when he found out one of its reporters – namely, me – had been sniffing around his business affairs, he leant on the board and my editor had me sacked.”

His handsome face took on a pensive look. “He also made sure no other newspaper title would touch me.”

I let out a stunned gasp. “That’s awful. Having your job taken away from you just because you were doing the right thing and trying to expose corruption…”

His eyes never left my face. “Not only that, but Bain also had his people threaten me and anyone close to me. Said I’d regret it if I persisted with my investigation.”

Zach stroked my cheek. “I swore to myself that I wouldn’t get you caught up in anything. I knew I was falling for you, but no matter how hard I tried to keep you at arm’s length, my feelings started getting in the way.” He hesitated, before carrying on. “Then when I found out who you were, I knew I definitely couldn’t put you in the firing line of anything risky. It was bad enough when I didn’t know you were Lady Anastasia, but then when you told me that, I decided I was taking too much of a chance.” He gave a small smile. “I didn’t want you splashed across the papers again and seeing as you do come from a high-profile family, I wasn’t prepared to take the risk that you, your parents or Marcus could come to harm.” He pinned me to the spot with his earnest gaze. “I almost told you a couple of times about this and what I was involved in.” Zach performed a small smile. “I didn’t want to keep any secrets from you, but the thought of putting you in potential danger was too much of a risk that I wasn’t prepared to take.”

Zach examined my face. “See what you’ve done to me? I was beginning to let my heart rule my head and I was so worried in case Bain’s cohorts discovered you too.”

I searched his face. “Believe me, there have been plenty of times when I wished I didn’t have a title! After Declan made such a fool of me, I knew I had to get away from everything. I wasn’t trying to deceive you, but I learnt the hard way that I can’t trust my instincts when it comes to knowing who to trust.” I let out a sigh. “It was so important to me to know that I could do it on my own, and that my success is because I’m good at what I do and not because of who my parents are.”

Zach nodded. “I know that now.” He continued to trace his hand down my cheek. My stomach swirled at his touch. “I was trying to convince myself that I didn’t have feelings for you and also trying to protect you at the same time. I thought that if I kept you at a distance, I could control my feelings for you but it didn’t work that way. Quite the opposite.” Zach gave me a rueful smile.” I’ve been so pig-headed and stupid.”

“We’ve both been stupid and pig-headed.” My heart was pumping in my ears.

Zach’s lips morphed into a grin. “I can’t argue with that.”

“I just wish you’d told me before you left. It hurt that I opened up and trusted you but you didn’t do the same.”

“I know, and I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I hated the thought of anyone else hurting you – I wasn’t prepared to risk that. I would never have forgiven myself. That’s why I’ve been keeping tabs on you from a distance.”

My stomach flipped.

“You thought I’d abandoned you, but in fact, I was never far away.” Zach’s voice was earnest. “When you said you weren’t going to back away from all of this with Ezra and you were still going to try and help, I realised why I was falling in love with you.”

My legs wobbled.

“When I got offered the Stargazer position by Adam, I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do.” Zach eyed me, willing me to understand. “But it was the only opportunity I was offered to keep me investigating, reporting, and writing – and the way I saw it, exposing those who deserve it.”

I studied his lips. I thought he’d abandoned me, but Zach had been there all along.

“Yes, I’ve been writing the trashy celeb stuff, but that’s been more like a smokescreen. I’ve been investigating Stargazer magazine over a mass phone hacking controversy, involving so many celebrities. I’m still gathering the information.”

“Really?”

Zach nodded his dark head. “There have been rumours about them for a while with the phone hacking thing. When I got offered the job with them, it was the perfect way in – and of course, the money came in handy when the London Inquirer got rid of me, just for doing my job.”

I stared at this wonderful, moral man who I’d doubted.

An excited rush travelled through my whole body. I wanted Zach to kiss me. I couldn’t think of anything else. I didn’t want anything else. Or anyone.