Page 15 of A Scottish Highland Hideaway

“You sound very sure of that.” Zach Stern eyed me.

I straightened my shoulders and said nothing.

“So, you can’t tell me anything?”

“I wish I could help,” I said with a sigh. “Sorry.”

“Yes. I’m sure you are.” His black brows fenced. “Well, if you can’t help, can you suggest anyone else around here who I can speak to?”

I toyed with my ring. A jagged edge of worry nicked me. I’d been deluding myself if I thought he would just accept what I told him and move on. “So, you’re hanging around then?”

“Oh, I’m not planning on going anywhere. I have my editor breathing down my neck and this is an exclusive I’m not going to pass up.”

My smile was tight. “An exclusive? What? ‘Actor spotted in Scotland’? Hardly front-page news.”

Zach forced a hand through his hair and it fell back from his face. “No, you’re right. It isn’t.”

My irritation was rising. “Well, what are you talking about then? Why are you so keen to speak to him?”

Zach gave me a measured look. “It seems our Mr King isn’t as lily-white as he portrays.”

A sliver of worry shot through me. “In what way?”

But Zach Stern just offered a withering look. It was a stupid question. As if he would tell me.

Instead, he moved the conversation on. “I’ve checked into one of the local hotels.”

My stomach plummeted. Oh goody. I’d been naïve enough to think that he might decide his Ezra King hunt was a wild goose chase and he would take himself and his posh coat back to the city. But talk of Ezra possibly being involved in something shady and Zach Stern’s determination to stay around had put paid to that optimism.

“Which one?” I asked, a rising dread growing. “I mean, which hotel are you staying at?”

“The Cedar Loch.” He studied me across my desk. “So, no suggestions of who I could talk to around here about Ezra King, then?”

I sat there, conscious that a magazine journalist was still in town and pursuing Ezra. And he was clearly determined to stay around until he found something. Anything.

Hang on! An idea skipped into my brain. Zach was staying at The Cedar Loch, where Moira Telford worked as a receptionist. Moira was a lovely woman, but she was also infamous for flirting with her more attractive male hotel guests. She should keep our friendly neighbourhood journo occupied for a while.

If my idea worked, it could buy some more time and if Zach Stern got irritated or frustrated enough, he might just decide to drop his search for Ezra. Right now, anything was worth a try. I didn’t want him hanging around Heather Moore. I wasn’t prepared to risk him identifying me, and I felt very protective of Ezra too.

I switched on a smile. “Come to think of it, when you get back to your hotel, ask to speak to Moira Telford. Have you met Moira yet?”

“No.”

“She’s one of the hotel receptionists. I’m sure she’ll be very happy to speak with you.” I drank in Zach Stern’s enviable lashes and sweep of dark hair. Moria would think Christmas had come early. Sure, there was a chance she’d have seen Ezra, too, but the main thing was that I didn’t betray him.

I dropped my voice, even though it was only the two of us. “What Moira knows about Heather Moore is legendary.” I fought to conceal a smile. “She’ll be very helpful, I’m sure.”

“All right. I’ll speak to her. Thank you.” He rose to his feet and I hurried to bundle him out of my shop as soon as possible.

It was as I was clicking open the door that he drew up and examined me again from under his thick brows. “I hope you don’t mind me saying but have I seen you somewhere before, Ms McArthur? You seem familiar.”

A deep chill, like ice cold water, shot down my spine. I struggled to arrange my mouth into a cool smile. “No. Don’t think so. I have one of those faces.” Ugh! Stop with the clichés, Bailey!

After a few seconds’ consideration, Zach pulled his attention away. “Well, thanks for speaking to me – finally.”

I poked my tongue out at his retreating back.

Chapter Four