Page 23 of A Scottish Island Summer

Logan was unphased by my argument and carried on. ‘You need warm, practical, comfortable clothing that will protect you from the elements.’

My mouth twisted as I recalled the thick, heavy jumpers I’d seen and the navy canvas trousers. Good grief. They were hideous.

Logan gestured to his sister. ‘Iona, can you help please? Darcie needs to be kitted out properly.’

Iona looked beside herself with anticipation. ‘Aye. Of course!’

Logan waggled one foot, showing off a pair of black heavy-duty walking boots, decorated with red laces. ‘This is the sort of footwear you need. I take it you’ve got an expenses account with that fancy agency of yours?’

I puffed out my chest. ‘Of course I have.’

‘Good. Right. Then Iona can get you prepared for what Skye will throw at you.’

What Skye will throw at me. That’s what I was worried about.

He arched his brows at me. ‘Did you know that the word “Sky” originated from the Norse language, and it means “The island of clouds”?’

I stared up at the billowing sky. ‘That comes as no surprise.’

* * *

Two hours later I was juggling several bags, containing a couple of pairs of waterproof trousers, a cream and lilac fleece, a few knitted jumpers, and several pairs of thick hiking socks in a variety of pastel colours. I was also now wearing a pair of brand-new burgundy Gore-Tex boots.

‘That’s much better.’ Iona beamed as she insisted on taking a couple of the bags from me as we headed back to her battered van ‘At least you’re prepared now.’

‘Yes, for some sort of weather apocalypse.’ I sighed under my breath. My purchases were neither sassy nor attractive. I thought of my favourite silk pussy bow Mango blouse in lilac, hanging up in my flat back at home. I stifled a whimper.

After grabbing a salmon and cream cheese bagel from the local deli, I returned to The Gorse and flopped down on my bed.

I decided to call Stella Darwin. Stella was a beauty writer and TV make-over supremo, who happened to also be represented by Hilliard, River’s agent. We’d met up a few times at various events and followed each other on social media.

After swapping some pleasantries and general gossip, I swore Stella to secrecy and told her about my travel guide commission here on Skye. ‘Everybody looks so healthy and glowing, but it’s a wilderness! I’m missing London like crazy.’ I then proceeded to tell her about Logan.

‘He sounds a real hottie.’ She sighed.

I dismissed the images of his wolfish smile and light eyes my head was conjuring up. ‘Oh please,’ I snorted. ‘He’s too full of himself for my liking.’ I dropped my voice. ‘The only reason I agreed to do this was because River was second choice.’

There was a strange silence at the other end of the line.

‘Stella? Hello? Are you still there?’

‘Y-es,’ she faltered. ‘Sorry, Darcie, but did you just say it’s Caldwell Publishing who commissioned you for this travel guide?’

‘Yes. Why?’

Stella hesitated. ‘Look, I hate to tell you this, but whoever said River was second choice for this was wrong.’

I clutched my mobile tighter. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean that River was approached to do it first.’

I let out a couple of weird, rasping sounds. ‘You’re kidding?! Are you sure?’

‘Oh, I’m sure,’ she replied with a short, dark laugh. ‘River couldn’t wait to broadcast the news to everyone that she’d been approached by one of the world’s biggest publishing houses, but she said she couldn’t do it as she was committed to some Norwegian five-star hotel promo at the time.’

My blood began to bubble in my veins. ‘I don’t believe this.’

‘Believe it. She was at the BBC alongside me, getting ready to be interviewed on their breakfast show. She couldn’t stop talking about it.’