Page 26 of A Scottish Island Summer

Chapter Seven

‘Wild camping?’

I gripped tighter onto my new, shocking pink rucksack with both arms, cradling it like a baby. ‘But I thought…’

Logan’s attention drifted to my rucksack. He arched one brow. ‘You thought we’d be staying at a five-star spa, with champagne running from the taps?’

‘No,’ I blustered. ‘Of course not. But I thought maybe glamping.’

Logan flashed me a grin as he threw his bulging black backpack into the rear seat of his bottle green, American-style pick-up truck. ‘I thought your publishers wanted you to have a genuine outdoor experience here on Skye.’

‘They do.’

‘Well, you wouldn’t be getting that in a luxurious hotel or lodge, would you?’

Outside The Gorse, Logan had parked up by the edge of the kerb. He gestured to me to pass him my rucksack.

I clung on to it.

He lent one muscular arm on the edge of the open passenger side door. ‘Are we going to stand here all day or are we going to get going? We’ve research to do.’

‘Where are we going?’

‘For your first day, I thought we’d go to the Coral Beach. It should only take about half an hour to get there.’

‘And that’s where we’re camping?’

‘Aye.’

‘For one night.’

Logan’s lips twitched. ‘One night?’

‘Yep. If you think for one minute, I’m going to torture myself under canvas, when I could be cosied up in there’—I jerked my thumb over my shoulder at The Gorse, all tartan drapes and glowing with warmth behind me— ‘then you’re even more deluded than I thought you were.’

Logan held up both hands in mock surrender. ‘OK. OK. Tell you what, let’s see how we get on tonight and if you really hate it, no more camping.’

I pushed out my bottom lip. ‘There’s no two ways about it. I am going to hate it.’

Logan’s eyes twinkled at me through the pale, March light. I straightened my back.

‘I hope your tent’s to your satisfaction. I borrowed my sister’s for you.’

My lip curled. Heaven only knows what that would be like.

Logan shot me a mischievous look. ‘I’m afraid it isn’t made from Italian lace, so you might just have to slum it.’ His full lips flexed at the corners.

I jumped into the car, mouthing a rude word at him as he strode round to the driver’s side and then fired up the engine for the journey to Coral Beach. He shot me a glance. ‘What food and cooking utensils have you brought with you?’

Blood rushed to my cheeks. ‘Er… I mean…’

He grinned at me. ‘Lucky for you, I’ve already packed food, a first-aid kit and stuff to cook with.’

Oh, what a complete knobhead! Look how pleased he is with himself. ‘So, I should think.’ I prickled, hoping to disguise my embarrassment. ‘You’re supposed to be Skye’s answer to Action Man, not me.’

There was a charged silence.

I reddened again. ‘Thank you. For bringing the food and cooking equipment.’