Page 70 of A Scottish Island Summer

Chapter Seventeen

Logan’s flat was located at the top of a solid, grey stone block of apartments.

The soda orange streetlamps were pinpricks from his sitting room window, strung along all the way to the harbour, like a necklace of amber pearls.

His abode was minimalist, with a dark, mahogany floor, arty black and white photographs of Skye on the walls and dark sheepskin rugs.

In the narrow hallway was a large cinematic print of Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones, cracking his whip with one hand and holding on to his famous hat with the other.

I smiled up at it. Logan caught me. ‘I told you I was an Indy fan.’

His kitchen was located on the right-hand side of the hallway and was a galley style, with glossy charcoal and steel fittings and cupboards. ‘Please make yourself comfy.’

I sighed, sinking down onto Logan’s black leather sofa. ‘That sunset was spectacular, but I feel like I need warming up.’

As soon as the words tripped out my mouth, I wanted Logan’s sofa to swallow me up.

Engage your brain, Darcie! What are you saying?

Logan glinted at me from his sitting room doorway. ‘I’m sure I could oblige.’ There was a loaded pause. His mouth was doing that wolfish thing again.

My stomach swished.

Moments later, he reappeared and handed me a stripey mug of strong tea. He’d made himself a black coffee. On his mug was the caption, Geologists take nothing for granite.

I gestured to his mug and smiled. ‘Nothing like a pun.’

‘Oh, us geologists have a wicked sense of humour.’ He sat himself down in the armchair opposite me and took a grateful sip of his coffee. He stretched out his long, muscular legs.

A question niggled at me and I found myself asking it. ‘Why did you take me up to Neist Point this evening?’

Logan’s gaze shone over the rim of his mug. He drank a few sips. ‘I was hoping that sunset tonight might seduce you, make you fall in love a little bit with Skye.’

Logan’s words made me grip my tea tighter. What the hell was happening to me? Why was I behaving like this? I was used to feeling in control, being able to manage my feelings and focus on my goals and objectives. Now, I’d transformed into a self-conscious, blushing wreck whenever this man so much as looked at me.

I turned my attention back to my mug of tea and hid my face in it. I could feel Logan studying me, a faint smile on his lips. ‘Darcie. Is something happening here? Between us, I mean?’

Irritation settled on his features as his mobile rang before I could answer. ‘For pity’s sake! Excuse me a second.’ He set his mug down on the glass coffee table and strode out of his sitting room to take the call.

For something to do, I fumbled for my phone in my bag, which was down by my feet. What was going on between Logan and me? Was there something happening? It felt like there was.

My fingers danced across my phone keypad and I scrolled through social media, trying to take my mind off Logan, but it was useless.

My emotions were careering everywhere. I’d never met anyone like him before. He was confident in who he was, something I wasn’t used to. A lot of the guys I came across in my line of work were either from old money or keen to make a name for themselves by dating someone who was in the public eye.

Not like Logan. He was sure of what he stood for.

I refocused on my phone and then froze when a post caught my eye.

River sodding Banks! She’d done it again!

This time, there were photos of her alongside some famous names. Apparently, she’d been chosen as a contestant for the next series of the celebrity show, Sing When You’re Winning.

Her victorious face beamed out. ‘I’ve been dying to tell you all…’ she gushed in the caption.

My jaw tightened so hard I thought I was going to crack my teeth. Trust her to secure a spot on a show like that. Could she sing? It didn’t really matter if she could. She would’ve secured a great appearance fee and the publicity alone would be priceless.

I continued to stare down at her pouting face, surrounded by her long, blonde dreadlocks.