Page 71 of A Scottish Island Summer

I had to up my game. I couldn’t allow my career to slide just because a handsome guy was flirting with me. I stared around Logan’s flat.

I had to decide what was important here. Reboot. Refocus on my priorities and what I wanted to achieve.

I wasn’t here on Skye for a holiday. Of course, the sunset was magnificent and it’d been a gorgeous way to spend the evening—it had also been so special sharing it with Logan—but I was here for work. That was the bottom line.

I glowered down at River Banks’s glossy face again.

What was I doing here with Logan?

I was letting my feelings for him take over and muddy my judgement. I could rely on my career, but as for relationships? No. I’d learnt that I’d only get hurt.

I snatched up my bag and got to my feet. This is for the best, I kept repeating to myself over and over. You’ll be relieved you did this, tomorrow morning.

Logan came striding back into his sitting room. ‘Sorry about that. It was Robbie on the phone, asking me for some relationship advice! He must be desperate if he wanted to talk to me.’ His voice faded as he caught sight of me clutching my bag.

I took in the way his lips curved down in disappointment and the way his shirt hugged his shoulders as he pushed them back.

‘Are you leaving?’ His brows gathered in confusion.

‘Yes, sorry, Logan. I just remembered I’ve got a couple of work emails I have to send.’

‘Oh, that’s a shame. I was looking forward to spending some time with you.’ The hurt in his eyes stung me but I tried not to register the burrowing guilt I was feeling.

‘Thank you for the gorgeous picnic and for taking me to see that sunset tonight. I loved it.’

Logan’s eyes dimmed, but he managed to conjure up one of his delicious smiles. ‘You’re welcome. I thought you would.’

As we slipped on our coats in readiness for Logan to drop me back at the guest house, I couldn’t bring myself to look at him.

He was doing his best to sound nonchalant and casual, but there were flecks of disappointment in his eyes.

A dull, leaden weight sat in the pit of my stomach. Right now, I felt like a petulant idiot who didn’t know what she wanted.

No, scrub that.

I did know what I wanted.

But I couldn’t have both.

I’d made my decision.

* * *

The local restaurants and the Old Dog and Duck pub were throwing out cosy glows of light onto the pavement as we drove past, and I buried myself deeper into my coat, avoiding looking at Logan.

This evening had been lovely. Sharing that sunset with its explosions of colour with Logan had been special. Then there was the gorgeous picnic he’d brought with him. The care and attention to detail he’d put into it had truly touched me.

OK, so Iona had helped him, but nevertheless, it was so thoughtful.

And then what?

I’d taken fright and left.

I struggled to convince myself that it was for the best. But if I’d done the right thing, why did my heart feel like it’d been crushed underfoot, like those shells on the Coral Beach?

At first, I’d thought him annoying and overly upbeat. But the more I got to know him, the more I realised what a special man he was. Not to mention that he had the most luscious, full lips and as for those striking, light grey eyes…

I bit back a lump in my throat. Logan had looked so wounded when I’d said I had to leave, but he had quickly reverted to his charming smile and tried to brush it off. That seemed to be his default mode.