Page 72 of A Scottish Island Summer

I stared out of the windscreen at the chipped stars sprayed overhead, eager to get back to my guest room, peel off my clothes and bury myself under the duvet.

Even though the centre of Portree looked magical tonight, the creamy moonlight spinning down onto the stippled roofs and chimney pots, I felt hollow and off-kilter.

Logan looked pensive as we approached The Gorse, and as he pulled his truck to the kerb, he forced a smile. ‘I’ll pick you up at nine-thirty tomorrow morning. More wonders of Skye to see!’ His voice sounded jovial, but his eyes still looked wounded.

I opened the passenger side door and climbed out, my breath coiling into the cold night air. ‘I’m sure there are. Thank you again for a lovely evening, Logan. Goodnight.’

Logan gave a little salute and drove off, while I stood there on the pavement, watching his rear lights blur away up the dark street.

I was just about to tap up the steps of the guest house when a noise from behind me made me flinch. What was that? It sounded like someone else’s footsteps. I turned round to check, but the street was deserted.

I frowned and was about to climb the other few steps, the thought of hiding under my duvet a very appealing one, when I experienced the sensation of being watched.

I spun round again, but there was no one. There was just the lit-up pavement, with the stars thrown up in the sky. Everything looked like the set of some romantic film. It made me feel even worse about how I left things with Logan this evening.

Once again, the prospect of jumping into my crisp, fresh bedsheets urged me on.

Then a hand shot out of the darkness and tapped me on the shoulder.

I let out a high-pitched shriek and whirled round, ready to give whoever it was a mouthful and a sodding great whack in the face with my bag.

I lifted it from my shoulder, ready to swing it in the direction of my assailant. The fact I was fighting back might make them change their mind about trying something. I’d scream again too. Make a commotion and draw attention. Surely someone would see or hear me?

I opened my mouth to let rip with an earth-shattering scream, but the figure took a step closer and dropped their arms from over their face.

It took a few seconds for my mind to catch up with who I was looking at.

It was him.

It was the bearded man.