Page 33 of Journey to the Scottish Highlands

Dane’s fair brows lifted. ‘That was very generous of you.’

‘I was coming back up to Scotland myself anyway.’

‘Ah.’ Dane bathed me in a toothy grin. ‘Where are you from?’

‘Strath Ross.’

His blond hair lifted in the light breeze. ‘Really? We’re practically neighbours.’

‘Hardly,’ remarked Evan. ‘You’re living in Glasgow now.’

Dane gave his older brother a mischievous look. ‘I’m not at the moment though, am I?’ He refocused on me. ‘Me and my rock band have got some gigs here in the local area, which is why I’m back home at the moment.’

Evan stepped in, taking me by surprise and cutting the conversation short. ‘Now that the formal introductions are over, Daisy, let’s take you inside and you can meet Mum and Dad.’

‘You’re a fast mover,’ said Dane with a twinkle. ‘You’ve only just met the girl.’

Evan’s soft, brown eyes grew hard. ‘Daisy’s staying here for the time being. Don’t know if you’ve heard yet, but two unexploded bombs have been found up by Loch Crawe, so she can’t make it home.’

Evan started to accompany me back towards the rear door of the house, our cases trundling behind us, when Dane’s gravelly voice rang out. ‘Welcome to The Ramblings, Daisy. Maybe I can show you around while you’re here?’ There was another charming smile.

But I didn’t have time to answer, as Evan was already steering me inside.

He guided me through the side entrance and into the hall, which was huge, with a butterscotch and white tiled floor. On the opposite wall was stationed a gold, oval mirror which looked like something out of Game of Thrones.

Greek-style vases sat in all four corners sprouting dry reeds and rushes.

A white, marble, Cinderella-style staircase on the left spiralled to the upper floor. To the right was what looked like a massive sitting room, which consisted of polished maple furniture and a thick, pillar box-red carpet. It looked out onto the gardens through a set of double doors.

Trees lined up like soldiers on the far side, and the lawns sloped and glided downwards.

From out of nowhere, an older, smartly dressed couple appeared, making me start. ‘Evan! Darling!’

The woman’s cream heels clicked on the tiled hall floor. She bundled Evan into her arms.

‘Hey, Mum.’

She planted a big kiss on his cheek and took a step back to admire her eldest son.

Behind her, a dapper man with a greying beard emerged. He gave Evan a brief hug. ‘Hi, Dad.’

Then his father’s attention fell on me, loitering in the background. ‘Are you going to introduce us, son?’

Evan beckoned me over. ‘Mum. Dad. This is Daisy. Daisy, these are my parents, Alison and Bennett.’

Alison Lord’s ice blue eyes, which reminded me of Dane’s, creased as she smiled at me. We shook hands. ‘Lovely to meet you, Daisy.’

‘And you.’

Bennett shook my hand next. ‘Is this the young lady you told us about on the phone? The one who kindly drove you up here?’

‘Yes, Daisy got me out of a tight spot.’ Evan smiled at me, and I found my skin prickling.

‘It was fine. No big deal,’ I insisted.

Alison tutted. ‘You never told us we were going to have company, Evan.’

Evan sighed. ‘It’s not an issue, Mum. Not as big an issue as those unexploded bombs. That’s why Daisy is staying with us, until that’s sorted out.’ He gestured to me. ‘Daisy comes from Strath Ross.’