Page 39 of Journey to the Scottish Highlands

Dane sat back in his chair, all louche, rocker charm. ‘Great, thanks. Appreciative crowd.’ He left the inference hanging in the air. ‘Very appreciative.’

Alison rolled her eyes at her younger son.

Dane just laughed at his mother’s expression and savoured his toast. He started to butter another slice. ‘So, what are you up to today, Daisy?’

‘Studying The Stage and social media, looking for acting work.’

Dane twinkled across the table at me. ‘You won’t have to look long. You’ll get snapped up.’

The spring sunshine was competing with his hair for golden brilliance. I laughed, forgetting that I had a lump of toast in my mouth. I coughed. Coughed again. One panicked hand flew to my throat. I was struggling to breathe.

I let out a raspy gasp. Evan leapt out of his seat, as did Dane, who managed to reach me first and jerked me out of my chair. He snaked both his golden, solid arms around my waist and jerked me upwards like a rag doll three times before the offending piece of toast flew out of my mouth and across the breakfast table. ‘Are you ok?’ he asked, staring down into my face.

‘Thanks to you, I am,’ I croaked, taking ragged breaths.

Evan was standing across the table, his expression etched with concern. When he noticed his brother still holding me, his jaw throbbed.

Alison and Bennett ordered me to sit back down and take it easy.

After a few moments of everyone asking if I was ok and me gratefully getting my breath back and sipping some water and tea, Dane glittered across the table at me. ‘Fancy joining me on a woodland walk this morning?’

Evan’s glass of fresh orange juice stilled at his mouth.

‘It’s just a short drive from here.’

I could feel Evan studying me for my reaction. I pretended not to notice. I should get out of The Ramblings. Put space between Evan and me. It was for the best. He had willowy, blonde journalists ringing him anyway. And Dane had just stopped me from choking. I returned Dane’s attention with a bright grin of my own. ‘Yes, that sounds great. Thanks.’

Evan’s stubbly, dark jaw tightened, but his gaze remained impassive.

‘Great. Ok.’ Dane drained his coffee. ‘Let’s finish up here, and then we can get going.’

* * *

We zipped back down through the high street in Dane’s white four-by-four truck, past the Highland countryside with its ribbons of pines and inviting, mossy, woodland paths.

Hillsides criss-crossed over each other beyond the trees, emerging phantom-like in rich palettes of chocolate brown, jade and emerald.

I stretched my legs in the passenger seat beside Dane. I’d fished out my walking boots and tied my hair back in a high ponytail.

I sneaked a look across at him as he focused on the road. He was attractive in a full-of-himself kind of way. At least with someone as openly flirty like him, I knew where I stood.

‘Got any siblings?’ Dane asked, as he indicated right onto a bark strewn public car park and picnic area.

‘No, I’m an only. I often think it would’ve been nice to have a brother or sister.’

Dane let out a low, dry laugh. ‘Yeah. Well…’

I thought about Dane and Evan together; their prickly barbs at one another and the simmering atmosphere. I wondered whether I should pose the question, but it was out before I could do anything about it. ‘Are you and Evan close?’

Dane sneered as he switched off his car engine. ‘Are you joking?!’

When he saw my surprised expression, he tapped the steering wheel. ‘We’re just very different.’ There was that smile again. ‘I don’t know if you’ve noticed.’

‘Yes, I have.’

We both jumped out. I reached into the back seat to collect my bag, and Dane fetched his rucksack.

Dane locked up the truck. Around us, the birds danced and flitted between the trees, and a couple of lazy clouds scudded overhead in the soft, blue sky. ‘Evan’s a bit of a stuffed shirt,’ announced Dane. ‘You’ve just got to take a look at some of his mates. They’re all designer running shoes and TAG watches.’ He snorted. ‘He needs to lighten up.’