Page 51 of Journey to the Scottish Highlands

Chapter Ten

I spent the rest of the day trawling through social media in desperate search of acting work.

Louise made Evan and me Scottish salmon and cream cheese bagels for lunch, accompanied by salad and ruby red, juicy tomatoes.

I made sure I was ok to negotiate the stairs myself. I’d been tempted to ask again for Evan’s help but concluded that was a road I shouldn’t be going down. Common sense prevailed. Evan had to be kept at arm’s length, I decided inwardly. I knew my emotions were threatening to tip over where he was concerned. It was ridiculous. I’d only known him for a few days, and yet whenever he was around or looked at me, I’d come over all gawky and struggle to look at him.

I also had to keep Sacha at the forefront of my mind. It appeared she was back on the scene.

I struggled to ignore the wriggle of jealousy.

Maybe this was gratitude I was feeling rather than anything else. Evan had stopped me from throwing the champagne over Fox, and he’d come to my aid earlier that day with my bruised ankle. He’d been like a superhero, flying in to show me that I wasn’t all alone and that I could rely on someone else apart from my grandfather.

Yes, stated a strong, insistent voice inside my head. That was all it was. Gratitude and appreciation.

* * *

After a delicious early dinner of beef stroganoff and rice, I made my way up to my room to get ready for Dane’s concert.

I had thought about not going. After all, he’d abandoned me and my ankle on that walk. Maybe it had just been Dane’s keenness to show me the area? Maybe that was why he’d strode on ahead. But something else persuaded me that I should go. Dane did come to my rescue at breakfast, and Evan was going, too. Would it look churlish if I didn’t?

Evan’s voice made me spin round outside my room. ‘Managed ok then?’

A shiver of excitement shot up my spine.

I pushed a loose hunk of hair back behind my ear which had escaped from my ponytail. ‘Yes, I did, thanks.’

Evan leant on the wall, looking like a Greek God. ‘That’s a pity.’

‘Why’s that?’

‘I was hoping my maiden-carrying services might be required again.’

‘You need to concentrate on exposing the bad guys.’

‘Not as much fun, though.’

I reached for the door handle, struggling to steady the clattering of my heart.

Was Evan flirting with me?

Then images of Sacha danced in my head.

I closed the door behind me and slumped my back against it.

* * *

As I showered, washed my hair and got dressed, I resisted all thoughts of Evan, and instead I concentrated on what I should wear for Dane’s gig.

The man in question had appeared briefly at dinner, showing concern over what happened and enquiring after my ankle before helping himself to some stroganoff. Then he’d headed off again ten minutes later, saying he had to go and get ready to meet his band mates.

Alison and Bennett had exchanged exasperated looks.

He and his older brother were polar opposites.

Dane had the sass and cockiness, while Evan … oh, for pity’s sake! I was doing it again.

This was going nowhere, me thinking about Evan. It was fruitless. No doubt if anything had happened it would have ended up a disaster anyway, and with Sacha in the mix, it was a no-brainer.