Page 90 of Journey to the Scottish Highlands

My voice vanished. Evan had appeared on the front steps, and I almost pushed my foot down on the accelerator by mistake.

I could feel Grandpa looking across at me with a knowing smile. I eased us to a stop down by the trees.

I was adamant I wasn’t going to look over at Evan as I jumped out and dashed round to the passenger side to help Grandpa out of the car. ‘You wait there, and I’ll collect our cases from the boot.’

Still avoiding catching Evan’s eye, I hurried to the back of Marlene and pressed the fob, and the boot opened with a noisy clunk. I’d only just stuck my head inside when a voice came up from behind me.

‘Hi.’

My heart jumped.

Flattening the buttons on the front of my dress, I spun round. I could feel the hem fluttering against my knees in the sunshine.

Evan looked down at me like he was seeing me for the first time. I put my hands in front of me and twisted my fingers together. This bloody man! I hated that he had this effect on me.

I yanked my case and Grandpa’s out of the boot and had just set them down on the gravel when Evan insisted on taking charge of them for me. Our eyes sought out the other’s. ‘Thanks for coming back here so quickly. I hope it wasn’t an inconvenience.’

I opened and closed my mouth. I wanted to tell him I wasn’t doing this for him. But right now, captivated by his dark eyes, ringed with a tinge of amber, I knew I couldn’t. I managed a curt, ‘No problem.’ I flicked my hair back. ‘Alison and I agreed that we should get things moving as fast as we can.’

He nodded. ‘Well, it’s appreciated, and not just by my parents.’ His eyes lingered. ‘You look amazing in that dress, by the way.’

There were more loaded looks between us, so much so that I almost forgot my important passenger until Grandpa performed a forced cough.

Evan dragged his attention away from me to stare at my grandfather across the car roof. ‘Oh, let me help you there, sir.’

Evan transferred our cases inside, and he and my grandpa swapped pleasantries.

When they’d finished talking, and Louise was chatting to Grandpa, I sidled up to Evan. ‘I got the impression you weren’t keen on the Florence Menzies tour idea.’

He shrugged his sculpted shoulders under his navy V-neck T-shirt. ‘It’s like you said before. How passionate you were about it. Your enthusiasm is infectious.’ He zipped a hand over the top of his hair.

Wait a minute. No. I must be imagining it. Was that a hint of a blush on his cheekbones?

Louise escorted Grandpa into the drawing room while Evan lingered. ‘Mum told me all about your student and how you’ve tried to help her get her acting mojo back again. How much you’ve tried to help this girl.’

Now it was my turn to flush raspberry. ‘I’m sure anyone else would’ve done the same thing.’

Evan regarded me. ‘No, Daisy. I don’t think they would. And even though you’ve only been gone from here a night, this place wasn’t the same without you.’

The birds skipped through the treetops in the garden, but Evan and I were oblivious to everything else swirling around us as we walked together into the drawing room. Bennett was laughing and joking with Grandpa, Alison was asking after Strath Ross and Louise was addressing everyone to see if they wanted a slice of her freshly baked lemon sponge.

It was only when Alison called Evan over to ask him something about her mobile phone that Grandpa materialised at my elbow. ‘Handsome young fella. Your grandma would approve.’

‘Sssh! He’ll hear you. Not that there’s nothing to approve anyway.’

‘Hey.’

I looked around to see Dane strolling towards my grandpa and me. His hair was gleaming blond down his back. My eyes popped with surprise. But wait, where were the faded rock T-shirts and patched up jeans? Instead of his usual garb, he was wearing a smart, slim-fitting, black and white shirt, teamed with light trousers. He drew up beside me, blatantly checking out my summer dress. ‘Mum and Dad said you were coming back today.’ He gave a soft smile. ‘You look lovely.’

I blushed at him. ‘Thank you. And you look very suave.’

Grandpa coughed under his breath, and I did the introductions. Dane shook Grandpa’s hand, calling him Sir like Evan had just done, and then meandered further into the drawing room.

‘Who’s he?’ whispered Grandpa with interest.

‘That’s Dane, Evan’s younger brother. Bit of a wild child. He has his own rock band, who are trying to break into the big time.’

‘He’s a good-looking boy, too,’ murmured Grandpa. ‘Would look even more handsome with a haircut though.’