Page 41 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

I cocked one fair eyebrow at him. ‘Did you just use the word “we”?’

‘I did,’ said Mason with a wry smile. ‘Just don’t do anything to make me change my mind.’

Chapter Twenty-One

The first day of White Willow Cottages was very encouraging. We received several weekend bookings, as well as a family of four who reserved Robin Cottage for a week in August. There was also a flurry of enthusiasm for our ‘Win a weekend stay’ competition.

Katie grinned as she examined the emails in the office. ‘We’ve got several requests for copies of our brochure from local camp sites and tourist attractions. I’ll send them out first thing tomorrow morning.’ Then she swung around in her black-and-chrome swivel chair. ‘So, you’re off on another date with Mason, then?’

‘It’s not a date.’

‘So, what is it, then? It’s not a management meeting.’

I fiddled with my broderie anglaise top. ‘It’s … er…’

What was it exactly? It wasn’t a date, of course.

‘I’m just assisting Mason with some research,’ I clarified.

Katie grinned through her slash of red lipstick. ‘Oh, is that what you’re calling it?’

Two crimson patches throbbed on my cheeks. ‘I’m not talking to you anymore.’

‘Well, that’ll be bloody tricky, seeing as we work together.’

I smoothed down my ponytail and slung my bag over my shoulder as I headed for the office door. ‘Any more smart remarks and I’ll dissolve our partnership.’

Katie stuck out her tongue. ‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!’

I was hovering outside, waiting for Mason to arrive, when Katie creaked open the door and slid up beside me. ‘Joking apart, Popps, just promise me you’ll be careful with this Scarlet Highwayman thing.’ Her dark eyes brimmed with concern.

‘Don’t be daft,’ I reassured her. ‘Anyone would think I was involved in some dangerous political scandal.’

‘I’m not being daft,’ she replied. ‘Have you forgotten what happened this morning? We don’t know who that character in black was.’ She looked at me with concern shining in her eyes. ‘And why didn’t Mason report it to the police?’

‘Whoever it was didn’t attack Mason, though, did he?’ I pointed out. ‘He gave him a diary.’

‘No, I know. You told me that. But there’s obviously some weird secrecy surrounding all this.’ Katie placed one ringed hand on my bare arm and let it rest there. She was just about to say something else, when the shadow of Mason’s car melted across the cobbles.

‘Don’t worry. I won’t challenge anybody to a duel.’ I smiled, squeezing her hand with affection. ‘I promise.’

Katie shot Mason a bright smile and then vanished back into the office.

He climbed out of his car, before dragging a hand through his dark, wavy hair. ‘Hi.’

‘Hi there.’

I noticed he had a dark leather zip case slung under one arm. ‘Was it a productive first day, then?’ he asked. ‘You were busy when I left.’

‘Very. We’re done in but very happy with how it went.’

A thought passed across his open, handsome face. ‘Oh. Well, maybe you should go home instead, if you’re feeling tired.’

‘I’m not that tired,’ I assured him. I was still brewing over him escorting other women around Port Starr, but I was trying to rise above it. And I felt like I was so deep into the Scarlet Highwayman research now, I didn’t want to quit.

‘I bet you wouldn’t even admit it if you were.’ He glanced up at the sky and then back at me. ‘I just wanted to say thank you again for this morning. What you did was … well, it was really selfless.’

I squinted up at him. The hazy late-afternoon sun was throwing odd shadows onto the roofs of the cottages. Down below in the main street, businesses were winding down for the day and the sea sounded lazy, its foamy waves whispering into the harbour.