Page 76 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

‘Well, yes…’ admitted Mason, ‘but that’s just a small part of it.’

‘What other reason do you think there is?’

His chest heaved under his tight T-shirt. ‘They’ve been dropping hints for the last week or so that they wanted to come over and meet my new girlfriend.’

Pain twisted in my chest and I sat back. So, there was someone.

Caleb’s words about seeing Mason strolling along Port Starr beach with a woman marched through my mind, followed by his redheaded dinner date. I reached for my water. Oh, for pity’s sake! I’d gone and done it again. I’d allowed myself to develop feelings for an untrustworthy cretin. Curiosity and pain welled up as I took a couple of awkward sips of water. I reached down for my bag. I could pretend I wasn’t feeling well or that something had come up. I didn’t want to be sat here a moment longer.

‘It’s you.’

My head snapped up. ‘Pardon?’

Mason dragged a hand through his hair. ‘I’m so sorry, Poppy,’ he managed, ‘but I told my parents that you’re my new girlfriend and they’re desperate to meet you.’

‘Are you joking?’ I asked, fighting to keep my tone light.

‘No. No, I’m not.’

‘But why?’

Mason’s cheekbones hardened. ‘If I’d told my Mum I hadn’t met anyone, I wouldn’t have put it past her to have launched a Port Starr speed-dating event as soon as she stepped off the plane at Glasgow Airport.’

I was struggling to process this.

‘Look,’ he explained leaning forward across the table. ‘I know it’s a big ask, but I’d be so grateful if you’d do this. I promise, it’s only for a couple of days.’

‘But they’ll know that we’ve been lying,’ I protested.

‘No, they won’t. And anyway, they’re keen walkers and are hiring a car at the airport so they can take a trip from here and do a road trip of the Highlands, so it won’t be for long.’ Mason’s dark lashes flickered at me. ‘All we’ve got to do is act like a couple while they stop over here.’

‘I don’t know,’ I faltered. ‘I can see problems.’

‘Please,’ he begged with a hopeful smile. ‘You don’t want to see my mum trying to set me up with Eliza Compton, do you?’

The image made me laugh, despite myself. I knew what I should have said. Every fibre was screaming at me to avoid complications. Yet Mason was putting so much time and energy into the Scarlet Highwayman mystery, and he’d been so supportive about Alex Lapley and the threats he knew about.

My common sense would be appalled.

Why wasn’t he asking the dark-haired girl from his beach stroll or his flame-haired dinner companion? I wanted to say as much but I’d sound like a jealous stalker. Had he asked them and they’d said no? Or was I overthinking this?

I looked across the table at his pleading expression.

I rubbed at my forehead and flopped back in my seat. What was wrong with me? ‘All right,’ I muttered after a few moments. ‘I must be crazy. Okay, I’ll do it, but you owe me one.’

‘Thanks,’ he grinned, ‘just name your price.’

My mind recalled our conversation this evening, the confessions and revelations he’d made to me. ‘Okay. Well, I was about to tell you something earlier, before you told me about your parents visiting.’

‘Go on.’

I blew out a cloud of frustrated air. ‘Alex Lapley has told me his family own White Willow Cottages.’

Mason’s eyes hardened like marbles. ‘What? Are you’re kidding me?’

‘I wish I was. He showed me a letter from his solicitor.’ I swallowed and explained about the legal loophole resulting from my dad omitting his signature. ‘He’s threatening our business and I think his intention is to have the cottages bulldozed.’ I flicked Mason a look. ‘It turns out the company that Dad bought the cottages from was called Shadow Land Holdings.’

Mason’s brows furrowed. ‘The same lot who are donating to McKerron Castle? But why didn’t you tell me this before?’