Page 78 of The Secret Castle in the Highlands

A frisson of panic broke out in my chest. ‘Oh yes. Well, that would be good, but as it’s Saturday, I might be a bit busy.’

Mason sensed my worry and slid a reassuring arm around my waist. The touch of his fingers against my skin made a gasp hit the back of my throat. I gulped and flicked my eyes up to his face, but he just flashed me one of his deep looks.

‘Maybe I could show you around towards the end of the day,’ I conceded, trying to focus while Mason’s arm was wrapped around me. ‘Get the busier time over with first.’

Jack Cooper’s sage-green eyes crinkled. ‘We don’t mind popping by the office when you’re busy. You won’t even notice we’re there.’

I detected Mason drawing on his acting skills again. ‘Let’s not get bogged down with all that now, Dad. You get yourselves settled in here and then Poppy and I will take you out for lunch.’

I froze beside him. ‘Lunch?’ I croaked. Oh no. I couldn’t sit and be interrogated over lunch. This was bad enough. ‘But I’ve really got to get back to work … darling.’

‘You work too hard, sweetheart,’ growled Mason, before pulling me towards him and planting a deep kiss on my lips.

It happened so effortlessly, it left me in a tailspin. My mouth was tingling and my heart thudding so fast, it was almost lifting the material of my blue gingham shirt. I straightened my shirt collar and glared up at him. What the hell was he playing at?

I expected one of his non-committal expressions, but instead his eyes were white-hot. He was examining my mouth. His attention lingered there for a few moments more, as though daring me to say or do something.

I just gazed up at him, my head whirring.

‘Okay,’ he announced after a pause. ‘We’ll leave you two to sort yourselves out and meet you down by the harbour at noon?’

‘That’ll be perfect, darling,’ said Orla, reaching up to place a gentle kiss on Mason’s cheek.

I forced a rictus grin at her and her husband and allowed Mason to steer me out of the cottage.

I managed to wait until we were near the office before turning on him. ‘What the hell were you doing in there?’

He shrugged his shoulders. ‘We’re supposed to be a couple, remember? Didn’t you like it?’

‘Like what?’ I barked.

‘The kiss.’

I tossed my plait back. ‘What kiss?’

‘Ha! Nice one!’

‘Now look,’ I ground out under my breath. ‘You might think this is all very amusing, but I don’t.’ I glared up at him. ‘You seem to forget that neither Katie nor Caleb know anything about this crazy situation.’

‘And they won’t need to,’ assured Mason, taking a step closer to me. ‘Mum and Dad are heading off to tour the Highlands on Monday.’ He cocked his head to one side. ‘I do appreciate what you’re doing for me, Poppy.’

‘Yes. Well,’ I stuttered, wishing his square jaw didn’t look so sexy, ‘I’m only doing it as a favour.’

‘Of course.’

‘And in return, I expect you to do what you can to help me with Alex.’

Mason nodded solemnly, the moody sky rolling behind him. With the sea breeze stirring his dark hair like that, he could’ve been auditioning for the role of Heathcliff. ‘That’s a given.’

I was so tempted again to mention why he hadn’t asked any of his other lady acquaintances to pose as his girlfriend but decided not to. Mason might wonder why I was mentioning them in the first place. He might think I was jealous.

I stuffed my hands into the pockets of my navy-blue maxi skirt. ‘Okay. Thank you. I’ll pop into the office now and be back for noon.’

‘Thanks.’

We walked in step together towards Mason’s car. ‘I won’t be rude,’ I assured him as we strolled along, ‘but I’m not going to hang around long after lunch. I think the less time there is for your mum and dad to quiz us, the better.’

I started to move away, but Mason’s arm reached out and caught me gently by the wrist. ‘I’ve got a suggestion.’