“Aye, just a wee spot for a sample of gin flights, and maybe the merch shop could go in there as well.That way people could have a separate destination after the tour is finished, so we can utilize the space in the distillery for the actual operations.”
“What does Orla say about it?”
“I asked her to focus on other areas for now. But I’d like to get an idea if this is an option or if I’d have to hire another crew in to deal with it.”
“Right then. I’ll crack on and have a look. When are you off?”
“Heading out now. I’ll be through to Edinburgh for the next few days, so I’m sorry I won’t be here to introduce you around. Lia’s invited you for dinner anytime, she’s asked me to tell you. Or if you pop down to the pub, there’s good scran on there as well.”
“Aye, right. That’s you on then. I’ll fend for myself well enough.”
“Don’t forget. We’ve got this charity gala coming up soon.”
“Och, don’t remind me. Mum’s on me about bringing a date.”
My uptight mother, who had thrown herself into every charity under the sun when my father had passed on, was co-chairing a gala in Edinburgh focused on aiding the reduction of child hunger in Scotland.
“Do you have one? Lia’s making annoyed noises about having to find a dress.” Munroe grinned. I liked his fiancée, a highly talented chef at Grasshopper, a rustic elevated comfort food restaurant located inside MacAlpine Castle. She was down-to-earth, beautiful, and clearly most comfortable in the kitchen. Outside of it, she was a jeansand leather jacket kind of woman, but I imagined she would be stunning in a ballgown as well.
“Remind me again when I have the time to date?” I raised an eyebrow at Munroe, and he grinned.
“You’re the only one forcing yourself to work this hard, Finlay. Not that I don’t appreciate it. But you’re no use to anyone if you burn yourself out.”
“Work doesn’t burn me out. It lights me up.”
Which was only partially true, but Munroe didn’t really need to know the ins and outs of all that. We were friends, but it was a friendship based on our business dealings, and I’d never opened up to him about what drove me to work as hard as I did.
It was nobody’s business but my own, after all.
“Can’t say I’m complaining. I’m lucky to have you on my team. Why don’t you ask Orla?”
“Ask her what?”
“To be your date to the gala? You could just go as business partners. But she might get a kick out of it and you’d both be representing Common Gin.”
“I doubt a gala falls within her duties as project manager.”
“Fair enough. Just a thought. All right, that’s me off then.” Munroe squeezed my shoulder before turning.
“Oh, speaking of… if you’re heading through the site, can you send Orla out to meet me at the outbuilding if she’s not too busy? I’ll just pop through and see if I can get an idea what’s got the lads spooked.”
“Not all lads,” Munroe gently reminded me, and I laughed.
“Damn it, I’ve already stuck my foot in it once.” Orla’steam was made up of both men and women, and I needed to adjust my language quickly, so I didn’t insult someone else. I didn’t like making mistakes like that, not ones that tarnished my image, so I not only made a mental note to do better, but I also keyed a quick reminder into my phone to put it as a calendar alert. “It’s habit. I’ve just worked on so many job sites that were mainly men.”
“I like that she’s challenging stereotypes. Her work backs it up.”
“I don’t doubt it. From what I can see, she’s highly talented.”
“Her crew love her as well. That’s always a good sign. Right, I’m off. I’ll send her your way.”
“Safe drive.” I was already turning back to the cottage, wondering what had the crew so nervous. I took my time wandering in the direction of the outbuilding, scanning the site for any inconsistencies or areas of concern.
The stone building was beneath a canopy of trees, with leaves and old branches collected in piles on the slate roof and moss clambering up the sides. As usual for Scotland, it was a cloudy day, but the light around the cottage seemed to darken the closer I got. Was it a trick of my mind or just the fact that the canopy of trees was thicker here? A ripple of unease shifted through me as I stopped in front of the worn wood door with an ornate knob. Bending, I squinted at the scratches embedded in the wood around the handle. What had been trying to get inside here?
The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I jumped when a crow cawed loudly over me. Looking up, I squinted at three crows sitting in a row on a branch above the cottage.
“Well, isn’t that perfect?” Like I needed anything else to spook me out. Shaking my head, because I was clearly just winding myself up, I turned the knob and stepped carefully inside the building, my eyes immediately going to the ceiling to see if the space was structurally sound.