Page 97 of Scotch on the Rocks

He played with the ends of my hair, the only sign that he was nervous. “We share a few dances, let people see us talking – I obviously won’t be able to take my eyes off you – a soft launch.”

“So we’d let people know we’re together. Like together,together?”

“Yes, together, together. I can ask on a slip of paper if you like, circle A for yes, B for no.”

“Arse.” I reached back to pinch his thigh. He flinched, laughing hard against my nape. “Now I’m definitely not going.”

“You offered the full Juniper Ross experience and I’m cashing it in.”

“People will gossip,” I reminded him, more nervous for him than for me, he had far more to lose and not just with his family. Some people in Kinleith had old-fashioned views; dating his brother’s ex-fiancée hardly gave off the “respected member of the community” vibes he’d perfected.

“I couldn’t give a shit. We tell the people who matter, everyone else can go to hell.”

His steely resolve made my chest loosen. “Fine.”

“Fine? That’s all I get? Fine? I’m glad time spent with me is so appealing.”

“I can still change my mind.”

“Nope. No take-backs.” He pulled me tight to him, humming his pleasure.

We were doing this. I suddenly felt ill.

“We need to tell Alistair,” I said. I’d known we couldn’t stay in this little bubble forever, but I’d hoped we’d get a few more weeks.

I tried to imagine Callum and I holding hands as we walked down the high street. Sitting across from Alistair at Macabe family dinners. A dream that still felt out of reach.

It was the green light he’d been waiting for, but his pause felt hesitant. “I know. I don’t want to ruin Mal and April’s night, so I’ll tell him after the party. He should hear it from me.”

I batted the worry to the back of my mind, settling against the crook of his arm as we stared at the glittering sky outside the large open window and said, “Is this why you brought me up here? A smart move on your part. A target is more vulnerable half frozen to death.”

“Evil wee harpy,” he tsked, but rearranged our bodies until his leg hooked over mine. “You brought me here, remember? And I didn’t even get to eat the pizza … I’m beginning to think it’s so you could have your wicked way with me.”

Very tempting, but that wasn’t why I’d planned this. “Be patient, you’ll see.”

We didn’t have to wait long.

29

Callum

Isle of Skye Guidebook

In Scottish Gaelic folklore, the Northern Lights are known as Na Fir Chlis–“The nimble men”. On the Isles you might hear them referred to as the “Mirrie Dancers”, for the amazing natural phenomenon appears to dance across the sky. The best months to spot the Northern Lights on Skye are around the equinoxes: March, September and October.

“There it is, look—” Juniper gently shook my shoulder just as I started to nod off.

Blinking, I pushed onto an elbow. “Is that—”

“Yep.”

The thin curtains billowed in the slight breeze and we both stared in wonder. As if the late hour had thinned a veil between this world and the next. An ethereal pathway suddenly winked across the sky. Light branching off in a hundred different directions. Bold greens and pinks and purples seemed to shimmer, so close Juniper reached out a hand, tracing the dazzling shapes as if to touch them.

“This is …” My voice was as embarrassingly wet as my eyes. “For the first time in my life I have no words.”

“Me neither.” She sounded small. Humbled.

“How did you know about this?”

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