Page 1 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

Prologue

Tara snuggled deeper into the crook of Calan’s arm and draped one leg over his. The sheet was a tangled mess of damp cotton, and she pushed it down, too warm for even a light covering in the rare heat of Glasgow in early May.

Her fingers idly stroked the auburn hairs on his chest, and she thought what a lovely chest he had, all firm and muscley, the skin soft and gleaming from their exertions. He appeared to be half asleep, his eyes closed and his breathing even. The only thing that gave him away was the twitch of his lips as he held in a laugh.

She knew her light touch tickled him, but those hairs were incredibly strokable. To be honest,allof him was strokable. There wasn’t an inch of Cal she didn’t love.

Finally, he let out a snort and opened his eyes, turning his head to look at her. ‘If you keep doing that, I won’t be responsible for my actions.’

It was a promise not a warning, and it sent a shiver of desire through her. Wickedly, her fingers went to work again.

With a low growl, he sat up and flipped her onto her back, pinning her down.

‘Want some of your own medicine?’ he murmured, his lips on the delicate skin below her ear. He nibbled her neck, and she squirmed with delight.

His mouth moved lower, and he licked along her collarbone.

‘I haven’t got time,’ she said, her breath hitching as his hands did some wandering of their own. ‘I’ve got a lecture this afternoon that I can’t miss.’

He stopped what he was doing and propped himself on an elbow to look deep into her eyes. ‘I wish you didn’t have to go.’

‘So do I, but it’s the last one before my exams. It’s all right for you, you’ve finished yours.’

The reminder killed her mood. Cal had just sat his finals. This was his last year at university and soon he would be heading home to Inverness, leaving her in Glasgow.

Tara was only in her second year of her degree course, and she dreaded having to wait another year before they could move in together. Where that would be was unclear, but Calan’s degree was in Business and Management, and with his love of the great outdoors he hoped to land a job working for one of the large country estates in the Highlands.

As for Tara, she hadn’t decided what she wanted to do after she finished uni, but it would be something to do with art. In quieter moments, she daydreamed that Cal would manage the grounds of some lofty mansion, whilst she curated its paintings, tapestries and statues. They would make a brilliant team.

Cal was watching her. ‘I love you.’

No matter how often he told her those three little words they always made her hum with happiness. ‘And I love you,’ she replied softly.

He was her soulmate, and she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have found him. People could go their whole lives without experiencing love like this. But there were only three short days left before he returned to Inverness, and the thought of him going made her heart ache. She wished he could stay in Glasgow and move in with her, but she still lived at home with her mum and stepdad, so that was out of the question. The only thing making their imminent separation bearable was the knowledge that the long summer holidays were just around the corner and she would be able to visit him soon. She was looking forward to meeting his parents and seeing where he lived.

Her movements were slow and reluctant as she got dressed, kissed Cal, then headed out the door. Her thoughts were already on this evening and Tara was absolutely determined to make the most of the next three days, because it might be a while before she could be with the man who had stolen her heart.

The first thing I’m going to do when I get a job is buy a car, Cal vowed, as he lugged his ginormous rucksack off the train and made for the taxi rank. Thankfully he wasn’t the type of guy to acquire loads of stuff, and he’d managed to cram everything he’d wanted to bring to Inverness in it. The rest had either been donated to other students, or disposed of because it was knackered, such as the chipped mug he’d used for the past seven months, or the duvet whose stitching had come undone.

Nevertheless, he was surprised that neither his mum nor his dad had offered to fetch him from uni. Even a lift from the railway station would have been nice, he thought, as the taxi slowed when it neared the bungalow and he saw that both their cars were on the drive.

Barrelling through the front door, he clattered into the hall and dumped the over-large rucksack at the bottom of the stairs. ‘Mum? Dad? I’m home!’

The house was strangely silent. Usually there would be the radio or the TV on, and one or the other of his parents would have hurried to greet him.

‘Mum?’ He poked his head into the kitchen. ‘Dad?’ The living room was empty. He glanced out the window, but they weren’t in the garden.

Sighing, Cal returned to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Was it too early for a beer? He could certainly do with one. Saying goodbye to Tara this morning had been awful. She’d been in tears, and he’d felt like crying himself. The thought of not seeing her for the next couple of weeks was excruciating. He felt as though his heart had been ripped out of his chest.

Cal never imagined he could feel this way about anyone, but leaving her in Glasgow had felt like he was leaving his right arm behind. He’d undoubtedly left his heart. It belonged to Tara, and he prayed she would take care of it.

Prising the top off a cold brown bottle, he necked half the contents in one go, then took out his phone.

Home safe. Missing you already. Love you x

Her response was immediate.

Missing you more. LU2 xxx

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