Page 37 of Summer Escapes on the Scottish Isle

‘I see.’

Freya could tell that he didn’t, so she explained. ‘I wouldn’t want to risk anything getting damaged, or fired at the wrong temperature, or… Any number of things can, and do, go wrong when making pottery, and I want to try to minimise the risk, so having my own studio is essential. My kiln has got a 500-litre capacity and weighs half a tonne. It also needs good ventilation, so a penthouse is definitely not the place for it. Besides, Hadrian doesn’t like that my ceramics end up all over my apartment. He’s more of an acrylics man. Pottery is too messy for him and takes up too much space.’

‘I see. Would you like a glass of pop? Coke, or dandelion and burdock?’

Freya laughed. ‘Do they still make that?’

‘Aye, and cherryade.’

‘Oh, God,cherryade.’ She groaned. ‘I used tolovethat stuff.’ And suddenly the conversation turned away from her London life, and the vagaries of her and Hadrian’s living arrangements, to the remembered tastes of childhood.

‘Old Mrs Ferkin at the corner shop used to make her own tablet,’ Freya said, after the meal was finished and Mack was cleaning it away.

She’d offered to help, but he’d turned her down with an, ‘Och, it’ll only take but a minute.’

‘Do you remember?’ she asked.

Mack grinned. ‘It was the best. I can almost taste it. Mmm, sweet, buttery, caramelly…’

‘Is caramelly even a word?’ Freya laughed. ‘Gosh, I could eat a piece of it now.’

‘I’ve got a Wagon Wheel you can have.’

‘Dandelion and burdock pop, and Wagon Wheels? What are you – ten?’

‘Hey, don’t knock it till you try it.’

‘Go on, then,’ she said, and he refilled her empty glass with more of the bubbly pop and took a Wagon Wheel out of the fridge.

‘I like them cold,’ he said. ‘Anything chocolatey has to be cold.’

‘Uh-uh.’ She shook her head. ‘Room temperature, you heathen.’

‘Chilled, Sassenach.’

‘I’m no Sassenach, as well you know!’ she objected with a laugh. ‘Have you been watching reruns ofOutlanderby any chance?’

‘Never seen it.’

‘You don’t know what you’re missing. Sam Heughan is to die for.’

‘I’ve heard of him. Doesn’t he make the Sassenach Whisky?’ Mack said. ‘But in case you haven’t noticed, I’m not into men, so I don’t think I’m missing much.’

Oh, God –that was it!Mack Burns had a touch of Jamie Fraser about him, the longish blond hair and beard notwithstanding. An image of theOutlanderactor flashed into Freya’s mind, with one of Mack and his delectable chest following hot on its heels. There wasn’t a lot to choose between them…

Abruptly, she got to her feet. ‘It’s time I made a move.’

‘Got what you need?’ He jerked his chin towards the sitting room.

‘Yes, thanks. Thank you for taking me out in the boat and for the loan of your camera.’

‘You’re welcome.’ He grabbed his work boots and stuffed his feet inside.

‘And thanks for dinner,’ she added.

‘Aye, well, we both had to eat.’

God, he even spoke like Sam Heughan. How come she hadn’t noticed it before? And those eyes: bluer than the waters of the loch on a summer’s day, they were even more arresting than the actor’s.

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