Page 43 of Summer Escapes on the Scottish Isle

‘I’ll consider it,’ he said, cautiously.

Mhairi inclined her head again. ‘That’s all I ask.’

Assuming he was dismissed, Mack carefully placed his untouched tea on the table and made to stand.

‘There is something else,’ she said. ‘I wonder if you could arrange for Ms Sinclair to pop in and see me? I want to chat to her about her experience yesterday and ask her whether any improvements can be made from the client’s point of view.’

Mack was taken aback. ‘Can’t Cal do it? I hardly know the woman.’

‘You probably know her better than Cal, considering you spent some time in her company yesterday. Anyway, I expect you to be there as well. You will be, won’t you? Please indulge an old lady and say you’ll come.’

Mhairi might look like a pussycat, but she was a leopard underneath the sweet, gentle exterior. And that leopard had sharp claws; once she got them into a person, she didn’t let go easily.

‘I’ve got a lot on,’ Mack hedged. ‘Work… and stuff.’

‘Tosh! You don’t work in the evenings. We’ll have dinner. Seven p.m. sharp.’

‘Tonight?’

‘Is that a problem?’

‘It’s a bit short notice.’

‘For whom?’

‘For me, for one.’

‘Had you anything planned?’

‘No, but Freya might.’

‘There’s only one way to find out. Ask her.’

Mack knew when he was beaten. He had come here to tell Cal that he wasn’t interested in operating the castle’s bespoke tours, and he was leaving having been strong-armed into it by a little old lady half his size. Not only that, but he’d also agreed to have dinner at the castle this evening with a woman who he feared he liked more than was good for him.

Freya wasn’t in. The disappointment Mack felt was balanced by anequal measure of relief. Deciding it was best not to delve too deeplyinto the reasons behind either emotion, he turned away from her door toget back in his truck.

He’d send Cal a message telling him that dinner was a non-starter for this evening and lethimpass on the news to Mhairi.

Hesitating, his fingers curled around the truck’s door handle, Mack gazed at Freya’s step and wondered what she’d thought of his little gift last night. He had no idea what daft impulse had made him pop into the shop after he’d dropped her off. He should have gone straight home but…

‘Have you lost something?’ Freya’s voice made him jump, and he glanced around.

She was nowhere in sight.

‘Up here,’ she called, and he looked up to see her leaning out of the sash window, peering down at him.

‘Hi,’ he mumbled, at sixes and sevens.

‘I was in the bath,’ she said.

Mack swallowed. Nope, he wasn’t going to go there.

‘I had to dash upstairs to put some clothes on before I answered the door.’

Dear God…

She continued, ‘I thought you were from social services. They’re coming today to assess the house.’

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