Page 53 of A Summer House on Arran
They both sat for a moment in silence, then Kitty jumped up from the table. ‘The food! You must be starving. Give me a minute, it’s all keeping warm in the oven.’
‘Let me help,’ said Logan, standing up and walking over.
‘Just take these over to the table. The rest is all sorted,’ she said, handing him two bowls. Kitty placed a bowl of rice on the table and the casserole dish with chilli and told Logan to help himself. As they ate, she asked Logan about the places he had visited with work.
‘Every day is different,’ he said. Taking a forkful of chilli, he chewed thoughtfully for a moment. ‘This is really delicious,’ he said.
Kitty blushed. ‘Thank you. It’s one of my go-to recipes. Do you cook much?’
Logan shook his head. ‘When I’m working away it depends where I’m staying and, even then, it tends to be pretty functional cooking. But when I’m back home for a while then it’s something I enjoy.’ He smiled at her. ‘I’m not sure James’s flat really lends itself to a dinner party. But I may surprise you,’ he said with a smile.
Kitty placed her cutlery on her bowl and pushed it away. ‘Do you ever get tired of living from a bag?’ She wanted to reach out and touch him. Telling herself that would be weird, she placed her hands firmly around the stem of her glass.
‘Not really . . . though lately it’s been bothering me more.’ He stared at her intently.
Kitty felt her cheeks flush and she wondered what would happen next. But then Logan stood up and stretched. Surely he wasn’t going to go already.
He must have realised she was looking at him quizzically, because he leaned towards her and tucked a curl behind her ear. ‘That was delicious,’ he said. ‘And now I’m just going to do the washing up.’
Kitty helped him clear away the dishes and they chatted as he washed. She dried and put them away. ‘This is what I call living life on the edge,’ she joked, noticing the amusement dancing in his eyes.
It was then that she noticed just how long and dark his lashes were and she quickly dropped her gaze. She was highly aware that if she lifted her eyes to meet his then they would undoubtedly kiss. The very thought gave her goosebumps. Logan reached his hand out and gently tipped her chin up, hiseyes seeking hers. He looked at her for what felt like a very long moment. ‘I can’t think of anything more exciting than being here with you,’ he said, his voice husky.
Kitty continued to stare at him, then took a step forward and tentatively leaned up to kiss him. He pulled her close and kissed her back.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Much to his frustration, Logan spent his days reliving every detail of his time with Kitty. Especially when he was away from the island. In fact, even more so. When he thought about her, he was consumed with a feeling of excited trepidation about seeing her again and kissing her and holding her. Being with her was so easy and exhilarating, and he found himself longing to get back to her. Logan knew Kitty was used to her independence, and he certainly didn’t want to suffocate her, even though he was desperate to see her whenever he could. They had both been enjoying the excitement of a new romance, and he kept reminding himself not to think too far ahead or to worry about what would happen when the summer came to an end and she went back to her life in Rosemarkie. Although she had given him a brief summary of what had happened with her late husband, he suspected she was holding something back. But he didn’t want to pry, and he hoped she would tell him when she was ready.
Today he was leading a group up Goatfell, and although he had invited Kitty along she had declined, which was not a bad thing. There would have been no way he would have been able to do his job properly or focus on the group if she had been there. She was already dominating his thoughts and she wasn’t even in the vicinity.
Everything today felt magnified. The sound of the breeze swishing through the trees, the feel of the scree under his boots and the scent of pine in the air. He rubbed a hand over his jaw. He didn’t think he’d ever felt like this. He certainly couldn’t remember a time when he felt so alive after spending time with a woman.
This latest group of walkers were enthusiastic about the climb, and he had been pleased for Henry that the numbershad started to look up for the summer, not only in Arran but across Scotland generally. Henry had made a point of thanking him for updating his Instagram account, saying there had definitely been more enquiries as a result of his posts. Logan had shrugged. It wasn’t really anything to do with him. Scotland’s outdoors could sell itself. There really was no place in the world he would rather be. Where else would you find mountains, hills, glens, lochs and sandy shores, wild swimming pools, waterfalls, forests and glaciers and scattered islands in such a small and concentrated geographical area? He loved the history and the culture and the nuances between all the areas and communities. It was a place he was proud to showcase, so he took no credit at all for his posts gaining extra traction. Yet he felt completely buoyed up today and couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. He felt as though he was on top of the world.
* * *
Later, when he waved the guests farewell and made sure everyone was okay, he pulled out his mobile to ring Kitty. They’d made a loose plan to meet up, but she didn’t answer her phone. Assuming she hadn’t heard the call, he didn’t think anything more of it. He went back to James’s flat to have a shower and change his clothes, and was about to call her again to suggest a walk, when he heard his phone vibrating. It was Kitty. Snatching it up, he grinned.
‘Hi, gorgeous. I’ve just come out the shower and was thinking about you.’ It was the sort of comment that would normally illicit a cheeky response, but it was met with silence. He knew she was there, he could hear her take a shuddery breath.
‘Kitty?’ he asked, immediately concerned. ‘Are you okay?’ His heart was pounding now, wondering what on earth was going on.
‘No,’ she said, her voice subdued.
‘What’s happened? Where are you?’
‘I’m at the cottage . . .’ Her voice trailed away.
‘You sound different. Kitty? What’s wrong?’
He could hear her choke back a sob. ‘I don’t know what to do,’ she said with a wail.
Grabbing his keys, he quickly pulled the door of the flat closed behind him. ‘It’s okay, I’m on my way to you now. I’ll be there as soon as I can.’ He had never heard her sound so scared.
‘Oh Logan,’ she said, her voice shaking. ‘What am I going to do?’
‘What’s happened?’ he asked gently. ‘Whatever it is, Kitty, I’m here for you. You’re not alone.’
