Page 3 of Heirs and Graces at Highland Hall
It was only after Bex had hung up that she fully digested what Lorna had said. Lorna was going to have her mum in the car when she came to the airport to get her. Meaning Bex was going to have to face Duncan’s stepmum.
As Duncan’s mother had died when he was only little, Carrie, Lorna’s mum, was as important a figure in his life as Lorna was. Bex had met them countless times over the previous year and a bit. Dinners out, birthday celebrations, summer barbeques, the lot. And they had always been incredibly warm and welcoming. Ideal in-laws, she’d thought at the time. But it would be different now, wouldn’t it? Different now that she was Duncan’s ex.
Trying to push the myriad thoughts from her mind, Bex readied herself to move through security. The queue had moved faster than she’d expected. Juggling her items, with her passport in hand, she barely looked at what was in front of her as she swung around, and as such, didn’t notice that her suitcase was swinging straight into the path of another person, until it was too late.
‘Oh God, I’m so sorry,’ she said as the wheels collided with the man’s ankles.
The man stumbled forward. ‘What are you?—’
He stopped mid-sentence as his eyes locked on hers. And what appeared to have been a scowl on his face faded as the slightest hint of a smile curled up on his lips.
‘It’s fine,’ he said. ‘No harm done. Although, you could’ve caused some serious damage if you’d wanted to. I never realised that wheely suitcases were such a deadly weapon before.’ His voice reminded her of someone who would present the evening news. His British accent, crisp and clear, with every consonant enunciated perfectly.
‘I’m so sorry,’ she said, letting out a tight laugh that sounded unusually high-pitched. ‘Really, I?—’
‘It’s not a problem. There’s really no need to worry yourself.’
She was staring at the man, she realised, and she didn’t need to be. She’d said her apology, and he had accepted it, meaning it was time for her to move. But there was something about him that made it impossible to look away. He was about the same age as her, maybe a little older – mid-thirties, probably. His dark hair was thick, swept over to one side, and his jawline was so ridiculously sharp she was struck by the sudden urge to reach out and stroke it. Although she didn’t think he’d be quite so quick to forgive that as he had been with the whole ankle swiping thing.
‘Are you all right?’ the man asked. ‘You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?’
‘No, no, no.’ A flash of embarrassment rushed to her cheeks. ‘I mean, no, I’m fine. Yes, I’m sorry—’ She wasn’t sure whether she was making sense or not, but there seemed to be some sort of disconnect between her mouth and her brain. And the way his eyes twinkled really wasn’t helping matters at all. Who on earth had eyes that actually twinkled?
‘It’s not a problem,’ he said, again with that deep resonant tone. ‘Not a problem at all. But it’s your turn.’
‘Sorry?’
‘You need to put your luggage on the conveyor belt right here.’ He gestured towards the security, where a wide-open space on the belt was awaiting the next piece of luggage to be scanned. ‘May I?’
As Bex watched on, unable to swallow the lump that had filled her throat, the man stepped forward, picked up her suitcase and lifted it up onto the belt for her.
Bex didn’t need anybody to carry her luggage. She was a strong businesswoman who frequently travelled for her job and never shied away from manual tasks, from moving desks at work to helping Daisy moor up her boats. Yet there was something surprisingly attractive about a man taking control in that way.
‘I hope you have a safe flight,’ he said, offering her another eye-twinkling smile.
‘Yes, you too,’ she croaked out, grateful that she’d been able to find her voice at least.
A moment later, the man was dealing with his own luggage, while Bex was left with an unusual feeling swirling in her abdomen. As she walked through the scanner, she cast a glance back towards the man, who was busy removing an expensive-looking watch from his wrist. It was just nerves at seeing Duncan, she told herself. Nerves at seeing Duncan, combined with the slightest hint of attention from an attractive man. An attractive man she was never going to see again.
At least, that was what she thought, and she actually managed to convince herself that was true until she reached her boarding gate and found him standing there in the line for first-class passengers. Of course they were on the same flight…
3
As Bex approached the queue of people, she considered veering in a wide path so that perhaps she could avoid him spotting her, but as he shifted his shoulders and the sparkling eyes landed on hers, she knew it was too late. And damn it if the butterflies weren’t back again.
‘This feels like you might be following me.’ His lips lifted into a grin.
‘I can assure you it’s a coincidence,’ Bex said, grateful that she had managed to speak properly this time. Although from the way the man’s eyes narrowed, he didn’t look convinced.
‘Are you sure? I’m thinking that maybe you’re some kind of secret spy who failed in an attempt to incapacitate me with your suitcase earlier, and now you’ve had to follow me onto my flight.’
As he quirked an eyebrow, Bex laughed. ‘I like that. And to be fair, I think I’d make a good spy.’
‘Is that right?’
‘Well, apart from the different languages part,’ she considered. ‘I’d be rubbish at that. Maybe I’d be better as a computer hacker, one of those masterminds who moves money into offshore accounts. Extreme tax evasion. Setting up shellcompanies. Those kinds of things. I could definitely do a bit of money laundering, I think. I doubt it would take me that long to learn.’
‘Wow. That’s not something you’d confess to most strangers.’ He chuckled resonantly as Bex realised just what she’d said.
