Page 41 of Heirs and Graces at Highland Hall
‘Of course it’s ok—’ Lorna cut herself off before she could finish the last syllable of the word. ‘When you say we…?’
Bex glanced at the dog lying at her feet. Eilidh had currently taken on the role of chief scratcher and was busy working away at a spot behind Ruby’s ear. As she looked back at Lorna, Bex offered her the best puppy dog eyes she could manage.
‘She saved my life,’ she said. ‘And she’s been ill herself.’
With a long sigh, Lorna looked at the dog before rolling her eyes. ‘Well, I guess I can’t say no to that, can I?’
Bex’s clothes had been drying by the fire, but as she went to undo the buttons on the pyjamas, she found her fingers struggling anddecided to just slip her coat over the top of them. After all, she needed to give them a wash before returning them to Kieron. And they were incredibly comfortable.
Eilidh held her by the arm as they headed down the staircase. There, waiting at the bottom, was Kieron.
Bex slipped her arm out of Eilidh’s as she walked over to him.
‘Are you sure you don’t want to stay?’ he asked her.
‘I am. Thank you, though. Thank you so much for everything. I can’t apologise enough.’
‘And I’ve already told you – you don’t need to. It’s fine.’
He reached out and took her hand, their fingers interlacing. ‘Just to be clear, I do not want to see you at work tomorrow. You hear me? I want you to rest up, properly. Because if you can’t dance with me on Burns Night, well, then you’re going to have something to really apologise for.’
She let out a slight laugh before leaning forward and kissing him on the cheek.
‘See you soon, Kieron.’
‘I certainly hope so,’ he replied.
Back at Lorna’s, Ruby immediately claimed a spot on the sofa. Given how it was also Bex’s bed, and substantially smaller than the one at the castle, she was fairly sure it was going to be a tight squeeze when she wanted to go to bed, but she didn’t care. She would sleep on the floor if it meant keeping Ruby beside her.
‘Just so you know, if that ugly duck thing ends up in my bed, I will put it straight in the bin,’ Lorna said, though whether the comment was directed at Ruby or herself, Bex couldn’t tell.
‘It’s a pheasant,’ Bex responded. ‘And don’t worry, it won’t. You’re going to be on your best behaviour, right, Rubes?’ The dog wagged her tail as she reached up and licked Bex’s cheek in response.
‘And no licking me either,’ Lorna added. ‘I’m not a licking person.’
Eilidh had driven them home – her truck better in the snow than Lorna’s little car – but had promised to go over to Niall’s to fill him in on everything that had happened.
‘So, I hear it was a race to rescue you,’ Lorna said as she handed Bex another hot chocolate, this time spiked with Irish cream. It seemed to be the current remedy for everything, and while Bex wasn’t sure she could stomach another one, she held on to it anyway, out of politeness.
‘I know, and I’m so grateful they got me in time. So grateful you showed them where I was, right, girl?’
‘That’s not exactly what I meant,’ Lorna replied. ‘I mean, I’m grateful too, but I meantKieron versus Duncan. Seems like the new laird is quite keen on you.’
Bex didn’t think there was any point in denying it. ‘He asked me if I’d come to Burns Night as his date,’ she said.
‘What did you say?’
‘That I’d think about it. And he was fine with that.’ Bex paused, wondering how much she should share with Lorna, but now she had started talking, it seemed silly to stop. ‘I didn’t mention this to you earlier, but I actually met him before I got here. He was at the airport with me. I sort of swiped his ankles with my suitcase, and we had a bit of a moment there. And another one before we boarded.’ She remembered the napkin he had given her. Folded over, with his number written in the centre.
‘Why didn’t you say anything?’ Lorna replied, her eyes widening in surprise. Bex shrugged.
‘I wasn’t sure what to say. It’s not like anything happened – or would happen. Not with… well…’
‘With Duncan,’ Lorna finished for her.
‘I get that he was angry earlier,’ Bex said, breathless. ‘But you should’ve heard him, Lorna. It was like he despised me.’
Lorna coughed. ‘Duncan could never despise you. Believe me, he adores you.’
