Page 30 of Highland Games
‘And is the estate going to pay me for this?’
‘No.’
‘Then we’re done here. I’m not doing a favour for someone with a silver spoon up their backside.’ Zoe rose to her feet, Basil scrabbling for her shoulder.
‘Wait, just listen.’ Rory raised his hands in supplication. Zoe lowered herself back down, folding her arms in front of her. ‘The estate can’t give you money, but it can give you wood. And me.’
Zoe fought with all her might to control her features. He was offering her his body, his wood. She must not laugh. She must not ask him to undress. She coughed. ‘Please elaborate.’
Rory took another big breath.
God, he was gorgeous. Heart-stoppingly beautiful. She could stare at him forever.
‘The estate doesn’t have money but it does have wood,’ he said. ‘I can bring you more than enough to last the winter for free. I’ll provide the materials to mend the roof and replace it entirely next summer. Again, for free. I’ll install your back boiler, a greywater system and make you a bathroom and a kitchen. I can install solar panels and a wind turbine if you get them so you’ll have power. I can make new windows and a new front door. None of that will cost you anything.’
Zoe kept a straight face, but inside she was at the Rio carnival, on the top of a float, sambaing away in sequins. She was getting his wood and then some. Not only would she get everything she needed for the cabin FOR FREE! but she would get to ogle Rory. She’d have to crank the Rayburn up to full blast when he was around. She had to make sure his top came off again. The only issue was making her side of the bargain take longer. She reckoned she could get the website sorted within a few weeks, so she’d have to work super slowly, something she wasn’t used to doing.
‘If I can get the small quarry on the estate reopened then you can have as much hardcore as you like for the track,’ he said. ‘And I’ll see what I can do to get the telephone line extended down from the road. Whatever you want I’ll try and make it happen.’
Zoe stood up, loving how insecure he looked. She held out her hand. ‘Deal.’
Rory took her hand, then dropped it like it was on fire. He moved towards the door.
‘Wait!’ commanded Zoe. He stopped.
‘You need to shake Basil’s hand too.’ She held out Basil towards him and lifted one of his paws. Rory tentatively extended a finger, allowing Basil to sniff at it, then put it gently under his paw, lifting it up and down a couple of times. Zoe’s heart expanded. Rory dropped his hand, moved to the door, and put on his boots without doing up the laces.
‘I’ll be back.’
What was he up to now? Zoe gave Basil her best Arnold Schwarzenegger impression.
‘I’ll be baaaaahhhhhk,’ she whispered to him as they waited.
He soon reappeared, an enormous bin bag slung over his shoulder, like a Pound Shop Santa. He kicked off his boots and brought the bag to the table, lifting the contents out.
‘You knew I’d say yes?’
‘I hoped.’
Zoe leafed through A2 sized leather-bound tomes, as Rory shook out loose sheets of paper and leaflets advertising the castle. They fell to the table like confetti and Basil promptly started tearing them to pieces. Zoe lifted him off to put him in his cage.
‘This is a joke, right? Where are the actual accounts? I need a USB stick with them on.’
‘This is all I’ve got for now.’
‘No wonder the estate’s in trouble if this is how it’s being run.’
Colour flushed across his cheekbones. ‘I told you I’m not good at this.’
‘Well, I like a challenge. I’ll start in the morning.’
Rory’s shoulders relaxed. He looked intently at her. ‘Thank you.’
Zoe nodded and immediately turned away. She would be undone if he looked at her like that again. Her insides were melting, pooling into hot lava between her legs. Fuck! Get him out of here. Now!
She shooed him away. ‘Right then, I’ve had quite enough of you for one day. Bugger off and I’ll see you when you’ve made the shingles for the roof.’
Rory put his boots on and hesitated. Zoe didn’t meet his gaze. ‘Okay, bye then.’
