Page 85 of Highland Getaway
He leans towards me, and I jump back as if I’ve been burned, remembering at the last second that he might be the most beautiful man I’ve ever met, but there’s no hope of a future between us; even if he hadn’t neglected to tell me who he really was. Which means kissing Hunter Stuart – again – will only lead to heartbreak.
And I’m going home tomorrow, anyway. So, walk away, Rosie Winter, before you get hurt.
‘Um, I wanted to check in with you, anyway,’ he says, flinching slightly at the speed with which I move away from him. ‘To see how you are after all that stuff about Dougie and Agnes? It must’ve been a shock.’
‘It was,’ I reply, remembering the guilt on Agnes’s face when she apologised to me. ‘I still can’t believe they did all of that. I’m OK, though,’ I add, seeing his eyes cloud with worry. ‘I actually feel a lot better now that I know who was doing it, and why. And now they know I’m not spying for WanderNest, I guess I’ll be able to have my first decent night’s sleep since I got here.’
It’s just a shame it’ll also be the last.
‘I’ll be having a word with them both,’ Hunter says quietly. ‘It’s horrible, what they did to you, Rosie. Dougie in particular. And as for Agnes .?.?.’
‘Please don’t sack her,’ I say quickly. ‘I know she shouldn’t have moved the clothes, but shewasonly doing what the Laird told her to do, Hunter. She’s probably terrified of him. I know I would be. And she really needs this job.’
I look up at him pleadingly, and an expression I can’t quite read briefly crosses his face.
‘I won’t sack her,’ he says at last. ‘I will be having strong words with her, though, Rosie. I can’t have staff members messing with the guests’ stuff like that. Not if this hotel’s going to be a success.’
‘Is that still what you’re aiming for, then?’ I ask, my heart filling with hope. ‘To make it a success? Or are you still considering the WanderNest offer?’
Hunter looks at me, as if he’s considering how to answer this.
‘I’m considering everything,’ he says, his eyes on mine. ‘All options are still on the table as far as I’m concerned.’
I nod slowly, wondering if I’m one of the options he’s talking about; although I don’t see how I possibly can be.
‘Um, anyway,’ I say, trying to speak as if this is a perfectly normal conversation we’ve been having, and my heart isn’t hammering wildly in my chest just from being close to him. ‘If the rest of the villagers are determined to leave today, we’re going to need a plan. Here’s what I think we should do .?.?.’
* * *
I send Hunter off to the tool shed to rustle up everything he can find that could be used to cut up a tree, and Ian to the hotel to muster some more volunteers.
For a split second, I think they’re going to refuse to cooperate, but then I point out that if they don’t at leasttryto work together, no one’s going to be going anywhere, at which point they both do as I’ve asked.
‘Come on, Izzie,’ I say, taking her by the arm and steering her back towards the hotel. ‘We’re going to need some more of that amazing turnip soup of yours, to keep everyone’s strength up.’
‘It was leek and tattie soup,’ she protests. ‘And I don’t think we’ve any leeks left. Plenty o’ tatties, though, so I suppose I could sort something out for you, Rosie.’
‘Great,’ I reply, privately relieved that I’m not going to be confronted with any more turnips. ‘See if you can round up some helpers; there are a lot of people to feed.’
Izzie nods her agreement, her eyes lighting up as she catches sight of Yasmin, coming wandering towards us.
‘You’ll do,’ she says, taking the surprised influencer by the arm, and frogmarching her towards the kitchen. I follow them down to the long, whitewashed room in the castle basement, where I push open the door to the pantry, looking for some other snacks I can take to the workers outside.
‘Oh, my God!’
I let out a shrill squeal as my foot makes contact with something soft and squishy.
‘Rosie? Is that you?’
The voice from the floor is a familiar one, and I force myself to look down, gasping in surprise when I spot Sabrina crouched in a corner, her legs folded neatly underneath her as she tucks into a large chocolate cake, which is smeared around her lips in a way that reminds me of my niece at her first birthday party.
‘Um, Sabrina?’
It’s obviously her, but the sight in front of me is sounlikeher that I feel I have to check.
‘Close that door behind you, would you?’ she orders, sounding more like her usual self. ‘I don’t want Dante to find me in here.’
‘Er, sure.’
