Page 55 of Highland Getaway
‘I think about that a lot,’ she says, shrugging. ‘I’m not saying it’sdefinitelygoing to be the same here, though.’
‘Now, now,’ says Ian, his cheeks red. ‘No one’s here to do any butchering or eating.’
‘I could eat, to be honest,’ says Calumn, hopefully. ‘I’ve only had a protein shake since breakfast. Could you eat, Izzie?’
‘Och, I suppose I could manage a wee something,’ Izzie replies from her position on the ground next to Stevie. ‘Just to be polite. Maybe just soup and a sandwich, say.’
‘I’ll have the full Scottish breakfast,’ says Calumn. ‘Vegetarian, if you have it.’
‘Well, if everyone’s eating,’ begins Ian, ‘I’m partial to the odd kipper. D’you do kippers?’
‘Enough,’ yells Dante, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. ‘Would you all just be quiet and get off my property? This is completely unacceptable.’
‘Yourproperty?’ replies Izzie, her eyes narrowed. ‘This isn’tyourproperty, Dante Romano; it belongs to Lord Glenmuir. And that’s no way to speak to your Auntie Izzie.’
‘Sorry, Izzie,’ Dante mutters, looking at his feet. ‘She’s not my real aunt,’ he adds petulantly, under his breath. ‘She’s just one of my mum’s friends.’
‘Aye, and wait until I speak to her about this,’ says Izzie, tapping a foot imperiously. ‘Now, are you going to fetch the Laird for us, or does Young Ian here have to get out his gun again?’
‘OK,’ says Hunter, raising both hands in a placatory gesture as Millie resumes her screaming fit. ‘That’s enough, all of you. The Laird isn’t going to be coming down to speak to you,’ he goes on, his eyes flicking upwards to the top floor of the castle, almost imperceptibly. ‘And he doesn’t accept visitors in his private quarters, either. But if you’d like to come inside, I’m sure we can sit down together and have a chat about this. A calm one. Without any guns.’
‘We can talk here,’ insists Izzie, folding her arms in anI won’t budgekind of way.
‘Youcan do what you like,’ announces Bex, standing up abruptly. ‘I’m going inside. I’m not sitting in this hot tub while you all argue about whatever it is. My fingers are starting to go all wrinkly, and I hate that.’
She steps delicately out of the tub, water cascading off her perfect body as she goes. Everyone falls silent as she walks slowly down the steps and strolls casually over to a wooden hammock which we’ve hung our robes on, her head high, shoulders back.
‘Did you get that, Daniel?’ she hisses at her husband as she drapes the robe over her shoulders, influencer style.
‘I’m coming too,’ says Millie, getting up to follow her, clearly unaware of the clown makeup still smeared over her face. Nevertheless, Callum still turns bright red at the sight of them both, and then goes redder still when Yasmin follows suit, walking like a model in a runway show. After a few seconds, Zara heaves a world-weary sigh and does her own cat-walk, adding a sassy little head toss as she reaches for her robe, and then I reluctantly haul myself out of the water and go splashing clumsily across the deck, horribly aware of the fact that my swimsuit’s giving me a wedgie, and Hunter’s right there, watching me.
When I’m finally back in my dressing gown, however, I risk a quick glance in his direction, and see a broad smile on his face, which I shyly return.
Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea, after all?
‘Right,’ says Callum, clearing his throat importantly, once we’re all gathered on the deck. ‘So that’s one full Scottish breakfast, one plate o’ kippers, soup and a sandwich. Should one of us maybe be writing this down?’
‘Come on,’ says Hunter, his smile disappearing. ‘Let’s get everyone inside.’
Chapter 22
Ian persuades the rest of the villagers to go back home, assuring them that he, Izzie and Callum can take it from here, and then Hunter shows everyone to the library/den, where we all crowd around one of the coffee tables, as if we’re about to have a business meeting.
‘The thing is,’ says Izzie, tucking into a toasted sandwich, which Dante has grudgingly had sent up from the kitchen. ‘Business has been dire this year for all of us. We really need the boost that a partnership with the hotel would give us. It’s a rural area, without a lot of opportunities for trade. Us local business owners need to work together; a rising tide floats all boats, and all that. And if the Bawbag isn’t willing to even consider that, then I’m sorry, but there’s only one option open to us.’
‘A massacre?’ says Yasmin, leaning forward in her seat, her dark glasses propped on top of her head.
Izzie shifts her chair a little further away from Yasmin’s. ‘No, I mean a curse. Obviously.’
‘Now, Izzie,’ says Ian, clearing his throat. ‘We talked about this on the way here. We agreed there would be no curses.’
‘It’s too late,’ mutters Dante, making everyone jump. ‘I think this hotel is already cursed.’
He’s sitting in a high-backed chair in a shadowy corner of the room, and the combination of his pale face and shiny black hair makes him look so sinister that Millie lets out another small squeal of fright at the sight of him.
She really is particularly highly strung this morning, even for her.
‘Och, bite me,’ says Dante, scowling at her, and then widening his vampire glare to take in the rest of us. ‘I’ve had enough of trying to be professional with you lot. You’re all completely off your rockers. And one of you is up to something. Don’t even try to deny it.’
