Page 49 of The Highland Fling

“But after last night, I thought . . .” She trails off.

“Remember that quote about guests, like fish, becoming smelly after three days?” I lift my armpit and sniff. “I’ve just had a shower, so I think I’m all right, but I don’t want to risk it.”

She gives a half-hearted laugh. “Seriously, Aidan . . .”

I perch on the bed and take her hands in mine. “Look, this thing that’s developing between you and me? I like it, but we have to nurture it. I’m new to this, and I’d be devastated if I messed this up. There’s a lot at stake.

“You’re carrying our baby, Grace. If this works out between us, it could be something really special. I don’t want to rush this, and if I stay here, I won’t be able to go on resisting you. Last night, when you tried to undo my belt and I stopped you? That took heroic self-restraint.”

Grace scoffs. “Heroic?”

“Oh, aye. It’s the kind of thing legends are told of. If people saw you, they’d understand.”

She giggles.

“Anyway, if I don’t go, I’ll be on ten cold showers a day, and even then, I may still cave. For us, as well as for your water meter, this is what’s best. But we can start up the video calls again. We could maybe even speak more than once a week.”

“How about every day?”

I grin and nod. “Aye, I’d like that.”

“And . . . you’ll be sending me dick pics, right?”

I laugh. “No, Grace. I want to focus on the emotional side of things. Those belong to a different category.”

Her eyes sparkle with mischief. “Just joking! I get it, and it’s sweet. I’m impressed, but to be clear, the next time we meet up, your clothes are coming off, and I’m going to do what I want to you.”

“Fuck, I’m going to get hard again. See? This is why I need to go.”

She wraps her arms around me and lays her head on my shoulder. “Well, when will we next see each other in person?”

“It’s just under a month until Christmas. Why don’t you come up to Bannock for it? I mean, you’ll want to celebrate it with your brother, won’t you?”

She squeezes me. “And you.”

“Great, then it’s settled. Oh, and you’ll need to take your mum up too: she’ll want to spend the festive period with her children. Which means . . .” I draw back from Grace and give her a stern look. “You’re going to have to tell her.”

“Yes, yes! I get the message. Tell Mum I’m pregnant . . . no problem. And . . . what about us? Are we telling people we’re a thing?”

“Oh, we’re a thing, are we?” I tease.

“Well . . .” she says shyly.

“Honestly, you know what Bannock is like. Gossip spreads so fast, and I don’t want us to be influenced by wagging tongues. Then again, you tell Emily and David absolutely everything, don’t you?”

She nods. “Yep, pretty much.”

“All right, well, you can tell them, but maybe ask them to keep it to themselves? If you’re saying to Emily, I’ll mention to Ally, but how about we leave it at that? For now, I don’t think anyone else needs to know.”

She smiles, and man, she really is beautiful, even first thing in the morning in her pyjamas. “Agreed.”

“Great. Well, let’s have a last breakfast together, then I’ll next see you on video.”

“Tonight! As soon as you get back to Bannock, call me. And if you want to fire me the odd message during the journey up, feel free.”

“Perfect.” I place a soft kiss on her forehead. “I’ll do that.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO