Page 16 of The Highland Game

LochNLoad

Aye.

LochNLoad fires back his single-word response without even a moment’s hesitation. Which is weird because Jamie’s never shown any sign of being attracted to me in real life. Could he have made a fool of himself in front of two women today? Is it the other one he thinks is pretty?

LochNLoad

Hello? Sass? You still there? Don’t tell me you’re jealous.

SassyLassie

In your dreams. Although . . . actually, there’s something we need to talk about.

LochNLoad

Uh-oh. Sounds serious. Should I be worried?

SassyLassie

Er . . . well . . .

CHAPTER SEVEN

JAMIE

I’m back in the snug, nursing a pint and staring at my laptop screen. It’s just me and Bruce in here, and he’s sprawled out on his dog bed, snoring gently, twitching his paws as though dreaming about chasing rabbits. Rain patters against the window.

Painkillers downed, I’ve logged in to Highland Legacy, Sass is here too, and it’s time for a bit of escapism. Although . . . I’m less interested in escaping the ache in my thigh and more interested in escaping the chaos running riot in my head. There’s the obvious regret over being such an arse towards Maisie. Seriously, what is wrong with me? But there’s also the memory of us crashing into each other and her landing right on top of me. I can still feel the heat of her body against mine, the softness of her slim curves. It’s been ages since I’ve been that close to a woman, and it’s stirred up feelings I’d almost forgotten about—and which I’m not entirely sure what to do with. I can’t quite decide whether I want to push them away or . . . well, dwell on them obsessively.

I take a swig of my beer and focus back on the chat with SassyLassie. She asked if the girl I made a tit of myself in front of was pretty, and I typed “Aye” without even needing to think about it. Because Maisie is pretty. More than pretty, if I’m being honest.

God, why did I have to go and insult her hair? I really am an idiot.

Anyway, Sass has gone a wee bit quiet on me, so I decide to be just a little mischievous.

LochNLoad

Hello? Sass? You still there? Don’t tell me you’re jealous.

Okay, I’m clearly not trying too hard to escape the thoughts I’ve been having about Maisie. I did voluntarily raise the subject of my encounter with her, after all. And now I’m teasing Sass about being jealous.

SassyLassie

In your dreams. Although . . . actually, there’s something we need to talk about.

LochNLoad

Uh-oh. Sounds serious. Should I be worried?

SassyLassie

Er . . . well . . .

LochNLoad

Oh! I know what this is. You’re going to tell me your secret kink, right? Because I told you mine and I’ve been waiting for you to confess yours.

Fine, there’s no point trying to deny it: I’ve got sex on the brain today. And not even Highland Legacy—the one thing that usually works—seems capable of distracting me.