Highland Fling (10 page)

‘I didn’t really know until that night. Well, that’s not entirely true. I knew I really liked him but I didn’t know how much. Not until ... after – for all the good that did me.’

‘Has ... has he asked you round for a drink since then?’

Jane frowned. ‘No. But it was only two weeks ago and he’s got the farm to run and now Fraser’s back he hasn’t exactly got the place to himself has he?’

‘There’s your place. Has he called?’

‘Noooooo.’

‘Perhaps you should have played hard to get.’

‘Don’t know how that game goes.’ She snatched her hand away from Lizzie’s fingers. ‘Okay, so I make a fool of myself sometimes. I’m thirty-two and I’m still single!’

‘I wish I was. Marriage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I’m proof of that.’ Lizzie leant back against her chair but kept her eyes on her friend.

‘I think that depends on whom you marry.’

‘Touché!’ Lizzie sat back up and reached out for Jane again. ‘Look, I’m just saying. Iain’s old school, the type who likes to chase the woman he wants not have her throw herself at him.’

Jane ignored the offered hand. ‘What’s got into you?’ she snapped. ‘You’re not usually a bitch! Feeling guilty ‘cos you’re thinking of cheating on Max? Oh God. I’m sorry. Now I’m being a bitch.’ She took Lizzie’s hand.

‘No. It’s me. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said those things about you and Iain. Let’s face it, I’m no Vestal Virgin. One look from Max and I’m falling into bed with him; and a total stranger kisses me and I’m almost doing the same with him. And you’re right. I do feel as though I’m cheating on Max, although god knows why. We’re separated and he’s the one who cheated, remember?’

‘How could I forget? Sorry. Doing it again.’

‘Okay,’ Lizzie poured them both more coffee from the pot, ‘let’s call a truce. We’re both a bit frazzled over our love lives.’

‘I haven’t got a love life,’ Jane said sipping her coffee and sighing. ‘At least Max calls you regularly and comes to see you occasionally.’

‘And that’s a good thing because ... ?’

‘Well, he cares about you and wants you back and that counts for something. I still think he’s a shit and you could do better but at least he cares. Iain couldn’t care less about me and you’re right of course. If he’d wanted to see me he could have. He just didn’t want to.’

‘Max only cares about himself Jane, believe me. And he only comes up here to remind me of what I’m missing – and because I’m so bloody gullible, that always ends up involving sex. It’s like he thinks he owns me and I couldn’t possibly not want to be his wife. So he turns on the charm and like the idiot I am, I fall for it then, wham! It all comes back. Oh Hell. Let’s change the subject. I’m sick of trying to understand men.’

‘Me too.’

Chapter Six

Jack hummed as they walked along the lane. It was a beautiful morning and now that his head had cleared he felt better than he had for a long time. He stopped every so often to take a photo. The scenery was stunning. Everything was still covered in snow although it had melted a little in yesterday afternoon’s sunshine.

Last night the temperature had dropped and this morning little icicles hung from the trees like glass Christmas decorations. The sun was slowly melting them and tiny drips of water ran down them, dropping to the ground like mini water bombs, creating small craters in the snow where they landed.

The Cairngorm mountain range was clearly visible in the distance, rising up from the snow-covered landscape and Jack wondered whether anyone would be skiing. The last snow had been at Christmas and since then, there’d been unusually mild weather. The resorts had snow machines, he knew but he remembered hearing that conditions weren’t good and many resorts had closed to skiers already. Perhaps yesterday’s fall had been enough to improve things.

Jack focused his camera on Phil, Pete, Steve and Jeff. They were taking pictures of one another in silly poses; balancing on walls, playing snow angels, throwing snowballs – and Jack felt as if things were like they used to be.

Ross was walking beside him in silence and Jack suddenly realised Ross seemed to be dragging his feet like a sulky child.

‘You okay mate?’ he asked. ‘Still feeling rough from last night?’

Ross glared at him from hooded eyes. ‘No. I’m fine.’

‘You sure? You’re a bit quiet this morning.’

‘Just thinking about things, that’s all.’

Jack nodded. ‘Yeah, me too.’

Ross stopped walking. ‘Anything you want to talk about?’

Jack stopped and turned back to his friend. ‘Yeah. But I’m not sure now’s the time.’

‘Now’s as good a time as any,’ Ross pushed.

Jack’s eyes formed tiny slits. Ross was acting very strangely. ‘Perhaps. But I’m not sure I’m ready to talk about it yet. Still need to sort a few things out in my head. Once it’s said, it’s said and there’ll be no going back.’

‘Ooh! That sounds very dramatic,’ Phil said. He’d seen Jack and Ross stop and wondered what was going on. They both looked so serious. ‘Once what’s said?

Jack glanced at Phil.

‘Jack’s got some big secret, he’s not ready to share,’ Ross said rather loudly, not bothering to disguise the sarcasm.

Phil’s eyes darted from Jack to Ross as Pete, Jeff and Steve joined them.

‘There’s no secret,’ Steve said. He had heard Ross’s remark. ‘Jack’s got the hots for Lizzie, any fool can see that and he’s planning how he can screw her. Good on yer mate! Thought about it myself.’

Phil saw the look in Jack’s eyes and grabbed him by the arm shaking his head lightly. He knew Jack wouldn’t hit Steve, Jack wasn’t the violent type, but he might say something he’d later regret.

‘As usual, Steve’s judging others by his own standards, aren’t you mate?’ Phil said. His eyes lightened and rested on Steve.

Steve looked puzzled then shrugged his shoulders. ‘Whatever. It’s a stag do and that’s what it’s all about. I hope there’s some talent at this thing tonight ‘cos I certainly plan to do some screwing.’

Pete smiled. ‘I want to 'ave a go at the 'ighland fling. Need to get pissed first though, if I’m gonna make a prat of myself.’

Jeff nudged him. ‘You don’t need to get pissed to make a prat of yourself, mate. Comes naturally. Hey. Let’s ask at the pub if there’s anywhere we can get some kilts from for tonight. That would be a right laugh.’

‘If you think I’m wearing a skirt and no knickers,’ Pete said, ‘you can think again mate.’

The tense moment was past.

‘What? Trying to pretend you’re not that sort of girl,’ Jeff put his arm around Pete’s shoulders and laughed.

‘At least I’ve got the legs to wear a skirt,’ Pete said, playfully pushing Jeff away.

‘I wouldn’t boast about that in the pub,’ Steve said, ‘people might get the wrong idea.’

‘I’m not sure the locals would approve of us ridiculing their national dress,’ Phil said. He started walking again and the others all fell into step.

‘We wouldn’t be ridiculing it,’ Steve said, ‘we’d be trying to blend in.’

‘Yeah well. I’m not so sure they’d see it like that,’ Phil said.

‘Why would they sell them then, if they didn’t want people to wear them? I’m going to ask in the pub. Come on. Stop dawdling. We’re wasting good drinking time,’ Jeff said, quickening his step.

Neither Ross nor Jack spoke until they reached the pub.

‘I hope they haven’t spent all day in the pub,’ Lizzie said, ‘the thought of trying to keep six drunken men under control doesn’t appeal to me.’

Jane smiled; she was back to her usual cheerful self. ‘It appeals to me. Well, the thought of six men, that is.’

Lizzie giggled. ‘Yeah right. Neither of us can cope with one let alone six.’

‘Actually, you’ve got two. Max and Jack – and that’s the real reason you’re worried. You want Jack to be sober so he’ll kiss you as he promised to.’

Lizzie blushed. ‘I think it was more of a threat from where I was standing.’

‘Ooh! Getting all of a flutter are we?’

Lizzie put the finishing touches to a lemon drizzle cake she was making for afternoon tea, sighing as she did so. ‘He’s a really good kisser, if yesterday was anything to go by, so yes, I am getting a bit flustered just thinking about it to be honest.’

‘Wow! If that’s the effect the guy has on you when he’s miles away in a pub I don’t know how you managed to say no this morning when he tried to kiss you.’

‘Fear. Pure, unadulterated fear.’ Lizzie inspected the lines she’d made in the lemon icing on the top of the cake and was satisfied.

‘Of what?’

Lizzie took a deep breath and shook her head. ‘Of not being able to stop.’

Jane grinned and nodded. ‘Yeah, but now you know he’s not engaged anymore things are different.’ Jane piled the scones they’d made that morning on to cake plates.

‘He’s still engaged Jane. Unless he’s told her over the phone and that would be a really shitty thing to do. So it would still be cheating – technically and even though we’re separated, I would still somehow feel I was cheating on Max – but we’re not getting into all that again. What’s the time? They should be back soon.’

Jane thought she could hear singing and she strolled over to the window. ‘As if on cue,’ she said, ‘and it looks like you were right to worry. Ross and Jack look as though they’re holding each other up and the rest of them don’t exactly look sober.’

Lizzie closed her eyes but didn’t say a word.

‘Honey, we’re home,’ Steve yelled from the hall, nudging Jack.

‘Sssshh!’ Pete hissed so loudly it made his head hurt.

Jane and Lizzie went into the hall.

‘Any chance of coffee?’ Phil asked, surprisingly sober.

‘Yes, of course,’ Lizzie said. ‘Can you get them into the sitting room? We’ll bring it in there.’

‘Come on guys,’ Phil said, grabbing Ross by the arm and steering him and Jack forward.

Pete, Jeff and Steve all grabbed one another and Pete grabbed Ross’s jacket so that they formed a sort of wavy line, all following Phil to the comfort of the luxuriously plump armchairs and sofas.

Lizzie noticed Phil was carrying four large shopping bags bearing Flora MacDonald’s logo and wondered what they’d bought.

Flora and her family ran a small woollen mill a mile or so the other side of the village, selling traditional clothing and souvenirs from the local area, as well as further afield. Her mill was always popular with tourists, especially because of her name. She was no relation to the Flora MacDonald whom legend says helped Bonnie Prince Charlie but she didn’t stop the tourists from thinking she was.

Arran jumpers were always a popular choice, Lizzie thought, even though they were very expensive, not that price would have deterred any of these guys, she realised.

When Phil had asked how much they owed her for the drink they’d consumed yesterday, he didn’t bat an eyelid when she told him. In fact he asked her if she was sure that really covered it all and when she said yes, he pulled out a massive bundle containing several thousand pounds of fifty pound notes. He paid up and gave her extra despite her protestations – just in case she’d missed anything, he’d said.

Lizzie went back into the kitchen and made coffee. Alastair, who’d been in his basket beside the Aga for most of the afternoon, apart from when Lizzie had taken him for a long walk, got up and stretched, then followed Lizzie and Jane into the sitting room. He trotted up to each of the guys in turn, then over to the fireplace where he curled up on the rug in front of the hearth. He was a male with limited interests.

Lizzie poured coffee whilst Jane offered cakes and scones, trying to avoid the several pairs of hands reaching out for her. Steve in particular seemed determined to get Jane to sit on his lap and there was no way she was doing that.

Lizzie couldn’t help but notice that Jack was making a real effort to pretend she wasn’t there and when she handed him a cup of coffee, he thanked her without even looking up.

He’s had second thoughts already, she thought, feeling a little irritated.

‘Did you have a good day?’ she asked, directing her question to Jack.

He nodded but still avoided her eyes. ‘Yep!’ he said and hiccoughed.

‘Took lots of photos,’ Ross said slowly tipping sideways in his chair.

Phil grabbed him and sat him upright. ‘Bit of a session, I’m afraid. Think they’d all better lie down for an hour or so before we go out tonight.’

‘Will they be okay?’ Jane asked doubtfully.

Phil nodded. ‘Yeah. They’re used to this. Be fine after a kip and a shower.’

Lizzie made a mental note to give extra towels to Phil before they went upstairs.

‘So how come you’re sober and they aren’t?’ Jane asked.

‘One of us had to be. We’d never have found our way back otherwise.’

‘Survival strategy,’ Jane said and smiled. ‘Can you manage to get them all upstairs?’

‘Yeah, they’re like sheep.’

Alastair lifted his head and barked.

‘He’s offering his services,’ Jane said, ‘he thinks he’s a sheepdog.’ She stroked Alastair’s head and avoiding Steve’s hands.

Phil grinned. ‘Might just leave them here.’

Jack, Ross, Pete and Jeff were all struggling to keep their eyes open.

‘There’s a pile of tartan throws in the window-seat. I’ll get them,’ Lizzie said. She lifted the seat and took out six, handing a couple to Jane. Lizzie covered Ross then laid one gently on Jack. She gasped in surprise when he opened his penetratingly blue eyes and grinned up at her, then closed them again. Five seconds later, he was sound asleep. ‘Men,’ she said under her breath.

Jane gave a throw to Phil. ‘That’s for octopus hands,’ she said.

Phil tossed it to Steve. ‘Go to sleep, mate, and leave the lady alone.’

Steve sniggered, then huddled down and closed his eyes.

‘Would you like one,’ Lizzie asked Phil, ‘or are you going upstairs?’

‘Best stay here and keep an eye on them. But I’m fine thanks. I’ll get them upstairs later.’

‘Well, there are two Thermos jugs of coffee and help yourself to cakes and anything else you want. We’ll be in the kitchen if you want fresh coffee or tea.’

 It was idiotic and she knew it but Lizzie couldn’t stop herself from feeling just a little disappointed that Jack had been back for almost two hours and was sound asleep in an armchair in the sitting room.