Highland Fling (11 page)

At least he’d smiled at her. That was something she supposed but when Phil came in and asked if they could have some fresh coffee because most of them were awake and had emptied the two Thermos jugs, she found herself hoping that Jack would pop his head round the door and say “hi”, if nothing else. God, she thought, for an intelligent woman, she was being really stupid.

She handed two pots of fresh coffee to Phil who had waited in the kitchen for them – robbing her of an excuse to go in to the sitting room – and then she decided to take Alastair out for a quick walk before going upstairs to get ready for the evening. Jane offered to take him but Lizzie felt she needed the fresh air.

Outside, the temperature had dropped again and there was now an icy crust forming on the remaining snow. The snowmen had turned into misshapen blobs but they held their ground even if they were half the men they were yesterday.

Lizzie checked on the pigs, Peter and Penelope. The guys had only been to look at them once and had been very well behaved, although Steve did say that he thought they’d be better on his plate. At least none of the guys had tried to ride them so she should be grateful for that. And so far, the chickens had also been left alone. It was only day two though, so there were still two days to go.

The thought of that made Lizzie stop in her tracks. Jack would only be here for two more days and then what? So much seemed to have happened in the last two days and yet really, nothing had changed, except perhaps, the way she felt.

‘It’s me. I know I said I wouldn’t call you but I had to.’

Lizzie heard the voice and recognised it as Ross’s but she couldn’t see him. She was standing outside the feed barn at the back of the converted barn so he must be in there. He wasn’t outside and he was definitely close by.

Lizzie realised he must be talking to someone on the phone and was about to move on when his next words stopped her.

‘It’s about Jack.’

The person on the other end of the line must have said something because after a few seconds Ross said, ‘No. I told you I wouldn’t. You know what Jack’s like.’

At that moment Alastair came bounding up barking so Lizzie had no choice but to quickly walk away. She took a few steps in the opposite direction, then turned and pretended she was just walking towards the small barn.

Ross poked his head out, looked slightly startled, then forced a smile and pointed towards the phone.

Lizzie smiled, nodded and headed away from the barn back towards the house. She would have given anything to know who Ross was calling and what he was going to tell them about Jack, and for one tiny moment she wondered whether Ross was the one who worked with Max and whether it was Max he was now talking to. If only Alastair hadn’t barked, she thought.

But she was being ridiculous. What did she think was going on? That Ross was playing private detective and keeping an eye on her, reporting anything untoward back to Max. That was just plain silly. But one of them did work with her husband and hadn’t mentioned it – and she couldn’t help but wonder why. She shook herself mentally; what was wrong with her? Why didn’t she just ask them? And having realised that it really was that simple, she dismissed it – but she still couldn’t help wondering who Ross was talking to – and what he was telling them about Jack.

Ross waited until Lizzie was out of earshot. ‘Sorry, someone walked by. So, how are you?’

‘How do you think I am? I’m going bloody mental!’

Ross didn’t seem surprised. ‘You’re not the only one. How the hell do you think I feel?’

‘Well then do something!’

‘Like what? Do you really want me to tell my best mate on his stag do that I slept with his fiancée when he was in Hong Kong for three weeks?’

‘Yes! Or let me tell him.’

‘Kim. I told you. I can’t. Jack would be devastated. It would be bad enough if he knew you’d slept with someone else but to find out it was me! He’d never forgive either of us. He’s been my best friend since we were five. I can’t do it.’

‘You should have thought of that before you slept with me. And it didn’t stop you coming back for more did it?’

‘Christ Kim! We’ve been over this. It should never have happened. I still don’t know how it did. And yeah, it should only have been that one time but shit, I just couldn’t keep away and believe me, I tried.’

‘We should have told him as soon as he got back. It wouldn’t have been so bad then.’

‘Really? Don’t you think I wanted to? But he seemed so happy to be home and looking forward to the wedding and ... God I just couldn’t.’

‘So you dumped me instead.’

‘I ... I thought what happened between us was just one of those crazy things and that you and Jack would go back to the way you were and I’d ... get over it.’

‘And how’s that working out for you?’

‘Kim. Please. I’m trying to do the right thing. What we had was great but it was only three weeks. You’ve been with Jack for two years and the wedding’s all set. If it had happened before ... it might have been different.’

‘Well. When Jack got back two weeks ago and you dumped me you said you’d never call me and unless my maths are totally wrong you’ve called me at least ten times since then and that’s not counting today! Are you planning to do this when Jack and I are married? Not sure how that’s gonna work.’

‘Oh shit! I just can’t stop thinking about you. About us. If you knew how this is eating me up you’d have a bit of pity on me.’

‘Well then let’s tell him! Let me tell him if you can’t.’

‘But I couldn’t go out with you if you broke up with him. That would be just as bad. I told you. I explained all this.’

‘You and your bloody stupid standards. I meant what I said Ross. I’m not going back to being on my own. I love you more than I love Jack now but I will marry him, if you won’t be with me. Believe me, I will, unless you’ve got the balls to stand up to him like a man.’

‘For God’s sake Kim! This isn’t about standing up to him. I’m not scared of him thumping me. In fact, it would make me feel a hell of a lot better if he did. This is about me not wanting to break the heart of a guy I really care about. A guy I’ve known nearly all my life. Why can’t you see that?’

‘All I see is someone who’s happy to sleep with his best friend’s fiancée behind his back but not man enough to own up to it! I actually thought you might tell him this weekend do you know that? How bloody stupid am I? I actually believed you when you said you loved me. Well, you can sod off and don’t call me again unless it’s to say you’ve told Jack about us.’

‘Kim. Wait! Don’t hang up. That ... that was sort of why I called.’

Kim hesitated. She’d been about to slam the phone down. ‘Why? Are you thinking of telling him? Do you mean that?’

‘I may not have to, exactly.’

‘D ... d’you mean he knows?’

‘No! No. I don’t think he’s got any idea. But ... look I’m not sure how to say this but ... I think he may be having second thoughts about marrying you.’

Kim gasped. ‘What? What do you mean? What’s he said?’ Kim didn’t like the thought of Jack dumping her, even if it would solve her problems. Kim didn’t like any man dumping her but it had happened more than once. She was beginning to think she chose men badly.

‘Nothing exactly but there’s this woman –’

‘What woman?’

‘The woman who owns this place. I think Jack’s fallen for her ... Kim? Are you still there Kim?’

‘Yes. I’m still here.’ Her voice had mellowed as if she’d had the stuffing knocked out of her.

‘Well! That’s a good thing isn’t it?’

‘Is it? Why exactly?’

‘Well, you know what Jack’s like. Fidelity’s important to him so if he’s thinking of sleeping with Lizzie –’

‘Lizzie! Her name’s Lizzie? Lizzie what?’

Ross was surprised. ‘No idea. Why? What does it matter what her name is? The thing is, if he’s considering sleeping with her then he must be thinking about breaking up with you.’

‘Is he considering sleeping with her?’

‘I would say so, yes. He told me last night that he’d kissed her and even that surprised me but I thought he was just drunk and that’s why he’d done it. Then today I heard them talking and he was stone cold sober.’

‘What were they talking about?’

‘He was asking her if he could kiss her again and would she let him or something.’

‘And would she?’

‘Well I think she said yes. I couldn’t really hear her but when he walked away he was smiling like the cat that’d got the cream.’

‘Really?’

‘Kim? You don’t sound as pleased as I thought you would.’

‘You expect me to be pleased to hear my fiancé wants to sleep with another woman?’

‘Well. Yes. Don’t you see? If Jack finishes with you – and I’m pretty certain he will if he sleeps with Lizzie – then, after a small amount of time we can pretend that I was comforting you and we fell for each other. That way he’ll never know we cheated behind his back and we can stay friends.’

‘You and Jack can stay friends you mean.’

‘Well, yes.’

‘So let me get this straight. You can’t date me if you tell him or if I dump him but if he dumps me that’s okay and you’ll start dating me as if those three weeks never happened?’

‘Yes. Don’t you see? If he dumps you then he won’t be the one getting hurt and he’ll be pleased that you and I have hooked up. I do love you Kim. I meant it. If Jack finishes with you, we can be together.’

Kim let out a long sigh. ‘I really don’t understand any of this and I still think if you really loved me you’d tell him but – and I never thought I’d hear myself say this – let’s just hope my fiancé cheats on me.’

Chapter Seven

‘You look absolutely fantastic Jane,’ Lizzie said, as she and Jane stood in the kitchen getting things ready to take with them to the ceilidh.

Jane was wearing the short, low cut, pale blue dress and was now pushing and pulling her breasts to get them just right. ‘Are you sure it’s really okay? Shouldn’t I wear a long skirt and high neck blouse as Iain’s so old fashioned?’ She shot Lizzie a mocking glance.

Lizzie grinned. ‘I didn’t say he wouldn’t like the outfit. Any man would. I’m just not ... No. I’m not starting that again. There are six guys in this house whom I’m sure we can safely say, know how to have a good time and at least one of whom, knows my husband, as Max arranged this weekend. Let’s give them something to talk about and show Iain Hamilton exactly what he’s missing at the same time. Is the punch ready? If so, let’s have some.’

Jane poured them both large glasses of the warm punch they’d made earlier. ‘I think you might get to see Mr Jack Drake naked for a second time, looking like that,’ she said. ‘Playing hard to get’s gone out of the window then?’

Lizzie grinned. ‘Yep. Okay, I think that’s them coming down stairs now. Let’s go through shall we? I’ll take the punch if you can bring the glasses. The wine and the canapés are already in there.’

It was Jack’s turn to stare open mouthed whilst his eyes travelled the length of Lizzie’s body. She may not have been naked but the black cashmere dress fitted her like a second skin and the curved, sweeping neckline which exposed not just her shoulders but also gave a hint of cleavage showed off her figure to perfection.

The dress was short but not too short, revealing just a few inches of her legs above her over the knee boots – which were almost identical to Jane’s – and the sleeves were long but began off the shoulders due to the curve of the neckline.

‘Bloody hell!’ Phil said, a cheese straw hovering in front of his mouth.

The others all whistled except for Jack, whose eyes were like lasers burning into Lizzie’s flesh.

She saw the small furrow between his brows and wondered exactly what was going on in that undeniably gorgeous head of his. Then she saw what he was wearing. What they were all wearing – kilts!

Lizzie and Jane exchanged startled glances, then Jane burst out laughing and Lizzie joined in.

‘We don’t look that bad,’ Pete said, a slightly hurt expression forming on his elfin features.

Lizzie shook her head. ‘No. You don’t. It’s just a surprise that’s all. In fact ... you’ve got better legs than me!’

‘Not from where I’m standing,’ Steve said, appreciatively looking Lizzie up and down.

‘Well. Thanks. Did you get them from Flora today?’

‘Yeah,’ Pete said. ‘She’s a really nice lady. Phil was worried they’d think we were taking the pi ... making fun of the locals but we asked in the pub if anyone would mind and they all said it was okay. Flora did too. Not sure about this 'andbag thing though,’ he said, waving the sporran up and down.

‘Don’t do that mate,’ Ross said, ‘looks like you’re making obscene suggestions.’

Pete grinned. ‘You should be so lucky.’

‘Well, I think you all look fabulous,’ Jane said. ‘Let me take a photo.’

‘Yeah!’ Pete yelled. ‘Jack. You’ve got the best camera and it’s got one of those timer things so we can all be in it.’

Jack didn’t say a word but went upstairs and came back with his camera. He set it up so that it was facing one of the large sofas. Pete started organising everyone into position and when Steve made a grab for Jane, Pete slapped his arm.

‘No! You stand back there with Jeff; Phil you sit on the sofa in front of Jeff; Jane, you sit on Phil’s lap; Ross you sit on the other end; Jack you sit in the middle; Lizzie you sit on Ross’s lap and I’ll stand back 'ere next to Steve.’

‘Shouldn’t Lizzie sit on Jack’s lap?’ Ross said.

Seven pairs of eyes shot to his face.

‘Why?’ Jack said rather sharply.

‘Because it’s your stag party! Wouldn’t look right if you didn’t have a woman on your lap.’

‘That’s true.’ Pete agreed.

Jack looked flustered and muttered something inaudible but Pete was already pulling him and Lizzie to the sofa and pushing them into position.

‘Why not have two women on his lap?’ Jeff said. ‘One on each knee. Here, sit down Jack, Jane you sit there and Lizzie, there.’ He arranged them so that Jack was leaning back against the cushions and Jane and Lizzie were perched on one knee each. Jack’s long legs were spread to accommodate them and his kilt fell between his thighs preserving his modesty.