“On the contrary, I’m keen to send you on your merry way as soon as possible. Believe it or not, I have work to do.” He tugged uncomfortably at his damp shirt, which clung to his body like a second skin. If he could just get her gone, reclaim his space, he could yank it off and get some work done in here.
He frowned, another question dawning on him. “How can you not know where you are, by the way?”
She sighed, rubbing the muck off her face and clothes. Beneath her rain-soaked plaid jacket, she wore a black turtleneck and ripped jeans, both of which hugged the thick crests of her body in a way that didn’t make ignoring them much easier. Fraser feigned interest in patting down Bernard, who was more than happy to receive the averted attention.
“I can’t get signal on my phone. I was supposed to be staying at Heatherly Lodge?” She said it like it was a question. It needn’t have been. Fraser knew exactly where that newly built eyesore stood.
“That piece of shite,” he scoffed, shoving his hands into his pockets. “It’s about three miles back, although if I were you, I’d keep on walking the opposite way.”
The woman’s face flushed with heated surprise. “Excuseme?”
He shrugged. “I’m afraid I’m anti-Airbnb. They’ve taken too much from our town, greedy bastards.”
She blinked. “Okay… Well, I’m currently anti-Airbnb, too, because the host just cancelled my booking and left me lost in the middle of the woods.”
“They didwhat?” A new wave of anger rolled over him. What sort of heartless shitebag left a woman alone in the middle of the woods? No wonder she was shaken up. “They really just left you to fend for yourself?”
She sighed, wringing the towel in her hands as she nodded. “Yep. Now I don’t know what to do. If you could direct me to a hotel, that would be great. But I’m not good with directions, so explain them to me like I’m ten.”
“There are no Hiltons or Travel Lodges around these parts.” He couldn’t help but smirk. This woman truly didn’t know where she was.
“There must be a B&B somewhere, though?”
There was. His friend Andy’s B&B had been in the Flockhart family for generations. But thanks to godforsaken places like Heatherly Lodge, business was suffering.
“Aye, there’s one in town, but…” He checked his wristwatch, ticking away the daylight. The nights were only getting darker, and that made everyone’s jobs slower than ever. Soon, there would only be a few hours of waning sun each day – and he was not looking forward to it. He always grew too restless when he couldn’t keep his hands busy. “It’s too late to book in tonight.”
Andy would be glad for the customer tomorrow, though, especially right before they started renovating. If he could get her a place to stay tonight…
She groaned. “God, you’re right. Well, it’s official. I have nowhere to stay.”
Wrinkling her nose, she wiped Bernard’s moulted white fur from Fraser’s lacklustre couch cushions before slumping on one. He raised his brows. When, exactly, had he invited her to make herself at home?
What was he supposed to do now? He couldn’t get back to work, not with her in his space, disrupting his usual tranquillity, and he certainly couldn’t kick her out. That would make him as bad as the shitty lodge owner who had put her in this position.
“I knew I shouldn’t have bothered with this,” she mumbled into the towel. “I should’ve known it would all go tits up.”
His mouth twitched in amusement at the expression. She might not have been Scottish, but she spoke just as plainly as any local. Something lodged into his chest like a nail tapped into splintering wood.
Shite. He was going to have to help her.
He was going to have to let her stay.
“I don’t suppose you have Wi-Fi?” she murmured. Beside her, Bernard hopped onto the couch and curled up. Absently, she stroked his damp fur.
“No Wi-Fi, but…” He slapped his fist into his other palm nervously. He was absolutely going to regret this. “I have a bed.”
She blushed a violent pink. “Now’s not really an appropriate time forthat, I don’t think. I just got out of a long-term relationship, and—”
“Jesus Christ,” he hissed, dragging a hand through his hair roughly as embarrassment pulsated through him. “I don’t meanthat!”
“Oh, god.” She covered her mouth. Past her fingers, he could still see deep dimples at the corners, where her shock folded into pretty shadows.
Shewaspretty, he saw now the dirt had been wiped away. Full, rosy cheeks, long lashes, deep-set eyes, upturned nose. Her hair dried in blonde waves, curling at the ends. Something stirred in his gut, but he pushed it away quickly. He’d spent plenty of time avoidingthoseparticular feelings, and wasn’t about to stop for a random tourist who had no problem shelling out money to his biggest enemy.
“I meant,” he said through gritted teeth, “that if you absolutely must stay here, you could. This is just where I work. I live in town. The place will be going unused tonight.”
She let out several hums of varying tones, looking around once more. “Does it always smell like sawdust?”
