“I’ve slept in vans bigger than this.”
Lewis popped his head inside our open door. “Everything okay?”
“Yes,” I said too quickly.
“It’s a little cramped in here, isn’t it?” Harlow tried to walk between the beds and pretended to get stuck between them.
“Sorry about that. The rooms are a bit wee for doubles, but it’s quite a good lodge with easy access to our activities.”
Lewis looked so apologetic, I wished Harlow hadn’t said anything. He and Arnav had done everything they could for our comfort over the last week. Complaining about a smaller room seemed a little spoiled.
Although, in all fairness, the room threatened to bring on a case of crushing claustrophobia.
I gave him an encouraging smile. “It will be just fine for us, honestly.”
“There’s only breakfast and dinner here, so the plan is to have lunch out and meet again in the lobby after for our hike to the Fairy Pools.” He nodded once more and ducked back down the hallway.
I picked up a Things to Do card off the small desk. “It looks like we’re finally going to tour a castle.” Although, given the list, it would be hard for me to choose only one activity here. They had all the usual hiking and kayaking, but also things like otter watching, horseback riding, and axe throwing.
I seriously hoped we wouldn’t take a side trip for that last one. I didn’t have a good enough track record on this tour to think I should be holding an axe.
“I don’t need to see another castle.” Harlow crammed her luggage next to one of the beds.
“I haven’t been up close to one yet. I’ve seen…” I counted on my fingers as I mentally scrolled through the vacation. “Five, I think? They’re magical.”
“If you like dungeons. My trip to Edinburgh last year, I came with my boyfriend at the time. We toured the castle in the city and a couple of others. It gets real old, real fast.” She pulled an exaggerated face. “‘Over here, we have a tapestry woven from sheep’s innards, believed by peasants to ward off evil spirits. Next to it is a sword made from holy petrified wood passed down through the family MacBeth since Beth MacBeth first carved it.’”
“Beth MacBeth is a national hero.”
Both of us turned to find Carlos standing practically in our room, his cheeky grin shining out in lieu of an apology for the intrusion. This guy and open doorways.
“How dare you disparage the good name of MacBeth while in Scotland?” he said.
“I’m just saying, you’ve seen one musty old castle, you’ve seen them all.”
I guessed Australia didn’t have many castles.
“I completely agree. I’m much more interested in current events.” His meaningful look showed exactly what he was interested in. “Want to join me for lunch?”
The question had the air of including both of us, but I was no fool—he wasn’t asking me along. Harlow picked up her purse and jacket, tossing a quick, saucy look at me as she left. I closed the door behind her before Bea or Rupert could pop in for a doorway chat.
I grabbed my phone and laid down on my bed to scroll through photos of Shatner. I’d never been away from him this long before, and I missed my little guy. I didn’t like sitting down without hearing the jingle of his collar as he trotted down the hall to leap up beside me. I missed the snuffling noises he made in his sleep and the way he could only make himself comfortable by making me uncomfortable. He had an impressive ability to turn his twenty pounds into fifty as he pressed against my back.
More than anything else about home, I wanted to stroke Shatner’s fur and endure his eager, slobbery kisses.
Jill’s photo of the day showed him snoozing atop a pile of pillows like a little prince. My heart squeezed as I stared at his adorable little face.
I checked the rest of my messages, including Mom’s daily voicemail.
“Honey, I’m sure you’re having a wonderful time. Have you tried the haggis yet? I’m off to a belly dancing lesson with Monica, Wish me luck…”
Through some small miracle, Lincoln hadn’t messaged yet. I tossed my phone back in my bag, in case thinking of a text would make one magically appear.
A knock sounded at my door. I climbed off the tiny bed and moved the two steps across the room to pull it open. Duncan stood in the hallway wearing jeans and his fleece jacket, once again looking like a very low-key alpha motorcycle man. Unfair of him to be so attractive with so little effort. I’d done nothing to spruce myself up since we’d checked in and wasn’t sure it’d had the same effect.
Although, from the way Duncan watched me, maybe I’d misjudged that.
“There’s no lunch on-site,” he said. “I thought you might like to join me for a bite in town.”
