Page 14 of Snowflakes Over Micklewick Bay

‘Are you sure?’ Though Hannah was more than happy to stay chatting to Lachie, she didn’t expect her aunt to do the lion’s share of the cleaning up.

Her aunt raised her palms. ‘You stay where you are, make the most of the sunshine while it lasts.’ She smiled fondly at Hannah, which softened the fact that she was still very obviously matchmaking. ‘Right, I’ll leave you to it. No rush, mind.’

‘Thanks, Auntie Coll.’

‘Yeah, thanks, Colleen, much appreciated,’ added Lachie.

Yet again Hannah felt her face prickle with the heat of a blush. She could feel the weight of Lachie’s gaze on her, but there was no way she could meet it and risk betraying her growing feelings for him.

Her blushes finally dying down, the pair chatted for another twenty minutes or so. Lachie shared details about his campervan and how well fitted-out it was, Hannah shared how she and her aunt settled on their burger van after checking out a whole slew of different styles. Eventually, guilt at shirking cleaning duties in Bougie Bertha got the better of her and she reluctantly told Lachie she should go and help. She wasn’t sure if she detected a flicker of disappointment in his eyes, but told herself it was more than likely wishful thinking on her part.

They both got to their feet, gathering together the used napkins, empty cups and fries carton, before they walked slowly over the grass, conversation bubbling away easily between them. Arriving at the campervan, Lachie looked down at her. ‘Thanks for the company, I’ve really enjoyed spending time with you.’

‘I’ve enjoyed spending time with you too.’ She tipped her head back and looked up at him, his smile making her heart dance. She smiled back shyly.

‘I’ll see you tomorrow? Same kind of time?’ he said.

‘Great!’ She nodded, her smile growing wider. Was it just her, or did she detect a hopeful hint in his voice?

‘Say goodbye to your aunt for me, and tell her thanks again for the tea and Roly’s burger.’

‘Will do.’

‘Bye, then.’ His eyes never leaving hers, he reached over and touched her arm.

‘Ooh!’ It was as if his fingertips had scorched through her shirt to her skin. Her pulse set off at a gallop, racing around her and making her heart beat a thudding tattoo. She hurriedly gathered herself together. ‘Yeah, bye.’ Argh! There was that dratted falsetto again! She winced inwardly, hoping he hadn’t noticed, but if the smile playing around his mouth was anything to go by, her hopes were in vain.

Hannah watched him let Roly into the campervan before walking around to the driver’s side. She waved as they drove off, standing for a moment, absorbing the new feelings that were circulating around her body. She hadn’t felt this light-hearted for as long as she could remember. Her next thought was to wonder how long it would take Auntie Coll to notice.

Opening the door of the burger van, the harsh smell of cleaning fluid took hold of her nose. Hannah braced herself for the launch of the inevitable interrogation.

‘I wasn’t expecting you back just yet. You could’ve had longer, you know.’

‘I really appreciate the break, but I don’t want to take advantage, Auntie Coll.’

‘You weren’t taking advantage, lovey. You work all hours and you’re perfectly entitled to a few minutes with a cuppa – and if that few minutes is spent with a rather attractive kilt-wearing Scotsman, then all the better.’

Hannah shook her head. ‘It was more than a few minutes.’

‘That’s by the by. Oh, and while I remember, can I ask why you were talking to him about belly-whackers, of all things?’

Her aunt’s question made Hannah giggle. ‘It’s cos Lachie overheard the conversation we were having when he first arrived. He’d never heard the expression before, so I explained that they were big knickers.’

‘Oh, right.’ Colleen looked thoughtful for a moment. ‘I wonder if it’s true what they say about what Scotsmen wear under their kilts?’ She threw Hannah a cheeky wink.

‘Don’t. Even. Go. There.’ She shot her aunt a warning look. ‘You’re nothing but a troublesome old minx, you know that, don’t you, Auntie Coll?’

‘Er, less of the old, if you don’t mind, young lady. But I hold my hands up to being troublesome and a minx and I’m proud to be so!’ She gave a throaty cackle and Hannah couldn’t help but laugh with her. ‘Wonder what time we’ll be seeing him tomorrow? He’ll have his loyalty card filled in no time.’ Colleen gave a mischievous waggle of her eyebrows.

Hannah found herself hoping her aunt was right.

EIGHT

For the rest of the week, Hannah slipped into a routine of joining Lachie at the picnic table – with much encouragement from her aunt. He deliberately called later in the day when business was tapering off, ensuring he could spend the time with Hannah and wasn’t pulling her away from her duties in the Bougie Burger van. There was only once she’d had to go and help out when Bougie Burgers was hit with an unexpected rush, but other than that Colleen had managed quite happily – well, more than happily if the tuneless singing emanating from the burger van was anything to go by, much to Lachie and Hannah’s amusement.

Hannah found herself looking forward to his company more than she cared to admit to herself – and most definitely more than she cared to admit to her aunt to whom she still strenuously argued they were no more than friends, though the look in Colleen’s eye told her she didn’t believe a word of it. ‘Oh aye, you tell Lachie that, see what he has to say about it,’ she’d said the last time Hannah had objected.

In truth, Hannah had been surprised by her burgeoning feelings for him, especially after her experience with Evan. That had left her swearing never to expose her heart to hurt again. But the excitement of seeing Lachie thrummed through her relentlessly, intensifying as the day wore on. She instinctively knew he was different; there was something about him, a look in his eyes, that let her know her heart would be in safe hands and she could feel her walls slowly inching down.