Page 51 of Snowflakes Over Micklewick Bay

He gave a low whistle. ‘Wow! What a unique opportunity. How many people get their hands on something like this? It’s stunning, must be worth a fortune.’

Oh, so that was it. Her heart sank, the realisation landing like a slap in the face. ‘If you’ve come here thinking I’m loaded then you can⁠—’

‘I’m not after your money, Hannah!’ Hurt and outrage raced across his face. ‘I don’t need it. My father’s a laird, he’s the chief of Clan McBregglin, we have a massive estate and we own an island in the Outer Hebrides, for chrissake! My home’s an old, draughty flaming castle! The whole thing’s what I’ve been running away from; the pressure of doing my “duty”, of preparing to take over from him when the time comes. I don’t need your money. Money doesn’t motivate me. Following my heart, however, does.’ His chest was heaving, his cheeks flushed. He took several steps closer to her. ‘The reason I didn’t return to the burger van was because my father was in hospital. He’d had a stroke and I had an urgent call telling me I needed to head home immediately, that it was touch and go for him. I went back to the island, which is where I remained until he recovered. I came back to find you, Hannah. You’re the only reason I’m here.’

‘Oh,’ was all she could muster.

Lachie moved closer again and before she knew what was happening, he was standing mere inches away, the familiar scent of his cologne dancing under her nose and sending her nerve endings firing mixed messages to her brain: attraction, desire, alarm and hurt amongst them.

‘You were all I could think about while I was away. I knew I was falling in love with you. It broke my heart to leave, especially with having no way to contact you. And you don’t make it easy to find you! You’re not even on social media.’

His observation about social media was true. Hannah had avoided setting up accounts in case they attracted unwanted attention from Polly or Darryl, or even their supporters.

Still, she couldn’t find the right words to reply, her mind too full of what she’d just learnt.

‘You’ve no idea how hard I’ve tried to find you. I even parked up the campervan where you used to have Bougie Bertha, hoping you’d turn up. But you never did.

‘I drove around the town, hoping to catch sight of you again, but you’d gone. I’ve been searching for you ever since. I never stopped caring about you, Hannah. The feelings I had for you just wouldn’t go away, they’re too deep.’

Despite herself, she gave in to the urge to meet his eyes. What she saw there made her heart jump. The softness, and the raw emotion made her knees weaken. All the feelings she’d had for him last spring but had packed away suddenly burst free.

Evidently sensing a change in her, Lachie risked a tentative smile. ‘Please tell me you feel the same way.’ He placed his hands on her shoulders and dipped his head, looking deeper into her eyes. ‘Hannah?’

His voice sent a shiver of desire rushing through her.

The sound of a car horn beeping noisily outside pulled her unceremoniously out of their moment. She took a step back, reality kicking in. She had too much to deal with right now. There was no room for a relationship in her life, especially if he could disappear at any moment, back to his Scottish island.

‘I’m sorry, Lachie. We had our moment last year. And that’s all it was, a moment. It was lovely while it lasted, but I think if anything was meant to happen, it would’ve been then.’ She avoided meeting his eyes, fearful of what she might see there. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go.’

‘What? You can’t be serious, surely?’

Before she could stop herself, she caught his gaze. The hurt it held almost undid her but she was determined to stand firm. If he’d really wanted to get in touch with her when he’d left so abruptly for home, he’d have found a way. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was only interested in her now out of convenience.

‘I couldn’t be more serious, Lachie.’

‘Okay,’ he said quietly.

She watched as he turned on his heel and walked out of the café.

Oh, Lachie! Her eyes clouded with tears and her heart twisted in pain. The thought that she’d just made the biggest mistake of her life suddenly loomed large in her mind.

THIRTY-THREE

‘Come in,’ Maggie said in her usual friendly way, holding open the porch door to Clifftop Cottage.

‘Thanks, Maggie. I know you’re busy, so I won’t keep you.’ Hannah squeezed by, being careful not to squash the bouquet of flowers or the awkwardly shaped item she had wrapped in a black bin bag. She knew the cans of beer in the bag that was dangling from her finger would survive unscathed. Manoeuvring her way in, she did her best to avoid Daphne’s paws as the Labrador danced around her.

‘Looks like you’ve got your hands full there, flower. Can I take anything for you?’ Maggie took Daphne’s collar and pulled her back. ‘Come on, out of the way, Daph.’

Once inside the kitchen, Hannah said, ‘Actually, you can take these, they’re for you.’ She handed the blooms to Maggie. ‘And these are for Bear.’ She set the cans down on the pine table. ‘Just a little something to say thank you for all your kindness yesterday. I don’t know what I’d have done without you coming to my rescue the way you did.’

‘Oh, there was really no need, we were happy to help. But these are beautiful, thank you.’ Maggie buried her head in the bouquet and inhaled deeply. ‘They smell absolutely divine. I’ll just stand them in some water.’ She bustled over to the sink and filled a jug from the cold tap before pushing the bouquet into it. ‘There, they should be okay in that for a bit; I’ll arrange them later.’ She turned back to Hannah. ‘Fancy a cuppa?’

‘I won’t, thanks. I’ve taken up enough of your time already. And besides, I should be heading back home. I’ve got a lot to think about.’

‘Now, that you certainly have.’ Maggie gave a throaty laugh. ‘I have to say, Bear and me were really taken with the pier café. It’s got so much potential. Please tell me you’ll be back soon to share your ideas – assuming you’re going to go ahead with it, that is.’

‘Will do.’ Maggie’s upbeat personality was infectious and went some way to smothering her regret at sending Lachie packing the way she had. Though it didn’t stop a doubt from lingering, making her wonder if she’d been too hasty, that she should have heard him out. But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.