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Nina dressed quickly. She wanted to go help Cameron in the kitchen. She had a feeling that Ash would take a while getting ready, and she didn’t want him preparing everything without any assistance. She wanted to be a good houseguest. She left the room and made her way down the stairs. The reason for her wanting to make a good impression was so that she could keep everything sweet for Isla. Not because I’m sweet on Cameron. He’s not my type.

She made her way into the kitchen. Cameron was cooking the steaks on the grill and it smelled delicious. He glanced up and his eyes seemed to widen a little. “You look lovely.”

“Thank you,” she said, coming toward him. She lifted the lid on a pot on the stove where some vegetables were steaming. “What can I do to help?”

He stared at her for a second then nodded toward the oven. “Can you get the potato wedges out, please? They should be done now.”

Nina popped on the oven gloves and lifted them out. They were clearly homemade and spiced with paprika. They also smelled heavenly.

“You made these from scratch?”

“Yep.”

“They look gorgeous,” she said, spooning them out onto the three plates that were waiting on the counter. “I thought people from LA didn’t eat carbs?”

He grinned. “I’m not from LA. I’m from Glasgow.”

She laughed. “Good point.”

He finished the steaks and placed them on the plates while Nina drained the vegetables and added them.

“Whereabouts are we eating?” she asked.

“On the terrace,” he said. “Take those out and I’ll bring the sauce and drinks.”

Nina managed to balance the three plates and took them out through the patio to where the long table was laid and waiting. Three of the places were set, two on one side and one on the other. She put the plates down just as Cameron emerged with some wine and the condiments.

He gestured for her to sit at one of the side-by-side set places. “I’ll just see where Ash is.” He disappeared into the house. Nina opened the red wine and poured them each a glass.

Cameron emerged again. “She’s nearly ready. She said to start without her.” He took the seat opposite her and lifted his glass, holding it out toward her. She clinked it with hers.

Nina took a sip. It was velvety and warm. For a moment it seemed like they were on a date, gazing into each other’s eyes across a beautiful terrace on a warm summer’s evening.

“Is the wine okay for you?” he asked.

“It’s delicious,” Nina said.

“It’s from a vineyard on the island,” he said. “Just a wee one, but their wares are good.”

Nina grinned. “I like that you still use the word ‘wee’, despite not living in Scotland for years.”

He smiled. “I only use it with other Scots.”

“I’m not actually a Scot.”

“You’re an adopted Scot. Anyway, there’re hints in your speech that you’ve lived there a long time.”

“Are there?” Nina said. She’d never noticed that.

He nodded.

“When I first moved to Glasgow, I had no idea what anyone was saying,” she said.

He laughed. “No?”

“Nope,” she said. “I’d say ‘pardon’ twice, then after they’d spoken the third time, I’d just be like ‘ha ha…yeah’.”

Cameron laughed. “Who knows what you were agreeing to?” He took a sip of his water.