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“Lewis!” Jamie calls into the kitchen. “Lewis, please come here and tell Ally to stop talking. It’s too early in the morning—I can’t stomach his chat.”

* * *

I’m at reception, humming away to some Scottish folk music that now plays to welcome guests—one of Lewis’s ideas. The music is pretty good, although if I were still spending as much time at the desk as I used to, it’d drive me up the wall before long.

It’s not the only change Lewis has made. The notices I’d put up, telling guests to check out by ten and to report any breakages immediately, are gone. Lewis said they weren’t very welcoming, and he’s probably right.

About half an hour ago, I said my goodbyes to Grace and David. They’re heading back to London today, although they’re stopping at Loch Ness on the way. They’ve booked a boat ride, and Grace told me she’s hoping to spot the monster. I think she was joking.

Johnny came over to see David off. They seemed sad to be parting ways, but they say they’re going to stay in touch.

Aidan popped around too—he wouldn’t miss the chance to give Grace a goodbye hug. I’m just glad nothing happened between them this last week. Emily hasn’t given me an answer yet about whether she sees a future for herself here, but I’ve got a good feeling she’s going to come around. If—no, when—she settles in Bannock, she’ll want her best friend to visit her a lot, and it’d have made things awkward had Aidan made Grace one of his conquests.

Emily got a bit tearful when saying goodbye to her two closest friends, but now they’re gone, she’s helping Lewis with a strategy for the hotel. Apparently, he “appreciates her input”. The pair of them are working away in the office behind me. Lewis asked me to take care of reception and has even closed the door—presumably because he doesn’t want me overhearing their discussions and butting in with my thoughts.

I should probably feel snubbed by this, but honestly, I don’t care. After yesterday’s sex—some of which took place in that very office—nothing could shake my good mood.

I’m browsing through some outdoor equipment on my phone when the front door opens and a man saunters in. He’s about my age, with darkish hair, an expensive-looking shirt, and pinstripe trousers. He carries himself with an air of self-assured confidence, and everything about him is different to our usual sort of guest. I wonder if he was looking for the Glen Garve Resort and got lost on the way.

“Good morning,” he says in a refined English accent.

“Morning. How can I help?”

“I believe you’ve got an Emily Thomas staying with you?”

An uneasy feeling settles in my stomach.

“Please could you let her know I’m here? We need to talk.”

I scratch at my stubble. “Can I take your name?” I have a horrible sense of foreboding, like I know exactly what he’s going to say, but I have to ask.

“Harry. Harry Cooper.”

My blood boils, my suspicion confirmed. This is the eejit who jilted Emily, and yet he has the audacity to come here and ask to speak with her? Part of me wants to round the reception desk and punch his smug face. True, it was him walking out on Emily that brought me and her together, but he still hurt her, and he deserves to pay for that.

Deep breaths, Ally. Deep breaths. I can’t hit this man, but there’s also no way I’m letting him see Emily. So long as I’m around, this prick won’t get the chance to hurt her ever again.

“You need to go,” I say as evenly as I can manage, although there’s a definite edge to my voice.

“Excuse me?” Harry’s eyebrows practically hit his hairline.

“I said you need to go. You’re not welcome here.”

In an instant, Harry’s demeanour changes. He leans across the reception desk and speaks to me like I’m a piece of dirt on the ground, his eyes flashing with irritation, as though he’s used to people like me doing his bidding rather than speaking back to him. “I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but I got up at the crack of dawn this morning to take a flight to Inverness, then I hired a car to drive out here, to the middle of fucking nowhere. I didn’t do all that for nothing, so tell Emily I’m here. Now!”

“No.” I fold my arms. “I suggest you leave before I chuck you out.”

Harry doesn’t budge. He continues to glare at me, his dark-brown eyes boring into mine like he thinks he can change my mind through sheer will alone. No chance. What a twat.

We’re still staring each other down when the office door opens.

“Ally, do you think . . .” Emily’s voice trails off when she sees who’s standing on the other side of the desk. “Oh God. Harry.”

The venom disappears from Harry’s face even quicker than it arrived, and instead, the biggest smile breaks across his lips. “Emily! There you are. Wow, you look different. Your hair . . . it suits you like that.”

After straightening her hair yesterday, when she wore that lovely grey dress, Emily has let it go curly again and has styled it half up, half down.

Harry continues to beam at Emily, but Emily doesn’t return his smile. I think she’s frozen with shock.