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Lottie didn’t move. “Are you OK?”

Hannah huffed out a quiet laugh. “I’m more than OK.” She caressed Lottie’s cheek with one of her hands. “I think you were right. I think I was doing it all wrong.”

Lottie surged forwards, and this time she kissed Hannah passionately. She pressed her against the aged wooden door, finding no resistance from Hannah.

Hannah’s lips were hot and wanting, and Lottie slid her tongue into her mouth, eliciting a moan from Hannah.

Hannah grabbed tightly to the sides of Lottie’s coat, as if pulling her even closer. Lottie longed to unbutton the smart coat that clad Hannah’s body. She brought her fingers to Hannah’s collar and pulled at the first two buttons, desperate to reach more skin.

Hannah brought a hand to Lottie’s bum and squeezed, and Lottie thought she might expire. She pulled at the scarf around Hannah’s neck to expose her clavicle, and leaned in to kiss it.

Suddenly there was a groan that came from neither woman. It was the door being pushed open.

Hannah’s eyes sprang open and Lottie jumped aside. Hannah stepped away from the door, allowing it to open. At the same time, it trapped Lottie into a corner of the large porch, so the person emerging couldn’t see her.

“Uh, hi,” said Hannah, her voice uncertain.

“Hey,” came Anya’s unmistakeable voice. “Late night in town? Good for you.”

Lottie opted to stay hidden, as she knew Anya would see through any excuse as to why the two women were huddled in the porch.

“You’d best do up your coat if you’re hanging around outside, though,” added Anya. “You’ll catch your death with it all open like that in this.” She looked up at the generous sprig of mistletoe hanging from the roof of the porch and gave a half smile before striding to her motorbike, donning her helmet and motoring into the night.

Hannah angled the door to let Lottie out. “Well, that was a bit awkward,” said Hannah.

“It could have been far worse,” said Lottie with a devilish grin. “Anya loves gossip. I’m just glad she didn’t spot me there behind the door.”

They walked into the castle and shut the door behind them.

“There you are,” exclaimed Anne-Marie from behind the reception desk.

Lottie nearly jumped out of her skin. “Sorry, Anne-Marie. Didn’t see you there. Everything OK?”

“Yes, but we need to move a couple of the guests around. I’ll make you a cuppa and we can sort it out. It won’t take long.” Anne-Marie disappeared.

“I guess I’d best get off to bed,” said Hannah, looking uncertain again, and as though something had once more closed up.

Lottie grimaced. “Sorry, that’s the problem with living at your workplace.”

“Don’t worry,” said Hannah, by now all business, and with none of the passion Lottie had just felt.

“See you tomorrow?” asked Lottie, a note of optimism in her voice.

“I’m sure you will. Goodnight,” said Hannah, and vanished in the direction of the staircase.

Chapter Twenty-One

HANNAH

Hannah walked into her room and immediately packed her suitcase. What the hell was she doing? Necking like a teenager in the doorway? With Lottie?

She knew she’d had too much to drink. But this wasn’t her, was it? She thought back to the moment in the porch. It was Hannah herself who’d introduced the idea of the kiss, the words escaping her mouth before she’d even thought to stop them. Her breath had quickened this evening in a way that was entirely different from the panic attacks she’d become used to in recent weeks.

The cosiness of the pub, the warmth of the alcohol, the beauty of Lottie’s eyes and the perilous walk home had clearly awakened something in her. But she wasn’t sure she was ready for this particular dragon to come to life.

And besides, Hannah wasn’t gay. This was ridiculous. She was perfectly fine just as she was, and Lottie was just an unwelcome, if irresistible, blast from her past.

The problem was that she couldn’t leave now. For a start, she’d have to check out, and no doubt Lottie would still be down there on reception with Anne-Marie. And besides, the storm was now well and truly coming in. She left the half-packed suitcase and looked out of the window. In the pitch black there was little visibility across the loch, but she could see large clusters of snowflakes flying horizontally. This wasn’t just some inclement weather. It was likely to turn into a blizzard.