Secrets at the Loch (Loch Lannick #5) - Hannah Ellis Page 0,22

stand to be in the house.”

Lexie wrinkled her nose as she set a couple of pints in front of Nick and Logan. “Are there really mice running around?”

“No, they were dead,” Nick said.

Leana pulled a face. “They moved the kitchen cupboards and found two dead mice behind them.”

“That is gross,” Lexie agreed.

“At least it explains the smell,” Nick said. “And it was preferable to your idea that there was a body in the walls.” He smiled at Lexie, then thanked everyone for helping and insisted on paying for their drinks.

“I’m quite envious,” Alasdair said to Nick. “I’d quite like to have a project to work on.”

“Aye right.” Leana tutted. “We looked around Nick’s house when we were searching for a place to live. You walked straight out again.”

“When we were looking to rent,” he protested. “If you’re buying I think it’d be quite nice to renovate a place yourself.”

Nick raised an eyebrow. “That’s easy to say when your house looks like a show home!”

“Good point,” Alasdair said. “It’s a nice idea in theory.”

“Let’s grab a table,” Logan said, tipping his head at the nearest one.

Leana and Elspeth stayed at the bar while the guys moved away.

“I messaged Meghan to see if she wanted to join us,” Elspeth said. “I didn’t hear back, though.”

“Is she still around?” Lexie asked.

“Aye.” Elspeth’s brow wrinkled to a frown. “Why did you say it like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you don’t like her.”

“I didn’t,” Lexie said, feeling slightly flustered by the accusation. “I just didn’t realise she was staying around. I hardly know her, why wouldn’t I like her?”

“I dunno,” Elspeth said. “She’s really lovely.”

Lexie opened her mouth to speak, but it felt like an argument and she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say.

“She’s staying around for a little while,” Leana said. “She says it’s to sort through her gran’s things, but I think she just doesn’t want to go back to London.”

Lexie wanted to ask questions. Surely Meghan had a job she needed to get back to. Worried that anything she said might be misinterpreted, she kept her mouth shut.

“She’s not coming,” Elspeth said, reading a message on her phone. “She says she doesn’t feel like being sociable.”

“Where’s Isla tonight?” Lexie asked.

“She volunteered to babysit Arran,” Elspeth said. “Though I probably shouldn’t be too long.”

“When will Rory be up again?”

“On Monday. He’ll stay for two weeks for the school holidays. I can’t wait. And I’ll be so glad when he moves up here permanently. I’m already sick of long-distance.”

“A year will fly by,” Lexie said optimistically, then moved along the bar to serve a customer. When she came back to Leana and Elspeth she asked about the cafe, which Elspeth complained was too quiet.

The guys finished their drinks and migrated back to the bar.

“Who wants another?” Lexie asked.

“I’m going home,” Nick said before thanking everyone again for their help and saying a collective goodbye. Logan left at the same time.

“I’ll have another pint,” Alasdair said, sliding onto a stool beside Leana.

Lexie’s phone buzzed in her pocket after she handed Alasdair his drink. She got it out and scanned the message.

“Bad news?” Leana asked.

Lexie’s head shot up. “What?”

“You pulled a face,” Leana said lightly. “Who is it and what did they say to annoy you so much?”

Lexie wished she was better at hiding her emotions. “No one,” she said as she re-read the message.

“Oh, now I’m intrigued,” Elspeth said, leaning over the bar.

Quickly, Lexie moved the phone out of her view.

“Who is it?” Leana asked, grinning.

“Just Craig.” Lexie slipped the phone back into her pocket. He’d asked her if she wanted to go out for dinner sometime. That was a new one. She’d never been on a proper date with him.

“Craig the barman?” Elspeth asked.

“Yes.” Lexie scanned the room, hoping there was something she needed to do.

“I didn’t realise you still saw him,” Leana said.

“I don’t really. I just bumped into him in Portree the other week.”

“And now he’s messaging you?” Elspeth asked.

“Aye.”

Leana leaned on the bar. “Are you dating him?”

“No. Of course not.”

“Why not?” Elspeth asked. “He’s gorgeous.”

“He’s also kind of shallow.” Lexie shook her head, wishing the subject hadn’t come up. “I’m not interested in him.”

Leana and Elspeth exchanged a look. Their telepathic sister conversations drove Lexie mad.

“What have you been working on this week?” Lexie asked Alasdair. “Written any new songs?”

Thankfully that got him chatting and the conversation moved on. She asked him to play at the pub again sometime and he happily agreed. He’d played there a few times in the