Secrets at the Loch (Loch Lannick #5) - Hannah Ellis Page 0,67
was a bit worried about you. The trip seemed so sudden.”
“I just had the urge to get away. It ended up being a really good week, though.” She thought about the hike up Ben Nevis and smiled brightly. “Do you want to come back to my place? We can have another drink and I’ll tell you all about it.”
“I’d love to.” Leana pulled her phone from her pocket and winced as she looked at the screen. “Except Alasdair cooked for me and I’m already later than I said I’d be. I think he’s getting impatient now.” She jabbed at the phone screen, then shoved it back in her pocket and headed for the door. “Sorry,” she said. “We’ll definitely have a good catch-up soon. I’d love to hear about your trip.”
“I’m working in the pub tomorrow,” Lexie said. “But we could get together next week.”
“Perfect.” Leana gave her a quick squeeze, then hid the key under the plant pot. Her car was on the road and she got straight in it, shouting goodbye as she went.
Lexie strolled back to her place, pulling her phone from her pocket to call Nick and tell him she’d arrived safely. He answered as she stepped inside the house.
“How was the drive?” he asked.
“It was good. Not much traffic.”
“And how’s everything in Lannick?”
She went into the living room and flopped onto the couch. “Everything is pretty boring.”
“That’s because I’m not there. Was that your way of telling me you miss me?”
“I guess it wasn’t as subtle as I thought!”
“I miss you too,” he said quietly.
Lexie smiled into the phone.
“Are you working tomorrow?” he asked.
“Yeah. But I can probably finish early if I work the whole day.”
“Good, so I can see you tomorrow evening without having to prop up the bar?”
“I think so.” She sighed and shifted to get comfy on the couch. “I can’t wait.”
Chapter Thirty
“So you spent the whole week in Fort William?” Mary asked Lexie on Sunday morning as they got ready to open the pub.
“Yes.”
“With Nick?” Angus asked, staring at her.
She hopped onto a bar stool. “Well, I stayed in this little holiday apartment but I saw a lot of Nick.”
“And you two are together now?” Mary asked, her eyebrows drawing together.
“Yes!” Lexie laughed. “Why do you look so shocked. I thought you liked Nick.”
“We do,” Mary said. “I’m just a bit surprised. You never seemed very keen on him.”
Angus picked up a pile of menus and walked around setting them on tables. “You know he’s one of those twitchers, don’t you?”
“What?” Lexie asked, still smiling as she shot him a puzzled look.
“A birdwatcher,” Angus said. “I’ve seen him sitting out the back just staring up at the birds. One day he started telling me all sorts of random facts about sandpipers.”
“He knows a lot about nature. That’s not such a bad thing, is it?”
“I suppose not,” Angus agreed.
“I think he’s a lovely lad.” Her mum patted her arm affectionately. “I’m pleased for you.”
“I haven’t told Leana or anyone yet,” Lexie said. “So keep it to yourselves for now.”
“Leana will be happy for you,” Mary remarked. “I think she hoped you might get together with him. She’s often said it’s a shame you didn’t like him back.”
“Really? Because I’ve been worried that not everyone will be happy about it. Elspeth’s really close to Nick and I’m not sure she’ll approve.”
“Why wouldn’t she?” Mary asked.
“I dunno.” Lexie shrugged and slid off the stool. “She probably thinks he can do better or something.”
Angus stopped what he was doing. “Better than you? Get away! That’s not possible. And Nick better treat you right, or he’ll have me to answer to.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She beamed. “Shall I open up?”
He looked to the clock on the wall. “Aye. I suppose we ought to.”
“Remember not to mention me and Nick to anyone.”
There were no customers for the first hour, so Lexie filled her mum in on her trip, telling her about the hike up Ben Nevis and meeting Nick’s brother. Talking about her time away was lovely, like she was re-living it.
At lunchtime they were a little busier, then they had a steady trickle of customers over the afternoon. Lexie kept checking her phone, eager to know when Nick arrived back. She was desperate to see his reaction to all the work on the house.
It was just after eight when he messaged to say he was home. The pub was quiet and she still had her phone in her hand as she smiled sweetly at her dad.