Secrets at the Loch (Loch Lannick #5) - Hannah Ellis Page 0,80
spoken to them was because she hadn’t had a chance. Nick was so engrossed in his new role as quizmaster at the pub that he stopped nagging her about telling people.
The evenings she spent with him that week involved her watching him compile his quiz questions. Her trying to peek at them became a bit of a joke. He was very secretive, claiming she might sell the answers on, insisting there’d be a market for them. She’d laughed and teased him for being ridiculous but found it quite cute how seriously he was taking it.
She was getting used to the pub being quieter for the winter months, but the turnout for the pub quiz was impressive. Groups were spread around the room on Saturday evening. Nick had given out papers for teams to write the answers on and had walked around chatting to everyone and explaining the rules. The teams could contain no more than four people and you weren’t allowed to look at your phone. That seemed to be the extent of the instructions. Oh, and the quizmaster’s decisions were final. He was quite firm on that rule.
He was looking smart in jeans and a blue shirt. He perched on a stool at the end of the bar and spoke through a microphone to welcome everyone. Lexie thought the microphone was overkill. The room wasn’t that big, and if he just spoke loudly they’d avoid the occasional screech of the microphone that made everyone wince.
“Are we allowed a staff team?” Leana asked from behind the bar.
Nick looked thoughtful. “Aye. So long as there are no more than four of you.”
“Perfect.” Mary plucked an answer sheet from the pile on the bar. “Lexie, you write the answers. Angus, you’re on the team too.”
“I thought I was just going to sit here and enjoy my pint,” he said from his place at the bar.
“You don’t have to move.” Leana tugged on Lexie’s arm to pull her closer to Angus, albeit on the other side of the bar.
There was a jovial atmosphere as Nick worked his way through his questions.
“Do you think it’s a good mix of questions?” Nick asked when he took a break at the halfway point. The bar was busy with people taking the opportunity to get more drinks.
“I think it’s fine,” Lexie said, slightly confused by the question and only half concentrating as she poured drinks.
“I was concerned about having too many questions on nature, so I tried to cover a range of subjects.”
“I think it’s great,” Meghan said, sidling up beside him. She was on a team with Elspeth, Logan and Isla. Lexie had seen them squabbling good-naturedly over some of the answers.
“Thanks,” Nick said. “I was trying to get the right balance of not too difficult, not too easy … and something for everyone.”
“You’ve done a brilliant job.” Meghan beamed at him. “I’m having a great time. I especially enjoy the geography questions, but I do think you’ve got a good mix of subjects.”
Lexie glared at her. Could she flutter her eyelashes any more? And had she no concept of personal space? She was so close to Nick she was practically rubbing up against him.
“What can I get you to drink?” Lexie asked. Other customers had been waiting longer but hopefully if she served Meghan it would get rid of her again.
She put in her order and Lexie moved quickly to get the drinks.
“I presume the staff team can’t actually win?” Meghan asked with a smile.
“Why not? Do we all look stupid or something?” Lexie ignored the look that Nick flashed her.
“No,” Meghan said, her smile wavering. “I only meant that it might be a bit unfair. And it would be a bit weird for the owners of the pub to win the drinks vouchers.”
“Don’t worry,” Nick said. “I’ll make sure everything is fair. The staff definitely won’t win the drinks vouchers.”
Meghan quietly handed over the money when Lexie put the drinks on the bar.
“She’s really annoying,” Lexie muttered under her breath as Meghan walked away.
“She’s not,” Nick said, staring at Lexie. “You were rude.”
“She was rude!” Lexie snapped. “Implying we’re not intelligent enough to win because we work in a pub and don’t have some fancy useless degree.” She actually had no idea what Meghan had a degree in, but she presumed it was something completely pointless.
“She didn’t imply that at all. You know she didn’t. You just have a problem with her because you’re jealous of her.”