Page 9 of Kindling
At least he was the owner’s friend. That surely meant she would be able to secure a room first thing tomorrow. “Well, you don’t have to. I’m not a critic. Officially, at least. I could easily critique your hospitality.”
“I could easily let you find somewhere else to stay tonight, but I’m not that cruel.”
They reached the café at last. The windows were wide, allowing patrons to take in the large loch, and golden fairy lights glowed inside. Finally, some sign of modern civilisation – although there weren’t enough people around to make it feel quite real. A waitress was cleaning down the outdoor tables, but that was the only movement save for the gentle ripple of the water.
“They’re open until half-six, and from eight in the morning, so you’ll manage here. Think you can find your way back?”
He was just… leaving her here now?
Harper bit her chapped bottom lip and nodded without conviction. “Sure.”
She wouldn’t beg him to stay. He’d done enough for her already. On the bright side, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She had contact with the real world again.
She waited for him to leave, but he hovered, checking his watch once more. “I can stay a little longer, but I need to head back to the cabin in twenty at the latest.”
“I can manage without you. I found my way through the woods, didn’t I?”Barely.
“It’s fine. I should grab something to eat before I head off anyway. Come on.”
He tipped his head, holding the door open and waiting for her to enter. The warmth inside was like stepping into a hot bubble bath after a long day. The tension seeped from her bones all at once as the smell of roasted coffee beans soothed her. Perhaps she would return here to write. With the view of the loch, it might inspire her stories.
A short grey-haired woman greeted them at the counter. “Hello, stranger. You’ve finally been coaxed out of that cabin, eh?”
Fraser laughed politely. “Aye, something like that.” When his gaze met Harper’s, her knees buckled. She hadn’t been charming enough to make him smile like that, and only now did she see the deep dimple softening his chiselled cheek. “Good to see you, too, Alice.”
“What can I get the two of you?” She tightened the bow on her apron then turned her attention to Harper.
So did Fraser, allowing her to order first.
After perusing the menu, she said, “I’ll take the halloumi burger and chips, please. And a tea.”
Alice jotted it down, then waited for Fraser to add, “The same is fine. Cheers.”
Harper was quick to nudge Fraser out of the way to pay on her card. “To say thanks.”
“That’s not necessary. I can pay.” But it was too late. The transaction went through with a satisfied beep of the machine.Alice raised an intrigued brow at both of them. Harper averted her gaze, certain she knew what this looked like, and quickly took a few napkins to a table by the window before either of them could say more.
“You’re making me look ungentlemanly,” Fraser commented, slipping into the seat opposite.
“You can take it off my total bill tomorrow if it makes you feel emasculated.” She stretched out her tired legs, accidentally nudging his shin. Quickly, she pulled away, pretending to be interested in the view outside the window. It was pretty: the peaceful loch was a gentle, much-needed reminder of why she’d come here in the first place.
He rolled his eyes, then leaned forwards to brace his elbows on the table. His piercing blue gaze was inescapable when he was this close. “Harper, I wasn’t going to charge you for one night.”
“Why not?”
“Well, for starters, my cabin is not exactly the Ritz. And you needed the favour.”
“I’m capable of looking after myself!” she blurted, blood pulsing in her ears. It wasn’t loud enough to drown out the memory of Kenzie’s patronising voice.I need someone I don’t have to worry about all the time.Did everybody see her that way? Even strangers?
The fact her phone was currently pinging with a stream of antsy messages from Mum said yes. Harper huffed and texted that she’d arrived safely and would call her later, then returned to glowering at him.
He held his hands aloft as though in surrender. “I didn’t say you weren’t! I’m saying what that lodge owner did to you was shite, and I wouldn’t have left you to roam the bloody woods all night. I’m not going to take money from you when you’ve been treated like that.”
Tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She didn’t know if it was fury at her situation or just the shock of his kindness that caused it, but she didn’t like it either way. She felt so… out of control at the moment. So confused about how she would ever measure up to the person Kenzie had wanted her to be. Maybe she just wasn’t built to be confident and put-together. Maybe she wasn’t built to be wanted at all.
“I’m paying you for the stay,” she said, lifting her chin defiantly. “Thank you for the kindness, but I refuse it.”
“All right. If that’s what you want.” He sat back and folded his arms, the chair creaking beneath him. “So, you didn’t answer my earlier question. What are you going to write?”
