Page 47 of Christmas at the Scottish Lodge
‘It’s no one,’ Jed said, as his eyes darted back to the bed where Mairi was still watching him. His stomach growled, signalling hunger but also a reminder that this conversation was making him uneasy.
‘Whatever you say,’ Quinn teased, with laughter in his tone. Jed felt loathsome – his friend wouldn’t be laughing if he knew who was really in his bed.
‘I spoke to someone named Douglas earlier,’ Quinn told him. ‘Strange man, he asked what I thought about attaching mugs to ski poles for carrying peppermint mocha. I said I thought something like it had already been done…’
Jed sucked air between his teeth. Hopefully, the older man hadn’t tried out his latest idea. He’d have to check his poles before going on the slopes. With his aunt still out of action he had no idea what Douglas might get up to once he’d finished hanging the lights. His intentions were good, but he needed to stick with his usual jobs. He couldn’t do anything to upset Greer. ‘Why?’ he asked, glancing around the room before he spotted a clean T-shirt on the chair. He pulled it over his head.
‘He mentioned something about giving skiers extra energy,’ Quinn said.
Jed shut his eyes. ‘I mean why did you speak to him?’
‘I wanted to book a room at the lodge.’
‘You tried to book a room?’ Jed checked, his stomach sinking.
‘Aye – don’t worry, I got one. I’m arriving tomorrow.’
‘Tomorrow?’ Jed cried, his eyes widening as he turned to look at Mairi.
‘What’s happening?’ she mouthed, sitting up in bed. The duvet dropped to reveal the top half of her body, which was gloriously naked. Jed’s body hardened and he had to drag his eyes away before he did something stupid, like hang up or tell Quinn she was here.
‘You’re coming to stay at Holly Berry Lodge?’ he asked loudly and heard Mairi’s sharp intake of breath as he bent to search for socks. When he turned, she was shaking her head and gesticulating that he couldn’t. ‘I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Aunt Effie’s still sick, you don’t want to risk getting flu.’ Mairi nodded encouragingly. ‘Who’s going to rescue all the lost skiers if you do?’
It was the best Jed could manage at short notice, but he suspected Quinn would need a better reason not to visit. He was obviously still worried about his sister. It was surprising he’d stayed away for so long.
Quinn snorted. ‘Someone else will do it. It took me a while to swing things, but I’ve arranged cover for mountain rescue. I’m coming to see Mairi. It’s Christmas the day after tomorrow and I want to be there with her, since she’s clearly not going to be back in Edinburgh. Something’s going on with her. I can feel it.’ He sounded worried, which made Jed feel worse. ‘I need to get her to talk to me face to face. It’s the only way she’ll open up.’
Jed’s breath quickened as Mairi rose from the bed and went to pick up her T-shirt and trousers. She was still naked, and he wished he could wrestle her back into bed – preferably with him on top.
He twisted around to stare out of the window. It was snowing again, and he could see the sun was starting to rise. He checked his watch. It was almost time for them to get breakfastorganised; he had to get downstairs and sort the dogs. Bear had spent the night with his aunt and he’d be stirring soon.
Mairi must have realised the same because she began to search for her underwear, tearing through the pile of clothes on the ground.
‘You need to give your sister time to finish her book. I think she plans to work over Christmas right up to New Year.’ Jed tried another tack as he put the socks on and went to grab some shoes, smiling as Mairi threw a pair of his boxers and a T-shirt over her shoulder before locating her bra. ‘She won’t be happy if you just turn up without warning.’
She shook her head at the mobile, proving his point.
‘Don’t tell her I’m coming,’ Quinn ordered. ‘I want to surprise her.’
Jed’s insides roiled. He hated lying to his best friend – but here he was doing it all over again. What kind of man married his best friend’s sister and kept it a secret from him? What kind of person slept with her and then pretended she wasn’t in his bed?
If he wanted to question his suitability as a friend or husband, then just that was enough to prove he wasn’t good enough. When you added in his inability to ski competitively and his father’s debt, there really was no coming back. How would Quinn ever forgive him if he found out?
Jed swallowed. ‘I won’t tell her,’ he promised – because what else could he say? ‘But I really don’t think you should come to the lodge.’ He tried to think of more reasons why it was a bad idea. ‘She’ll be mad at you.’ Weak but it might work.
‘It wouldn’t be the first time,’ Quinn said darkly. ‘I feel like everything I say at the moment is wrong. She’s been like this for almost a year.’ He sighed.
‘Maybe she—’ Jed pulled a face, caught between wanting to tell the truth and not wanting to lie any more than necessary. ‘Idon’t know, maybe she wants to take responsibility for her own life?’
‘Do you know something?’ Quinn asked suspiciously.
‘No,’ Jed shot back as his insides twisted. He hated this. But it was all his own doing. He’d spun a web of lies that he’d have to untangle at some point – but now wasn’t the time.
‘I can’t help feeling she’s in trouble and needs my help,’ Quinn said, sounding calmer. ‘You know how close we were. She always came to me when she had a problem. At least she did until a year ago. She says it’s time for her to stand on her own two feet, but I can’t help feeling there’s something else going on…’
‘Aye.’ Jed swallowed. He knew exactly what that was. The sooner he could be honest with his friend the better. Hopefully, it would only be a couple more days.
Remorse ate at him as Quinn continued. ‘Once Mairi gets over the shock of me being at the lodge, she’ll come around. I’ll help out. I won’t get in the way of her writing. It’s going to be okay,’ his friend promised. ‘You’ll see.’
