Page 6 of Musical Games
Sam grimaced at the low grey clouds. ‘Does it rain a lot here?’
Zoe fixed her with a look. ‘Let me guess, your preparation for this trip involved a manicure, pedicure, eyelash tint and sourcing boots with a six-inch heel rather than checking the weather forecast?’
Sam shrugged. ‘I’m never going outside. I don’t want to be abducted by a haggis.’ She opened the car’s boot and lifted out the first suitcase.
Zoe’s jaw dropped. ‘Have you brought the contents of your entire flat?’
‘I packed for all eventualities.’
‘How many pairs of shoes?’
‘Do slippers, boots and sandals count as shoes?’
‘Sandals? Seriously? Have you packed bikinis and a sarong as well?’
‘I could be in LA in a couple of weeks,’ she blustered.
Zoe howled with laughter. ‘I’m definitely taking you to the leisure centre pool in Inverness. Apparently they’ve got a slide. Or maybe you fancy a dip in the loch?’
Sam shuddered. ‘Just because you decided to go feral and eschew the trappings of civilisation doesn’t mean I have to. I still can’t believe you live in a shed with a rat.’
‘And Rory. Don’t forget him,’ Zoe replied with a devilish glint in her eyes.
‘Yes, that is a consolation. Your boyfriend’s the hottest earl Asgard’s ever produced.’
‘Promise me you won’t call him Thor when you meet him?’
‘Only if you make sure I’ve got a box to stand on. I don’t want to break my neck trying to make eye contact with the brother of Ben Nevis.’
They emptied the boot and trundled the suitcases down the high street. Kinloch was a small village, dominated by the castle. With the arrival of the cast and crew to shootBraveheart 2, the population had swelled by over two hundred per cent. Sam was going to be staying with Morag, who lived behind and above the post office she ran. When Zoe was a child and had visited Kinloch, she’d been best friends with Fiona and Jamie, Morag’s children. Their father had died in an accident on an oil rig when Morag was pregnant with Jamie. Fiona was now married with a baby and Jamie still lived at home. Sam was staying in Fiona’s childhood room that she used whenever her husband, Duncan, was working away offshore.
‘Are you sure Morag is okay with me staying?’
‘Are you kidding? Given half the chance she’dpayyou to stay. You’re my best friend and you’re starring in her favourite soap. I wouldn’t be surprised if she laid an egg with excitement.’
‘And Fiona? She doesn’t mind me using her room?’
‘Don’t be daft. She’s at her house these two weeks with Duncan anyway. She’s already put a bar of chocolate on your pillow and a vase of flowers on the bedside table.’
Sam’s throat was full. She was being treated so well by people she’d never even met. She swallowed. ‘And Jamie?’
‘Jamie what?’ Zoe asked with a sly grin.
‘Does he mind that I’m staying?’ she mumbled.
‘Jamie’s an absolute sweetheart, but he’s currently acting like a grumpy teenager living in a house made of sticks and straw awaiting the arrival of Hurricane Sam.’
Sam groaned. ‘I’ll have to dial myself down to zero.’
‘Bollocks. Don’t you dare. Morag and Fiona are a riot. He’s just scared, that’s all.’
‘Of me? I’m like half his height.’
‘And four times the volume. Look, he’s lived in that house since birth with his mum and sister. He’s never had anyone else in his personal space. And certainly not anyone quite like you.’ Zoe paused. ‘You know there’s only one bathroom upstairs?’
Sam’s tummy flipped.Do not think of Jamie in the shower.‘Yeah. You said he works long hours? I’ll just stay in bed until he leaves in the morning. I’ll be on my best behaviour, I promise. I won’t wind him up.’ Zoe gave her another look and Sam giggled. ‘Okay, I won’t wind him uptoomuch.’
They walked to the back entrance of Morag’s house and knocked. The door was flung open by a small, slightly plump older woman with short curly grey hair and a beaming smile of welcome.
