Chapter 17
I will never tire of watching a white-tailed eagle soaring overhead. Without fail, the sight stops me in my tracks and takes my breath away.
Extract from Joy’s journal
Time slowed, or perhaps it stopped completely. The kiss stole Tilly’s breath. And then it deepened and all she could focus on was the hard warmth of Logan pressed against her and the breeze whipping her hair, while their arms encircled each other.
She wasn’t sure who pulled away first, but when they did, she was breathless. It was more than just the chill air making her shiver. Her lips tingled and her thumping heart sounded loud in her ears. Even the birdsong seemed to have momentarily paused.
‘Well, we’ve never done that before!’ Tilly laughed, desperate to break the awkward silence.
‘No, we haven’t.’ Logan turned away and started stuffing the remains of their picnic back into his rucksack.
This was when they should have laughed about it and playfully pushed each other while making some wisecrack about a kiss that wasn’t a real kiss.
Except it absolutely had been, and the way Logan’s cheeks were burning and he was avoiding looking at her, while fluttery heat pooled in the pit of her stomach, suggested that teasing each other wasn’t going to cut it.
‘Looks like it might rain.’ Logan gestured to the distant clouds blooming ash-grey and slung his rucksack on his back.
Tilly followed his lead and started packing up too, throwing on her jumper, while the fluttering in her stomach twisted into stabbing anxiety.
Logan whistled for Barney, who shot out of the bushes on the other side of the path.
Without another word, they set off in the direction they’d come, leaving the rain-laden clouds behind them.
Neither of them said anything as they retraced their steps along the shore of Loch Ba.
Tilly told herself that their silence enabled them to watch the birds flit between the trees.
They might be lucky enough to catch sight of a red deer or spot a golden eagle flying overhead, but it was obvious that they were consumed by what had just happened.
The kiss was all Tilly could think about and she was certain it was the same for Logan too.
She’d kissed her best friend for the first time, something she’d never considered doing before.
Except there might have been a drunken night or two at university when the thought of kissing him had crashed into her head, but it had been fleeting, because she’d been drunk and emotions had been heightened, and he was her best friend.
Attractive with the personality to match.
Oh God, now her heart was racing for all the right reasons, or perhaps they were the wrong ones, because where did that leave them?
The kiss had felt wonderful, natural and so incredibly right.
Yet not talking about it seemed the easier option and she knew Logan felt the same by the time they’d walked for thirty minutes without saying a word.
At the marshy area, Logan put Barney on the lead in case of nesting birds.
When they were two-thirds of the way back, they paused again to put on their raincoats as the wind whipped up and the moody clouds had darkened to basalt.
They paced on, their boots crunching the gravel, and Logan filled the silence with chatter about his last birthday that he’d spent with Joy.
The darkening sky forced them to pick up the pace.
The chill wind increased with a spot or two of rain and the surroundings became a wild and unforgiving landscape of grey loch and looming mountains.
‘Think we made a mistake not doing the walk earlier,’ Logan said as Barney pulled ahead, urging them to get a move on.
‘It’s April, rain’s to be expected.’
Even talking about the weather eased the tension a touch, yet there was uncertainty over where they stood with each other.
The risk to their friendship was all Tilly could think about for the remainder of the walk, because romance and conflicting feelings would be like playing with fire.
The uncertainty and tension was already manifesting itself with her stomach churning and the strained way they were behaving with each other.
They left Loch Ba behind and went through the gate by the cattle grid, passing the herd of cows they’d seen earlier, all now lying down as the rain clouds scurried overhead.
The landscape changed with the evergreens lining the road enclosing them, dampening the sound of the whistling wind. Tilly’s thoughts continued to churn.
How could she put these feelings back in their box?
How would she navigate her way through the mess of emotions that kiss had stirred up?
At least once they got back they wouldn’t have to remain in each other’s company, yet she hated that she wanted to put as much space between her and Logan as she could.
The rain started hammering down as Loch View House came into sight, its solid stone walls welcome against the dreary grey that had blanketed everything. Loch Na Keal had disappeared with the driving rain and the hills beyond were just a smudged outline against the paler grey sky.
By the time they’d splashed their way down the lane, rivulets of water were running off Tilly’s waterproof coat and onto her definitely-not-waterproof trousers.
They tumbled into the boot room in a flurry of mud and water.
Barney immediately shook himself, sending water droplets flying.
Tilly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she hung her raincoat on a hook to drip more water onto the floor.
Her walking boots were sodden, her trousers were stuck to her skin and her hair was plastered to her face.
‘There’s nothing for it,’ Logan said through laughter as he started to unbutton his jeans. He sat on the bench to peel them off.
Tilly averted her gaze, but followed his lead, realising the only other option was to drip water through the house. She stripped off her trousers and left them in a wet heap on the stone floor. Her legs were damp and goose-bumped. Even the neckline of her top was soaked.
Logan stood and Tilly’s cold discomfort was replaced by hot confusing lust at the sight of him in just snug black pants and a jumper. His legs were muscular and the way his eyes lingered on her before he met her gaze… She gulped.
‘If you light the fire, I’ll dry Barney.’ He yanked off his socks and grabbed a towel.
Tilly shot from the room, relieved to put some distance between herself and Logan, both in their pants and soaking wet. The combination was ridiculously erotic.
He is my best friend, Tilly repeated over and over as she lit the fire in the living room and put the fire guard in front. She scrunched her toes into the deep-pile rug while she watched it spit and crackle, the flames licking up the wood and devouring it, sending tendrils of heat her way.
At the sound of Logan and Barney entering the kitchen, Tilly went upstairs and jumped into a hot shower before retreating to her room. How the hell had they managed to get themselves into this situation?
She pulled on joggers and swapped her damp top for an oversized hoody.
Was she now trying her hardest to look unattractive so Logan wouldn’t look at her in the way he had in the boot room?
Except part of her had been thrilled at the blatant desire written all over his face.
The anticipation of what might happen next was as frightening as it was exhilarating.