Secrets at the Loch (Loch Lannick #5) - Hannah Ellis Page 0,2

a wild night with Ruth!”

“Will you be okay getting home?” Nick asked. “I can give you the key for the flat if you want?” He had recently bought a house in Lannick, just a few doors down from Lexie’s place. But he still had his rented flat in Portree while he made the new house liveable. It was pretty rundown.

“How long have you still got the flat for?”

“I have to give the keys back at the end of the month. I’m going to finish clearing it out tomorrow. There’s not much left but there’s a bed or the couch to crash on.”

Nick had his keys out and began to twist the single key away from the rest.

“We can have a party at Nick’s place,” Ruth said. “Drink all his alcohol!”

“You’ll be sorely disappointed by the alcohol supply. There’s really not much there at all.”

“Are you staying at the new house tonight?” Lexie asked, then cursed herself. She was trying to figure out if he was going home with Meghan, but she was fairly sure her investigative technique wasn’t exactly subtle.

“Yeah.” He smiled and held out his key.

Lexie’s gaze flickered between Nick and Meghan. From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Craig, leaning against the sideboard behind the bar, watching her.

“I’m actually okay.” She pushed Nick’s hand away when he offered her the key.

“Oh.” His cheek twitched. “Are you going to get a taxi home?”

“I’ll figure something out.” She took a swig of her wine. “Nice to see you,” she said to Meghan, her words coming out slightly slurred. “Enjoy your visit.”

“Are you sure you don’t want the key?” Nick asked.

“Definite.” She caught Craig’s eye and flashed him a flirty smile.

“See you around then.”

“Bye!” she called without looking at him.

“Can I tempt you to shots?” Craig asked.

Lexie forced a smile. “Aye. Go on then.”

Chapter Two

When Lexie woke, it felt like stepping out of a dark tunnel. Daylight streamed through a gap in the curtains and stung her eyes. Her mouth was dry and her limbs heavy. She blinked a few times, then registered Craig sprawled naked beside her.

Memories came back to her in a rush: Nick with Meghan; him offering her his key; the look of pity as he left her knocking back wine. She hadn’t even watched him leave, but she knew the look well enough.

She and Ruth had danced on their own in the Merchant Bar. There’d been shots, and more wine, and her draping herself over Craig, laughing with him about things she couldn’t even remember. There wasn’t much in her memory bank after that, but the fact she was naked in Craig’s bed was a fairly big clue to the end of the night.

Sitting up, she scanned the room, searching out her clothes which were strewn around the place. Hopefully she could slip away before Craig woke up.

She almost made it, but he stirred when she was dressed and tying her hair up.

“You running away already?” he asked through a yawn.

“Trying to.”

His eyes fluttered open. “I could make you breakfast?” There was a hint of amusement to his voice and a knowing look in his eyes.

“I don’t do breakfast,” she said, pulling her coat on.

“Just checking things hadn’t changed.”

“I’ll see you around.” She grabbed her bag and made for the door.

“Nice to see you,” he muttered.

Her car was parked at the other end of town. Why were there so many people around so early on a Saturday morning? Glancing at her phone, she realised it wasn’t as early as she’d thought. After mumbling a string of swear words, she tapped on the screen, typing a message for her boss at the activity centre to say she’d be late. Then she shoved the phone in her pocket and kept her head down, only looking up as she passed Nick’s flat. He’d said he was staying in Lannick so he shouldn’t be around, but it would be just her luck for him to appear and witness her walk of shame.

Thankfully, she made it to her car without encountering anyone she knew. Her hands trembled slightly when she retrieved her car key from the bottom of her bag. It occurred to her that she was probably still over the limit. Driving probably wasn’t a great idea, but she didn’t feel she had much choice. She forced herself to stay alert and not slip into autopilot. Focusing on the road also kept her mind from drifting to the events of the previous night. She’d rather not think about