“Comfy there are we?”

For the second time, I hadn't heard him approaching, and he made me jump. What the fuck? “What do you want?” I scowled.

He shrugged. "Just thinking you might want to replace the milk that you used and get yourself some food and things like that because it’s not like we got you anything in." Ever the gentleman.

“Thanks, I’ll get right on that when I’m done warming back up again.” He held his hands up in defeat and walked off with a smirk on his face. God, I hated him. He had better not pull any shit with me while I was there like he used to in school. I had a book to finish, a deadline to hit. I didn’t need to waste time wishing I was hitting him instead.

The living room of the cottage was just like the rest of it. Quaint and cosy. There was a wooden floor with a large tartan rug and an open brick fireplace with a log fire roaring in it. I sat there thinking about the mountain of a task ahead of me, and just how much Finn was already getting under my skin. Too much. Anyone would think I still had a crush on him or something, and good God, that couldn’t really be true could it?

Hell no, I wasn't having that, so I got up and decided that it was definitely time to find my bedroom, unpack, and then head to the supermarket as Finn had suggested. At least wine would make his presence more bearable.

My bedroom had a beautiful wrought iron bedstead and the most amazing handmade quilt draped over the top of a thick duvet. Bloody hell is that how cold it gets at night? I set my case on the bed and started to unpack my stuff into the beautiful pine wardrobe and dresser. Once everything was in its place, and I had my case tucked under the bed I headed back to the kitchen to see just what was in the cupboards and fridge.

Finn hadn’t been kidding, there was bugger all here. Like Old Mother Hubbard’s, the cupboards were considerably bare. I sighed. Yes, I would have to do precisely what Finn had suggested. The nearest major supermarket was over twenty miles away in Dumbarton. Not exactly a quick trip to a local shop, but I did want to make sure that it was a good week or more before I had to head back out again to make another supermarket dash. I grabbed my keys and my handbag and headed back out to my Focus. “I’m heading to Dumbarton for a decent supermarket, is there anything that you want?” I called out as I watched Finn raking up the dead leaves from the lawn. I was hoping he wouldn’t ask for a thing, but that probably wasn’t going to be the case with Mr. Unhelpful.

He took his sweet time in strutting like a proud peacock across the grass to arrive right in front of me. "I wouldn't mind a few beers if you're offering."

“Is that it?” Had he really made me stand here waiting for that? I looked at him in utter disdain.

He just smirked. “That’ll do.”

The man just infuriated me, I turned on my heel and stormed over to the car, got in and took off down the country lane.

Two hours and a full boot of groceries later, just as the sky was turning the most amazing shades of pinks, purples, and oranges that I've ever seen I pulled into a little place called Milarrochy Bay. I got out of the car and pulled my coat tight around me, and my hat down over my ears as I stood on the stony shore and watched the last of the day’s light disappearing behind Doune Hill, and Beinns Dubh, Bhreac Chaorach. My mind raced to ideas of just how many people had also stood on this very beach and watched a similar sky, from tourists to ancient clansmen, and I felt the goose bumps spread over my skin. This place would make an excellent setting for another book. I just needed to get through the one I had to finish on time first.

I headed back to the car before it got too dark to see my way back to it, started it up, and got back on the windy road leading to the farm. When I parked up in the almost complete darkness, Finn knocked on the car window, scaring the life out of me again. “Are you going to do that the entire time that I’m here?” I complained as he smirked at me.

“Do what?” He grinned.

“Sneak up on me and scare the shit out of me!” I slapped him and shoved him out of my way and headed to the back of the car.

“Would you like some help?”

“Yes, I bloody would.”

He chuckled to himself and grabbed half of the bags from the boot in one go and carried them into the cottage. Show off. I grabbed two bags and found him in the kitchen digging through the bags. He had my Rosé in one hand and my big box of Lindor in the other. “Is this your idea of cold weather supplies then?” he waved them at me and laughed.

“Oh, fuck off Finn. There’s more in the boot still, why don’t you go and get it while I put all this stuff away.” I snatched my wine and chocolates back off him and shoved both into the fridge.

“I will if you’re cooking.” He said as he walked out the door.

“Do I look like your damn servant?” I called after him, and his laughter echoed in the darkness.