A Christmas Wish on Arran (Scottish Romances #4)

Chapter Seven

Beth watched as Jim jangled keys in his pocket. That in itself didn’t bode well. In her experience, when people fidgeted it was a sign. They were usually trying to self-regulate because they were nervous about something.

‘Ahem.’ He coughed. ‘The flat . . . and I am really sorry about this Beth, but the heating is knackered.’ He pulled a face. ‘I went in earlier to turn it on for you and make sure it was nice and cosy. Then I realised that the boiler had packed in.’

Beth shrugged, relieved that’s all it was. ‘Don’t worry Jim, I’m sure I’ll manage.’ She was glad she’d packed her warmest layers. Margaret had also insisted she take a couple of extra blankets, “just in case”, as it was always good to be prepared.

‘Absolutely not.’ Jim was firm. ‘I’ve got a plumber coming out tomorrow, all being well, and so hopefully you should be in the flat soon. In the meantime I have taken the liberty of booking you into the Brodie Hotel for a few days. The last thing you need is being stuck in a freezing apartment when you’ve only just arrived. I don’t want to put you off before you’ve even begun.’

Beth was completely touched but also taken aback. The Brodie was the hotel she used to work in all those summers ago, and had now been completely transformed. She’d looked at it recently online, out of curiosity, and had a nosy at the boutique bedrooms and annexe cabins. It was described as a cosy and secluded hotel, perfect for romantic escapes. She had also noticed the price tag and baulked slightly at the cost. She wasn’t quite sure her credit card could take anything else right now and wondered how much this was going to cost her. Especially when she wasn’t particularly in the market for a romantic or luxury break. The last thing she wanted to be was awkward, but she would have been happy to rent a caravan or stay in a hostel. That would have been better for her finances. Then she remembered the envelope of cash her dad had insisted on giving her earlier. That may well come in handy.

‘The company will pick up the tab. This is for us to worry about, not you,’ said Jim smoothly. ‘I know the manager, we play golf together, and he has given us a deal for one of their cabins now that it’s autumn and not quite so busy. It’s lucky you came at the start of November and not December, when things ramp up for Christmas. Otherwise I’d be putting you in my spare bedroom.’

‘Sounds good,’ said a relieved Beth. ‘And what a treat. Thank you so much. I have to admit it will be interesting to see it again after all these years.’

‘Of course, I’m totally forgetting about your summer job there. That must feel like a lifetime ago now. Anyway, I think you’ll notice a huge change since you last worked there. It was left empty for quite a few years, then bought over by the current owners around ten years ago. They have done a tremendous job with it.’ He glanced at his watch and looked outside. ‘Let’s get you up there and settled and we can grab some lunch in the bar. I’ll just jump in my car and you can follow me round. Let’s make a dash for it as it looks like the rain has stopped. For now.’

Five minutes later, Beth pulled into the red gravel driveway of the hotel and parked next to Jim. Before she got out the car, she quickly sent her dad a text to let him know she had arrived safely.

‘It did not look like this when I worked here.’ Beth looked up in wonder at the red sandstone building. During the two summers she spent working there she waitressed, covered the bar and also did a stint in housekeeping. They all mucked in and did what was needed and she realised that, actually, none of them had complained as it didn’t actually feel like work. Now as she looked up at the hotel, she couldn’t believe how much the building had completely transformed. She looked around in awe at the grounds, landscaped with beautiful shrubs and manicured lawns that, despite the weather, still looked immaculate — as though they had been combed — as well as neatly shaped hedges. The hotel was set in a peaceful location. The gardens had paved seating areas, possibly for al-fresco dining in the summer, with views across the sea. Beth recalled that the outdoor space was a real sun trap. Feelings of nostalgia came rushing back as she remembered how she and the other girls would soak up the sun whenever they had a break, making sure they got the best of summer tans. She shuddered to think of their lack of sunscreen protection back then and how they used a coconut-smelling cream, which maybe had factor one in it at the most. They must have fried their skin.

She was pulled from her sentimental thoughts when a tall and handsome man, with wavy black hair and a navy overcoat, came striding out the front door. He carried a huge golf umbrella shielding him from the rain that had started to fall again.

‘Welcome.’ He walked over to Jim and Beth and placed the huge umbrella over them. ‘You must be Beth?’

She smiled and met his dark brown eyes as he reached to shake her hand. ‘Hello.’ He was very good-looking in a chiselled and groomed way.

‘Beth. This is my friend Alessandro, who is also the hotel manager.’

‘We are so pleased you’re staying with us.’ His smile was warm and engaging. ‘Come on. Let me show you to your room and get you inside before the rain gets heavy again. Do you have bags?’

Beth quickly opened the boot, which was stuffed with all her possessions, and grabbed a holdall. ‘This will do for now.’

‘Jim, I will show Beth to her cabin. You wait in the bar and we’ll be right back. That saves you getting wet and your hair being ruined.’

Jim, whose hair was very shortly cropped, let out a guffaw. ‘Thanks for your consideration, mate. See you soon Beth.’ He dashed towards the entrance.