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“We’ve not seen you two in weeks!” Ealasaid said, throwing her arms around them in turn.

“We may not have seen you, Ealasaid,” Enrique said, his voice thick with a Spanish accent, “but you have constantly been in my heart and thoughts.” He even clutched his chest for dramatic effect.

Was this for real?

“Oh, Enrique, stop,” Ealasaid said with a giggle, slapping him lightly on the arm with a tea towel.

Jenn stared. Ealasaid giggling? Blushing? Flirting?

Her brain was struggling to process it all. She’d never seen Ealasaid like this. She looked like a naughty schoolgirl. Maybe that’s why she and Auntie Peigi got on so well—they were both secretly living in a Mills & Boon fantasy. It didn’t bear thinking about. Also—did she just call him Enrique? Jenn nearly snorted. You honestly couldn’t make it up.

Abigail appeared and, to Jenn’s surprise, also tittered and blushed like a schoolgirl in response to hugs and cheek kisses from Captain No-Nonsense and Mr Mills & Boon. Surprisingly, Captain No-Nonsense even gave Abigail a warm but devastating smile. Wow. To be on the receiving end of that smile…

“Oh yes, and this is our new girl, Jennifer—apparently you can call her Jenn.” Ealasaid said, brusque and ever-so-slightly sarcastic. Clearly, she only kept her sweetness reserves for these two pilots—straight back to business for everyone else.

“Jennifer, this is Enrique and Ruairidh—two of our favourite customers.” Ah, so this must be the Ruairidh MacLean that everyone went on about.

“Hhhenn-iiiferrrr…” Enrique practically purred her name as he clasped both of her hands, then pulled her in for a very Continental kiss on each cheek. “I am very pleased to meet you,” he whispered in her ear, every syllable an elongated tease.

“Umm… thanks? Pleased to meet you too!” Jenn mumbled, pulling away awkwardly. She could feel the flush rising from her chest, up her neck, and rapidly heading towards her face. God, what the hell was wrong with her?

In contrast to Enrique—the walking bodice-ripper—Ruairidh extended his hand formally, face cool, expression unreadable. She didn’t know if it was the heat of the café, her ridiculous thoughts about Mills & Boon, or some contagious condition like Ealasaid and Abigail had clearly caught—but she felt a definite frisson as their hands touched.

“Eeeep!” she squealed loudly, jumping back as what felt like electricity zipped up her arm. Her blush had officially reached her forehead. Brilliant.

“Someone is excited…” Enrique chortled.

“Sorry—my apologies,” Jenn said to Ruairidh, who was now looking at his hand and rubbing it with a disgruntled expression. “It must be the coffee machine.”

“Yes, well—enough dilly-dallying, you two,” Ealasaid cut in, all business again. “Ruairidh will have a flat white and Enrique a double espresso, Jennifer.”

Jenn and Abigail both scurried off to their stations. As Jenn started the orders, she could hear Ealasaid chatting to the pilots behind her.

“Your mum was telling me you were hoping to get more island routes, and that you’ve been doing up the cottage. It’d be lovely to have you home more.”

“Aye, the cottage is coming along nicely. Just needs a freshen-up. I’ve been given more island runs—think I’ve had enough of the city lifestyle.”

“And what about that rapscallion brother of yours? Are you both still in that flat in Glasgow? He’s a wild boy, that one. How do you manage with him?” Ealasaid asked, tone disapproving.

“Ach, Donnie’s alright, Ealasaid. Just a bit… erm… spontaneous, let’s say. Still does his months on, months off with the tankers, so I don’t see him as much as I’d like. Though he’s thinking of coming off the ships soon and transferring to HebX.”

“Humph. Well, he’ll need to be a damn sight more sensible to work on the HebX ferries. None of this gallivanting around that he seems to do.”

Wow. Ealasaid disapproved of someone more than her.

“Yes, well. We’ve all been guilty of a bit of gallivanting, Ealasaid,” Ruairidh said diplomatically.

She carried the tray of coffees to the counter.

“Why, thank you, Hhhenn-iiferrrr,” Enrique drawled as he picked up his espresso. “I believe you are the new baker—is that correct?”

“Umm, yes. I’ve been providing some cakes,” Jenn replied. “What would you fancy? We’ve got fruit scones, iced gingerbread cake, coffee cake, and a chocolate cake.”

“Hmm… I think we both want the chocolate cake, eh, Ruairidh?” Enrique said, smiling roguishly and with a teasing glance to Ruairidh. “And do you happen to have any cream with that?”

“Sure, we can give you some cream,” Jenn said, glancing at Ruairidh—who was scowling at her and Enrique like someone had just nicked his last biscuit. What the hell was his problem? She bustled off to fetch the cakes and cream.

“And when are we going to have you over here for a proper visit?” Ealasaid asked Enrique.