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“Is this punish what you want?” she said as her eyes narrowed “Because if you’re going tofolk for coats is a bit pathetic”

“No, it’s not punishment I need them for the show,” Kirsty said “To keep the models warm”

“In that case, it’syour kit off in public, why don’t you model? It’s not like you haven’t done it before”

Kirsty shook her head

“I can’t, I have a show to organise” She was surprised to hear that was her enta “I’ll mind the shop”

They actually had custoe as the tourists wandered in fro the fashion shoere helping too Unfortunately, they weren’t only helping her shop As she looked over the road she could see that Lake’s shop was doing well too At this rate, she’d never win the war And she definitely didn’t have a hope if she only got to show eight outfits while Lake showed ten She bit her lip as she tried to come up with a solution

There weren’t any suitable woerie in public—but there was one thing she could try She picked up the Christe It said: Working in Edinburgh, will try to come visit when I’m done Prepare to party! Kirsty picked up her phone, but hesitated before she dialled It was one thing expecting the local wons, but quite another to ask heras she’d been less than sociable since her accident She put the phone back down It was a stupid idea What made her think they would be able to come to Invertary at such short notice, let alone want to co these wons weren’t professional She barely knehat she was doing It was stupid

She folded her arms and paced in front of her phone If she ever wanted business, noas the ti Not only would she get the joy of beating her soldier boy, but she had a real chance atthe shop a success She chewed her lip Professional models would le and her heartbeat sped up Itwith the world she’d left behind No The world she’d been forced out of She had to tell herself to breathe slowly What if they said no? What if they said yes? This was going to drive her crazy!

She snatched up the phone and dialled, all the while hearing Lake’s voice in her head: You can do it Fight ht back

“Hello,” she said “Helena, it’s Kirsty”

There was a whoop of joy on the other end of the line Kirsty smiled as the tension seeped from her shoulders

“I know you said you’d try to visit, but I ondering if we could et here by the weekend?” She sat on one of the kitchen stools “I have a little problem,” she said “I could really use some help”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The snow had stopped falling and, thanks to Caroline’s beautifully coordinated decorations, Invertary looked like soreen garlands with red velvet borapped around the lamp posts Old-fashioned lanterns, which held real candles, hung froolden bells, and holly, and wonderful sparkling white lights strung across the street Although the whole thing looked like fairyland in the dark, it was still beautiful in the soft hed contentedly as she looked out of heronto the frosted white street

Usually Kirsty had a stall in the market like everyone else, but this year there was too et done For a while there, she honestly didn’t think she would ht Not only did she have her best collection yet, she had not one, but four professional ht her way through the Highland weather and turned up to rescue her friend Kirsty’s heart grew at the thought She hadn’t known there were so al, as setting up a stall with hot toddies and even hotter chips, theabove Lake’s shop opened and he stuck his head out Kirsty’s whole body hurin and mischievous blue eyes She opened hertoo