LIFE AFTER GLENBOGLE PART 7 "Tonight was fun wasn't it" remarked Lexie as she climbed into bed and eased herself under Archie's arm, snuggling up to him. "mmm it was and lucky we were able to team up with Jill and Matt some of those questions were impossible, they seemed a great couple" "yes they were we must invite them over to supper soon, well when we have our gorgeous new table" said Lexie with enthusiasm Archie rolled his eyes smiling at her enthusiasm, unsure if it was for the table or Jill and Matt, "yes we must soon, but you know I'm not sure about Dan, can't put my finger on it, I know he is very much the jovial host, but there is something about him" remarked Archie "what do you mean?" Lexie asked "I'm not sure exactly, you know sometimes you just get an odd feeling about people" mused Archie They fell into an easy silence reflecting on the evenings events. Archie was mulling over a conversation he had with Dan at the bar, it started off easily enough but he felt that perhaps Dan's questions became a little too prying about money and also when he thought about it, about him and Lexie too, he felt uneasy. Lexie meanwhile was thinking how great it was to meet Jill and Matt, she missed to bustle of Glenbogle and being in the thick of things, yes it was wonderful being with Archie, but she was a people person and the prospect of friends in the village was wonderful, someone to have a girlie gossip with essential in any woman's life. "I tell you what though Arch, I think I may have had one white wine too many, hope I don't have too much of a hangover tomorrow" Lexie said reaching for her glass of water hoping prevention would be better than a cure in the morning. "No you better not, busy day ahead decorating, think we should get up early about 5.30" teased Archie "what" shrieked Lexie turning her head to look at Archie and check he was joking "Got ya" he said laughing Lexie punched him playfully "you know Arch just think in a couple of days time we'll be in our new bed, in our own house won't it be wonderful" she said smiling at him "mmm certainly will" replied Archie smiling "but Lex I know you wanted the decoration of the room to be a surprise, but if we are going to get it finished before the bed arrives, you might need to tell me so I can help" "oops" remarked Lexie realising she had completely forgotten to order the fabric and bed linen she wanted, it must be her first job tomorrow. Archie was admiring their handywork, the bedroom was now painted a soft apple white, although he was still not entirely sure what Lexie's decorative plans were, something to do with picking out the colours green, yellow and mauve from the tiles in the beautiful black Victorian fireplace. He suddenly spied the tin of raspberry paint destined for the bathroom, where they were to start next now the plumber had finished. He had a childish urge, lifting the lid on the raspberry paint, and grabbing a paintbrush, he swirled some raspberry paint on the newly painted white wall. "Archie what on earth have you done, have you gone completely mad" exclaimed Lexie on entering the room and seeing Archie's handywork. "Raspberry ripple my favourite ice cream when I was a child, sorry I couldn't resist" he said smiling beguilingly "but Archie how many coats of white will we have to paint to cover it up, you've probably ruined it, how could you?" Lexie said crossly Archie just continued to grin at her "you know you have no idea how gorgeous and irresistible you look, trying to be angry, a smudge of paint on your nose, your overalls way too big for you" "ARGH!!!" Lexie exclaimed trying desperately to keep a straight face as Archie gave her one of his smiles that just made her melt "I'll give you irresistible Archie Macdonald" she said as she attempted to attack him with her paintbrush, but Archie was too quick for her, grabbing her wrist before the brush made contact with him, and swiftly with his other arm grabbing her round the waist. He pulled her close, gave a gentle swipe at the smudge of paint on her nose and then began to kiss her, Lexie melted into him her arms going round his neck, which was followed by a clatter as her paintbrush hit the ground as her fingers skimmed over his neck into his hair. "I see some things never change" said a familiar voice "I looked all over this house for you two should have known I'd find you in here" said Duncan laughing "Dunc" shrieked Lexie breaking away from Archie to give him a welcoming hug "oh its so good to see you!" "sure is Dunc" added Archie as he went over to greet him "we had no idea you'd arrive so soon, how did you get here?" "Well no time like the present came down in the old land rover, left first thing this morning...what is that swirl of paint on the wall over there?" queried Duncan "don't ask" Laughed Lexie "lets just say it was Archie giving into his artistic urges! Come on I bet you could do with a cup of tea, lets go down to the kitchen then its work for you Dunc!" "Work I'm here for a holiday! Hey I have heaps of things for you Golly caught some salmon and trout for you and shot a few pheasants, Molly had another sort out of some of your things and Ewan baked a cake." Duncan told them excitedly "Well you boys unload the land rover and I'll make the tea and we can have some of Ewan's cake as well" Lexie said. Archie and Duncan ambled outside "so Dunc what's new, you know I can't believe you came all the way down here in this heap, I thought she'd died a death" commented Archie "No way, I'm very attached to this old heap, we've been through a lot together, remember I used to keep a mattress in the back" Duncan stated "yeah" laughed Archie "in case you got lucky at a rave" "well I never did" said Duncan somewhat dejectedly Archie looked at him, figuring his hunch about problems between him and Jess were right, now wasn't the time to discuss it, as Duncan's momentary gloom had been replaced as he excitedly began to unload the land rover. "So Dunc what's the gossip" asked Lexie as they all settled down to enjoy their tea and cake. "well Molly is fine and sends her love, Golly is Golly still the same, Paul is spending more and more time with Isobel and Ewan has been seeing a girl in the village Morag" and then he stopped, "and Jess" Lexie tentatively asked "oh yeah she's fine, so um what is this work you want me to do?" Archie and Lexie exchanged a look as Duncan quickly changed the subject, both realising there was more to this story, but Duncan was obviously not ready to talk. "Well" began Archie "tomorrow we have a bed arriving, and before then we have to get the bedroom ready. I am not privy to the intricate details of the decorative plan for the bedroom, Lex is keeping that a closely guarded secret but we need to sand and polish the floor today so it dries before tomorrow afternoon, so how about you and I start on that while Lex paints our bathroom raspberry" he gave Lexie a quizzical look he still wasn't convinced about her colour choice for the bathroom, but she said he would love it, in return Lexie smiled at him coquettishly blowing him a kiss. "Right then boss, oops you're not boss anymore, but lets get started" said Duncan. Archie and Duncan went off to start on the floor, Lexie remained in the kitchen sorting out the fish and game and some of the other goodies Duncan had brought with him. She wondered what was troubling him about Jess, something had obviously happened, oh well she thought I'm sure he'll tell us in his own good time. Her thoughts were broken by a knock at the door, it was Jill. "Hello come on in, excuse my appearance, decorating" said Lexie with a shrug Jill laughed "no problem hope you don't mind me popping in I was just passing and I was wondering if you and Archie would like to come round for supper on Friday, nothing grand just in the kitchen with a bottle of wine or two" "sounds wonderful we'd love too, I was only saying to Archie we must invite you round, but it is a bit chaotic here at the moment, look do you want a cuppa?" Lexie asked "oh go on, just a quick one" Jill replied "great I am supposed to be painting but a friend from back home has just arrived, so he and Archie are off doing things with a sander and I'm sorting out some of the goodies he brought with him" Lexie laughed "now don't let me keep you" said Jill "oh no you're not, well not really anyway I'm entitled to a break, and after our tea I'll show you round, it is a bit of a mess though"