"Here's the thing though . . ." He trails off thoughtfully and then he looks straight at me. His eyes are steely and that makes me realise the fundamental difference between the young Ryan and this Ryan. He's hardened now. The sweet boy I once knew is probably still in there somewhere but life eventually got to him and he had to toughen up. "I need someone I can rely on. I don't want to take a person on who just decides it's too much hassle a few days or weeks in and just . . . Ghosts me." He finishes. There's a definite challenge there. He's not just talking about the job. He's getting a dig in there about the way I disappeared out of his life. As well as implying I'm generally unreliable . . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Iona Stewart is pretty sure she's having a premature midlife crisis. Recently made redundant, permanently unlucky in love, and back living with her parents, she's desperate for a change of scenery. So when an opportunity comes up to work in a hotel in the Highlands, it seems like fate has stepped in. The problem? Her new boss is Ryan Thorne. Her former friend. Her first crush. And the boy who broke her heart nearly 17 years ago. She had no intention of ever seeing him again after that night. And it seems he isn't that keen on having *her* around either. Be prepared for nineties flashbacks, many awkward encounters, and *hopefully* a happy ever after . . . ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ❤️Second Place in the Chick-Lit category in The Pink Cloud Awards❤️ ❤️Second Place in the Chick-Lit category in The Hibiscus Awards❤️ ❤️Winner of Best Opening in Chick Lit in the Berry Pancake awards❤️ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Complete companion novella entitled "No Reservations: Ryan's Version" is now available*

Skye Templeton is sick of living in a small village in the Scottish Highlands where everyone knows every single little thing about her. She's tired of her dead-end "situationship". She desperately needs to escape . . . So when a chance encounter opens her eyes to the possibility of a different life, she decides it's time to shake things up a bit. Moving to Glasgow on a whim probably isn't her smartest idea, but Skye is determined to make the most of her new life. Unfortunately, life doesn't always work out the way you planned . . . Especially if you didn't really have a plan in the first place! ~~~~~~~~ I initially started this story with the intention of entering it into the Open Novella Contest this year - I've since found out that it wouldn't qualify but I'm still using one of the prompts all the same! The prompt I'm using is: Prompt 45- "Keep your happily ever after; it ain't mine." And, much like Skye, I really don't have a plan for it yet, so let's just see what unfolds! ;-)