#Edinburgh Property Letting Agents

[umegalettingsblog]

What to Expect When Buying Property in Edinburgh

Investing in property in Edinburgh is such an exhilarating experience. This city has something for everyone, from people looking for their forever home to people who are looking to make a sound investment. The vibrant city is brimming with opportunities, from its rich history to its delectable neighbourhoods. But, let’s be honest, buying property can sometimes feel overwhelming. Fortunately, you don’t need to worry, as experienced Edinburgh estate agents like Umega are there to facilitate you throughout the entire process, as they make sure it is seamless, easy and even fun for you.

What Happens When You Buy Property?

Finding the Right Property 

The very first thing that you need to start with is searching for that one perfect property that suits your needs and requirements. Fortunately, Edinburgh has a bit of everything—whether it be modern apartments, traditional flats, or spacious family homes. The key is being able to determine what aspects you require and are also willing to pay for, such as the location. In this case, trusted Edinburgh estate agents such as Umega come in quite handy. The reason for that being, they work with the best properties and are familiar with the city, so you get to save time and effort on your end.

Making an Offer 

The process of making an offer involves a lot of planning, as great importance is attached to it. Umega’s team will help you. They understand the Edinburgh market well and can assist you in working out reasonable prices to offer. They'll also tackle the negotiations so that you will get the best price possible.

Arranging Finances 

This step may sound nerve-wracking, but panic not. Umega has a wide range of trusted mortgage advisors whom you can use to your advantage. It is important to be clear and comfortable before proceeding with the step.

The Legal Stuff 

Umega has a great in-house team that can do all the required paperwork for you. This paperwork includes everything from contracts to checking on the property. While this might seem complicated, your Edinburgh estate agent and solicitor will handle it for you. They’ll make sure everything is done right and on time.

Getting the Keys 

The day when a person would expect to receive the keys is finally here. By this stage, everything is sorted, and you can step into your new property with excitement and ease.

Conclusion

Purchasing real estate in Edinburgh should not be a daunting experience; after all, the trained experts from Umega’s Edinburgh estate agents simplify and clear the whole process. There is no point in worrying because they will assist you every step of the way until the process is finished.

If you’re ready to start your property journey, contact us today! Umega’s friendly team is here to help. Let them guide you to your perfect property in Edinburgh!

Credit: https://shorturl.at/xLOSO

[top10estateagentsuk]

How To Find The Right Estate Agent in Edinburgh?

[elcsales]

 Searching for a trusted letting agent in Edinburgh? We provide comprehensive property management and letting services, ensuring a stress-free experience for landlords and property investors. From marketing your property and sourcing reliable tenants to handling legal compliance, rent collection, and maintenance, we take care of everything. Our expert team understands the Edinburgh rental market, helping you maximize returns while maintaining tenant satisfaction. Whether you need full management or a tenant-find service, we offer tailored solutions to suit your needs. Contact us today to get started

[drtinttauranga]

Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent: Why ELC Sales and Lettings is the Right Choice

When it comes to finding the right real estate agents in Edinburgh, look no further than ELC Sales & Letting. As trusted professionals in the industry, we offer unparalleled expertise and a commitment to delivering exceptional results. Our team of experienced real estate agents in Edinburgh understands the local market inside and out, ensuring that you receive accurate and up-to-date information. Whether you're buying, selling, or renting a property, we strive to provide personalized solutions tailored to your specific needs. With our extensive network, innovative marketing strategies, and dedication to client satisfaction, ELC Sales & Letting is the top choice for real estate services in Edinburgh. Contact us today to experience the difference for yourself.

[intelligentrepairs]

Landlord Maintenance Certificates - PAT, EICR, LRA - Intelligent Repairs

Looking for landlord maintenance certificates? Intelligent Repairs provides all the landlord maintenance certificates in Edinburgh, Lothian, and Fife. PAT, EICR, LRA, and more. We offer property maintenance and letting compliance services to letting agents, landlords, and owner-occupiers throughout Edinburgh, Lothians, and Fife. We are a leading landlord maintenance certificate and service provider specialist. Our professional and experienced experts deliver quality workmanship at excellent value, in a minimal timescale. Intelligent Repairs offers property maintenance and letting compliance services to agents, landlords, and owner-occupiers throughout Edinburgh.

[natequarter]

The earl benefited by the slow but sure recovery of some of his lost lands and property in East Anglia, his wealth augmented by gifts from a now grateful but ailing monarch.18 Among a considerable parcel of manors acquired in 1507 was that of the former Mowbray possession of Kenninghall, a small village midway between Thetford and Norwich, where his son Thomas constructed a substantial palace of seventy rooms.19 By 1506, Surrey had built up property holdings with an annual net income of £1,200, or well over £500,000 at 2009 cash equivalents.20

He was involved in negotiations concerning the marriage of the Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon to Prince Arthur on 14 November 1501 and was in charge of arrangements for Arthur’s funeral after his premature death on 2 April 1502. The following year, he escorted Henry VII’s fourteen-year-old daughter Margaret to Scotland for her marriage to James IV, and had the honour of giving away the bride, dressed in a gown of cloth of gold, in the chapel of Holyrood House, Edinburgh, on 8 August.21

Surrey was appointed one of the executors of the king’s will, and, a few days before his death from chronic pulmonary tuberculosis22 on 21 April 1509 at Richmond Palace, Henry VII suffered a rare attack of conscience. He restored all Surrey’s lands, lost him by attainder twenty-four years before, as a mark of appreciation for his loyal service.23 It was a crowning moment for the royal servant: after the defeat at Bosworth and the black despair of his incarceration in the Tower, all his hopes and dreams of the intervening years had at last been fulfilled.

this is from a different book, but if anything that proves my point - if henry vii "suffered a rare attack of conscience", what are we to make of the many occasions on which he let surrey, a known traitor and former ricardian loyalist, regain his position? what, indeed, are we to make of him restoring surrey to all his lands or even giving surrey back his earldom in the first place?

After the disaster of Bosworth and his imprisonment in the Tower, Howard was released in early 1489 by Henry VII, and the attainder for treason against him was reversed on 3 March that year by Parliament - although most of the lands he had lost were cannily withheld until he could demonstrate fully his loyalty to the crown.3 In May, however, he celebrated his restoration to the title of Earl of Surrey.

i don't know! it's not without its strategic points - surrey was a useful ally and was not immediately rewarded - but he was rewarded nonetheless, and only three years after bosworth at that! it hardly seems like a rare moment of gratitude from henry vii - rather a repeat willingness to reward a loyal agent of the crown. to once again quote lucy wooding:

The verdict on Henry VII’s avarice enshrined in Vergil’s history was to be the basis for nearly every other sixteenth-century account.17 Henry VIII’s very first piece of legislation was a general pardon, which suggested that from now on, justice would be done and men would be able to live and work in peace, without any of the ‘rigour’ with which they had previously been ‘vexed’.18 Copies of this pardon were printed and distributed within twenty-four hours of it being signed, a slick deployment of print technology. Other utterances reinforced the message. At Henry VII’s funeral in St Paul’s, John Fisher praised him for keeping his land ‘many a daye in pease and tranquyllyte’, but recalled what Henry had said during his last Lenten confession, when he promised ‘a true reformacyon of all them that were offycers and ministres of his lawes’, so that justice henceforth ‘truly and indyfferently myght be executed in all causes’. This was language which, perhaps intentionally, echoed the terms of the general pardon.19 In this skilful piece of oratory, Fisher carefully shredded the dead king’s reputation under the guise of reverent commemoration. He held Henry accountable for injustice, corruption and persecution, although Fisher praised the old king’s resolve at the last to become ‘a newe chaunged man’.20 Henry had wept for three quarters of an hour, Fisher recalled, when receiving the sacrament of penance. In his eagerness to emphasise the king’s contrition, Fisher arguably brought into question one of the most sacred principles of his priestly vocation by discussing the circumstances of the king’s confession and subsequent promises made to his confessor. We might conclude that he was under strong pressure to create this portrayal of a contrite king.

to all historians of the early reign of henry viii: you do not need to buy uncritically into henry viii's slander of his own father to discuss henry viii himself, i promise you.

The apparently unanimous praise of England’s new king [Henry VIII] was at least partly influenced by the ambivalence, if not dislike, with which the English had viewed Henry’s father, Henry VII, the first Tudor king.

the common assertion that henry vii "lacked the charisma and personal charm that endeared his son to his subjects" is just completely baffling in light of the fact that henry viii's accession was, as this book points out, "the first time in some eighty years that the crown had passed directly from king to son without the challenge presented by a pretender". if henry vii was so unlikeable, how on earth was he able to rally a country against first richard iii, then various pretenders and the last male plantagenet alive? how on earth was he able to successfully govern england and transform it from incredibly unstable to comparatively peaceful and economically viable? yes, one can be a good governor but a horrible person; but it's hard to imagine how henry vii could have restored england from ravaged by decades of civil war with his (as many historians have pointed out) dubious claim to the throne and then peacefully passed the kingdom onto his son if he was, as so many people like to claim, an old miser. surely he must have been a good leader on some level to inspire such confidence in his rule.

[umegalettings]

Forget about Covid-19 restrictions, stay at home & easily pay your rental deposits to the Landlord & your Edinburgh Property Letting Agents at Umega Lettings. Prevent moving out to pay until the restrictions are lifted. If worried about paying just email our team!!

[trevorrheard-blog]

A LEADING Edinburgh letting agent has added a record number of properties to its portfolio in the last year - thanks in part to stronger legislation impacting the sector.

[umegalettingsuk-blog]

We at Edinburgh are the renown brand for providing letting agents and property management services. Umega Lettings is a double award winning brand. We are known for our transparently effective and fast affordable land and housing management services .  

[weumegalettings]

Who is right letting agents Edinburgh for your property management?

There are plenty of real letting agents Edinburgh who promise to be best in UK, with licensed and practicing from years.

All have same state goals: to sell your home for the best price as soon as possible. But, with so many to select from, how do you separate the wheat from the chaff?

Why to choose best letting agents Edinburgh?

Your home is your biggest investment. It’s letting agent’s skills and attributes that determine its final selling price. Choose the wrong person, and that decision could end up costing you more. It can also impact the time required for property to sell, adding hassle to a stressful process.

As there are both good and bad professional letting agents Edinburgh around you. So how do you find the right from them? Have a look at the signs below:

Familiar with surrounding

Unsurprisingly, a good agent will be familiar with the local property market. They will guide you detail, they’ll tell you how much similar properties sold for, why they sold for the price, and how long it took.

Review & testimonials

One of the easiest ways to tell whether a letting agents Edinburgh is good or bad is by using their past clients as a reference.

Ask any agent for customer testimonials-a good agent will have plenty of review whereas a bad agent makes excuses.

Network of complementary professionals 

It takes a network of experts to properly maintain a home for sale. This could be easier if you seek help from the right letting agents Edinburgh. Good agents will have the best people on speed dial, whereas bad won’t.

How Umega Lettings agents Edinburgh can help

At Umega Lettings, we have experienced landlord’s transition from Airbnb to long term letting seamlessly. We’ve seen a steady flow of Airbnb landlords moving over to long term lettings for the past 12 months. Our team is here to ease the burden of the landlords and can do everything remotely. 

We understands your tenant-information needs including tenancy supporting notes, sample private rented tenancy agreement, tenant legionella fact sheet, safe deposits Scotland, information, etc. Talk to our experts, today!!

[umegalettingsblog]

Why 2025 Is the Perfect Year to Invest in Edinburgh Real Estate

Edinburgh is considered one of the most beautiful cities around the globe. It has an exceptional combination of an ancient vibe, culture, and lifestyle. Apart from the aesthetic value and tourist attractions, Edinburgh is also a great place to purchase real estate. If you have been contemplating buying real estate, then 2025 might just be the ideal year to do so.

Doing business in the property market doesn’t have to be difficult with reputable Edinburgh estate agents such as Umega. They will answer all your queries, assist you in every step, and provide great insights for your investment.

Why 2025 Is the Best Time to Buy

2025 is going to be a golden year for the Edinburgh property market. In case you haven’t invested yet, follow us for simple reasons why 2025 is your year to invest in the property market:

Growing Property Values: With time and as the years went by, the property rates in Edinburgh have consistently increased. Experts predict this trend will continue in 2025, making it a great time to invest before prices climb even higher. Buying now could mean fantastic returns in the future.

High Demand for Rentals: Every year students, tourists and young professionals visit Edinburgh. This means there’s a strong demand for rental properties. If you want to become a landlord, Edinburgh would suit you well.

New Incentives for Buyers: A more favourable property market is anticipated in 2025 because the government is expected to introduce different policies and benefits. These may include reductions of tax obligations or programs that encourage first-time buyers and investors to enter the market.

Plenty of Prime Locations: Edinburgh has a very rich selection of neighbourhoods. Such areas as New Town, Stockbridge, and Leith are very good for investment. No matter if you are looking for a rental unit or a family home, you can find a great deal there.

Working with reputable Edinburgh estate agents, such as Umega, will make the search for the most appropriate property easier. And their understanding of the local market puts you in a good position to receive sound advice and opportunities.

Conclusion

If you have been looking for a favourable moment to invest in the estate property market, then 2025 looks like it could be your year. There is a constant influx of growth in the economy, rental demand is also strong, and the government is also supportive, which makes Edinburgh a great investment choice for buyers and investors.

In whatever step you are planning to undertake, you will be guided by Umega’s team of skilled and friendly Edinburgh estate agents, and they will lead you through the process. All of them are well-versed with the markets and the neighbourhoods and are set to ensure that they assist you in finding the ideal property.

Do not take too long! You can begin thinking about your alternatives now and let 2025 be the year you commence your incredible journey of buying property in Edinburgh.

Credit: https://shorturl.at/bjheV

[top10estateagentsuk]

House hunting is anything but easy. Whether you’re looking for some temporary renting possibilities or dreaming of settling down on your favorite property in Edinburgh- cracking the real estate market is no bed of roses. But that doesn’t mean you have to settle for sub par living accommodations; especially when you have top-notch estate agents in Edinburgh right at your disposal.

[elcsales]

Need a trusted letting agent in Edinburgh? We handle property management, tenant sourcing, and stress-free rentals with expert care. Start today!

[umegaletting-blog]

How to get fair property rent in Edinburgh with lettings agent?

As a landlord, getting a good tenant for your property is complex task. Your tenant is someone you have to trust with your most significant asset. You can avoid wrong with property rent in Edinburgh by getting the assistance from letting agents.

In addition to a quality home, it is important to get fair property rent. If you want to increase applications for your rentals in current market, you need to price your property fairly. Try to be neutral with your rental prices depending on the quality, location as well as the amenities you are offering in your rental homes.

Online search for property to rent

Making the availability of the online booking viewing can help to increase the applicants. It will also enable the tenant to get significant results for the property along with the prices. If your property rent in Edinburgh are higher than it is unlikely that you will receive more interest of tenants. While deciding your property rent in Edinburgh you also have to focus that the tenant will look after your property. The best tenants are not necessarily those who are willing to pay you the highest but the one who takes care of your property. Umega Lettings can help you find best tenant with best property rent in Edinburgh.

Get in touch with Umega Lettings by giving a call at 0131 221 0888 to find more information regarding the property rent in Edinburgh.

[intelligentrepairs]

Landlord Maintenance Certificates - PAT, EICR, LRA - Intelligent Repairs

Looking for landlord maintenance certificates? Intelligent Repairs provides all the landlord maintenance certificates in Edinburgh, Lothian, and Fife. PAT, EICR, LRA, and more. We offer property maintenance and letting compliance services to letting agents, landlords, and owner-occupiers throughout Edinburgh, Lothians, and Fife. We are a leading landlord maintenance certificate and service provider specialist. Our professional and experienced experts deliver quality workmanship at excellent value, in a minimal timescale. Intelligent Repairs offers property maintenance and letting compliance services to agents, landlords, and owner-occupiers throughout Edinburgh.

[mymelodyheart]

Starting Over Chapter 29 ~The Reality~

.

  Geillis sat at her kitchen table, looking bright and chipper and way too put together at seven AM Tuesday morning. Geillis had invited herself over for breakfast and coffee before Claire started her shift at The Royal Hospital for Sick Children. It had been ages since they've seen each other, and a much-needed catch up was just what they both needed.

Before she'd started her new job, it had been a tense and hectic past few weeks. While Jamie had been away most of the time in London, Claire had been preoccupied applying for a residency program and meeting for job interviews. When the news of Gerald Forbes' arrest, Geneva Dunsany's stripping of gold medals and investigations in William Dunsany's business' dealings reached her, she'd dreaded her name would be mentioned in the newspaper and evening prime time news. To her relief, Ned Gowan had made sure that didn't happen. Only certain parts of the recording were released to the media, specifically the section where Forbes admitted to spiking Jamie's drink and accepting bribes from Dunsany. Since her voice was disguised with an audio editing application, it had been automatically assumed the sting was done by an undercover reporter; hence, no questions were further asked of the identity of the voice.

The days that followed were even made more stressful after Frank pleaded her to drop the charges against him and requested an out of court settlement, offering her monetary compensation instead. Not having the heart to see a licence stripped away from a brilliant doctor, Claire conceded under the condition he wouldn't practice medicine in Scotland for five years and that he would work for Doctors Without Borders for at least two years before returning to England. Frank agreed without contest, and a settlement was made and signed. But it was only when she had her belongings that he'd been keeping, returned and was informed he'd left Edinburgh for good, was she able to relax and concentrate on her future.

"So, Jamie is back in London again," Geillis remarked, in-between bites of her toast. "Another business trip?"

Claire filled their mugs with coffee and sat down. "I guess you can call it that. Jamie was invited by BBC to a morning show interview," she explained. "And while he's there, he's doing a few photoshoots for some razor commercial and finalising the sale of his properties. He should be back by tomorrow."

"Oh that's good but why aren't ye staying over at his place? Besides me wanting to have a nosy in his posh apartment, it's nearer to yer work and more convenient for him to see ye when he returns from London. And hello ...less carbon footprint."

She took a sip of her coffee and leaned back on her seat, twisting her head from side to side to relieve the tension in her neck. Her new job wasn't as demanding as in the Royal Infirmary; nevertheless, she felt the effects of the long hours at work. "Jamie already suggested that but he's away most of the time and I kind of like my place and ..." she trailed off, shrugging.

"Aaand ... it's a huge commitment and too soon after ye've just got yer stuff back from Frank and ye think he's more into parading himself in the public's eye than he's into ye," Geillis filled in the blanks before scooping some egg into her mouth. 

Claire didn't answer, as she toyed with her fork.

"Ye miss him, aye?"

She nodded, giving her friend a wistful smile. She did miss Jamie a lot. Ever since the problems with his former agent settled, she'd seen less and less of him. She knew he was trying to put together something for the future, but at the worse of times, she felt mildly resentful not seeing him as much and hated herself for feeling that way. They've been wrapped up in their own bubble of bliss, she hadn't thought about where their relationship was heading to. Their feelings were out there, larger than life and scary as hell, and now they have to find a way to make this thing work in the real world with their conflicting schedules. But lately, with Jamie's numerous endorsements pouring in, to represent big-name companies and merchandises, she wondered if their relationship could survive and if there was even a hint of truth in what Forbes had told her that Jamie was meant for the limelight.

"Ye think Jamie is going to be lured back to his celebrity lifestyle and ye're waiting for the bomb to fall, is this what's this about?" she asked as if uncannily reading her thoughts.

Damn the girl for being so perceptive.  She straightened up on her seat and smeared butter on her toast. "What makes you think that?" she asked, trying to look nonchalant, which was silly really considering Geillis could read her like a book.

Geillis rolled her eyes and sipped her coffee. "It's pretty apparent ye're not too thrilled with the load of work he's getting. But if he's going to start this rugby academy ye were talking about, all the exposures and the money he could earn from those adverts will help."

"You're beginning to sound like Forbes," Claire scoffed, pointing the butter knife at her. "And I don't like it."

"And ye're letting fear and doubt grow its ugly head," she quipped, toast shrapnel spraying out from her mouth.

"Good God, Geillis ... that's gross. Don't talk when you're mouth is full."

"Stop changing the subject," Geillis admonished. She crunched down on her toast and gave her a false smile, deliberately exhibiting bits of food between her teeth. "In a perfect world, ye could both get what ye want, dream job and time for each other. But that's no' the case, so ...if ye have issues with Jamie's work and wotnots, ye should be more proactive in addressing them instead of sulking." 

"I'm not sulking ...or maybe I am a little. But here's the thing ... I've only seen Jamie for two days for the last couple of weeks. Even when he's here in Edinburgh, either he is unavailable and rushing off somewhere to meet someone important, or he's in the gym. When I'm at his place, he's either too tired to do anything, asleep already, or he has to wake up early ...so there's really no point of me staying there. It's nuts really, I'm seeing less of him now that we're together than when he was trying to pursue me. We talk and text a lot on the phone, but it doesn't make being separated any easier. This evil paranoia is constantly nagging in my head that he's bored with me and finding limelight more exciting. But then he makes up for his absence by regularly checking up on me or having food delivered either at my workplace or here at home because he knows I forget to eat sometimes. And my distrustful and illogical side creeps in and tells me he's just keeping me interested. But when he's holding me, all those whispers in my head shut up."

Geillis wiped her mouth with a napkin and reached for her hand. "Ach, hen, he loves ye. Ye ken fine I have this built-in radar inside me that can detect bullshit from miles away. That man of yers lights up like a Christmas tree whenever ye're around. Why not talk to him and tell him how ye're feeling."

"God, no. I sound already petty and clingy hearing myself talk. Not going to happen."

"Hmmm, have ye been reading things written about him in social media again?" Geillis asked, already knowing the answer and looking on disapprovingly. "Jamie already told ye not to."

Claire sighed and slumped back in her chair. "I can't help it sometimes," she reasoned. "I see something nice written about him, and that makes me happy, and I look for more, but then I end up reading gossips about him that aren't true. I'm supposed to be prepared for this. When Jamie and I first got together, I knew what I was getting into, and I knew our relationship would have some degree of disappointment and compromise. I understand Jamie's work is very important to him, and quite rightly so. But it's still difficult to accept that I'm someone whose boyfriend is lusted after by thousands of women and the way my work colleagues talk behind my back and look at me, serves as a reminder. I thought those days in the limelight would be over when he told me about the academy, but it seems the interviews and photocalls have doubled. I need to find a way to be alright with that because I know those public appearances will help promote his academy. It's just that when I rarely see him, it's so hard and I can't help but think it's the start of our end."

"Quit that rubbish talk for crying out loud! Ye just have to remind yersel' its just work," Geillis pressed in a firm tone. "Whatever is happening right now doesn't change the way he feels about ye." She got up, taking her plate and mug over to the sink to rinse them and put them into the dishwasher. "His popularity has a short lifespan, Claire, most especially now that he's turning down work left, right and centre from other networks. Once the academy is up and running and the talk about his BBC award dies down, the news will be onto something new. And as for Jamie, he will eventually fade into the background as he wouldn't have time for anything else other than building his new business venture. Nobody knows how long this ride is going to last, so he might as well take advantage and get as much exposure out of it."

"I know, I know. You're right with everything you said." Claire cleared the rest of the dishes on the table and stood up. "That's why I don't want to say anything to Jamie. You taking Jamie's side when you've always taken mine can only mean I sound really downright pathetic."

Geillis dried her hand and turned around to face her, giving her a thoughtful smile. "Not pathetic at all and I understand why ye're worried. Not everyone would have been able to handle being in a relationship with Jamie. God, if he was my boyfriend, I'd never let him out of my sight because he's too pretty for his own good. But as an objective bystander, I can hundred per cent assure ye, that man is working his arse off to get that business of his going so he can have a normal life with ye."

She packed her laptop in its case and drank the rest of her juice. "That's what I tell myself all the time. It's just hard when we hardly have a moment to ourselves and when I'm left alone with my own thoughts, that's when it becomes dangerous. All these niggling doubts surface from out of nowhere and play havoc with my logic." 

"Ach, Claire. Sometimes I wish ye could see the way he looks at ye when ye're not looking. He looks at ye like ye're the sun itself and it makes me want to puke seeing all that lovefest spewing out of him."

This time Claire laughed out loud and allowed the tension and uncertainties of the future to slowly fade away. Thank God she had Geillis to talk sense into her. After everything that happened recently, she really needed to exorcise all those demons that Forbes and Frank left behind because unless she did that, they would continue to rule her waking hours, even though they were no longer in their lives,

..........

Claire stripped off her clothes and climbed into the shower. She had forty-five minutes to get ready before Jamie arrives. She'd received a text earlier while at work telling her he was in the airport in London waiting to get into the plane and he would be heading straight to her as soon as he landed and they would go out on a dinner date.

The water was hot, and it felt good just to stand there and let it run over her skin as she tried to release the tension in her muscles. It had been a long day at work running from ward to ward, and although she loved her job, working with sick children was often challenging since it affected her more on an emotional level. They were innocents and should be untouched by illness and injuries and be out there thriving and healthy instead of being in the hospital. Despite trying her hardest to remain professional, it still proved difficult to not get attached to her young patients.

Suddenly realising the water was getting colder, she quickly lathered some shower gel on her skin and shampoo on her hair. When she turned around to rinse herself, she nearly screamed when she saw Jamie on the other side of the shower stall, leaning against the wall with his arms folded across his chest and a lopsided grin plastered on his face. 

"Jamie! Bloody hell! You shouldn't sneak in like that! Jesus! You nearly gave me a heart attack," she scolded, quickly washing the suds off her body.

Jamie chuckled, as he took a huge towel from the rail. "Ye didn't answer when I called out yer name. So I just waited for ye to finish, hoping to hear yer rendition of one of Paloma Faith's songs before ye notice I'm here."

She turned off the water and stepped out of the shower into the towel Jamie was holding. He wrapped it around her and smiled. 

"Hi!" he whispered.

She tried to step back. "I'll ruin your suit. I'm all wet."

"I dinnae care." He pulled her back into his arms, and she stretched up on her toes to kiss him briefly. 

When she drew away, she stared up at him. "Let me dry my hair first. I shan't be long."

"No' yet." She held her breath as Jamie leaned down and kissed her tenderly.  Oh God, how I've missed him!  His lips were so soft and warm, making all the air rush out of her lungs. He sucked at her bottom lip before pulling back and angling his head to kiss her again. Though his body was tensed and hard, the delicate way he moved his mouth over hers demonstrated leashed restraint like he wanted to savour the moment instead of giving in to the hormones that were raging between them. If his intention was to make her forget what she was about to say or do, he was succeeding immensely.

Gradually his kisses became more intense, and she gave up trying to think and allowed herself to just feel, letting her muscles melt against his body. He cupped her breast, and when she moaned and gripped his shoulders tightly, he grunted in frustration and gently drew away.

Glancing down at her, he tucked his tongue into his cheek and shook his head. "Ye should get dressed before I give ye a reason to go back and shower again." He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. "Christ, I've missed ye so much."

Her heart did a pirouette. It was so  bloody  absurd that after the all this time, Jamie could still make the air catch in her chest and her blood rush with force, just by looking at her. "I missed you too," was all she could muster, feeling the heat creep up her face.

He cleared his throat. "I brought some Thai takeaway. You get dressed, and I'll prepare the table."

"Oh! I thought we were going out," she said, unable to hide her disappointment.

He swallowed and nodded, the muscles in his jaw, working overtime as he took her hands. "I'm so sorry, Sassenach. I had a last-minute phone call from this guy who'll be rewiring the sports complex. He's coming all the way from Glasgow, and I need to show him the floor plans and the list of gadgets I need installing. I'm just as disappointed as ye are that we can't go out." He linked his fingers through hers. "The next few weeks are going to be crazy as hell, but I'm doing everything I can to make sure we'll have more time together. That's a promise."

"That's alright," she murmured, trying her best not to act like a child whose lolly had been taken off her. This was the sixth time he'd cancelled their date, and it didn't help that they hadn't been out together for weeks and that she hadn't seen the sports complex yet. Her brain concocted tons of reasons for all the cancellations, and not one of them was good, but she immediately tamped down the thoughts when she saw the worried look on his face. Sighing, she gave him a reassuring smile. "You go ahead a prepare the food. I'll just quickly dry my hair, and I will be out soon."

Before she could turn away, he hauled her back into his arms, and then cupped her face with both hands and kissed her deeply, almost making her believe everything was fine.

"I love you, Sassenach" he said against her lips. "I promise I will have more time for us soon."

He held her for a few more heartbeats, and then with an effort, he pulled away and headed out the door.

When he left, she leaned her forehead against the damp bathroom tiles. "I love you too Jamie. So much it hurts to breathe sometimes," she whispered to the wall. 

..........

Another three weeks went by, and Claire was determined to ignore her growing sense of apprehension about Jamie and her inability to deal with his lack of presence in most of her everyday life. She felt like she had a countdown timer running in the backdrop, and she was just waiting for it to reach zero when it would reveal they were over for good.

She sighed and ferociously tug the weeds out of her garden bed, venting her frustration in her back garden vegetation. Her mood didn't improve when she envisioned herself becoming one of those women who obsessed about their man, fearing they wouldn't be able to cope once the relationship was over.  Shut it, Beauchamp! Stop being pathetic and grow a pair!

Nearby, Geillis was collecting all the weeds she'd pulled out and placing them into containers for compost. She didn't want to heap more of her relationship worries on her friend, thinking she's beginning to sound repetitive and whiny.

Even though Jamie was away a lot, he would drop by a few times, helping her with shopping when she didn't have the time to refill her pantry and repairing things that needed fixing in her wee cottage. She tried not to pressure him about sleepovers since she'd refused a few times to stay at his place. Not that Claire didn't want to be with him, but he was hardly in his apartment, and when he was, he spent his time catching up on sleep or speaking with important people on the phone. Over time she realised, he was workaholic, mostly when it involved something he was passionate and excited about. And it made her wonder if that was the reason he never had any proper relationship during his rugby days.

Jamie had often enough apologised for not always being there for her and asked her to give him more time and trust him, and she was trying her utmost best to do just that, even though patience and trust are two things she was beginning to have a short supply of.

"It's yer day-off. Aren't ye seeing Jamie today?" Geillis asked, getting up on her feet and kicking the dirt off her boots.

"Nope. Apparently, being interviewed by some local radio station and filming for Irn-Bru commercial is more appealing than spending time with his girlfriend." She cringed inwardly the moment her pettiness came out in full force, unable to contain what she truly felt any longer.

"Ach, hen. I ken it's been a difficult time for ye both with yer long hours and his busy schedule. Surely, ye ken he'd rather spend time with ye."

"I know, Geillis. Don't mind me at all. I'm just in one of those moods. Think nothing more of it." She dusted off her hands and got up. "Anyway, I'm trying not to dwell on those things. I have to get ready and meet up with John ...you know John Grey from St Leonards', where I did my temp job?" When Geillis nodded, she continued. "He's got a day-off too, and his boyfriend is on a business trip to France. So we thought, since we're both boyfriendless today, we'd hang out together. You can join us if you wish."

Geillis waved her hand. "I'll pass. I have a gig tomorrow for a group of seven-year-olds. Need to organise their party hats and goodie bags. I'll clean up and go." Then she pulled her in for a hug. "And enjoy yersel' and try not to worry about Jamie. He's probably thinking the same of ye ...ye not having enough time for him with yer long hours at work. Just have a little faith with the man, alright?"

"I will," she smiled, kissing her on the cheek. "In case you finish early with your prep for tomorrow and change your mind about joining us, we'll be in The World's End."

Geillis pulled back and made a face. "I doubt it. It's a bath, chamomile and books for me tonight and then early to bed. Need to save my energy for those bairns tomorrow. Kids nowadays are so hyper and fueled with so much sugar, I can hardly keep up with them. But ye go enjoy yersel', and I'll stop by one of this morning for breakfast." And with that, she spun around and headed towards the house.

As she put away her hand garden tools into a bucket, she took deep calming breaths and made a decision to stop thinking so negatively. It had been ages since she'd been to the pub and maybe a change of atmosphere and a few beers with her friend John would improve her mood. She wished she could talk to Jamie right now, but she knew he was working and was probably in the middle of an interview or shoot. She would just have to wait later to send him a message once she's come back home.

As if thinking of Jamie willed him to call, her phone buzzed in her jeans, and when she looked at the screen, it lit up with his number. A wave of elation rushed through her cancelling all her earlier doubts. "Hey, I was just thinking about you and wondering when it's best to call you up. I wasn't sure if you were in the middle of something."

"I have a few minutes before I go on air." He sounded slightly hoarse if not tired, but still, she could hear a smile on his voice. "How are ye today, Sassenach?"

She reminded herself he was working hard for his sports academy, and she needed to be a more understanding girlfriend. "I'm great," she replied, trying to be more cheerful than she felt. "I'm just cleaning up after a bit of garden work, and then I'll head out for a few drinks."

"With Geillis and Joe?" 

She picked up her bucket of tools and headed towards the shed. "Actually, no. I'm going out with John."

"John? Who's John?"

She thought she heard the clipped tone in his voice but shook her head, thinking she imagined things. "You know John. The head doctor of St Leonards' where I did my temp job. We both have a day-off, so we thought we'd hang out together for a couple of beers. It's been ages since I've been out and I thought it would be a nice change."

"How come Geillis or Joe is not coming with ye? Are they working?"

"Joe is away somewhere ...God knows where. And I've asked Geillis to come, but she has a gig to prepare for tomorrow." She opened the door to her shed and slid in her tools before closing it again and heading back towards the house. "It'll just be a couple of drinks, and then I'll head back home."

There was a long pause in Jamie's end. "Jamie? You still there?"

"Aye, I'm here," he sighed. "The air is getting colder, Sassenach. Make sure ye dressed up warmly when ye go out."

"It is getting a bit nippy," she admitted, looking at her watch. "Listen. Got to run. I'm running a bit late."

There was another silence for a few seconds before he spoke. "Ye ken I love ye, don't ye, Sassenach?" he asked.

She took a deep breath and smiled. "Of course, Jamie. And I love you too. But I really have to go. I'll speak to you soon ...well, as soon as I get back home. I promise." And then she turned off the phone before he could say another word since she was already running late. As she stepped into the house, she felt loads better already than she did earlier after hearing Jamie's voice. In fact, she was beginning to look forward to having a night out with John and having a refreshing pint. Maybe, later, if she's not too tired, she would pay Jamie a visit to his apartment and surprise him. With that in mind and with more lightness in her heart, she showered and got ready for her night out.