‘It’s stunning. Isn’t it?’
‘It really is,’ she said aware that his face was close to hers and her heart was starting to thump a little harder. ‘Amazing to think they make them with their bum.’
Fraser burst out laughing. ‘Liv, you are the funniest, most…’ He seemed to be searching for the right words when his phone rang and interrupted them. Fraser frowned as he cancelled the call. ‘Lizzie?’ asked Liv.
‘Callum. I wish he’d just let it go.’
‘Do you? I’m guessing you’ve been friends a while.’
‘Since P1.’ He must have seen her confused look because he quickly clarified. ‘That’s reception in England.’
‘See, that’s a blinking long time. You don’t want to throw that away.’
‘He threw it away when he slept with Lizzie.’
‘Yeah. That takes two you know? I’m not defending him, and I know he wouldn’t either. He knows he’s been a shit but you have lots in common. Not least the fact that Lizzie has shafted you both.’ Fraser’s eyebrows jumped. ‘As in treated you both badly as well as the obvious but don’t think about that bit. Focus on the fact she was a nasty cow to both of you.’
Ginger made a low bellowing noise. ‘Not you,’ said Liv. ‘You’re a nice cow.’ Fraser was giving her a strange look so she turned her attention back to him.
‘My dad did the same to my brother.’ He studied the floor.
Liv’s brain was trying to work it out. ‘He slept with his girlfriend?’
Fraser nodded. ‘His wife, Effie’s mum. The day Uncle Duncan found out about the affair was the day he died in a car crash.’
‘Shit. Does Effie know?’
He shook his head. ‘No and I don’t want her to either. She lost her father and then her mam said she needed to get away. Shortly afterwards my dad walked out, leaving us to sort everything out here. But what did any of us know about running a hotel? We had no choice but to close the place down.’
‘How did you find out about the affair?’
‘Something didn’t add up for me. I managed to track Dad down to France and guess who was there with him.’
‘Effie’s mum.’
‘Spot on.’ He sighed. ‘I got angry but that only made things worse. Dad and I haven’t spoken since.’
‘Blimey. No wonder the Callum and Lizzie thing hurt. But Callum’s not your dad and he is sorry for what he’s done.’
‘You won’t tell Effie any of this, will you?’
‘No, but maybe one day you should. She’ll find out sometime and it would be better coming from someone who cares about her.’ He nodded. ‘Anyway, why were you lurking out here?’ she asked.
‘I wasn’t lurking, I was waiting for a delivery. I’m doing a seafood platter for dinner. I hope you’re not allergic?’ He was smiling at her, which was quite a rare thing and definitely something she would have liked to have got used to. But she got the distinct impression that the kiss meant nothing; friends was all that was on the table.
‘I won’t be here for dinner. The car’s fixed. So I’ll be home for Christmas. Hurray.’ It was probably the most unenthusiastic hurray that had ever been uttered. ‘I was just saying goodbye to Ginger and then I was going to get off.’ She did an impression of her driving for no apparent reason. Why did she turn into a bit of an idiot whenever she was feeling awkward?
His smile faded and his expression changed but to one that was difficult to read. Was that relief or disappointment? Most likely the former. ‘Right, then,’ he said. ‘This is it. You’re off.’ He pointed past the hotel and they both looked.
‘Yeah.’ There was a self-conscious silence that seemed to stretch on. ‘Right, well, thank you for everything. It’s been um… interesting. If you find out who impersonated you on that dating site you let me know okay?’
‘Why? Did you want to date them instead?’
Liv pouted as if giving it consideration. ‘He was a nice chap. He was Scottish.’
‘And you like that do you?’ he asked sounding more Scottish than ever.
Liv felt heat rush to her cheeks. ‘Nah, when you’ve heard David Tennant on every advert on TV it gets a bit much really.’
