Standing with her passport at the photocopier, Cal tried not to stare at Bea’s photo. It was difficult. Few people came out well in passport photographs, but she did. No rabbit in headlights stare or under-eye luggage for her. Her skin was blemish free and her sapphire eyes were as glittering as they were in real life. Cal checked out her date of birth; she was thirty, four years younger than him. All compatible withworking in the bar.Because that’s why you have this paperwork, remember? Don’t be one of those sleazy boss types who ogles their staff. Keep things professional.
‘So, you’ve several years’ bar experience?’ Cal sat down behind his desk again, attempting to focus on an interview and find out a little about Bea’s background before officially hiring her.
‘Yes,’ Bea said. ‘I’ve worked in several of the busiest bars in Manhattan, some of which are popular with high-end clientele. You can contact any of them for a reference.’
‘That’s excellent.’ The experience on Bea’s CV was impressive. No doubt there were more demanding customers in NYC than she’d find in Butler’s. If her experience was as she claimed, she would fit right into the job and do well – which then begged the question…
‘So how long did you say you were planning to stay in Scotland? You’re here to write a book?’
‘Yes, bartending is my trade and writing my passion. I am hoping to stay for three months, but I could extend, depending on what happens. Scotland is so inspirational.’ Bea regarded Cal with a twinkle from under swan-like lashes.
‘I see.’ Cal shifted a little in his seat. This woman was so beautiful it unnerved him. And what was she getting at about ‘inspiration’ whilst staring like that? ‘Scotland is indeed a beautiful country,’ he said, focusing on the sexually neutral part of the conversation.
‘It is. I can’t believe it’s taken me thirty years to come here.’ Bea beamed and held his gaze. ‘My father always said we should vacation here, but somehow we never had enough money to do so and sadly he passed away before we had a chance to visit together. He used to tell me so many tales about Edinburgh that it’s like I know the place.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that about your father,’ Cal said sympathetically. ‘And that’s a shame about the vacation, but nice that you’re at home here.’ He shuffled the papers into a neat pile and passed the originals back across the table to Bea. ‘Okay, that’s the paperwork out of the way. I’ll show you round the bar and introduce you to the others.’ He rose from his seat and straightened his tie.
By the time Cal had given Bea her full induction it was like the scent of amber and honeysuckle was embedded in his olfactory system, not to mention the effect it was having on other parts of his body. Physically, something about this woman made his blood rush. Personality wise, he wasn’t sold; she was overly breezy. But that was fine because it made it easier to ignore the subtle advances she threw his way.Focus on the fact that her personality is annoying, not the fact that her legs are long and her neck is slender and completely kissable.
As the evening morphed into night, customers were flowing into the bar like fast-moving treacle, although it was still light outside on account of the long, light summer evenings Scotland enjoyed. Throughout the shift, Cal served drinks, kept his attention on the floor and, in the name of monitoring her welfare and performance, glanced frequently towards Bea.
What he saw impressed him. Besides the fact that she would occasionally take a little longer do things, due to her unfamiliarity with the bar layout, she appeared entirely comfortable at Butler’s. She could pull a perfect pint; there hadn’t been a single cocktail for which she’d had to look upthe ingredients nor a customer she didn’t greet warmly. And many of them – particularly the male clientele – returned that warmth. Cal would need to monitor them; he couldn’t have his bar staff being harassed or made uncomfortable.
‘How’re you getting on?’ Cal inquired when Bea was between customers.
‘I’m having a great time.’ She flashed a wide grin and blew her hair off her forehead. ‘Hot and busy, but it’s great. I love the atmosphere. Everyone is so friendly.’
‘Aye.’ Cal glared at a customer who was ogling Bea. ‘They can be. But don’t take any crap from anyone, okay?’
‘Oh, I never do,’ said Bea. ‘I know exactly how to deal with a tough customer, don’t you worry.’
‘I’ll try not to.’ Cal didn’t need any more worries, seeing as he was already concerned with the fact that, on top of her physical attributes, he found this woman’s competence behind his bar intoxicatingly and distractingly attractive. And that, since he was her boss, he really should not.
Chapter 13
Bea
Bea had meant it when she told Cal how much she was enjoying her first shift at Butler’s. Since quitting bartending in the spring, at Josh’s behest, she’d missed it. Protestations to Josh that it was what she was familiar with, that the hours allowed her to get on with her writing, and that the tips were good, were countered with the argument that he could support her so she’d have all the time she needed to write.
In many ways, this was ideal for Bea as writing was her first love, but it didn’t take long for the subtle sideswipes to come from Josh about how exhausting it was being the main breadwinner. As far as Bea could see, he wasn’t working any harder than before she’d given up her job; he just liked to wield power over her. With the benefit of hindsight, Bea could see that he’d been manipulating her, although that insight wasn’t enough to make the legacy of inadequacy subside fully.
An additional positive of being back behind a bar and earning her own money came from working so closely in the presence of the beautiful Cal Butler. Bea hadn’t expectedthe owner of a successful bar to be serving customers himself, but Cal liked to muck in with the rest of the staff. A small part of Bea – the part affected by Josh – wondered if he might be a bit of a control freak.
‘Do you always work bar on a Saturday night?’ she asked at the end of the shift, as they tidied up.
‘Aye, of course,’ he’d said, shrugging as if it were a strange question. ‘It’s my bar. If I hadn’t wanted to work bar on a Saturday night, I’d have set up a cheese shop.’
‘A cheese shop?’
‘Or whatever. That’s just an example. Point is, I’m not in the habit of hiding in the back office while my staff toil out front.’
‘I wish some of my previous bosses were like you.’ Bea meant in terms of work ethic, although she was aware of the other interpretation of her words. Not that it mattered. A little flirting couldn’t do any harm, could it? Loosen the tension a little.
‘Speaking of working, best get on and get things cleaned up.’ Cal directed Bea’s attention to the empty glasses scattered across the tables. ‘Don’t want to be here all night.’
‘No, of course not.’ Surely, they could chat and clear at the same time, but for all his team spirit, he didn’t want to talk to her. Had she done something wrong?
‘Do you live near the bar?’ Bea decided to keep making an effort. She’d get through to this guy, eventually.
