Cal couldn’t help but wonder what that level of scrutiny might do, not only to his sister but to the rest of the family. Cara was an immense talent, and he always knew she was going to go far, but what implications could this have? Cara’s past, before she’d been adopted along with her triplets Eilidh and Nate, was a troubled one. What dirt might the media try to dig up? He fiercely wanted to protect her – his whole family – from that, at the same time as celebrating her success.
‘You drinking with us?’ Cara scanned the bar for a glass for Cal to drink from. ‘Toast to your favourite sister?’
‘Aye, but a soft drink as I’m working.’
‘Can you not take the night off and get one of yourpeopleto cover?’ Cara giggled again, probably because she knew Cal didn’t refer to his staff as hispeople.
‘We can have a drink next week. I’ll cook you dinner. Unless you’re out for lunch with Jackson McGregor to get on top of your lines.’
‘Shhh!’ Cara feigned outrage at the volume of Cal’s voice. ‘No, I’m not getting on top of Jackson McGregor…I mean my lines for another eighteen months.’
Cal quirked a brow and hoped his sister had made that mistake for deliberate effect.
Cara and Eilidh ate their fish and chips, drank champagne and talked non-stop while Cal worked and chatted to them during lulls at the bar. They mentioned continuing the celebrations elsewhere in town and Cal suggested they stay at Butler’s.He preferred his sisters to be where he knew they were safe, but they wanted to go on a city adventure, so he proposed they get a lift home with him later or stay over in the upstairs flat.
‘Okay, thanks, big bro,’ said Eilidh. ‘But where will you sleep?’
‘Och, I’ll––’
‘Cal?’ Eilidh waved at her brother. ‘Where will you sleep? Earth to Cal.’
But Cal was gone from that conversation. His gaze was glued to the door of the bar where Bea – all curves and billowing red hair – was entering in the manner of a model striding down a runway. My God! Each time he saw her, she emptied his lungs of more breath.
‘Evening, boss,’ Bea chimed, as she approached the bar.
‘Hey, Bea. How are you this evening?’ Cal tried his best in front of his sisters to not appear utterly beguiled by Bea.
‘Great! I got so caught up in some street theatre out there that I nearly forgot I was on my way to work.’
‘Yes, that can happen.’ Cal chuckled.
‘Hey.’ Cara waved at Bea. She waited a beat for Cal to make introductions, but when he didn’t get in fast enough, she did it herself. ‘We’re Cal’sweird sisters. Well, that’s what he calls us. I’m Cara and this is Eilidh.’
Cal couldn’t help but be amused. He would bet that Kitty had told Cara about the attractive woman working in the bar and now Cara had met her she wanted to see if she was girlfriend material for her brother.
‘Weird sisters, huh? I’m charmed. Does that make Cal Macbeth?’
‘They do try to tell me what my future holds.’ Cal was impressed at Bea’s response to Macbeth’s witches reference. ‘But I tend to ignore it and do my own thing.’
‘Hedoesn’twant to be king of the family company.’ Eilidh spoke pointedly of Cal’s reluctance to work for BDL.
‘Ah, I see.’ Bea laughed. ‘Well, he does run a good ship here. Anyway, it’s lovely to meet you, but I’m a little late so I’d best get ready for my shift.’
As soon as Bea disappeared to put her bag in her locker, what Cal would have put money on happening, happened.
‘Oh my goodness!’ Cara put her glass down on the bar.
‘Oh my goodness what?’ Cal knew exactly what she was getting at but pretended not to.
‘She is stunning,’ said Eilidh.
‘And you guys have chemistry!’
‘Aye, she’s not bad,’ said Cal, knowing fine well he was making a massive understatement.
Eilidh and Cara both burst out laughing.
‘What?’
