‘Right.’ Cal swept a cloth across the bar with some force. ‘That’s good then.’
‘Yes, it was.’
‘And does he intend to show you any more of Edinburgh?’
Bea hadn’t kissed Craig, never mind slept with him, but Cal didn’t need to know that. She shrugged. ‘I think we may have coffee next week, although I’m not entirely sure of his intentions regarding showing me things.’ There was a double meaning in this and she fully intended there to be. Why not make Cal sweat a little?
‘Right. Well, make sure he’s treats you properly.I wouldn’t trust half of the punters that come in here. You deserve to be treated well, Bea.’
‘You think so?’
‘Aye, I do.’
Bea folded her arms. ‘You’re right, Cal. But remind me. Why is it that I deserve good treatment?’ If Cal was changing his mind about last week, then he was as culpable as the next guy of messing her around and he wasn’t getting anywhere near her without earning it.
As if reading her thoughts, a spark appeared in Cal’s eyes and for a moment he contemplated Bea in silence. Then without another word, he moved round to her side of the bar – mere feet from her – and spoke in that deep Scottish burr that set Bea seriously off balance.
‘Because you are bloody amazing, that’s why. Every punter in this place finds you breathtaking. That Craig guy doesn’t know how lucky he is.’
‘Oh yeah?’ Bea drawled. ‘I’ve encountered a few guys who haven’t known how lucky they are.’
Cal glanced at the floor, then swiftly back up to Bea. That electricity was there again, like a flickering cord of static pulled between them.
‘I think we both know I’m one of those guys, don’t we?’ he admitted.
Bea almost laughed at this unexpected frankness. ‘Well, I didn’t like to be the one to say, but…’
‘No, it’s fair enough. So, how much do you like Craig?’
‘I like him.’ Bea fiddled with one of the beer tap nozzles. ‘He’s nice.’
‘Nice.’ Cal nodded. ‘Okay. Well, I can benice. But do you feelthiswith him?’
‘Feel what?’ Bea met Cal’s gaze dead on. She knew exactly what he was talking about, but she wanted him toexplain his meaning. He wasn’t getting to wherever has was driving to without a few stoplights on the way.
‘This.’ Cal waved at the space between their two bodies. ‘The energy that’s here when we stand next to each other. Do you getthiswith him? Because I’ve never experienced it with another woman in my life’
‘Um.’ At Cal’s disarming candour, Bea loosened her hold on the beer tap. If what she thought was on the cards was on the cards, she might need both her hands.
‘No. I don’t feelthiswhen I am with him,’ she said, meeting his honesty dead on with her own. ‘Only with you.’
Cal gave another curt nod but said nothing more.Is that it? Was all he wanted ego-boosting affirmation that I like him more than I do Craig? I should have kept my mouth shut.
‘I’ll cash up.’ Bea opened the register, ready to get out of this toxic place.
Cal, standing on the other side, pushed the drawer closed with the same force as earlier and took a step towards her.
‘Cash up later.’ He fixed her with a look she’d seen a million times before yet had never seen in her life.
Bea blinked, pinned to the spot by the magnetism of Cal’s presence. ‘If you’re sure.’ She knew unequivocally that he was: the intent in his stare, the way his lips had fallen slightly apart. Everything about Cal emanated lust.
‘I’m sure. Bea, I made a mistake last week after our kiss. I’m man enough to admit that. I should never have said that was the end for us.’
Man enough to admit he was wrong. This apology was filling Bea’s cup in so many ways. God, she wanted Cal to kiss her, and somewhere from within, she heard emerge a whispered ‘Okay’.
‘I’m sorry,’ Cal murmured, cupping her face, his touch warm and confident against her skin, eyes almost drunk with sincerity. ‘Honestly, it’s just the beginning.’
Bea’s breath caught in her windpipe. This was huge. This was what she wanted. Really wanted. But thoughts of Craig flashed across her mind. She was at an intersection and she knew it: one where a split-second decision was in the offing. Cal held her face and her future in his hands. If she was going to tell him she chose Craig, now would be the time. Now, before this Cal flame that was flickering in front of her ignited into a full on blaze.
