He thought for a moment, then said, ‘Look, Edinburgh is a fantastic city. There’s so much to see and do here. But what better culture than some time with this Scotsman here?’ Cal’s delivery was deadpan, but Bea seemed to appreciate the humour and the intrigued tilt of her head suggested she was keen for him to continue talking. ‘I know your time here is limited,’ he went on. ‘So, I don’t want to put pressure on you to spend you break with me, and I don’t want it to sound like some kind of sordid arrangement, but I think that was too good to not do again. And, well, I think we could have a lot of fun.’ Cal knew he was doing the opposite of what he said he’d do – avoid women until things were off his mind – but how could he close the box now he’d seen what was inside?
It was difficult to gauge Bea’s feelings about this request. She didn’t respond straight away. In fact, for a moment, she gazed downward and Cal wondered if he’d said the wrong thing. Thrown the ultimate insult at her, maybe? Was she going to look up and he’d see her eyes full of rage, or worse, heartbreak? Or was he giving himself too much credit for the effect he had on a woman?
In what was probably only seconds, but felt like minutes to Cal, Bea met him face on. ‘You may have a point,’ she said. ‘I came here to get over a nasty break-up and, to be honest, I think a couple of months of no-strings physical fun might be exactly what I need.’
Cal couldn’t quite believe this. ‘No strings. You’re sure? You’re not, I don’t know, in a difficult place after your break-up?’ Cal had never heard a woman offerno strings in such a way before. It was like he was being lured into a trap. He also wanted to make sure Bea wasn’t emotionally fragile and making a foolish decision. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her.
‘I believe I’m of sound mind,’ Bea said. ‘Break-ups are never easy, but I don’t see why no strings would be a problem.’
‘Hmm.’ It wouldn’t be right to question her any further, so Cal said, ‘Well, I think you’re a woman who knows her own mind so I’m not doubting you. As long as you’re sure?’
Bea nodded. ‘I’m sure. Truly. This is the tonic I need. Although…’ She glanced at the chesterfield. Cal clocked exactly what she was getting at.
‘I have a bed,’ he said. ‘In fact, I have several. I can keep things varied. Don’t want you going home with the impression that Scottish men are boring lovers. At least not this one.’
Bea laughed. ‘I haven’t got that impression so far,’ she said. ‘I may even write a feature for the tourist board about how highly I recommend taking a Scottish lover.’
‘Hmm, please don’t do that.’ That comment reminded Cal how much he wanted to keep his private life exceptionally private. He might not be an A-list celebrity, but he was known in the Scottish business world and, more specifically, Edinburgh, and word got around about these sorts of things. Cal liked his reputation to be twenty-four carat business, not to mention the fact that his father wasn’t keen on having the Butler name tarnished by his son’s escapades with what he referred to as ‘flibbertigibbets’, Elisabetta being a prime example.
Bea appeared a little taken aback. ‘Oh, okay. I wasn’t serious, but sure, I won’t do that.’ ‘You don’t like beingflattered?’
‘Ach, I can do flattery, if it’s sincere. I’m just not a fan of being written about.’
‘I see. Have you been written about before?’
‘Kind of. I’d rather not talk about it to be honest.’
‘Okay. Well, we’ll keep it solely between us. Two months of fun, then bye bye.’ Bea sapphire eyes shimmered.
Two months, then bye bye. This bothered Cal a little.Why? She’s giving exactly what you want. Don’t you want her to want the same thing?
‘Sure, two months then we say goodbye, having given each other some amazing memories. I’m glad you approached me in the coffee shop that day, Bea. And that you persevered with getting a job here. You’ve enhanced the place.’ Cal stopped. He was gushing too much. It wasn’t his style, wasn’t the style of a ‘two months, then bye bye’ guy. But he couldn’t help it. Things were so much better since Bea came into his life ... into the business’s life. And a happy bar manager made for a successful bar. Yep, however you looked at it, it all made great business sense.
Chapter 28
Bea
Awarm glow spread across Bea’s face as she thought about what had happened between her and Cal. The sex was incredible. She had never known anything like it. Never known a man to set her body on fire like he had. But no strings? Who was the person that made her say those words? Who was it that agreed to heat herself with the fire but keep it under control and not let the flames spread? Bea didn’t know that woman, but she did know that she liked her. Strings were Bea’s default setting when it came to men so it would be something else to let herself go. Abandon herself to that body, those kisses, more orgasms. Many more. Now she would have Cal on tap for the rest of her working-vacation. There was a potent chemistry between them. It was perfect. Perfect for her well-being, to give her some time where she could switch off and only be focused on being in physical heaven with a Scotsman, perfect for giving her mind a break from thinking of Josh, and perfect to help stoke the fires of her writing. She was proud of herself for the decisions she’d made which had led her to this point. For taking control of her life.
Cal was such a different lover than Bea had known. Josh was below average in bed but had constantly wanted his ego plumped to confirm that he was superb, wanted her to tell him how much she enjoyed sex with him; he believed he could offer women the pinnacle in lovemaking. Cal, on the other hand, didn’t need his ego plumping at all, and delivered the goods. He wanted to please Bea and gained as much from her enjoyment as she did herself.
Could she do all this without falling for him? It was a tricky question, but probably she could. Cal was hot and sexy as hell, but personality wise he wasn’t what she needed.He’s too closed off, too aloof, maybe even moody.Bea needed more of a free spirit. Sure, Cal had raved about the sex, but she didn’t suppose he was especially effusive with emotions, and after Josh, Bea needed kindness and openness.
There was also the issue of Cal probably becoming a father soon. He wouldn’t have any interest in a new woman in his life when he’d have a little baby to shower love upon, especially in the early stages. And even if Bea never experienced anything stronger than lust for Cal, she didn’t want to risk stirring up feelings of being second best. She didn’t want to witness her lover cooing over his child and recoil in inadequacy, the way Josh had made her feel. When she was ready for a new relationship, Bea wanted to be that man’s number one priority, to be his everything, to have a baby together. Was that selfish? She didn’t think so. After what she went through with Josh, Bea deserved to be wholly loved. Cal Butler may not be the man to do it, but she could still appreciate him in other ways. And, ultimately, she had come here to write, and find the old carefree Bea again, and both those were apparently happening.
‘So,’ Cal said. ‘Will you come and stay over tomorrownight? At the cottage at Belhaven. Besides the full pleasure package, I can offer you a selection of whiskies before bed, a hot shower and breakfast in the morning. Plus, neither of us is working on Monday so we can spend the day together. I’ll take you surfing.’
Bea did a double take. ‘Surfing? In Scotland?’
‘Sure. Didn’t you know we surf here?’
‘But it’s so cold.’
‘Cold, pah! You Americans.’
‘Oh, it’s like that is it? Us Americans!’
‘Ha ha. Aye, it is. You can’t let a bit of cold stand in the way of living your life. We have some of the best waves for surfing and the beaches are near empty most of the time because, like you, most Scottish people are scared of the cold water. I have wetsuits and I’ll teach you all you need to know. Then, afterwards, I’ll enjoy peeling it off and seeing what’s underneath.’
