‘Are you sure it wasn’t to say thank you for your handiwork?’
‘Well maybe, but you weren’t there, Bea. You didn’t see the glint in her eye. She’d have me; I know she would.’
Cal’s humour warmed Bea like gentle Scottish sunshine. There was a sweet and funny man underneath the cool exterior and spending time with him would be most enjoyable.
‘And what was it like growing up on the Kintyre Peninsula?’ she asked. ‘It must have been idyllic.’
‘Well, it’s not all picture postcard, but it had its plusses. Again, there are places to surf, which me and my siblings love. And there’s a ton of whisky. And, of course, some of my family.’
‘Some?’
‘Cara and Eilidh live down here, just a few houses along from me. Niall is in Australia and Sean and Nate are in Kinshore, as is my brother Jamie who works for the family business. Dad’s the CEO, Jamie’s the Chief Operating Officer.’
‘You didn’t want to work for the family business?’
‘You ask a lot of questions, don’t you?’
Maybe she was asking too much. She and Cal were meant to have a no-strings arrangement. Perhaps they shouldn’t learn so much about each other’s lives. He didn’t appear to want to talk too much about his family, beyond the basics.
‘Oh, sorry. You’re right, I do. I think it might be an occupational hazard.’
‘Of being a bartender? Mine is that I can tell what people’s favourite drink is within five minutes of meeting them.’
‘I meant writer but, wait, you can do that?’
‘Yeah, I mean it took less time with you. Thirty seconds in and I knew you were an almond mocha drinker.’
‘Ah! You’re joking.’
‘Well, I am about that, but, no, I meant I can tell what alcoholic drink someone likes. I knew you were a Manhattan woman, both literally and metaphorically.’
‘You did? Why is that?’
‘You’re rich and decadent. Bold. And you struck me as a woman who isn’t afraid of her whisky.’
‘Oh, you’re good,’ said Bea. ‘I’m not afraid of whisky. Although, I will admit to not knowing nearly enough about Scotch. Perhaps you could teach me.’
‘Absolutely.’ Cal’s face lit up. ‘I’ve a cellar full ofinspiration and education. I did grow up pretty much bathing in the stuff, after all.’
After a while on the main road, Cal turned off onto a minor road leading to a small village signposted as Belhaven. A few minutes later he pulled up next to a stone cottage that must command exceptional views of the bay. It was stunning and Bea almost tumbled out of the car so she could absorb her surroundings.
‘Welcome to my home.’ Cal admired his house as if he had built it himself, the radiant joy in his face highlighted by golden evening sunlight.
Bea threw her hand to her heart. ‘Oh my goodness, it’s stunning,’ she said. The wide bay was a deep teal blue with white-crested waves folding into the shore. Out in the background sat an enormous rock.
‘That’s the Bass Rock,’ Cal explained. ‘There’s a castle and a lighthouse on it, as well as about 150,000 gannets.’
‘Wow!’ Bea scanned the coastline. There was barely a soul around, save a few lone dog walkers and one surfer catching the last of the evening waves.
‘I don’t suppose he has to worry about sharks at dusk,’ she remarked.
Cal looked a little surprised that Bea knew the danger times for surfers when it came to sharks. She just smiled.
‘Aye,’ he said. ‘It might be bollock-cold but it’s extremely unlikely we’ll meet anything more dangerous than the swell itself out there.’
‘It’s impressive swell,’ said Bea. ‘I never knew Scotland had such excellent surfing conditions. Although, it is “bollock-cold” for sure.’ She rubbed her arms, encased only in a silk blouse.
Cal touched her arm for a moment. ‘Come on, let’s goinside. Can’t have you getting a chill.’ He grabbed Bea’s bag from the boot of the car and led her to his home.
