‘You know,’ she said. ‘I could painta landscape or something else family-friendly that you could hang in the reception of the distillery.’
Jamie’s face lit up. ‘That is a brilliant idea,’ he said. ‘But no pressure. Only if you want to.’
‘I’d love to. I can post it to you when it’s done.’
It was a delight to paint Jamie. Obviously, that he was physically attractive helped, but his personality lent a relaxation that fuelled Alicia. He knew when to stay quiet and let her paint, but if she instigated chat, he was responsive and a great conversationalist, although he kept the topics light so she didn’t get too distracted.
The only topic that threw Alicia was when Jamie asked her about home. What was the first thing she would do when she got back? Who did she miss the most? Who did she think missed her the most? All innocuous questions and rather sweet, had Alicia wanted to think of home. Jamie had apparently accepted that they’d go their separate ways at the weekend, and she would have to do the same, so she answered everything he asked. The first thing she would do was sleep. She missed her best friend Sunni and Sunni probably missed her too.
But all she was thinking about was how much she would miss Jamie. At moments, as she painted, she wanted to put down her paintbrush and go to him, kiss him and curl up in his lap.Imagine how he’d react if I did that.Occasionally, a look of understanding passed between them. Of course, he knew that she wanted him. Just not quite how much. They were alike in many ways, and being cocooned in this hotel made her feel like bad things couldn’t happen. If only she could give him something he needed enough to ask her to stay.
‘I am so glad I am getting this painting,’ she said.
‘You are?’
‘Yes, it’ll be the perfect reminder of this holiday and this beautiful creature in front of me.’
‘Beautiful creature! That’s you. You have plans for it?’
‘I was thinking laminated in the shower or tucked inside one of the books I keep by my bed.’
‘Well, that’s a compliment, if ever there was one. You could shrink it down and make a keyring too.’
Jamie was funny, but what Alicia had wanted from that conversation was more than a few quips. She’d been angling and he hadn’t bitten. How she would have loved him to say that he wanted to be tucked beside her in her bed back home. Instead, he’d made a suggestion about keyrings. Not what she’d been hoping for. Their lives were diametrically opposed. A big-city, American gal – on paper at least – and a small-town, Scottish boy. It was a wonder that their paths had crossed at all.
‘Speaking of a sense of accomplishment.’ Alicia put down her paintbrush. ‘I’ve finished.’
‘Fantastic! When do I get to see it?’
‘Anytime you like.’
‘I’ll go get dressed for the unveiling.’ Jamie disappeared into the bedroom. emerging a minute later barefoot in jeans and a t-shirt. ‘Okay, c‘mon then.’ He came round to Alicia’s side of the easel and stared at her work in silence for a few moments. She watched his face as he examined her efforts. It was impossible to know what he thought, and it seemed to be an eternity before he spoke.
‘Alicia! This… This is another belter. I’ve no idea how you’ve managed to make me look––’
‘Gorgeous, sexy, delectable?’
‘Hmm. I wouldn’t like to say that about myself. Just moderately classy even though my bits are on display.’
‘Well, you are classy and all of those other things, so you can take the credit for being an excellent subject.’
‘Aw, shucks. But I think the credit needs to go to the spectacular artist. I would genuinely put this in the distillery reception, if it wasn’t a painting of me in the buff.’
The idea delighted Alicia, but she could top it. ‘You could put in on the bottles.’
‘Ha! That’s even better. Sales would skyrocket. Well, they’d probably be more likely to skyrocket with a painting of you nude on the bottle, but I guess I could be the next best thing.’
Alicia froze, like every cell in her body had been immersed in liquid nitrogen. That had clearly been a joke, but at the sound of those words, everything horrific that she had avoided thinking about surged back in – the shame of the nude photos, Chad’s scathing words, her as a commodity, an object, less than a person. If Jamie knew any of that, his perception of her would change entirely. The walls were closing in.
‘I’m sorry,’ she stammered. ‘I’m not feeling so well. I’m going to go back to my lodge for a bit.’
Jamie touched her shoulder.
‘Oh. Are you okay? Was it something I said? I didn’t mean to objectify you by suggesting putting you nude on one of our bottles. It was a joke because you’re way hotter than me.’
‘Oh, I know it was a joke. It’s fine, I’m fine.’ He hadn’t meant to offend, of course. But shame was gnawing at Alicia and she was overwhelmed by things beyond rationality. She grabbed her coat and fumbled around until she found her shoes.
‘Alicia.’ Jamie paced across the room, stood in front of her, not blocking her way but his resolute stance stoppingher in her tracks. Tenderly, he took her chin in his hands and tilted it up to meet his gaze, his voice low and grave. ‘I know you’re not fine so why don’t you stay and tell me what’s really up?’
