“There’s a lot of unfun hoopla that goes along with being rich or famous.” Darius shot Joe a meaningful glance. “Like needing bodyguards.”
Sophia looked at him then as though she hadn’t seen him before, her eyes growing round.
“That’sright. You’re famous, aren’t you?” She scanned the people at the table as though she were looking for confirmation.
“There’s famous and then there’sfamous.” Eve reached over and gave his hand a consoling pat that sent a thrill through him. She seemed to be getting more comfortable with casually touching him. That had to be a good sign. She said, “Darius here is mostly famous in the gaming world. So it’s not quite the same thing as being an actor or singer who people would recognize on the street.”
“I’m glad not to bethatfamous. It definitely has its disadvantages.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin and placed it on his empty plate. “Why don’t you remind us of what places we’re going to see.”
Eve shot him a quick glance before leaning closer to Sophia and whispering conspiratorially, “There are lots of bakeries and shops along the Mile too.”
“Ooo, that sounds yummy.” The girl clapped her hands. “I’m excited to try them all. Except blood things.”
It’d only been three years since Darius had taught high school art, but he’d forgotten how much some teenage girls could feel things. The over-the-top enthusiasm could get a bit wearing, but it made him a little nostalgic too. Those had been good days. He’d enjoyed being a teacher and helping kids to free their creativity. Finding the balance between being a mentor/role model and a friend had been fulfilling.
When Eve began reviewing their stops for the day, he stood and began gathering the plates. Carmen glanced at him in surprise and jumped up to take the dishes from him.
“It’s all right,” he said, holding the plates above her head so she couldn’t take them from him, “I do dishes for myself all the time. Idoknow how. You should know what’s on the itinerary for today so you can share this time with your daughter.”
“Thank you.” She sat back in her chair.
Darius turned and found Eve watching him, wearing a soft smile. Their gazes met for a second before she went back to her description. He wasn’t surprised that the room had suddenly turned too warm.
* * *
Darius letEve lead the way. He’d seen the Harry Potter movies because his students had been interested in them, but he’d never read the books. Maybe he should have. Evidently Noah was also a fan, and he and Sophia kept Eve talking while poor Carmen nodded, listening intently. It seemed she might be a fan too, though probably not to the same degree as the others. At the very least, it should be entertaining.
Glancing up at the gloomy sky, Darius hoped the weather would hold for them. Joe must have wondered the same thing, though he already carried an umbrella. The bodyguard was nothing if not prepared. At least Sophia wouldn’t have to worry about getting too much sun. She had a floppy brimmed hat hanging down her back from a strap just in case.
Because they were getting a later start, he thought the sidewalks probably weren’t as full as they would’ve been during rush hour. They made their way along something called North Bridge and kept a pretty good pace until the bridge ended and the street was full of stone buildings.
Sophia and her mother’s interest became fixed on the stores that now lined the street, and their pace slowed. Noah and Eve fell back to join Darius and Joe.
“Look,” Eve said, taking Darius’s arm and pointing to a shop that supported kilts of many colors. “We should check these out for you.”
“Oh, ho,” Noah crowed, “’twould be grand to see.”
“I’mnotwearing a kilt.” Darius said the words slowly and firmly but kept his tone light. He liked having Eve’s hand on his arm, so he bent his elbow, hoping she wouldn’t release his bicep. She shot him a quick, assessing glance but left her hand where it was. It took a huge effort not to smile.
“There’s a Pizza Hut,” Sophia cried, pointing to the familiar logo outside of a shop. “We’ll have to eat there.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Eve asked. “You’re going to travel thousands of miles to visit another country and eat fast food from home?”
“It would seem like a wasted opportunity to experience the culture,” Darius added. “Wasn’t the food in the Harry Potter books kind of a big deal?”
The girl nodded and asked Noah, “Do they have Pizza Hut in Ireland?”
“Aye, but they’re in Dublin.”
“Where do you live?”
“Near Galway, on the other side of the island.”
They continued to talk until they reached the first intersection, where the road changed from asphalt to worn, colored bricks.
“If we turned left, we’d head toward Holyrood Palace,” Eve said. “Edinburgh Castle is to the right. Today the things we want to check out are in that direction.”
“There’s Starbucks,” Sophia said in a loud whisper to Noah as they made their way up the Royal Mile. “Do you have Starbucks?”
