Love of Her Lives (29 page)

“I’ll see you tomorrow then?” She’d not let him out of it, no matter what he thought of her. Her heart began to race again, like there was so much at stake and she wasn’t performing well.

“Nine o’clock.” He smiled tightly.

“See you then.”

He headed down the street away from her.

Beth watched his back. She wanted to run her fingernails up and down that back. And she would. She affirmed it again — Tiffany or no. Maybe she was his sister? Why would Calum offer to show a stranger the city if he was in a relationship? Either he’s incredibly thoughtful, or he’s a two–timer? No, it couldn’t be. Could it?

She needed to know what she was up against. Sleep was for later. Calum had gone down Grassmarket, so she headed in that direction, discretely following behind to learn what she could of this Tiffany.

Her warrior had slipped out of sight. Where had he gone? She picked up the pace. There! She spied the navy shirt under the sun–kissed head moving with the same confident, graceful gait as always. Her feet click–clacked along the sidewalk. She should have worn running shoes.

“Oh, pardon me,” she said to a woman whose arm she’d nearly knocked off when she deked suddenly to catch Calum entering a doorway. Beth stopped two store fronts away at a genealogy shop.

Trace your Scottish heritage here, it promised. She couldn’t go in or she might miss Calum. Was she far enough away to observe yet remain unobserved? What do people do to look inconspicuous? She turned to the street and studied her watch.

Ten minutes later Calum popped out of the shop with a bag. Tiffany’s groceries she assumed. Oh no! His head turned her way. She spun her back to him. Shoot — pink coat. She was too close. Had he seen her gawking? Please no.

Then again, what if he’d not seen her? She would lose him if she didn’t take a little peek.

With a discrete swivel, she faced the genealogy shop and spared a glance down the street.

She shrieked as her heart slammed into her rib cage.

Calum stood directly beside her. “You look lost.” His brows raised in what must have been sheer wonder.

All she could do was swallow — hard. “Uh, no, no I’m not lost. I … I thought I’d do a family tree while I’m here. Although, it is getting late. Perhaps I’ll leave it for another day after all.”

He looked amused. “Good plan. The shop’s closed.”

“Oh, so it is. Look at that.”

“Are you all right, Beth?”

“Yes.” Another swallow. “Yes. Fine. I’m fine. Just a little tired. I should head back to my hotel now. Nice to see you again. Looking forward to tomorrow.” She forced her mouth into a smile to prevent herself from rambling something even more ridiculous.

“Nine o’clock,” he reminded.

With no more than a nod, she turned in a full retreat. Her feet couldn’t carry her fast enough. Obviously Sherlock Holmes did not sleuth in hot pink.

Their reunion was not going as smoothly as she’d anticipated. He was supposed to look into her eyes and be instantly smitten. Instead, she’d made a fool of herself more than once and botched her stakeout, leaving Calum free to have dinner, and probably breakfast, at Tiffany’s.

After a deep breath, she exhaled slowly. Best not to forget she did have a date with him tomorrow. She could do this. Whoever Tiffany was, she was no match for a thousand–year connection.

She thought back to when she’d first met Calum. He’d not been deterred by the whirlwind of extraneous events competing for her attention. They’d never have come together if he’d not persisted, and persist he had.

Beth climbed the steps to the hotel. Sleep was necessary to clear her head, not whiskey, not coffee.

You ain’t seen nothing yet, Calum-Colin, she vowed. That kiss — child’s play. She could sizzle too and not just in the kitchen. The oven mitts were coming off. Tiffany would soon be yesterday’s dinner.

The next morning Colin Cunningham stepped out of the shower, dried off, and wrapped a towel around his waist. In the kitchen while coffee dripped, he popped bread into the toaster and checked the sky out the back window — bright, no clouds. Excellent. A fine day for sightseeing. He was eager to see Beth Stewart again. Eager and intrigued.

Yesterday when he’d caught her spying on him, and there was no doubt the lass had followed him, he’d had to grit his teeth not to laugh at the startled look on her face as she’d fumbled for an excuse. He was definitely intrigued by the Canadian lass.

When he’d come down from Tiffany’s last night, there had been a message on his phone from his brother. Had the foreign lass in the pink coat found Colin at the tavern, and how had she come to know him? Good question. Yesterday, Beth had sought him out at his workplace, but at the pub, she’d not let on she knew his name. Knew his name? Hardly. She’d called him Calum.

That mystery wasn’t all that intrigued him, the lass was bonny to be sure. Her smile lit her eyes like the sun rising over the firth, though he’d no idea their colour or shape. It wasn’t their physical beauty that had grabbed him, but something else, something personal, something familiar, something intimate in her eyes. Yes, he was looking forward to the day.

Colin ate his toast as he pulled on a pair of jeans and a long–sleeved T-shirt. An envelope sat on the desk in the vestibule. Tiffany and Edgar’s rent money. His tenants had likely knocked on his door when he was in the shower. Small mercies. He didn’t feel like explaining his behaviour at dinner last night.

Their symbiotic relationship worked well — Colin shopped, Tiffany cooked, Edgar cleaned up. Last night, Edgar had invited his coworker Rebecca to dinner. A sleek, dark–haired woman with model looks. Rebecca was overly congenial. She agreed with his every word and laughed a little too long. He’d been close to demanding a contrary thought from her.

After dinner, the four of them sat at the table talking about past relationships. Edgar had praised Tiffany for saving him from a disastrous situation where he’d become slave to his old girlfriend’s pendulum moods. Edgar referred to the folk story of Tam Lin thanking Tiffany for her valiant rescue.

That’s when it happened. Colin had a strong recollection of telling Beth Stewart that very story in the back of a horse–drawn carriage. He’d felt a lustful surge at the thought of her tucked so close to him and an urgency that she must kiss him. He couldn’t imagine where the thought came from. The look on his face must have been comical as he sorted out the bizarre confusion. How could he have a memory of a woman he’d just met? When would he have ridden in a carriage with Beth Stewart? Never. He was sure of it, as sure as he’d been of the memory. A strong
déjà vu
settled over his bones.

Edgar had winked at Colin, exaggerated a yawn and announced he’d had a hard day. Ah, the signal. Colin was supposed to take Rebecca downstairs to his flat. But it was all wrong. He didn’t feel comfortable when her hand had slipped over his. He’d pulled away, apologized, and left, feeling three pairs of eyes burning holes in his back. No wonder he’d had a lousy sleep.

The Canadian lass had him piqued and distracted.

Colin brought the envelope inside his flat and tossed it on his kitchen table, his mind on Beth Stewart. It had been a while since he played tour guide.

Though he couldn’t define it, he hadn’t immediately dismissed the exceptionally clear memory of Beth in the carriage as a fault of his imagination. He was anxious to find out more about the Canadian lass who had sequestered his memories. Swiping the keys off the top of the television, he locked up and headed over to Beth’s hotel.

• • •

For the life of her, Beth couldn’t remember the name of the town where she and Calum had pledged their eternal love. Last month, when he’d told her the story, it wasn’t minor details like setting she’d noticed, it was the emotion behind his eyes as he recounted his love for her. All she remembered was that it happened during the reign of King David. Little help that was.

The appropriate environment could stimulate his deep–rooted feelings for her — sights, smells, sounds of where they’d fell so profoundly in love. King David had tried to push the Scottish border into England. She remembered that much, so she planned a picnic south of Edinburgh. It was as good a start as any for a passion–rekindling reminiscence.

And reminisce she would. She couldn’t begin to understand the workings of it, but somewhere Calum–Colin carried a memory or a feeling of being with her. Had she not felt something for the warrior from their first meeting? Definitely. Though she’d been slow to admit it, Calum had her attention from the very start. Tiffany was much the same as Matthew had been — a bump she must push Calum over and leave behind. Sorry, Tiffany, but she was talking a thousand year romance, so technically he was hers first.

By eight-forty-five, Beth had rented a car, shopped for a picnic lunch, and returned to the hotel.

Not only did Calum look sexy as hell as he approached, he was on time. He didn’t appear to notice the two women check him out as he walked toward Beth. The urge to kiss him curled her toes. So unlike her, but she loved the feeling. By the end of the day, she silently pledged their relationship would be in warp speed and there would definitely be kissing.

“I thought we might go to the castle first before it gets busy,” he said, after greetings. “You’d not want to miss the chapel of St. Margaret, if it’s a history lesson you’re after. From there we can walk the Royal Mile to the city chambers and go underneath to Mary Kings Close, a sixteenth–century town, home to the first skyscrapers. If we’re in luck we’ll see the ghost. We can stop to have a wee lunch somewhere along the way. Does that sound good or was there something else you wished to see?”

“Actually, there is. I hope you don’t mind, Cal … Colin,” ugh, she hated calling him Colin, “but I rented a car. I’d love to get out of the city and see a bit of the countryside.”

“You’ve come all the way to Edinburgh and you’re not wanting to see it?”

“I do, but not today. It’s a beautiful morning, and I was up early so I packed us a picnic lunch. Come on, it’ll be fun.”

One of Calum’s eyebrows rose. He brushed his fingers through his hair — a familiar gesture that touched her heart.

“You didn’t need to rent a car, you know. I could have driven.”

“It’s done now, but you can still drive.”

“Right then. A picnic. Not what I expected but very good. Better. I’d rather spend the day in the country and since you, Beth Stewart, wore sensible shoes, I suppose we’d best be off.”

He had noticed her strappy black sandals yesterday. Once again, she’d dressed in clothes she hoped he might recognize, the ones she’d worn when they’d hiked in Finn’s world — running shoes, jeans and a pink T-shirt under a navy zip–up sweater.

They walked down the street to where Beth had parked. The automatic Rover had cost a fortune. Hopefully it would prove its worth. After she dropped their lunch on the back seat, she handed Calum the keys.

“Right then, we could drive to the firth, it’s very fine, or go up toward the Highlands.”

“No.” She hated to be disagreeable, but their love lives were at stake. “I’d prefer to see the border country, if you don’t mind.”

He smiled as if content that she vetoed his every plan. “Not at all. I’m pleased you speak your mind, lass. South it is, then.”

Beth couldn’t possibly have kept that car on the road, what with the stunning vista stretched out panoramically, not to mention the one in the driver’s seat. Being distracted by Calum was no surprise, but she’d never been so affected by a landscape before. The beauty of the heather–covered hills washed through her completely, seeping into empty parts of her she only now recognized were vacant.

As Calum talked on about the countryside, his brogue and the relaxed look of him stirred her emotions. She worried that the sound of her heart pounding would ring through the high braes and low glens, and the sheep would begin to stampede.

“You should see your face.” He glanced at her as he drove. “Looks like you’re in a dream–come–true kind of place.”

Her face hurt from smiling. “I’m having one of those ecstatic experiences like the great yogis. I swear these hills are speaking directly to my spirit.”

Calum’s smile was alive. “Ah, I’m glad to hear it. We’ll drive a bit farther then. I know a good spot for a wee hill walk to stimulate that spirit of yours.”

“Sounds perfect.”

“So tell me something, Beth. Are you always so trusting of strangers? You’re not concerned I could be a Deacon Brodie?”

She’d learned from the visitors’ guide that Deacon Brodie was more commonly known as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. How should she explain herself? “Well, I’m quite psychic, you know, and I have a good feeling about you, Calum.”

He laughed. “Ah, a lass with decent instincts, and I’ve a good feeling about you even though you called me Calum again.”

“Sorry about that.” He had a good feeling about her. She’d be in trouble if he didn’t, but it was nice to hear. On that subject, it was time to find out if Tiffany had cooked her way from Calum’s stomach to his heart.

“I’m not sure why Calum is stuck on my tongue because he’s ancient history now. What about you? Is there anyone special in your life?”

“More special than a lass who flies all the way from Canada to visit my shop and upon finding me absent, tracks me down at the local pub? Strange that you asked for me by name, but can’t seem to get it right.” He peered at her with a raised brow although his eyes were smiling.

Cripes! The guy in the cabinet shop had ratted on her. Great idea that had been — dressing to be noticed. “I heard you were an excellent craftsman, and I may buy a small cabinet while I am here. I wanted to get right on it, so there’d be time to have it built.”

“How nice to hear I’m known over so far and wide. You didn’t mention that yesterday.”

“Because you mesmerised me with your music and all thought of business went out of my mind.”

“Are all Canadian lassies so pitiable liars as you? It’s a good thing I’ve got all day to get to the truth of the matter.”

“You wouldn’t believe it,” she said under her breath.