A Christmas Wish on Arran (Scottish Romances #4)

Chapter Twenty-Six

It had been a long week at work, and Beth’s concentration had been scattered since seeing Callum at the winter market. She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind. She was glad it was now Thursday, as her dad was due to arrive the following afternoon and stay until Monday. Beth was really looking forward to seeing her dad and genuinely didn’t mind if he wanted to bring Margaret along. Especially as Margaret had been so kind as to lend Beth her car. As it was, Margaret had plans with her daughter and granddaughter in Glasgow on Friday night. However, she said she would love to come over and join them on Saturday if that suited. Barry had asked Beth if she could sort a room out somewhere nearby for her, and she had popped by the Brodie Hotel earlier in the week. Somehow, she had managed to avoid Alessandro since that night in the pub. She hadn’t been dodging him on purpose. She just hadn’t had any reason to be in touch, and her head was still spinning from the trip she’d taken down memory lane this week with Callum.

She’d been walking across the foyer of the hotel, admiring the large Christmas tree in the window, when Alessandro had called out to her cheerfully. ‘Hallo stranger.’

Turning round, she saw him coming down the wide, festively decorated stairway towards her. ‘Hi Alessandro,’ she said. ‘The hotel looks good.’

‘Yes, we have just literally finished putting up the decorations.’ He sounded proud.

‘How are you?’

‘I’m good thanks. All the better for seeing you.’

She winced. He tried too hard. ‘I just wondered if I could book a room with you at the weekend, please?’

‘This weekend?’ His gaze rested on her mouth. ‘Are you tired of the flat already?’

She shook her head and laughed. ‘It’s not for me. I’m booking for a friend. I need a single room for Saturday and Sunday nights please.’

‘Okay.’ He went behind the desk and tapped on the computer. He frowned as he scanned the system. ‘For one person you said?’

‘That’s right.’ She realised she didn’t know Margaret’s surname. Not that she supposed that mattered.

‘I do indeed. The last single room.’ He looked at her and flashed a smile. ‘Would you like me to book it?’

Um, yes, she thought. That’s why I’m here. She gave herself a shake, not quite sure why she was being so mean-spirited. She couldn’t put her finger on what it was, but there was something about him that unsettled her — she felt a knot of tension forming in her stomach. ‘Please. If you can put the booking in my name just now that would be great. Thank you.’

‘No problem. Will you be wanting to dine with us that evening?’

Beth didn’t know. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. Maybe it would be nice to try out one of the local pubs?

‘It’s just that we are quite busy so I would advise that you book a table. Just in case you can’t get anywhere else.’

‘Oh, okay thanks. Can I book for three please? For 7 p.m.?’

He glanced down at his booking system again and typed for a moment. ‘That’s it. All sorted.’

‘Great, thanks.’

‘You have a friend visiting?’

She nodded. ‘Yes, my dad and one of his friends are coming over.’

‘Great. I look forward to seeing you all then. And do let me know if you fancy a drink sometime soon?’

She didn’t, and she thought she had already made that clear. ‘I’m really busy with work just now. Sorry Alessandro.’ There was something about the way he looked at her that gave her the ick. She was grateful for his kindness since she’d arrived, but it felt a bit loaded. She just wished they could be mates. He wasn’t her type. He wasn’t Callum . He was too groomed, excessively smooth and, from what she could gather — from snippets of what Jim had said — he was a complete ladies’ man. Which she knew herself, from when he had slipped his arm around her waist as they’d left the pub that night. She just hoped that nobody, or rather Callum, hadn’t noticed and got the wrong idea.

Just then, the office door swung open, which snapped her out of her thoughts and back to the moment. It was Laura, the postwoman, who — as Jim had said she would — doubled as a bit of an oracle. As she knew everything and everyone, Beth had been trying to work out the best way to ask her about Callum. But there was no way to be subtle, despite having racked her brain for ages, trying to think of a tactful approach. But she knew that if she did ask after him then Laura might wonder what was going on. The last thing she wanted to do was draw any attention to her fact-finding mission. Or imply she was some kind of nosy stalker. She knew people were used to journalists asking lots of questions, which Beth had no problem doing if she was working on a legitimate story. That was the problem. This wasn’t a story. It was all just so she could satisfy her own curiosity, and try and join some dots together. She had done an online trawl for any information she could find, but he didn’t have an online presence, which didn’t surprise her at all. He’d always been very unassuming. Beth had worked out some possible questions to pose, and had been watching the clock all morning as she knew Laura would be due to drop their mail at any moment.

As it was, Laura didn’t have time to stand and blether. She stuck her head in the door on her way past to the terminal. ‘Not much for you today I’m afraid.’

‘Do you fancy a coffee?’ asked Beth.

‘No time just now but thank you. I’m in a bit of a hurry. There’s a big delivery coming in any time that I need to go and sort. It always starts to get crazy this time of year.’ Laura looked at Jim, who had just come out the kitchen with two mugs of coffee.

‘I can’t tempt you?’ he asked with a grin.

‘Sadly no, though I could murder a cup of something hot. It’s bloody freezing out there. See you later.’ She turned and closed the door behind her.

Jim glanced at his watch. ‘Will you remind me that I need to be away sharp for parents’ night? I’m so worried that I’ll forget. Freya would be raging.’

‘You make her out to be some kind of tyrant.’

He raised his eyebrows. ‘You have no idea what I have to put up with.’ He grinned at his own joke.

Beth picked up her mug and took a sip. ‘I doubt that very much. You’re forgetting that I’m going along too. There is no chance you’ll be late with me.’

He hit his hand against his forehead. ‘Of course. So you are. You’re giving feedback on the newspaper?’

‘Yes, and I can tell you right now that Murray has been a complete superstar. He and his friend Daisy are great. They listen to everything that I say and ask lots of brilliant questions. Honestly, they will go far. It’s been such a lovely project to work on.’

‘Thanks,’ Jim beamed with pride, ‘that’s great to hear. And I’m grateful you were up for taking this on so quickly. I wouldn’t have had the time or the impact either. Murray would have been mortified.’

‘They’re a fab bunch, I’ve loved it. Highlight of my week.’

‘I mean, obviously I think my kids are great, but I know that I’m biased. And Daisy is brilliant too.’

‘She is a bright cookie. Very creative and curious, with a real maturity about her.’

Jim nodded. ‘She’s had a lot of challenges to overcome. Her—’

Just then the phone rang and he was cut off, leaving Beth intrigued to know what he had been about to say.