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I scooped up my bag and threaded my arm around hers. Helena and Grace bounded up to us, like excited puppies, oblivious to Caroline’s distress.
“Christ, what a night!” Helena exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “Been a while since I’ve seen a good barny on a night out!”
Grace grinned beside her. “Caro, are ye alright, pet?”
“Just need to clean up,” I answered for her. “Won’t be long.”
I gently guided Caroline by the elbow and Stuart caught my eye.
“If ye need anything, I’ll be right here.”
“Here, for your lip.” I found a last tissue in my clutch and thrust it out to him.
He took it, his fingers brushing mine. A jolt went up my arm, my skin pebbling. I turned away and led Caroline to the toilets.
“Bloody hell, he tried to hug me!” Her outburst brought me back to earth. “Made my skin crawl. What the hell did I see in him?”
I led her into the loo.
“Christ, I’m a mess,” she wailed as she looked in the mirror. “I let him get under my skin tonight and look what happened!”
I laid my hand on her arm, catching her eye in the reflection. “It’s not your fault. At all. it was all him! You should know he … tried it on with me at the bar. I had no idea who he was and Stuart helped to get rid of him and then he headed straight to you. I’m so sorry.”
Caroline pulled me in for a hug, careful not to press the liquor soaked on her dress over me.
“I’m the one who is sorry. I knew Stephen was in town. Ewan told me he did another delivery today at the warehouse for boiler parts. Should have known he’d have a drink at his old local. I shouldn’t have brought ye here for drinks.”
“It’s fine. Really.” I blushed at the thought of Stuart’s leg pressed against mine in the booth. My fingers tracing the lines on his palm. The heat of him when he stood up for me in front of Stephen at the bar. The way he had stepped in to stop the fight.
Caroline shook her head, throwing tissues in the bin.
“I embarrassed ye in front of the CEO. I’m so sorry.” She pulled me in for another tear-stained hug. “God, I embarrassed us in front of the boss. And James.”
We broke apart.
“So, I got a question for ye, Amanda.” Caroline had a gleam in her eye. “Ye asked if anything was going on between me and Stuart yesterday.”
I opened my mouth to protest but she cut me off.
“Oh fuck, I’ve ruined your outfit now!” Caroline looked mortified at the daiquiri stain now down the front of my dress. I started laughing, unable to stop. She joined in until our hysteria had passed.
“Aw, lassie. What a welcome to Oban this was, hey?”
I grabbed my clutch and was about to head to the door when Caroline added, “So, to answer your question, Stuart’s nice to me but he’s never looked at me twice. Not the way he looks at ye.”
“How does he look at me?”
Caroline laughed. “He looks at ye like you’re cake!”
I tried to keep my expression neutral, but Caroline rolled her eyes.
“Come on, let’s go back to our daft heroes.”
Chapter Seven
Stuart
I walked back into the pub after paying for Helena and Grace’s cab home. Thankfully, there was no sign of Stephen. I scanned the crowd, looking for Amanda and Caroline but couldn’t spot them.
