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I set my hand on her bare thigh, my fingers grazing her silky skin, and dip my head closer to hers. And closer. And closer. Our lips come within millimeters of each other, and I'm about to kiss her when—
My mobile plays bagpipe music.
I mutter a Gaelic curse and roll away from her to dig the mobile out of my jeans pocket. When I see who the caller is, I flinch.
"Have to take this," I tell Calli. "Won't be a minute."
I spring to my feet and trot a little ways down the beach to answer my call. I face away from Calli, my shoulders tensing up while I clasp one hand to the back of my bowed head.
"What do you want, Seona?" I ask.
"You owe me, Aidan."
"Owe you? I tried to be there for you after the accident, but you told me to go away and never bother you again."
"What are you doing in America?"
I pace a short length of the beach, head down. "That's none of your concern, Seona. I'm busy, so if—"
"You owe me, Aidan," she says again with anger in her voice. "Whose fault was it? Not mine. You ruined my life, and I want you to pay."
"Ahmno sure what you're asking of me."
"Money, Aidan. For my pain and suffering, which you caused."
So she's become an extortionist, and I'm her mark. "I'm on the verge of bankruptcy, Seona. I cannae give you anything."
I suddenly realize I'm gesticulating with one hand, waving it around as if she were in front of me while issuing her demands.
"You should have paid more attention," Seona hisses. "I've was hospitalized for months because of you. My pain and suffering are worth every pound in your bank account. Unless you want me to tell the world what you did to me."
The daft cow really is blackmailing me. I haven't done anything illegal or even immoral, not with her. How can she believe I'll give in to her demands?
"See a psychologist," I snarl. "That's the kind of help you need. Goodbye, Seona."
I end the call and stuff my mobile back in my pocket, then stalk back down the beach to Calli. Should I tell her about Seona? I don't want to ruin a beautiful day with a beautiful woman by bringing my problems into the mix. Seona will give up her stupid attempt to blackmail me. She has to. And I've got better things to think about—like the bonnie lass stretched out on a beach towel.
Settling onto my towel beside Calli, I reach for the cooler. "Let's eat."
"Yes," Calli says, rubbing her hands together and licking her lips. "I'm famished."
Head down, I peek up at her. "I know. You are always famished."
Aye, no more thoughts of Seona. I've got better things to think about today.
Chapter Eight
While I bring out plastic-wrapped sandwiches and bottles of water, I keep thinking back to my call with Seona. I don't want to keep thinking about it, but my mind has other ideas. I'd rather focus on Calli. Aye, that's what Ishouldfocus on. No more worries about Seona. She has worse problems than her physical injuries, that much is clear. I hope she gets the help she needs, but I can't have anything to do with her now.
I unwrap a sandwich and hand it to Calli, then unwrap one for myself.
"Listen," she says after swallowing a bite of food, "there's something else I need to tell you about me."
I bite off a chunk of my sandwich, chewing with deliberate slowness, swallowing and dragging my tongue across my lips. "I'm listening."
She picks at the crust of her sandwich while she avoids looking at me. "Even if I wanted to marry you, which I don't, I can't do it. I'm already married."
I freeze, staring at her without blinking, my sandwich hovering an inch from my mouth. "What? But you don't wear a ring. And you're a virgin."
