AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There. That should stop him from wanting to date me.Yeah, right.
Hugh and I do go to lunch, at a cafe he suggested because "it has windows everywhere, so I can't seduce you." Jeez, that guy never lets up. He isn't pushy or annoying about it, but he finds sneaky ways to slip flirting into every conversation. Maybe I've gotten kind of uptight. My husband is partly responsible for that, but I let his cheating mess me up when I didn't have to do it. Spending time with Hugh gives me a chance to relax, without worrying when he'll try to get me into bed and what might happen after we do the deed because I don't want to do that with him.
No, I want Callum.
Great, that's just what I need. An emotionally damaged man who gets testy whenever I ask about his accident. I need a nice long break from all that shit.
But I do have a good time with Hugh. It's nice to have a friend.
After work, I go for a walk with Hugh along the River Ness. He talks about his family, but I can't make myself talk about my life with him. It feels weird. Hugh is easy to talk to, but every time I think about sharing something with him, Callum's face flashes in my mind. No, no, no, I cannot be falling for him. I just met Callum last week. I don't love him, but I feel…something. The fact that I want to share things with him instead of Hugh seems like a bad sign. I shouldn't spend time with either of them. It's too dangerous. Eventually, either Callum or I will blurt out the truth, and Hugh will know what we did.
It shouldn't matter, but it does.
Our walk takes us back to the apartment complex where Callum lives. I had parked on the street in front of the building, and Hugh accompanies me to my car. He kisses my cheek, then says goodbye and ambles away with a satisfied smile on his lips. Movement above draws my attention to the window of Callum's apartment—the big picture window in the living room. I see a figure there. It has to be Callum. He stares down at me for a moment, then turns away, disappearing from view.
Did he see Hugh kiss my cheek?
I feel a touch nauseous again and unconsciously lay a hand over my belly. Callum must think I'm dating Hugh, but that's not true.Dammit. These are exactly the kind of complications I wanted to avoid by moving far away from everyone back home to live in a country where nobody knows me. That plan had worked perfectly until Callum MacTaggart became my client.
How can I fix this mess I've gotten myself into?
I swear an actual light bulb pops on above my head. Oh yes, the solution is right in front of me.
The next morning, I enact my plan. Nobody, not even Callum, will seduce me into changing my mind.
Chapter Seventeen
Callum
Hugh has been disgustingly happy ever since he went to see Kate yesterday. They went for a walk too—a romantic one along the banks of the River Ness. I wish Nessie would have snatched him up for a snack. No, I don't really wish that. Hugh told me he planned to talk to Kate at the clinic and try to convince her to go for a river walk with him, and he asked if I minded. I couldn't say yes, could I? I might be lying to him about what I've done with Kate, but I won't tell him to stay away from the lass. It's her choice, not mine.
So I act like a good mate and listen while Hugh relates every last ruddy second of his time with Kate yesterday. The look on his face tells me everything I need to know. He has feelings for her.Bod an Donais. I have feelings for her too, but Kate threw me over so fast I got whiplash. I know Kate said she's not interested in Hugh, but he has a way of changing women's minds.
Hugh always gets the girl.
That never bothered me until now, until Kate. I need to get to know her better, to find out if we could have something real and lasting. But now that my best mate has set his sights on her, I don't stand a chance. I've never been as good at dating as Hugh. I did well enough, but the accident knocked me back on my erse. I know that's my fault. I've let fear control me.
And I realized too late that I want Kate, for more than sex.
"So Callum, do you think I have a real chance with the lovely Kate?"
"You're trying it on with a woman who doesn't want to date."
He makes a dismissive noise and a matching hand gesture. "Tosh. I never let a little thing like that stop me."
No, he never does. That's why they call him Lord Steamy. It's a bloody stupid nickname, but it fits him. Hugh Parrish knows more about satisfying women than anyone I know.
But Kate loved being with me. She came back for more.
Aye, and then she threw me over.
"You're looking glum again," Hugh says. "What's bothering you?"
"My knee hurts."
"Go to the clinic and get Kate to give you a massage."
I laugh, but there's no humor in it. "She'll toss me out the door. I'm not her client anymore."
