Glasgow Grace (8 page)

Everyone groaned, and then fell into fits of laughter again.

Later, Skye sang “All I Ask of You,” gazing without shame into Callum’s eyes. When she finished the song, the McGuires insisted on another. She complied with her favorite, “Think of Me.”

By the time they’d finished the delicious traditional Scottish Christmas Pudding, served with brandy butter and fresh cream, Skye feared the button of her slacks would pop right off.

As midnight neared, they gathered on cushions and blankets they spread on the floor beside the tree. Callum played his guitar and they sang a few carols until it was time for the countdown.

“Four…three…two…one… Merry Christmas!”

Kisses and hugs abounded in the small family circle. If only she was alone with Callum—she could kiss him like she’d been wanting to all night.

Playing Santa, Robert handed out the gifts nestled beneath the tree.

Callum stood and held out his hand to Skye. “I should get you home.”

Already? Did he want to leave to be alone with her? She glanced at her watch. Not that far past midnight. Perhaps he’s concerned that his mother doesn’t get to bed too late.

Skye grabbed his hand, and as he pulled her to her feet, she noticed they were standing beneath a sprig of mistletoe. She hadn’t seen it on the roof before now. Should she say something? A smile teased her mouth. Why not?

She leaned forward and whispered in Callum’s ear. He looked up, as did his family. The next moment the room hummed with chants of “Mistletoe. Mistletoe.”

“Yiv goat tae kiss hur noo,” Tavish egged.

Callum hesitated, and then with a broad grin wrapped her in his arms and complied. No doubt he’d been waiting all night to do that, too.

“Callum?” A weak voice drifted across the tavern from the direction of the door.

Callum stiffened in Skye’s arms.

He groaned as he released her.

“Wh—what’s going on?” The pitch in the woman’s voice raised this time.

Skye stared into Callum’s eyes, afraid to ask, but needing to know. “Who is that?”

“I can explain, Skye.”

This couldn’t be happening. She looked beyond Callum to where a dark-haired beauty stood rooted, a shiny red bow wrapped in her raven locks. She ripped the adornment from her hair and threw it to the floor. Turning, she ran for the door and disappeared into the night.

”Caught in the act.” The words settled in Skye’s gut, and yet all she could think was “Thank heaven, I ditched the bow.”

“Katie…” Callum dashed across the room, stopping at the door. “Skye, wait for me. Please.”

6

Callum spotted Katie’s car parked in front of the Beetle. She stood beside the driver’s door.

“Katie. Wait,” he called from the doorway. He needed to get her to understand. Sever this…one-sided friendship, once and for all. Fast. “We need to talk.”

“No.” Fingers shaking, she tried without success to unlock the car door.

Callum held out his hand. “Here, let me help.”

She turned her face away but allowed him to take the keys.

He opened the driver’s door.

Without a sideways glance, Katie slid into the seat. But she wasn’t going anywhere—he still had the keys.

Callum walked around the car, opened the passenger’s door and slipped inside.

For a moment they sat in silence.

She stared through the windshield. Tears trickled down her face.

Callum kept his eyes fixed on her profile. This was hard. He’d never wanted to hurt her, but perhaps tonight was exactly what she needed to accept that it was over between them. Had been for several months.

Her chest heaved as she sniffed.

Callum pulled a clean cotton handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her.

She hesitated, probably wanting to refuse.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible as she took the white fabric from him and dabbed her eyes. She stared at the hanky, twirling it between her fingers. “Wh-who is she?” A tremor warped her voice.

“Skye Hunter.”

Katie chewed her lip as fresh tears fell. “Is-is she the reason you broke up with me?”

No. And yes. How should he answer?

“I have been in love with Skye almost my entire life, so indirectly I guess the answer’s yes. I never fell out of love with her, and that’s the reason why I couldn’t love you as you deserve to be loved, Katie. But no, she’s not responsible for our breakup. I only knew two weeks ago that she was coming to Glasgow and did not expect her here until next year. Even so, I had no idea if we would reconnect.”

Katie’s eyes narrowed. “But you did.”

“She flew in from Sydney yesterday morning. We bumped into each other at the tavern.”

“You didn’t waste any time, did you?” Her voice was as cold as the window that had misted from her breath.

No. Because he’d already wasted sixteen years. But there was no point in telling her that. It would only hurt her more, and he needed to end this conversation and get back to Skye and explain.

She glared at Callum, drawing a long breath. “And what about you and me now?”

“Katie, there is no you and me. I’ve been telling you that for three months. We’ve not had one date since then, and we’ve only met by accident in that time. I’ve been as plain as I can be. You have to accept that it was never to be and it’s over.”

She began to sob.

Callum’s placed his arm around her and whispered. “I am sorry. I never meant to hurt you. But you will find love again. You’re young, and beautiful, and intelligent. Someday, someone will come and sweep you off your feet, and you’ll wonder why the name Callum McGuire ever meant anything to you.”

She offered a weak smile. “You think?”

“I know.”

“H-how can you know?”

“Because you and I were never soulmates. Your soulmate…he’s still out there searching for you. Just give it time, you will find each other.”

“I feel like such a fool. I-I thought if I tried hard enough, I could win you back. Now I know I’ll never be able to.”

Yes. At last.

“Forgive me, Callum?”

“Of course.” Without another word, he stepped out of the car and walked away, ready to find Skye, and that sprig of mistletoe.

By the time he entered McGuire’s, Ma and Da had almost finished cleaning up, leaving almost no trace that a celebration had taken place. His gifts, one from his parents, another from Tavish, and the third from Skye, were packed ready for him on a table near the door.

Skye and Tavish were nowhere to be seen.

~*~

“Thank you for driving me home, Tavish. I couldn’t wait for Callum. I’m too angry and upset to see him now.” Skye blinked away another tear that threatened to spill over her lower lashes. She looked back at Callum’s brother. “And thank you for driving in the opposite direction so he wouldn’t see us leave.” The image of Katie and Callum huddled in her vehicle filled her with a fresh wave of anger and hurt.

Tavish patted her leg. “Aye. It twis nae borra.”

“You’re sweet.” She managed a weak smile.
I can’t believe he didn’t tell me.
But had she really thought after all these years, Callum would still be pining after her?

Tavish drove the luxury car slowly down the white roads. More snow had fallen while they’d enjoyed their Christmas fare.

Skye pushed thoughts of Callum and Katie aside and snuggled into the soft leather seat. Cozy. “Does this car have seat warmers?”

Tavish nodded and grinned as he waggled his eyebrows. “Tis great, intit?”

“It certainly is.”

“Yi shoud see ma other caur—she’s a classic.”

Who would’ve thought that Tavish would be the one to turn out successful? A luxury car, and a classic.
I wonder what he does for a living.

“Hame, sweet hame, ma lady.”

Skye looked up as they pulled into the hotel parking. “Already?”

“Aye.”

The trip between McGuires and the Crowne Plaza had seemed far longer in the Beetle. Probably was.

“Wull yi lookit that?” Tavish leaned in closer to Skye.

“What?” She looked around, trying to see what he was talking about. She still struggled to understand him, but the patter was coming back.

Before Skye could stop Tavish, he’d unclipped the silk flower from her French knot. Her hair tumbled down over her shoulder.

“Tavish!”

He made no attempt to move his arm, which rested on the back of her seat. His grin crammed with mischief as he fiddled in his coat pocket. What was he up to?

“An wull yi lookit this?” His clenched hand emerged from the fabric that had hidden it moments before and hovered above her head.

“What?” Skye looked up as his fingers unfurled, realizing too late what he had hidden behind his fingers. Has he not given up his mischievous childhood ways?

Tavish’s grin widened as the object dangled from his fingers. Mistletoe. He moved closer, determined to capture her mouth.

Skye backed up hard against the car door and fumbled with the handle. Locked. “What are you doing?”

“Mistletoe, Skye. Yi knaw the rules. Yi hivtae kiss me. Jist a wee wan, fur Christmas.”

“I don’t have to do anything. Stop it now. This isn’t funny.”

“Yi knaw whit wull happen if yi dont…nae wan wull ask yi tae marry them fur a year.”

Skye placed her hand flat against Tavish’s chest. “I’ll take my chances.” He might have money, but he certainly didn’t have manners. Callum would never force himself on her like that.

Tavish backed off and sat upright. “Yi cannae blame a fella fur tryin’.” He stuck out his hand. “Nae hard feelins?”

She’d not seal that with a handshake. No telling what Tavish might do once he got her in his grasp again. “No hard feelings.”

Looking at the distance to the hotel entrance, and then calculating the risk of Tavish following her up to her room, Skye made a choice. “Would you mind driving around to the front drive-through and dropping me off there? It’ll be easier—no snowy asphalt to cross.” Only a few steps from there and she’d be inside. There was always a bellman at the entrance, too. Tavish would only be able to drop her and go.

“Sure.” He started the car and drove across the parking lot, stopping the BMW where Skye had asked him to drop her. Leaning to the back, Tavish retrieved her Christmas gifts from the floor behind her seat. He handed Skye the two from Callum and one from him and his parents.

“Kin yi manage?”

“I’ll be just fine. Thank you for the ride home.”

Clutching the gifts, Skye hurried inside and up to her room. She needed a long hot bath and her warm bed. And medicine. Her throat hurt almost as much as her heart.

Cocooned in the slipper bath, Skye sank further under the hot water until it covered her ears, shutting out the world. Silence. Peace. In the quiet, she made new plans for Christmas day, now that she’d no longer be spending it with Callum. She refused to stay inside her hotel room. After breakfast, she’d hire a car and drive to the Isle of Skye. She wanted to be near her dad, and to clear her head. Alone.

~*~

“You let Skye go off with Tavish? Why didn’t you keep her here until I got back?” How could he blame any of this on his parents, on Christmas day?

They stared wide-eyed at Callum. Redness rose from his mother’s neck and spread across her cheeks. Callum knew what that meant—he’d overstepped the line and was in for his second full name blasting in as many days.

“Callum Robert McGuire. Whit wur we supposed tae dae? Chain hur tae a table?” She wagged her finger at him. “Ah tried tae warn yi.”

“I’m sorry, Ma. Da. I shouldn’t have taken this out on you. You’re not to blame.” He wrapped his arms first around his father, and then his mother, giving them each a hard hug. “Thank you for a perfect evening. I’m sorry it got spoiled at the end. That was my fault entirely.”

“Aye.” Ma became tenacious when she felt she was right.

That one small word said she blamed him totally. He’d done nothing wrong. His only fault: being too soft with Katie since their breakup. If he’d been firmer, she might have gotten the message long ago.

Callum released his grasp and hurried to the door. “I’d better see if I can do some damage control.” Wishing he had his BMW with its skid control and ABS brakes, Callum drove the Beetle with caution down the icy roads.

Skye would be curious about the car his brother drove her home in. Heaven only knew what yarns Tavish had spun. Would he have explained about Katie to Skye? Or would he have taken advantage of the situation for himself?

It seemed to take forever to get to the fourteenth floor and Skye’s door. Callum knocked, softly at first then a little harder, calling her name several times. No response. Either she didn’t want to talk to him, or she wasn’t there. Was she still with Tavish? A sick feeling gnawed in his stomach. What was his star-struck little brother getting up to with Skye?

He could report the BMW stolen. The cops would find Tavish a lot faster than he could. Even as he thought it, Callum knew that wasn’t fair. And he’d have to answer to their questioning, plus risk having his brother arrested. Skye could be with his sibling or she could be stubbornly hiding behind her hotel room’s door. It was impossible that she’d be asleep yet.

Getting no response, Callum had to desist. But he’d be back in the morning, with a reminder in hand of what they’d had, and could have, together.

7

Skye woke to a dark Christmas morn that promised a lonely day ahead. She released a lengthy sigh. She’d made the right decision to get away. She needed time to think.

In a flurry, she packed a small bag, enough to tide her over for a few days. She had no idea how long she’d stay on the Isle. It all depended on where she could get accommodation, how much she missed Callum, and whether she was ready to hear his story. If he even wanted to tell her his side. He hadn’t tried to contact her last night after the disastrous end to dinner. For all she knew, he was with his Katie, snuggled up beside a roaring fire, enjoying Christmas with her.

She shut her eyes against the image, remembering the last thing he’d said.
Wait for me. Please.
If he didn’t want her, would he have said that? Then again, she’d seen the dark-haired beauty in his arms as she’d walked out of McGuire’s with Tavish. If only the shadows in this Katie’s car could have hidden them from her sight.