The Law of Attraction (12 page)

Ed smiled as he approached. “I’ve never seen you in casual clothes before. I nearly didn’t recognise you.” His gaze skimmed down appreciatively over Alec, making Alec’s skin prickle.

Alec was in jeans too, with a charcoal wool coat buttoned up tight in anticipation of the February chill. He already had his hat on, a grey knitted one pulled down over his ears. “Shall we?” He inclined his head towards the door.

“Lead on.” Ed put on his hat and wrapped his scarf around his neck.

The tour buses stopped just a few hundred yards away from the hotel and ran every ten minutes or so. They were both hungry, so they bought sandwiches from a deli opposite and ate them at the bus stop while they waited.

When the bus came, Alec let Ed get on first and followed him up the steep steps to the top floor. He couldn’t resist admiring Ed’s arse as he climbed. The muscles flexed, the delicious curves right at Alec’s eye level.

Ed went towards the front of the bus. It was busy, but there were a few spare seats. Ed slid into one a couple of rows back from the front. The seat behind him was free too. Alec hesitated for a moment, not sure whether to take the other double seat for himself. But Ed patted the seat beside him. “It’s pretty full,” he said as Alec joined him. “I’m sure they’ll need the other seats soon.”

Ed’s breath clouded in the chilly air as he spoke. His smile was bright like the winter sunshine pouring from a sky the colour of his eyes. Dazzled by Ed as much as the sun, Alec sat, and the bus jolted into movement.

They stayed on board for most of the tour. The views from the top deck were good and it was a wonderful way to see the city. Alec had visited many times before, but the beautiful grey stone buildings never failed to be impressive.

Ed was fun to do this with because his enthusiasm was infectious. “It’s such a beautiful city,” he said, snapping yet another photo with his phone. “I wish we could walk more of it today, but my foot is grateful for the bus.”

“If we come back another time, we should walk up Arthur’s Seat,” Alec said before he realised how that sounded. “I mean… if you get another chance to visit Edinburgh. It’s a lovely walk. I recommend it.”

Ed flashed him a quick look; his expression was hard to read. “Maybe one day.”

By mutual agreement they got off the bus near the museum and wandered around in there for an hour or so. Strolling around slowly together, Alec couldn’t shake the feeling that this was like a date. He kept stealing glances at Ed and wishing it really was. He wanted to touch him, to hold his hand. Alec had never wanted to hold another man’s hand before. Ed made him want so many things he’d never imagined until recently.

Ed was charmed by the Lewis chessmen. “They’re so cool. I’ve only ever seen photos of them before. I love their expressions. Such intensity, and the workmanship is incredible.”

They got takeaway coffees at the museum café before heading back out into the streets.

“Are you okay to walk a little more?” Alec asked. Ed was still limping slightly, but he hadn’t complained about it.

“Yeah. It’s nice to see some of the city from street level.”

“Okay, good. Because you can’t come to Edinburgh without seeing the statue of Greyfriars Bobby. It’s a must for all tourists.”

“Greyfriars what?” Ed frowned.

As they walked, Alec told Ed the story of the devoted little dog who’d sat on his master’s grave and refused to leave after leading the funeral procession. Ed was silent, listening intently. “He stayed there round the clock, only leaving once a day to eat,” Alec said. “People tried to entice him away, but he refused, so eventually they built a shelter for him. Fourteen years he guarded his master’s grave until he died himself.”

“Oh my God.” Ed’s voice was choked. “That’s so sad, but it’s also one of the most adorable things I’ve ever heard. What loyalty!”

“I know.” Alec swallowed down the lump in his own throat.

“Bollocks.” Ed wiped his eyes and sniffed. “You made me cry.”

“I’m sorry.” Alec managed an apologetic grin.

“Freaking out over spiders, crying over heartbreaking tales of canine devotion. You’re really seeing me at my best this weekend. This is not what I need when I’m trying to impress you.”

“You are?” Hope leapt in Alec’s chest.

“Of course.” Ed looked at him as if he was stupid. “You’re my boss.”

“Oh, yes.” Alec could have kicked himself. “Well, compassion isn’t a bad quality in a lawyer, so I won’t hold it against you. And we’re even on the phobia front, so you don’t lose any points there either.”

“Glad to hear it.”

They’d arrived at the statue of Greyfriars Bobby now. A small crowd of tourists gathered around it were touching its nose for luck and taking photos.

“Want me to take your picture?” Alec offered.

“Sure.” Ed touched his forefinger to the little dog’s nose, where it was polished gold by the touch of hundreds of thousands of tourists who’d gone before.

“Smile through your tears,” Alec said as he lined up the shot.

“Very funny.”

“Here you go.” Alec showed his phone screen to Ed. He’d captured Ed smiling, a dimple softening his cheek. He tapped the screen a few times, sending the picture to Ed’s phone. “I’ve texted it to you.” He let his thumb hover over the photo for a second, deciding against deleting it. Sentimental, maybe, but he couldn’t bring himself to wipe the image from his phone. He wanted to keep the memory of this afternoon.

They got back to the hotel around half past five after riding the open-top bus back through rush-hour traffic. It was almost dark now and the castle was lit up, spectacularly dominating the middle of the city.

Ed watched the sights, and Alec watched Ed.

Want and hope warred with doubt. If he made a move now, would Ed give him another chance? And if he did, what would they do when they were back in London next week? What did Alec even want from Ed? In the short term, he wanted whatever Ed would give him, but Alec was afraid it would never be enough.

“What do you want to do for dinner?” he finally asked, trying to keep his tone casual.

Ed turned to look at him and shrugged. “I’m easy.” There was a glint in his eye and a quirk to his lips that made Alec take the challenge.

“Not always, if I recall correctly.”

Ed laughed. “True. But about food, I am. I eat anything.”

“Would you prefer to eat in the hotel, or go out?”

“Out. I’m greedy for more of the city, and it’s a gorgeous evening.” The sky was still clear, the deep blue of twilight fading to black.

“Okay. I know a nice Italian place that’s not too far from the hotel. How does that sound?”

“Perfect.”

In his room, Alec debated changing into something more formal for dinner. But he was comfortable in his jeans and henley, and the restaurant he was taking Ed to wasn’t the sort of place they needed to be smart. He ran a comb through his short dark hair and brushed his teeth—pretty pointless given that he was probably about to go and eat something involving a ton of garlic, but he wanted to make the effort.

It’s not a date
, he reminded himself.
It’s just two colleagues going out for a meal
.

But as he walked along the corridor to Ed’s room, heart pounding and palms damp with sweat, it felt exactly like a date.

“Hi, I’m almost ready.” Ed was wearing the same jeans as earlier but had traded his jumper for a blue-and-grey checked shirt over a white T-shirt. He pulled on a black pea coat and buttoned it up as Alec waited, and then wound his scarf around his neck. “I had a shower and my hair’s still damp.” He ran his hands through it. “I’m going to have terrible hat hair in the restaurant.”

Alec smiled. “I promise not to laugh.”

Ed’s limp was a little worse as they walked along the street outside their hotel.

Alec slowed his pace to match Ed’s. “Are you okay to walk? We can grab a taxi if you need?”

“No. I love cities at night. I’d rather see it from the street than through a taxi window.”

They strolled slowly through the bustling streets where the shops were still open and lit up. Their route took them up a hill, away from the castle, and gradually the streets got quieter and narrower.

“We’re nearly there,” Alec said to Ed, who was clearly uncomfortable but trying to hide it.

“Is it that obvious?” he asked wryly. “It’s really not too bad considering I’ve walked on it a lot today. You know how cuts hurt more when they start to heal? I feel it every time I put weight on it. But it’ll be fine in a day or two.”

The restaurant was small and cosy. Alec had eaten there once before, a couple of years ago when he was up in Edinburgh with Belinda for the Festival, and while he’d remembered the food was good, he’d forgotten the intimacy of the setting. Run by a Scottish-Italian family, it was all dim lights and candles, with sumptuous dark-red-and-gold decor. At least half of the other tables were already occupied and the rest of the diners were exclusively couples.

Their waiter, a beautiful young man with dark hair and eyes, led them to a table for two in a secluded corner. Alec’s skin prickled as he felt the young man assessing and cataloguing them. He wondered what assumptions he might be making.

The waiter handed them menus and a wine list, and Ed smiled and thanked him. Alec nodded more curtly. His cheeks and neck were hot with a blush. He hoped it wasn’t visible in the candlelight.

When the waiter had gone, Ed said, “This place is nice.”

Alec met his gaze over the flickering candle. There was a single red rose in a vase on their table.

“It’s a little more… romantic than I remembered,” Alec admitted. “I think we’re the only people in here who aren’t on a date.”

“Well, that’s not too surprising.”

Alec frowned. “Um, why?”

Ed grinned. “It’s Valentine’s Day on Sunday.”

“Oh God, of course.”

“I guess Belinda doesn’t expect a card from you, then?”

Alec chuckled. “Not so much, no.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t realise. And here I was thinking you were trying to woo me.” Ed’s voice was light and teasing, but the heat in his eyes made Alec’s heart surge.

There was a long drawn-out pause while Alec wrestled with himself. Ed was flirting. He was there for the taking if Alec wanted, and God… Alec wanted him so much. Was it madness to go there again? Was it fair on either of them when it could only be another hookup? They could have another night together, but then what? It would only make things harder.

Ed smiled at him, a slow, dirty twist of his lips as he raised his eyebrows in unspoken challenge.
I’m here. I want you. What are you going to do about it?

Ed might as well have spoken the words out loud because they were written all over his face.

Alec licked his lips and Ed’s eyes tracked the movement. “Do you want me to woo you?” Alec managed. Not his smoothest line, but the best he could come up with over the thud of his pulse in his ears.

“I’m not averse to a bit of wooing. It would make a nice change from a quickie in the office.”

They were putting their cards on the table, then.
Okay
, if Ed was brave enough to be honest, Alec could respond in kind. “It can only be tonight. Just one more night, Ed.” Alec’s chest hurt as he said the words. “I can’t offer you more than that.”

“I know. But I’ll take it.” Ed’s face softened. “Just for tonight, can we imagine none of the other complicated shit exists? Pretend we’re two normal guys on a Valentine’s date and see what happens?”

Alec wanted that so much. “I’ve never been on a date before.”

“Well, if it’s your first time, I promise to be gentle. So, can we?”

Alec hesitated for a few seconds more, but then his desire for connection, for romance, for
Ed
won out over his fears. “Yes,” he said softly. Relief and happiness flooded him as he dismantled the walls around himself to allow Ed in—at least temporarily. “Yes. Let’s try it.”

It turned out to be so much easier than he expected. They ordered food and a bottle of red, and Ed banned all work-related talk. So they talked more about their families and their childhoods.

Ed’s background was so different to Alec’s. His family lived hand-to-mouth rather than enjoying the money and privilege Alec had grown up taking for granted. Yet the way Ed spoke about his mum and stepdad made Alec ache for that easy acceptance, the unconditional love he’d never felt from his own parents.

Alec kept those thoughts to himself, not wanting to put a damper on the evening, but more than ever he realised how isolated he was. This weekend with Ed was like a shining, stolen moment of someone else’s life: someone who let people in instead of shutting them out, someone who wasn’t afraid to let himself care, to let himself fall in love.

Alec’s reserve melted in the warmth of Ed’s company, and when Ed pressed his ankle against Alec’s under the table, Alec ignored the instinct to pull away and kept his leg there.

Neither of them wanted dessert, but they ordered liqueur coffees. As Ed sipped at his, he fiddled with the teaspoon, spinning it on the dark red tablecloth as they talked. Alec realised Ed was as nervous as he was, and that gave him the courage to reach out and deliberately touch his hand. He put his hand over Ed’s, stilling the movement of Ed’s fidgeting and locking their fingers together.

Ed jerked his head up and met Alec’s gaze. “What are we doing?”

“I don’t know,” Alec replied honestly. “I just know I have to do it.”

Ed nodded. “Me too.”

They stared at each other, fear and uncertainty reflecting back and forth.

“Shall we go?” Alec asked.

“Yes,” Ed replied softly.

They didn’t even wait for the bill. Alec left enough cash on the table to cover it along with a generous tip.

Out in the darkness of the street, Ed took Alec’s hand. “Is this okay?”

“It’s good.” Alec squeezed Ed’s hand, their bare fingers already cooling in the freezing night air. They should probably put gloves on, but he wanted to feel Ed’s skin.

He forgot about Ed’s sore foot until Ed tugged on his hand.

“Alec, can you slow down a little?”