Chapter 16
Sixteen
EILIDH
T yping out the end of the scene, I hit the last key on the keyboard with satisfaction and then saved the document.
My script was coming along.
I’d thrown myself into it the last few weeks, supported by my family who treated my writing time like it was precious. I’d taken to writing early in the mornings and when I went next door for a coffee, Mum already had one waiting. No one interrupted me in that time and whoever greeted me when I came out of my writing cave asked me excitedly, “How did it go?”
I loved my family.
When I wasn’t writing, I spent most days with them and our large group of friends. Ardnoch was a small place, but our social circle was not.
Unfortunately, that meant gossip traveled fast.
Although no one knew why, everyone seemed to know there was discord between Fyfe and Lewis. My parents had asked about it, but I’d told Lewis not to tell them. I suspected he was relieved he didn’t have to. He loved Fyfe and I’d told him he didn’t need to choose between us. But he seemed to be taking Fyfe’s rejection of me almost as badly as I was. My nosy brother had known something was going on between us and he’d decided to drop in on us. He told me he never meant to, but when he’d heard me confessing my love, he’d “accidentally” eavesdropped.
As devastated but unsurprised as I was by Fyfe’s inability to love me, I couldn’t have it coming between him and Lewis. The problem with loving someone was that you wanted them to be happy even if they couldn’t be happy with you. Lewis was Fyfe’s family. I couldn’t be the reason that was taken from him. I was biding my time before I urged Lewis to mend fences with his best friend.
I said as much to Callie as I accompanied her and Harley to the doctor’s office. My beautiful wee niece was already fifteen months. She was a heavy, warm weight in my arms as she snuggled against my chest, coughing now and then, as we walked into the small general practitioners’ building. Harley had a cold that wasn’t shifting, so Callie was done being anxious about it and wanted to see a doctor.
“I agree.” Callie held the door open to the reception area. “But you have to give Lewis time.”
“Three weeks is plenty of time. It’s not like Fyfe and I slept together behind his back. I told a man I loved him and he rejected me. He shouldn’t be punished for that,” I said with a calmness I didn’t feel.
Callie shot me a look that said she could see right through me. “He hurt you, and Lewis and I take people hurting you very seriously.”
I lowered my voice. “Fyfe can’t help his feelings.”
Callie stopped us, smoothing a hand over her daughter’s back as she whispered harshly, “He can help denying his feelings to protect himself.”
“What does that mean?”
She pressed her lips together in contemplation.
“Callie … you can’t possibly want Fyfe to lose the only family he has over this?”
Her expression fell. “Of course not. And he won’t. Lewis just needs time.”
With a sigh, I nodded, and we walked over to the receptionist to announce ourselves.
After Callie checked in, we took a seat at the back of the quiet reception area and Harley started wriggling in my arms. She made a few whimpering noises before announcing loudly, “Bah mum mum!”
“She wants her mummy.”
My sister-in-law took her daughter and rubbed her cheek against hers. “I’m here, my darling,” she soothed. “I know, my baby girl, but Mummy is going to make the doctor make you all better again. Yes, yes, my sweet girl.”
I experienced a pang of longing watching Harley smile at her mother’s affection and cuddles. Even as poorly as she felt, she was happy to be in her mum’s arms. It wasn’t like I wanted kids right this second, but after watching how well Callie and Lewis had adapted to parenthood, I thought it might be nice to have kids in my late twenties. While I still had energy like they did. Mum hadn’t been too bad when she had Mor because she was still pretty young, but Dad was in his forties and I remember the new-baby tiredness hitting him hard.
Problem was, I’d have to meet Mr. Right soon if I planned to start having children in the next few years. Despite everything, Fyfe’s face still popped into my head at the thought. It hurt. Now I knew for a fact he wasn’t my Mr. Right. I had to keep looking.
“Have you heard from your friend Jasper?” Callie asked as Harley snuggled her face against her mother’s neck and closed her eyes.
I brushed my knuckles over her soft but slightly reddened baby cheek before I answered, “No. I tried texting and calling, but I think he’s blocked me.”
“I’m sorry, Eilidh.”
“There’s a part of me that’s so mad at him for treating me this way … but another part of me that just wants to give up trying with him. I’m tired of chasing after people who don’t want me.”
Callie searched my face, considering. “I think in his case, perhaps it’s time to let go. In the case of certain other people … I never told Lewis this, but I saw the way Fyfe looked at you at our wedding and I knew.”
My pulse leapt. “Knew what?”
“It’s not just an attraction for him, Eilidh. He watched you that night and it … well, it reminded me of the way I catch Lewis looking at me.”
This time that flicker of hope terrified me. “Callie, don’t.”
Whatever she heard in my voice caused regret to flash over her pretty face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to muddle the waters with my observation.”
“It’s fine.” I was a wee bit breathless as I tried to coach my heart to ignore what she’d said.
“Harley Adair?”
We both glanced up to find an attractive man with dark blond hair and a warm expression standing in the middle of the reception. He dressed similarly to Fyfe and wore an expensive shirt and suit trousers, the shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows showcasing strong forearms.
Who the heck was he?
Callie stood up. “That’s us.”
I followed, grabbing Callie’s large bag filled with baby stuff.
“Dr. Cameron Phillips.” The doctor held out a hand to Callie, his gaze flickering to me.
“Nice to meet you, Dr. Phillips. This is my daughter Harley. Oh, and this is my sister-in-law, Eilidh. Is it okay if she accompanies us in?”
“Of course. Nice to meet you.” Up close I could see his eyes were a light hazel. Very nice.
I gave him a flirty smile without thinking about it. “You too.”
His eyebrows rose ever so slightly, and I saw a small smile curl his lips before he turned, gesturing for us to follow.
“You must be the new doctor all my customers have been talking about,” Callie observed. This was news to me.
“Customers?” The doctor held open the door to the back of the clinic and we filed past him. He smelled good.
“I run Callie’s Wee Cakery with my mum.”
“Oh, the bakery. I’ve heard amazing things. I just haven’t had a chance to pop in yet.” Dr. Phillips turned to Harley. “Now, how can I help this little beauty?”
I watched as the doctor examined my niece, talking softly to her in a soothing, calm voice. He was great with her and she even offered him a small, tearful smile by the end.
“Oh, you’re a heartbreaker, aren’t you?” Dr. Phillips looked up at Callie with a sympathetic smile. “Seeing her like this must be hard. But it is just a cold that’s taking a wee bit longer to shift than we’d all like. She’s very congested. I’m going to give you a prescription for saline nasal drops and a nasal aspirator. Harley will definitely not appreciate the experience, but it should help clear the congestion right up.”
“Okay, thank you, Doctor.” Callie cuddled her daughter into her chest as the doctor filled out the prescription.
“So, what made you move to Ardnoch?” I asked nosily.
He looked over at me. “Needed a change of pace. I was working in a very busy clinic in Leith in Edinburgh and I just wanted a little quiet. This surgery has more doctors than some of the city clinics, which means I can take my time with patients rather than rushing them out of the door like they’re an inconvenience.” Dr. Phillips handed Callie the prescription. “Bring little Harley back if you don’t see a difference in a week or if she’s getting worse.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
“Aye, thank you, Doctor.” I grinned at him and I swear I saw a little flush on his cheeks before Callie led us out.
As soon as we were outside, my sister-in-law frowned at me. “What was that?”
“What was what?”
“You were flirting with my doctor.”
“Was I?” I shrugged as I opened the door to Callie’s SUV and placed her bag inside. “He was good-looking and being all sweet to my niece. It flipped my flirt switch.”
Callie chuckled but shook her head. “Well, just keep in mind that three weeks ago, you told a man you were in love with him. The last thing you need is another guy messing with your head.”
“I know. It’s just harmless flirting,” I promised. It was nice for a minute not to think about Fyfe and the crushing emotions that accompanied thoughts of him.
“Eilidh, right?”
I looked up from the rosé selection in William’s Wine Cellar and stared into the handsome face of Dr. Cameron Phillips.
It had been two days since Harley’s appointment, and I was searching for a couple of bottles of wine to go with the Italian dinner I was making for my family this evening. Mum and Dad were always working so hard, so I’d roped Mor into helping me. Lewis and Callie were bringing Harley over too.
“Hi.” I blinked, surprised to see the doctor so soon. I didn’t know why. Ardnoch was a tiny place and it was inevitable we’d run into each other. “Yes. Eilidh.”
“Cameron.” He gestured to himself.
I smiled. “I remember.”
“Special evening planned?” Cameron gestured to the wine.
“For my parents. I’m staying in their guest annex for a while and thought I’d make dinner to say thank you.”
“Oh, you don’t live in Ardnoch permanently?”
I stiffened. Did he not know who I was? A slight thrill coursed through me at the thought. “Now I do. But I’ve just returned home after a few years away working.”
He leaned in, looking genuinely interested. “What do you do for work?”
He didn’t.
He didn’t know who I was.
A flutter of excitement caused my lips to curl at the corners. “Acting.”
Cameron winced. “That’s a hard game. But I guess being near a place like the Ardnoch Estate is inspiring. So … it just didn’t work out?”
Oh my goodness, this was hilarious and amazing all at once. And I technically wasn’t lying when I replied, “No, it wasn’t for me. I’ve come home to rediscover myself. Does that sound terribly self-indulgent?”
“Not at all. I think it’s great that you have family support so you can do that. When I told my friends and family I was leaving Edinburgh for the middle of nowhere in the Scottish Highlands, they all thought I was having a midlife crisis.”
“You’re not old enough for a midlife crisis.”
“That’s what I said.” He grinned, pleased. He had a very nice smile. I even felt a flicker of attraction.
“So … did you come here alone?” Not exactly subtle.
Cameron rubbed a hand across the nape of his neck as if slightly embarrassed. “All alone. My fiancée and I broke up, which was another reason for the move.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine. Better to know before the wedding that she was screwing around with the best mate she promised over and over again was just her best mate and nothing else.” He blanched. “Shit, that’s an awkward amount of oversharing. I’m sorry.”
I found him refreshingly endearing. “I’m sorry that happened. But you’re right. You’re better off in the long run.”
“Speaking from experience?”
I thought of Fyfe and it hurt like always. “In a way.”
“So … You came home alone?” Cameron asked, his gaze drifting to the wine.
A little flutter in my belly surprised and pleased me. “I did.”
His eyes flew to mine. “Oh. That’s … good.”
I grinned. “Is it?”
He laughed softly. “I am clearly out of practice when it comes to talking to beautiful women.”
“That was pretty good.” I shoved him teasingly and he chuckled again, flashing me a shy but interested look.
“Would you … would you maybe like to go out for dinner this weekend? I hear the food at the Gloaming is good.”
“It is. My uncle owns it.”
“Oh really? Of course.” A light bulb seemed to go off in his eyes. “If you’re Harley’s auntie and she’s an Adair?—”
“That makes me an Adair. You’ve heard of us?”
“Hard not to.”
He just hadn’t heard of Eilidh Adair, BAFTA Award–winning actor. I hid my mischievous grin and replied, “I’d love to have dinner with you.”
Cameron didn’t hide his pleasure. “Great. Shall we exchange numbers?” He pulled his phone from his back pocket.
I had a slight moment of hesitation giving out my number, a knee-jerk reaction to my longing to maintain my privacy. We swapped numbers, though, and Cameron reached out to grab a bottle of rosé. “My new neighbor cut my lawn this week. And though I didn’t ask him to do that, I feel like I owe him a bottle of rosé and I feel this way because he very pointedly told me the exact label of rosé wine he likes to drink upon sharing that he cut my lawn.”
I burst out laughing. “Welcome to small-town life.”
Cameron’s smile was sexier, more heated. “I think I’m going to like it.”