Chapter 10 #2
It was. While I considered ways to launch my career, Ally was ending his to settle down and be a dad.
A random question leapt into my mind. “Did you ever consider leaving the Highlands?”
“Naw. I’ve seen enough of the world with my job to know I already live in the best place around.”
He did. And I didn’t.
We had to go back to just being friends.
Awful, somehow, was the severing of our newfound connection.
Our spirits dampened, and we stared at the movie, all conversation done. At some point, I fell asleep, still holding on to Ally. Though I knew, on every level, I needed to let go.
Iawoke, naked, to pale dawn spilling through the open curtains, and entwined with a hard, hot man.
Alasdair. Mmm. Yes.
Lifting my head, I sought his mouth. At the same time, he shifted to pull my leg over his hip. Our kiss came as natural as breathing. What a way to wake.
But there was one problem. His erect dick seeking entrance to my body.
It slid between my legs, over my wet centre. Prodding and insistent. Half an inch from sinking home. We both froze.
“Fuck,” Ally swore. Then he rolled away, gazing blearily at me, nude and on display.
“Feels so wrong stopping,” I mumbled.
“You have no idea.” He leapt from the bed and took a deliberate step away.
“Where are you going?”
“To the shower, to take care of the monster erection ye gave me.” He threw me a grin, and I dropped onto the pillows, my hands getting busy.
“This is your fault,” I called. “I shouldn’t have to self-serve with a hot guy in my bed.”
Ally appeared around the bathroom door and stared.
I didn’t conceal myself, just kept up my fast work, sliding my fingers inside.
“Argh!” Ally bit out. Then he slammed the bathroom door and smacked it for good measure.
I laughed, and in no time, I was coming, picturing him doing the same.
Forty minutes later, we were dressed and nearly ready to go.
Ally picked up his things and stopped at the door. “It’s really fucking hard saying goodbye to you.”
Emotion threatened my composure, and I swallowed it down, slapping on a smile that I felt precisely nowhere. “Call me later? We’re still friends.”
He watched me tuck the last strand of my red hair into a chignon. “No, we’re not. We cannae be both.”
Ouch. “I still want to be your friend.”
“Scar, in a few months, with any luck, I’ll be a fulltime dad.
You’ll be jetting off to Hong Kong or some other far-flung place.
The next time I see ye will be when ye come to visit your sister.
You’ll have stories, some new boyfriend, and a glittering career.
On that day, I won’t be able to stand there and smile at ye.
Ye understand, aye? I willnae be able to handle it. I probably won’t show.”
He could be right. I dropped his gaze. “Friends until something stops us, then?”
Ally strode over to my position at the dresser and brought his mouth to mine. He kissed me, once, and hard.
Then he left.
At Storm Force’s office, I carried in farewell cakes and a sense of unease. Was it wrong what Ally and I did last night? It felt like it had been a long time in the making, but it also felt like it had ruined our friendship.
He didn’t see a role for me in his future.
Why the hell was I moping about that? My path led elsewhere.
Shellie and Tara, two women who I’d instantly adored, swooped in on the cakes. Neither of them usually worked weekends, but they’d shown up for a budget-setting meeting run by a manager from another part of the organisation. Storm Force really needed someone to step in full time.
“It’s a shame you have to leave.” Tara picked up a doughnut and took a huge bite, smudging her lip gloss and leaving sprinkles on her upper lip. “We could use your smarts around here.”
I’d stuck my nose into every corner of the business and fixed a long-term problem they had with a supplier. It took one phone call and a strongly worded argument, but no one else there had had the time or guts to make it. Secretly, I was beyond pleased to have helped.
“And your cake generosity,” Shellie added, eyes wide over a muffin. “I can’t buy cakes for home. The kids go mental on the sugar.”
Shellie was a single parent, I knew. We’d bonded over a mutual love for romance novels and hot guy fitness accounts.
“How old are your kids?” I asked her.
“Ten, six, and three.” She licked her fingers. “Why?”
“My friend’s a single dad. I’m just wondering how you juggle kids and work.”
“You just manage. It’s easier now Nieve is in nursery three days a week. My mum picks her up after and also has her on Fridays. We cope.”
“Did you say single dad?” Tara raised her eyebrows. “That’s hot.”
They didn’t know the half of it.
“I never pictured having children,” I said, staring at the chocolate swirl in my doughnut’s icing, my mind miles away.
“Wait, are you involved with this single dad?” The two women shared a glance. Tara opened her mouth. “Because Devon was giving it large yesterday that you two are an item.”
I wrinkled my nose. “That rat bastard. We’re nothing of the sort.”
She wiped her brow. “Phew. He’s a desperado. You can do so much better.”
Shellie pulled a face. “Do you know he tried to improve my time management spreadsheet then messed it up? I had to get IT to provide a backup copy as I couldn’t undo his changes.”
Oh dear. “Next time, I won’t bring him,” I promised.
Though in all likelihood, I wouldn’t be back here soon.
My phone trilled in my pocket. It was the ringtone I’d set up for Ally. My heart leapt, and I was relieved that he’d called at all after how we’d left things. Just in time, too. Another thirty minutes, and I had to leave for the airport and my flight back to London.
“Be right back,” I said to the women then darted into the private office I’d been using.
“Scar,” he hailed, his voice upbeat. In the background, traffic rumbled. “I’m on my way home. Want to hear how it went?”
“It’s already finished?”
“Aye, and my car was ready. The garage guy practically pushed me off the forecourt as they needed the space, otherwise I would’ve rang ye earlier.”
“You’re driving? Pull over,” I ordered.
“Already did. I found a lay-by just to talk to ye.”
“Can I video call you?” I asked, with no idea why.
“Can’t get enough of this handsome face?” The grin in his voice was apparent. “I’ll hang up. Call away.”
He disconnected, and I redialled, then I was looking at his sunny smile once more.
“Better. Tell me everything.” I settled into my chair.
Ally’s gaze clung to his screen. “It was good. They’re taking the case, which wasnae guaranteed, and they usually win.”
“Oh,” I breathed. “That’s excellent news.”
“Aye, and they can force the access issue, too. I need to stick to a strict plan, though. I can’t miss an appointment, not that I would. They’re arranging the paperwork to go to the social workers today.” Ally paused, his expression neutralising.
I braced myself, because Ally with a serious face meant bad news.
“Listen, Scar, they told me to be cautious about a number of things, including relationships. The judge will look at my whole family setup. The solicitor suggested that, if I apply as a single man, I keep to that. Not just for the case, but for mine and the bairn’s sake, too.
I know we probably won’t see each other for a long time, but—” He stopped abruptly, his attention jumping to something I couldn’t see.
“What the fuck? Christ! He’s on the wrong side of the road! ”
“What’s happening?” I squeaked.
But Ally’s features contorted in fear, and he yelled, “No!”
Metal crunched in a terrible sound, the picture on the phone shook and blurred, and the camera dislodged from Ally’s grip.
Red hit the screen.
The call dropped.
I leapt to my feet, my heart hammering. What the hell had happened? Did someone hit him? I jabbed at my phone, calling again. No answer. I tried once more. He still didn’t pick up.
I was out the door and running.