Chapter 11
CAMERON
The Candy Apple Café looked busy when Cameron arrived with Cupcake, who edged in close to his side.
He’d considered leaving the dog at home after being told by his grandma about the change in location, but guessed Izzi would be using his kitchen this evening and didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable.
Although Cupcake was definitely softening towards her.
There was something about her cooking that seemed to breach even the most impenetrable of defences.
His body fired up as he thought about her moving around the breakfast bar and cabinets in his kitchen, drooling over his oven while she created something mouth-watering for them both to eat.
His mouth went dry as his imagination summoned an image of her sitting naked on his barstool wearing nothing but his fleecy dressing gown.
Of how perfect she’d felt when he’d been pressed against her core – of how close they’d come to…
He gulped in a mouthful of air and shook his head.
He really shouldn’t be going there. After almost twenty-four hours, his body still hadn’t got over that kiss.
He’d been jumpy and wound up all day – had taken it out on the old gate at the castle, energetically chopping it into tiny pieces of firewood, snapping the sections, trying to expunge all the pent-up energy still fizzing through his limbs.
Only it hadn’t worked. He was still wound up, and he still couldn’t stop thinking about her.
But he knew touching her again would be a very bad idea.
Especially now he was certain she was keeping secrets from him.
If she wasn’t, why hadn’t she opened the letter in the kitchen?
Why did it still feel like she was hiding something?
He’d been hurt enough by Sophie, he’d be crazy to get close to Izzi too.
‘You’re here!’ Scott said as he entered the café and approached one of the long leather sofas.
His friend rose when he spotted Cameron, his forehead wrinkling.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asked, slapping him on the back and pointing to a huge pink mug filled with whipped cream and multicoloured sprinkles sitting on the table.
‘Since there are no pints tonight, I thought I’d get you a double strength hot chocolate with all the trimmings, maybe that’ll make your frowny face disappear. ’
Cameron scowled at the drink. ‘I love chocolate, but exactly how much sugar is in that thing?’ he grumbled.
‘Hopefully, enough to make you a little sweeter. I’ve ordered you three almond joy cookies to go with it – the clue’s in the name.
’ Scott grinned as he studied Cameron. ‘I’ve begun to wonder if the wind changed recently and left you looking as miserable as your dog.
’ He glanced up, focusing on something over Cameron’s right shoulder and his smile blossomed.
‘Lachlan Dunne, I haven’t seen you for weeks!
’ he said cheerfully. ‘Are you here to join the quiz?’
‘Aye, it’s why I came. I went to the pub and saw a note saying to come here.’ The man nodded as Cameron turned. ‘If you’ll have me.’
‘We’ll have you,’ Cameron said. ‘The more the better, even though Mr Big Brains here –’ He picked up his mug and tipped it towards Scott. ‘– will probably answer all the questions before we get a word in edgeways.’
‘Ha ha. I’ll get you a drink, what do you fancy?’ Scott asked Lachlan. ‘You’re going to need one; I’ve got plenty to get off my chest, and from Cam’s expression I think he might be in the same boat.’
Lachlan glanced at the counter to where Flora and Erin were filling up mugs and serving cakes, chatting animatedly. ‘Looks like it might be a Maple Pecan Milk kind of a night,’ he said, sounding amused.
‘I’ll be right back,’ Scott said before turning and heading for the counter.
‘Are you both okay?’ Lachlan asked, shaking Cameron’s hand, his silver-grey eyes intense and far too perceptive.
‘Scott needs to talk. I’m fine. Nothing to see here.’ Nothing he wanted anyone to see anyway.
Lachlan slumped into the sofa opposite and gave Cameron a hard stare. ‘Business as usual then,’ he said dryly.
Cameron chose to ignore him. ‘Where have you been?’
His friend shrugged. ‘I’m sorry it’s been a while – you know I was rewiring my aunt’s house in Surrey.
’ He grimaced. ‘What you don’t know is it took a lot longer than expected – especially since she kept introducing me to all the single women in her neighbourhood and insisting I took them to lunch.
She thinks I need to settle down.’ He rolled his eyes.
‘I’m guessing you enjoyed those many distractions,’ Cameron said with humour.
Lachlan had a reputation as a heartbreaker – one he’d earned.
He had reasons for why he was the way he was, reasons he didn’t like to talk about.
But one day Cameron was sure he’d meet a woman who’d break through that flirty exterior.
Someone who’d see what kind of man he really was.
Until then, Lachlan seemed determined to woo every single female he came into contact with.
Since he was handsome, kind and funny, he often succeeded.
‘Aye.’ His friend gave him a knowing smile and winked suggestively. ‘You should try it.’
Cameron shook his head. He was lucky his grandma wasn’t hassling him about getting serious with anyone.
She knew he enjoyed his single life – just him and the dog.
He wasn’t looking to fall for anyone. Emotions had a way of blinding you to what was really going on – to who a person was at their core.
Hadn’t he learned that lesson from his parents?
He was just glad things hadn’t progressed with Sophie.
It’s why he had to be careful not to get involved with Izzi too.
‘I think I’ll pass,’ he said.
Lachlan scratched a hand over his chin. ‘It has its benefits.’ He smiled.
‘Aside from it making me late home. I only got back last night. Thought I’d come and see what’s changed in the village since I left.
’ He glanced around at the busy tables and chairs.
‘And if you’ve got any work for me of course. ’ He grinned.
‘I could use an electrician on a few jobs.’ There was plenty to do at the castle to get it ready for the Halloween ghost tour and Lachlan could take care of some of that. ‘I’ll talk to you about it later, maybe we can catch up tomorrow?’
‘Aye, I’m happy with that.’ Cameron watched as Lachlan’s eyes suddenly lit up, focusing on something in the distance.
‘Wow, looks like I’ve missed something important,’ he said lustily, and when Cameron turned, he saw Izzi standing by the door.
She was wearing a long, fitted coat – one he hadn’t seen, but it was a pleasing tawny colour that perfectly complemented her skin tone, and he experienced a wave of lust.
‘Who. Is. That?’ Lachlan asked as Scott returned and put a glass filled with a rich creamy liquid onto the pink coffee table.
‘Izzi Beaumont. She’s working at the café and staying with Cameron at the moment. Only he doesn’t want to talk about it,’ his friend explained, effectively launching a hand grenade into the conversation.
‘She’s staying with you?’ Lachlan waggled his eyebrows.
‘In my cabin. Alone,’ Cameron said firmly.
‘She’s working for my grandma until Christmas, and Maud offered her free accommodation with the job.
’ Along with his kitchen and bathroom as it turned out, but he wasn’t going to fill his friends in on that.
There’s no telling what they’d do with the information.
There was only so much teasing he could take.
Besides, they knew him well enough to see through his bullshit and he didn’t want them to suspect he was catching feelings for Izzi.
‘Single?’ Lachlan asked, his attention sharpening as his handsome face brightened. His gaze flickered back to Izzi, who was now walking towards the counter. ‘Think she’d be interested in a date with a handsome electrician?’
‘She’s not available!’ Cameron snapped, horrified by the force of the words as they leaped from his mouth.
They all fell silent, along with a few of the tables around them.
‘Now that’s news to me.’ Scott gave Cameron an amused look as he sipped his espresso.
Then his attention zigzagged between the two men before returning to Izzi, who was removing her coat and hugging Cat.
‘She’s very attractive. Seems our friend might have a crush. ’
‘There’s no crush, no nothing. I’m her landlord, that’s it,’ Cameron said sharply, forcing his attention back to his ridiculously frivolous drink, determined not to look at the woman who was tying him in knots.
His whole body was tense. He was flushed with embarrassment and worse, all his nerve endings were jumping and fizzing across the surface of his skin.
‘She’s just—’ He cleared his throat, keeping his voice even.
‘Only here for a few months, she’s got a job lined up in London in the new year. ’ Just the idea gave him a pang. ‘And—’
‘Doesn’t that make her even more perfect?’ Lachlan teased, looking more amused. ‘Are you sure she wouldn’t be up for a fling?’ His mouth tipped and Cameron knew he was being goaded.
It was par for the course for the three of them – they’d been friends since being put in a team for the pub quiz when Cameron had first moved to Scotland from the States.
They met weekly, kept in touch via WhatsApp and teased each other relentlessly.
But there was something about this conversation that wasn’t funny.
Something about it that was niggling at his already fragile temper.
His shoulders stiffened. ‘She’s off limits,’ he said, his voice low and more menacing than he’d intended.
But he couldn’t seem to control his natural instincts, the ones telling him Izzi was his and that he wasn’t going to share her.
He saw the moment his friend caught on, watched the teasing smile drop from his face as he nodded.