The Calum

by Xio Axelrod

  Sometimes the best way to solve a mystery was to ask the right questions.

  “So, has the B&B always been in your family?”

  He paused, mid-focus, and turned to look at her, frowning. Okay, so her question was a little out of the blue, but the B&B was a good intro.

  Duff resumed shooting along the fort’s stone wall. “Me gran and granda opened it after the war. It was the only one in Inverness, for a time.”

  “She invited me and Jo to move over there for the rest of our stay.”

  He chuckled. “Aye, well, she loves havin’ the place full up, ye ken.” He followed the flight of a bird with his lens before taking a few shots. “Business hasna been so good of late.”

  “Oh no!” Lovie turned to face him. “It’s such a lovely little place. If it had been closer to town, we would have booked our stay there.”

  He nodded, smiling conspiratorially. “To tell the truth, I’m kinda glad things have been slow. Gran’s not as spry as she used to be, though dinna tell ‘er I said so. She’ll box my ears.”

  Lovie laughed. “Was your mom anything like Ginny?”

  “Me ma? She was a wee fragile thing.” His thumb stroked his full bottom lip. “Beautiful and kind,” he added. “But fragile. Her strength was different than Gran’s, ye ken. She was witty. Resourceful.” She could see his love for his mother in his eyes.

  Duff had impossibly beautiful eyes. The color wasn’t unusual, not for a shallow sea in some warm climate. But the sea didn’t stare back at you the way Duff was then. He searched her face, the wistful smile that had touched his lips fading.

  “She was never the same after we left Inverness.”

  “After your dad?” Left? Died? She wanted to ask, but hesitated.

  He seemed to snap out of his daze. “Er...yeah.” Emotions flickered across his face like home movies. He had some heavy stuff on his mind, but it was clear that he didn’t like to talk about it. It was just as clear that he needed to. It hung in the air between them, whatever it was.

  Duff leaned forward, resting his elbows against the railing, and stared down at the rocks below.

  “Did he...” Lovie edged closer. “Was there someone else?”

  He glanced up, his eyes narrowing in thought. “Yeah, in a way.” A sound from below drew his attention, and he lifted his camera to capture it. Lovie didn’t care what it was. She was far more interested in what made this man tick. “The only person he ever cared about was himself. The rest of us were just baggage, ye ken.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Water under the bridge, and such.” Duff squinted out over the horizon. Hardness edged into his voice. “It’s just hard to come back here.” She understood that perfectly.

  “I know what you mean.”

  Lovie hadn’t meant to speak her thoughts aloud. He turned those bright eyes to her.

  “And your parents?”

  “Mine are still together.” She snapped a photo of nothing in particular. “On paper, they’re the perfect couple.”

  “But it isna so in reality?”

  “They seem content enough, I just always felt like something was missing between them. They married young, maybe too young, and grew apart I think. But they stayed together.”

  “For you?”

  She nodded. “Maybe. I like to think not.”

  “Why d'you say that?”

  Lovie thought of all the forced smiles and false courtesy at their dinner table. She’d never seen any sign of affection between her mother and father. They loved her, of course, and raised her with a lot of joy. They just had none for each other.

  “If I ever get married, I want it to be about more than just duty and obligation. It’s not that my parents don’t love each other, I’m sure they do, in their own way. It’s just that neither of them seems fulfilled.”

  Duff shrugged and unpacked his tripod, extending the legs. “It takes more than another person to fulfill you.”

  “I know that, but having someone that you love, that loves you. Someone that will be there for you no matter what, and not because they think they have to be. That’s what I’d want.”

  “You’re a romantic.” Duff grinned over his shoulder.

  Lovie smiled. “Maybe, a little. I do believe that sometimes there’s a spark that happens between two people that you...you can’t explain. It just happens. And then they’re just...in sync.” She shook her head. “I dunno.”

  “Aye, but you do. Don’t you?” Duff focused that intense blue gaze on her. He stared for so long that Lovie began to shiver. He had a way of affecting her that she didn’t understand. “Are ye cold?”

  “No.” She wrapped her arms around herself.

  “Mmmph.” He smiled, the sun glinting off his perfect teeth, and nodded over her head. “That’s why I wanted to come today. Why I come here often, when I’m home.” Grateful for the change in subject, Lovie turned to take in the sunset.

  Scotland was just one Kodak moment after another. In the distance, the sky was a riot of purples and blues, dipping into the pinks and golds that kissed the horizon. She was breathless, taking it all in. And cursing herself for having such a shitty camera.

  She took a photo. “It’s so beautiful.”

  “Aye. ‘Tis.”

  Lovie turned back to find Duff still staring at her with that knowing smile. His eyes sparkled in the fading sunlight. She forgot to breathe and then inhaled too quickly, dizzy from the lack of oxygen. Or him. Probably him.

  Duff tilted his head, regarding her. One chocolate wave fell over his eyes so that it looked as if he watched her from behind a veil.

  “Yer one of those people that likes to poke at folk.” His smile was playful, but his tone was staid. “Get ‘em to tell you their stories.”

  Lovie squirmed under the scrutiny. He wasn’t far off the mark. She did have a natural talent for it. She turned back to the water, snapping a photo of a passing boat in the distance. “You’re interesting, is all.”

  “Interestin’?” She could hear the smile in his voice. The air warmed as he stepped closer to her side, raising his camera. “Define interestin’.”

  “If I could define it,” she said, turning to face the lens. “It wouldn’t be interesting, now would it?” He took a shot and then lowered his camera, one corner of his mouth lifting.

  “She’s interested in the interesting,” he mused before taking another shot of her.

  “Aren’t you?”

  He squinted at her question, edging even closer. “Aye, verra much.”

  A gust of wind blew a lock of hair into her face. Duff caught it. She held her breath as he coiled it around his finger before brushing it back out of her eyes. His thumb traced over her cheek, and she gave up breathing altogether.

  Oh God.

  He wanted to kiss her. She could see it in his face. Could feel the air shifting between them.

  And she wanted him to kiss her, holy shit did she ever. He had that whole mysterioso thing down pat. Duff was gorgeous, talented, and funny. And freaking gorgeous. The kind of guy that wouldn’t look at her twice back home. Jo, sure, but not her.

  So why was he leaning in?

  And why wasn’t she?

  She tilted her head. Closed her eyes. And jumped when Bruno Mars blared from her pocket.

  Duff blinked and shook his head, the smirk returning.

  She laughed, pulling out her phone. “Hello?”

  The sound of a speeding engine drowned out the voice on the other end. “Jo?”

  “Hey sweets! Where are you?” Jo sounded happier than Lovie had ever heard her. She frowned, shielding her mouth from the wind. Duff walked further down the platform, his shutter firing away.

  “I’m at Fort George.”

  “You’re at a fork?” Now a man’s laugh broke through the background noise. Hamish, presumably.

  “Fort, Jo. For-tuh.” Lovie stuck her finger in her other ear. She could see Duff’s shoulders shake with laughter. “Are you still with Hamish?” Duff glance
d back.

  “We’re on our way to his estate,” Jo emphasized the word ‘estate.’ Lovie rolled her eyes. He would have an estate.

  “Don’t tell me. He’s a laird.”

  “Wouldn’t that be something?” Jo was trying to temper her excitement, but Lovie recognized the giddy vibrato in her voice. If Hamish had some sort of title, that would be the frosting on her TastyKake.

  Did she plan to seduce this guy into making her his lady? Did that still happen in the twenty-first century?

  “That...would be something.”

  “You have to come out here. It’s gorgeous! Take a taxi. I’ll pay.” Hamish mumbled in the background. “Oh, that’s perfect!” Jo juggled the phone, and Lovie heard the distinct sound of a kiss. “Ham says he’ll get Duffy to bring you. It’ll be a double date!” There was more mumbling from Ham.

  “Oh and bring a change of clothes. It’ll be an all-nighter.” Great.

  Another phone rang. Lovie looked up to find Duff taking his out of his pocket, and she was suddenly in on both ends of his conversation.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey ya, twally!” Hamish yelled at him on the other end.

  Duff met her eyes. “Eh!”

  “Fit ye on the day?”

  “Aye. Brought me camera up to the fort to catch the light. You?” Duff’s Scots brogue thickened whenever he spoke to Hamish, or to his grandmother. Interesting.

  “Ham’s on the phone with him now,” Jo said, unaware of Lovie’s proximity to the man in question.

  “Ah, you bodach!” Hamish laughed. Jo giggled. Lovie had no idea what the heck that was. She was pretty sure Jo didn’t either.

  She and Duff shared a look.

  The scowl had returned. He definitely wasn’t too happy about his friend’s interest in Jo.

  And that was definitely interesting, and something she wanted to know more about.

  “Come down to ma bit. Grab Joana’s wee friend on that way. Will ye?”

  Duff met her eyes with a wink.

  “Sure, awright. Do ye ken where she might be?”

  He gave her a smirk that made something clench low in her belly. It should’ve been illegal to look at someone like that.

  “Lovie, where are you? Duff is going to come get you.” Hamish and Jo’s tag team effort was irritatingly coordinated.

  “I’m...uh...just getting back to the hotel.” Duff looked at her with a shocked expression, his subsequent smile blinding her.

  “Perfect! Grab a change of clothes and we’ll get Duff to pick you up. K?”

  “Well-”

  “C’mon, it’ll be fun.” In the background, Hamish echoed Jo's pleading. “You can even have your own room.”

  “Well, as long as I get my own room.”

  “Done!”

  “Okay, then.”

  “Yay! She said yes.” Lovie pictured Jo bouncing in her seat with excitement. She smiled, despite her reservations.

  “Joana says the lass is keen, so get yer arse over there and bring her here.”

  “Awright, see ye around about five.”

  “Barry!”

  “Who’s Barry?” she mouthed, raising her eyebrows at Duff, who just shook his head.

  “He’ll come get you around fiveish, okay? See ya babe!”

  “Bye.” Lovie tapped her phone against her palm. “So, it’s a...uh...a double date?”

  A slow smile spread across Duff’s lips. “Seems so.”

  ****

  After a quick stop at Gran’s for an overnight bag, and a not-so-quick stop at Lovie’s hotel for her giant fucking suitcase, Duff drove out to Hamish’s family estate. The land butted up against the shores of Loch Ness, and Duff knew that the girls would find it impressive.

  Girls always did.

  It had been in his family for over three centuries. Once five hundred acres, the land had been parceled out over the years, though the boundaries were invisible. The manor itself was grand enough to leave anyone with the impression that its owners were well-to-do. While the Mackays were comfortable enough, the estate was their biggest asset and technically belonged to a trust. Hamish lived in a smaller cottage at the loch’s edge. If Lovie’s friend had any caviar dreams, they would be quickly dashed. Though, that would probably be a good thing.

  “If you’re bringing me out here to kill me, just promise you’ll make it quick.”

  “Wha?” Duff took a quick glance at Lovie. Only a quick one, because taking his eyes off the path to the house was risky in daylight. In the pitch black, it was just plain stupid.

  “I can’t see anything past the headlights.” She clutched the door, with one hand braced against the ceiling.

  He chuckled. “Dinna fash. We’re almost there, and no one’s going to kill ye.”

  It was hard not to watch her bounce with the jostling of the car. Very hard. She bounced very well and in all the right places.

  Duff had wanted this girl since the moment he laid eyes on her. But she wasn’t his type, the kind you love and leave. She was the kind you keep.

  And to think he’d almost kissed her back at the fort. That would have been a huge fucking mistake. Epic.

  Duff didn’t want to keep or be kept, he avoided attachments. Getting attached meant giving a fuck, and he had no more fucks left to give.

  Not after having his entire family tried in the court of public opinion. Not after being forced out of his boyhood home. And not after moving from town to town with his mother, doing whatever it took to survive.

  Yeah, okay, he was a man. He had needs. And he’d never had a problem finding a beautiful woman, no matter where he was in the world, willing to fill them.

  Single serving fuckbuddies.

  A little booze, a lot of charm and they’d fall into his bed. But he never stuck around long enough to get to know them. Hell, sometimes he hadn’t even bothered to learn their names.

  Lovie let out a shriek.

  Duff slammed on the breaks, throwing them both forward.

  “Are you alright?” He checked her over, pushing her hair back. Her fucking Bambi eyes stared up at him and his cock twitched. Bloody hell.

  “I-I thought I saw something.” Poor thing, she shook like a leaf. Duff peered over the hood and saw the cause of her distress.

  “It’s just a wee fox.”

  He inched forward after the creature dashed off into the night. “Are ye scairt? I thought you Americans were made of tougher stuff.”

  Duff took the road slower now, mindful of its inhabitants. Beside him, Lovie collected herself and made an indignant sound.

  “We are, it’s just...I’m a woman, and you’re a stranger. And do they have electricity in this part of the world?”

  “Aye, we’re not complete barbarians. We jus’ dinna see a reason to light the whole of Scotland.”

  “Why not?”

  “Well, there are animals that only come out at night, when they feel safe. If we lit every bloody mile, it would destroy the natural cycle, ye ken?”

  “Yeah, I ken.” She teased. Smart arse. “Very conscientious people, you Scots.”

  “Not all, but some.” He pulled into the driveway. “Here we are.”

  “Was that an actual castle we just passed?” Lovie got out and walked to the back of the car.

  Duff met her there to get their bags out of the boot.

  “That’s the manor. Belongs to the family, but Hamish lives here in the cottage.”

  Her eyes went wide. “Cottage? This is bigger than the house I grew up in.”

  Duff laughed. “Aye, well, it’s all about perspective, I suppose.”

  Lovie smiled up at him, and everything went still. He was struck dumbfounded. Christ, she was so…

  Duff cleared his throat. “C’mon.”

  She followed him to the door, taking it all in.

  It was a lovely place, he had to admit. Tranquil. Sometimes, it was hard to believe that it was only a few miles from town.

  Once inside, Joana whisked Lovie off to her room
for some girl talk, presumably. Hamish turned to him with a wolfish grin.

  “This is shaping up to be a fine night, ma wee mannie!” He tousled Duff’s hair, which he hated. Stepping away from the stairwell, he motioned for Hamish to follow.

  “What on God’s green earth are ye doin’? Bringin’ her out here?”

  “She’ll have her own room.” Hamish raised his hands, protesting his innocence, but his face had gone beet red.

  “What of Sofia?”

  “I’m no breakin’ any vows, man. Calm down! It’s just a-”

  “Wee bit o’ fun, yeah ye said as much.” Duff shook his head. “I just...dinna understand why ye’d risk everything for it.”

  Hamish clapped Duff on the shoulder. “There’s no risk. Now you, ya dog, what’s up with you and that one?” He gestured toward the stairs where Lovie had just disappeared.

  “Nothin’.”

  “Nothin’ my arse, you two were awfully cozy out front. Don’t think I didna see you.”

  Duff turned away, shrugging him off. “I don’t know what you think you saw-”

  “Calm down. Christ, man.” Hamish frowned. “Ye’ve been a right bastard since ye got home. Everything alright with ye?”

  Duff straightened. “Aye, o’course.”

  “Is this about your da?” Duff spun back to him, and Hamish frowned. “Still?”

  “No! It’s not about him. I’ve nothing to do with him. Havna done for a long time!”

  Rather than back off, Hamish stepped into him. “Awright, brother. Awright. Didna mean to touch a sore nerve.” He put a hand on his shoulder. “You’re not him, Duff. You’re a better man that he could ever be. You know that, don’t you?”

  Duff deflated from the pity in his voice. He met his friend’s eyes. “Jus’ leave it.”

  After a breath, Hamish nodded. “Done.”

  “Let’s get this party started!” Joana bounded down the steps and headed straight to the whiskey cabinet.

  “Where’s Lovie?”

  “Taking a shower. She’ll be down in a few.”

  Hamish had a nice collection of eighteen and twenty-year-old whiskeys. Duff watched as she inspected the different bottles.

  “I know nothing about Scotch.”

  “Well, I will have to teach you.” Hamish joined the blonde at the bar.