Page 78 of Surprises on the Scottish Isle

Cal tapped on the door again, then stuck his head around it.

Bonnie was sitting on her bed, her back resting against the headboard, her arms folded. She shot him a venomous look. ‘Go away!’

‘I will, after you hear me out.’

Her chin was jutting out and her eyes were narrowed, but despite her obvious show of temper, he could see she was hurting. It made his heart ache abominably to think he was the cause of her distress.

Pushing his luck, he inched into the room.

Bonnie stared resolutely at the opposite wall and her mouth tightened. At least she didn’t tell him to go away again, so that was something. Cal gratefully took it as a step forward, albeit a tiny one.

He debated whether to risk sitting on the edge of the bed but decided against it. ‘I’m sorry, Bon-Bon.’

‘So you said. And don’t call me that.’

‘Bonnie,’ he amended, sadly. He’d called her Bon-Bon since she was born, and although she’d recently begun telling him off for using the nickname in public, she usually tolerated it when they were on their own.

Cal said, ‘I should never have made such a promise to you.’

‘Duh! Promises should only be made if you intend to keep them.’

‘But that’s the thing, Ididintend to keep it. I didn’t break it on purpose.’

She gave him a withering look.

‘It’s the truth,’ he insisted. ‘I didn’t expect to see Tara again.’

Bonnie’s stony expression didn’t change.

‘I used to know her before I met your mum.’

‘So? That doesn’t mean you could break your promise.’

‘No, it doesn’t,’ he replied slowly. ‘But I cared about her very much back then, and when I saw her again I realised I still care about her.’

Was that a chink in Bonnie’s armour, Cal wondered hopefully, as she blinked and her expression turned to one of puzzlement.

Then she let out a gasp and cried, ‘Princess Tara!The story was aboutyouandher! I thought you’d made it up.’

‘I… er,’ Cal stammered, taken by surprise. He’d forgotten all about that silly tale.

Bonnie was shaking her head, her expression furious. ‘She was your girlfriend then, wasn’t she?’

‘When I told you that story? No, of course she wasn’t. I hadn’t seen her for years.’

‘I don’t believe you! You’re a liar and I never want to speak to you again. I hate you. I wish you were dead!’

‘Bonnie, little one, please don’t say that. I love you and—’

‘Get out!’ she screeched. ‘I hate you!’

‘You don’t mean it,’ he pleaded.

‘I do. I hate you.’

He really wished she would stop saying that. It stabbed him in the heart every time.

Cal perched on the end of her bed, ignoring her outraged face. ‘I’ve got something to tell you. Tara isn’t my girlfriend any more. I told her I had to put you first and that we couldn’t see each other again.’

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