Page 82 of One Night in Edinburgh

‘It’s over with Jamie,’ I tell her, keeping my own voice low. ‘He… wasn’t who I thought he was.’

‘Oh, you poor love. I am terribly sorry that things did not work out between you.’

‘Thanks. Me too.’ I blink rapidly to stop the tears that are forming. ‘You, my friends, Anna and Connor… you all told me not to get in too deep too soon and you were right. I only have myself to blame.’

Mrs Carmichael gives my hand another squeeze. ‘You must not be so hard on yourself, Steph. This time it did not work out, but you opened your heart and that is a wonderful thing. Too many people go through life guarded and missing out because they fear rejection. Just make sure whoever he is, that he is the right man for you, then share everything with him. Create a lifetime of happy memories together like I did with my dear George.’

‘That’s a lovely way of looking at it. It certainly makes me feel better. You were right when you said that I don’t need a man to define me, but that doesn’t stop me hoping that one day I’ll find my own George to share the good times with.’

‘I have every confidence that you will. He may even be sitting right beside you.’ She nods towards the man on my right and I turn to see what she’s on about.

‘Great speech,’ he says to me as soon as I make eye contact.

He’s younger than the majority of people here, and he looks like he’s walked off a catwalk – one that’s been showcasing this season’s hottest Highland dress. How did I not notice him when I sat down? Taking in his incredible dark eyes, just-styled-enough dark brown hair and his formal Scottish ensemble, the more primal of my senses instinctively jolt to life.

‘Thank you,’ I reply after too long a pause, which he clearly notices.

‘I’m Calum.’ He extends his hand and I shake it.

‘Steph.’

‘Great to meet you, Steph.’ His eyes linger on mine and I feel myself redden.

‘Are you… um… here on behalf of an organisation or do you have a personal interest in the charity?’

‘Bit of both. I’m Director of Social Responsibility for KR Finance Group. We’ve recently made Edinburgh Youth Kickstart one of our charity partners. I obviously can’t use company budget for the auction, but I thought I’d make a personal bid. I’m particularly interested in the boutique hotel stay.’

‘Yeah, that’s a great one. We were so pleased to get that donation. I’ll cross my fingers that you win it, so you can treat somebody special in your life to a lovely experience.’

‘That’s the thing, Steph,’ he says, almost regretfully. ‘I hope the stay has a reasonably long expiry date, because I’ll need to find someone to share it with.’

My flush deepens as he continues to watch me. It’s all very light and flirty and not inappropriate at all. Perhaps it’s the couple of glasses of Prosecco I sank to recover from the scene at the bar, as well as calm my nerves before my speech. I don’t know. But I find myself thinking that if Jamie doesn’t want me then maybe I need to move on and find someone who does. Maybe Calum is exactly the type of distraction I need tonight.

By nine p.m., we’ve had all three courses and the staff are serving coffee and petit fours – which means it’s time for the auction. Having drunk more alcohol than is probably appropriate for a work event, the prospect of the auction now seems far less daunting. In fact, I’m almost relishing the idea of getting up there, which Anna immediately flags as a warning sign.

‘Are you sure you’re sober enough to do it?’ She holds me square by the shoulders in the ladies and gives me a little shake. ‘This is not our usual Steph I’m looking at. You hate being the centre of attention.’

‘Yeah, well, maybe I don’t like being that Steph any more.’ I flick my hand flippantly. ‘She doesn’t seem to work for my family, and she didn’t work for Jamie either.’

‘Jamie’s an idiot. No, Jamie was a danger to you. His motives and the way he behaved has nothing to do with who you are.’

‘Oh, really? Because Connor said that if Jamie loved me, he’d risk telling me his secret… so that tells me that I’m not lovable.’

‘He actually said that?’ Anna looks sceptical.

‘Yes.’ I raise my eyes to the ceiling, trying to ponder this through the haze of my alcohol-soaked brain. ‘At least I think that’s what he said.’

‘Well, Connor’s the idiot – for filling your head with that nonsense.’

‘Hey, you leave my lovely Connor alone.’

‘I thought we agreed that Jamie was up to no good and that you were better off without him.’ Anna’s frustration with me is evident, but right now, I really don’t care.

‘We did.’ I nod. ‘But then he wasn’t kissing that woman at the bar and I don’t know where he is or if he’s kissing anyone, but the point is… I’ve changed my mind.’

‘OK, you’re not making any sense and you’ve clearly changed it back over the course of too many wines, so do me a favour… forget Jamie for now, get this glass of water down you and sober the hell up before Lizzie sees you like this.’

‘I’m fine.’ I feel myself sway a little and I giggle like a schoolgirl. ‘OK, I’m notfinefine… but yeah, gimme the water and I’ll be off to do my duty.’

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