Page 16 of One Night in Edinburgh

‘Nice.’ Jamie looks delighted by my response. ‘The pressure’s on.’

‘How so?’

‘To prove to you in the next half hour that I’m not a womanising, bed-hopping tyrant.’

I blanch. I hadn’t thought of that. With inexperience comes naivety – and I’ve just discovered I’m completely vulnerable on that front. I’ll have to savvy myself up fast.

Before we all say our goodbyes, Anna pulls me aside.

‘I got the lowdown on Jamie from his mate, Neil. Seems you could do a lot worse. Apparently, he’s an entrepreneur who Neil’s had pegged as a future billionaire since he met him at uni.’

I frown. ‘You know I don’t care about money or status, Anna.’

‘I know. But still thought you might like to know.’ She gives me a little wink. ‘Anyway, I’m heading to the guys’ hotel – we’re going to make use of the twenty-four-hour residents’ bar until the breakfast buffet opens. Did I overhear that Jamie’s walking you home?’

‘He is.’

‘OK, make sure you use protection.’

‘What…what do you mean?’ I splutter.

‘Oh, come on.’ Anna bats me gently with her handbag. ‘Don’t tell me it hasn’t crossed your mind. I can see the lust puffing out of your brain. I don’t blame you; he’s so hot. Just make sure it’s on your terms – and use protection.’

My face is on fire. I’m unable to refute any of what she’s saying, but I feel horribly awkward being given ‘the talk’ like this.

‘Anna, do you think…?’ I trail off, struggling to verbalise the question swirling in my head.

‘Do I think what? What is it, hon?’ She pulls me further away from the group.

I purse my lips in consternation. ‘Do you think… he’s using me… you know, for a one-night stand?’

She watches Jamie for a moment, as if she’s sizing him up. ‘No, I don’t think so. He seems like a straight-up guy, and he’s really into you. I think the question here is more: are you using him?’

‘No.Definitely not.’ I shake my head to punctuate this remark. ‘I like him and I’m enjoying his company.’

‘And does that mean you want a relationship with him?’

‘What?No.I mean, I don’t know. I haven’t thought beyond tonight. I’m not ready for that. My relationship with Connor may be over, but it isn’t even cold yet.’

‘Well, there you go.’ She gives the top of my arm a reassuring rub. ‘Even if neither of you have intentions beyond this night, it still doesn’t mean you’re using each other. All you’re doing is sharing a moment in life. If it comes to something later, great. If not, you’ll remember him as the gorgeous stranger who got you through the New Year when your ex broke your heart.’

‘You know, I like that.’ I smile at her. ‘Thanks, Anna. And thanks for being there for me.’

‘I’m always here for you,’ says Anna. ‘Whenever you need me. Now go have some fun, and don’t think about tomorrow.’

‘You’re right, I’m going to enjoy this for what it is, and not give it a second thought once it’s over.’

It’s nearly one p.m. on New Year’s Day when we finally stir. After another couple of hours of Jamie and I ‘getting to know each other’ when we got back to my apartment, we had reluctantly succumbed to our exhaustion around eight a.m., wrapped in each other’s arms.

When I first waken, bleary-eyed, with a mouth like sandpaper and a head like a clanging bell, it takes me a moment to orient myself – and to remember that it’s not Connor lying next to me. When I do, I frantically wait for the regret to set in, but it doesn’t come. This in itself is immensely puzzling. Though to be fair, it would be hard to regret lying in bed next to a man this incredible – wouldn’t it? I mean, look at him.

My only real shame is that I forgot to change the bed covers. Though these ones hadn’t actually seen any action since they’d been put on (or for some time before that for that matter), so perhaps that’s not such a big deal. Jamie certainly didn’t seem to bother.

‘Morning,’ he croaks at me in a voice that suggests he’s a little worse for wear. ‘How’s the head?’

‘Pounding. Yours?’

‘Same.’

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