.

you fancy a quick drink?’

      ‘Just what I was thinking.’ Eva smiled.

      The pub was busy with the sound of lively chat and had an end-of-week feel to it. Eva made her way to a small table she had spotted in the corner and took a seat while Ben went to the bar. Looking round Eva noticed how relaxed everyone seemed but she felt distinctly jittery. It wasn’t just being out on a Friday night but being with a man, almost as if she was in someone else’s body.

      Eva certainly wasn’t in the habit of eyeing up men in pubs, but as her eyes settled on Ben standing at the bar ordering their drinks she realized that’s exactly what she doing now. It wasn’t just that he was tall and handsome – that much was obvious. There was something else about him, a quality that drew her to him and made her conscious of his every move. Eva sat up with a jolt as it dawned on her she was lusting after Ben. She glanced to a group of men standing at the bar. All perfectly healthy-looking male specimens … nope, nothing. Her gaze slid back to Ben and there it was again, her body pulsing with desire.

      Feeling a little light-headed she grabbed the drink when Ben placed it in front of her and gulped a mouthful too fast. Ben looked at her with concern as she spluttered.

      ‘You all right?’

      ‘Fine,’ she replied with a little cough.

      ‘So did Jamie set off this morning?’ Ben asked raising his beer to his mouth.

      Eva nodded. ‘The boys weren’t allowed to take mobile phones – part of the ethos of the trip. But the group leader sent a text letting us know they’d arrived safely and were settling in.’

      ‘And how are you coping?’

      ‘Okay so far – I’m trying not to think about it too much, keeping my mind on other things.’ In fact, she should probably be thanking Ben for the first-class job he was doing distracting her. The sound of sudden loud laughter made their heads turn to a rowdy group sitting near them.

      ‘So, is this place a regular of yours?’ Ben asked with a small smile.

      ‘Hardly.’ Eva chuckled thinking of her social life. ‘I don’t go out that much. I actually consider parents’ evening at Jamie’s school a major event in my social diary.’

      Ben gave a little laugh and Eva adored the way his eyes crinkled at the edges.

      ‘My friend Heather likes to drag me to various places now and again. She thinks I should go out more, try and meet someone …’ Eva blushed, not sure why she had said that.

      ‘And have you – ever gone out and met someone?’

      ‘Nope.’ She paused, aware she was about to admit something she’d never said out loud before. ‘I suppose I haven’t wanted to risk being hurt.’ She lifted her eyes to find Ben watching her, with an expression she couldn’t read.

      ‘Any man who hurt you would have to be an idiot,’ he said simply.

      Eva picked up her glass, not sure how to respond although her insides were close to melting. She let out an awkward little laugh, trying to sound normal.

      ‘What about you? This must be quite different after the bright lights of London.’

      He looked around. ‘Yeah, this is very different but nice. I like it.’

      ‘Did you go out much – socializing?’

      He rubbed a hand across his jaw. ‘Working in finance in the city you kind of had to. It was almost part of the culture. The company where I worked, most of us were members of a private club. Plush and pricey – not somewhere I ever felt comfortable but after finishing a long manic day it was difficult just to go home and switch off. It was easier to go and unwind, talk shop.’ He shook his head at the memory. ‘That was where I met Samantha.’

      ‘Did she work for the same company as you?’

      ‘No, she worked in IT for another company. We kept meeting there with the same crowd after work and eventually just wound up together.’

      ‘Doesn’t sound very romantic.’

      ‘Romantic?’ The observation seemed to surprise him and he rubbed a hand around his neck before looking at her. ‘No, I don’t suppose it was. What you had with Paul, was that romantic?’

      ‘More exciting than romantic I think, at least at the beginning.’ Losing Paul had left her shocked, scared, and even angry at times but over the years Eva had come to terms with what had happened between them. She had difficulty imagining them as a couple today. ‘When I think of him now, it’s as someone I used to love but more as a friend. Obviously we had Jamie but in all honesty, I’m not sure we would have stayed together. He wasn’t my grand passion.’

      She sipped her drink, slightly shocked to hear herself admit that out loud but for some reason felt better for having said it. ‘What about you?’ she continued. ‘You don’t miss London and – everything?’

      She watched Ben lift his glass to his mouth and slowly put it back down, his eyes never leaving hers.

      ‘Not a single bit of it.’ The air seemed to hang thickly between them and Eva felt her cheeks grow hot. She straightened in her seat, casually flicking her hair over her shoulders in a bid to appear normal, wondering if Ben was feeling it too.

      ‘So from private clubs to ceilidhs … this is going to be quite a change for you. Have you ever even been to a ceilidh before?’ she asked lightly.

      ‘Once at university and that was a long time ago so I’d better warn you now, I won’t have clue how to do any of the dances. I take it you’ve been to a few before?’

      ‘Loads. We were taught all the dances at school so they kind of stay with you for life after that. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you right.’

      ‘I’ll hold you to that. Here’s to a good night.’ They brought their glasses together.

      ***

      Ben was having trouble keeping his eyes off Eva. He’d been pretty much mesmerized by her since the moment he’d seen her tonight. After their drink in the pub, they had made the short walk to the university. They had passed through the leafy quadrangle and entered the grand hall, which was ablaze with light and colour. The panelled walls were lined with saltire flags and hundreds of fairy lights trailed along the stained-glass windows.

      The ceilidh was already in full swing and Ben had led the way to one of the tables encircling the dance floor where he spotted some colleagues. After a few introductions they had soon found themselves joining in, Ben discovering it was impossible not to be swept away by the sheer energy of the dancing. He was totally bewildered at first as he tried to keep up, finding it chaotic until he started to see the patterns and formations emerging for each dance.

      Eva had helped him, trying to guide him through the steps but quite often she’d ended up in fits of giggles. She looked beautiful as she had thrown her head back laughing at his attempts. And among the noise and movement all Ben could see was Eva, his eyes drawn to her like a magnet. Watching her body move and the way her dress clung to her curves was driving him to distraction.

      The Canadian barn dance had just finished and the band announced a break so people returned to their tables, grateful for a seat and refreshments. Now Eva was sitting beside him at their table, slightly breathless and her cheeks flushed.

      ‘Are you having fun?’ she asked with a grin.

      He nodded. ‘I am, but I’m not sure I’m a worthy partner.’

      ‘You’re doing all right for an Englishman,’ she teased.

      ‘You seem to be enjoying yourself?’ he asked, loving that she looked so happy and relaxed.

      ‘I am.’ She beamed back at him. ‘I forgot what good fun a ceilidh is.’

      Out the corner of his eye Ben had seen Professor Drummond making his way round the tables and saw him now approach their