Page 3 of On Circus Lane

Sal grins at me. “Then there’s Jack and Steven.”

“Ooh, I’ve met Jack. He’s lovely.” Ivy turns to me. “You’ll like him, Bee. I haven’t met his boyfriend Steven yet, though.”

“I can tell that,” Sal says, wrinkling her nose. “You still have your sanity intact.”

“Oh dear.” Ivy’s eyes widen in dismay.

“Ah, it’ll be great,” Sal says, waving her hand dismissively. “And if it isn’t, Edinburgh is a big city. I’m so glad you’re both coming.”

I grin at her. She’s incredibly charming and has a naughty air about her that I like.

She focuses on something in the distance and then waves.

I turn in my chair to see two men walking towards us. They’re bundled up in coats and already attracting attention because they’re very attractive. The dark-haired man has warm brown eyes and the perfect amount of stubble on his jaw. He has a sweet but slightly anxious expression and is holding hands with a blond man who’s smiling widely at us.

“Hey,” the blond man says. He loosens his grip on his boyfriend and extends his hand. “You must be Bee?” His voice is attractive, and his smile is very winning. “It’s lovely to meet you.”

I wipe my hand of the condensation from my glass and shake hands briefly. “Yes, that’s me. And this is Ivy.”

“I’m Steven.” He smiles at Ivy.

When Sal stands to hug his partner, Steven slides into her seat. “Just for a minute,” he says. "My feet are killing me. Jack forgot to order a taxi, so we had to walk miles from the restaurant.” His voice has a peevish edge.

The man who must be Jack turns around. He’s even more gorgeous up close. “Did I hear my name mentioned?” he says lightly, his chiselled jaw flexing.

Steven tsks. “It was a silly thing to do, Jack. Youknowit’s busy at this time of the year.” He gives him a loving, if still pained, smile. “It’s not like you to be so scattered. You’ll remember better next time.”

Jack’s eyes narrow, but then, obviously being polite in front of the strangers, he shrugs affably.

Sal directs a cool look at Steven and hugs Jack. “Or alternatively, we’ll get you so pissed you can’t even remember your own name.” She adds a few mumbled words that sound like, “Or who you’re sleeping with,” but a burst of laughter at the next table drowns her out.

Steven glances at the laughing women as he removes his coat and smooths it neatly over his knees. He makes a moue of distaste. “I can’t stand drunk women.”

He looks around for support but doesn’t get any, so he directs his gaze back at me. “So, Sal says you’re very clever.”

“I do my best.”

“Well, having some intelligent company on this trip will be nice. The Wrights are…” He waggles his hand. The gesture could mean anything from “they’re stupid” to “they’re mass murderers.”

“Hmm,” I say, falling back on my catchall expression for department events and social interactions just like this.

Jack leans over. “Nice to meet you, Bee,” he says with a charming smile. “I’m getting a round. What does everyone want?”

I grin up at him. “I’m fine, thank you. I have someone getting me another drink.” I look for the redhead but can’t see him in the scrum around the bar.

The others give him their orders while Steven stays quiet. Jack smiles at him. “And for you?”

Steven rolls his eyes. “Only the same thing I’ve been drinking for the last four months,silly.”

“Is it hemlock?” Sal asks sweetly.

Luckily, Steven doesn’t seem to hear her. Jack’s lips twitch as he gives Sal a nudge. She guffaws.

“Come on, trouble. You can help,” he says affectionately.

They vanish into the queue, and Steven huffs as he looks after them. “It would be good ifthatparticular friendship went away.”

“Do you mean Sal?” I say, astonished. “She’s lovely.”

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