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She eyes him up and down. “His fashion sense is certainly… unique, but he’s young, hot, single, and interested in you, for some godforsaken reason. Besides”—she points a finger at me—“if you can both see… ghosts or whatever, then it sounds like you have a lot more in common than meets the eye.”

Beau beams with satisfaction. “You’re so right, Miz Elizabeth. It’s quite rare in this world to happen upon others who have The Gift. I was telling Callum that earlier.” He sighs dreamily. “I can’t help but think it was the hand of destiny that brought us together. After all, in what other situation would the two of us meet? Me, Southern boy from Mobile, Alabama, and him a sexy Scotsman from Edinburgh.”

I wince. “It’s not Edinburg, it’s Edinbur-uh,” I pronounce carefully.

“What he said,” Beau replies cheerily.

Liz snickers. “Oh, you wouldn’t believe how many times he corrected me on that when we first met. He’s quite particular and can get tetchy about certain things.”

“I’ve noticed that about him,” Beau says, “but I also absolutely love a challenge. I pride myself on the fact that I have an uncanny ability to get under people’s skin. In this case, I’m hoping it works in my favor and ignites the flame of desire that’s simmering between us.” He waggles his eyebrows for emphasis.

Liz’s eyes gleam with interest. “Now I’ve never heard that about Cal before.”

“Well, ma’am, let me tell you my theory.”

“Kill me now,” I mutter to myself.

Beau continues undeterred. “You know how intense he gets when he’s investigating something?”

Liz bobs her head. “You’re telling me! I don’t know how many times I had to force him to take a break or to clock out. Once he gets in the zone, it’s hard to get him out of it.”

Beau smiles widely, flashing his teeth. “Well, I suspect he brings the same kind of intense energy to his lovemaking. And that’s something I feel I need to find out for sure. For science.”

I choke on my water.

Liz smirks at me. “You’ve got your hands full with this one.”

“Too bloody true,” I mutter.

Beau gives her two thumbs-up.

Liz gets to her feet and tosses down a five and a tenner for her meal.

“This has been lovely, boys, but I’ve got to get back to the office. Walk me out, Cal?”

I follow Liz outside. When she turns to face me, her expression’s serious. “I don’t know how you feel about this young man, but I was serious when I said I like him.”

I don’t even know what to say to that.

“Are you having fun with this investigation of yours and working with him?” she presses.

I swallow the lump that suddenly formed in my throat. “Aye.”

She smiles. “Thought so.”

I sigh. “Look, I’m attracted to him, all right? I admit it. But he’s only over here for a short while. He doesn’t live here, and very soon he’ll be heading back to Alabama.”

“Probably,” Liz agrees, “but that doesn’t have to be the end. There’s a chance neither of you will want to call it quits just because of a little bit of ocean between you. You can’t predict what the outcome will be, but I can guarantee that, if you don’t even bother to try, then nothing will happen. It’s better to have loved and lost and all that bullshite than to have never even tried. Look at me and Doug. Remember how long he tried to get me to go out with him? I was so sure it would never work.”

I chuckle in recollection. “Aye, he was quite dogged in his determination.”

“Thank bloody fuck for that,” she says. “Or else I would have missed out on the love of my life. But like you, I can be a bit of a prickly porcupine when it comes to other people getting close. I kept telling myself I didn’t have the time or inclination for romance, but he managed to convince me otherwise, and I’m so grateful that he did. Life’s good and I have an equal partner who’s an all-round decent human being.”

She’s right. Doug’s a stand-up guy.

“That Yank in there seems like a real sweetheart. He might be exactly what you need. Don’t be an arse and push him away, or you might end up regretting it a lot more than you think.”

I give her a hug and watch her as she walks off.