Unravel Me

Lynn Montagano

A division of HarperCollinsPublishers

www.harpercollins.co.uk

Contents

Copyright

Dedication

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Lynn Montagano

About HarperImpulse

About the Publisher

HarperImpulse an imprint of

HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd

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Hammersmith, London W6 8JB

www.harpercollins.co.uk

First published in Great Britain by HarperImpulse 2014

Copyright © Lynn Montagano 2014

Cover images © Shutterstock.com

Lynn Montagano asserts the moral right

to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue record for this book is

available from the British Library

This novel is entirely a work of fiction.

The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are

the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to

actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is

entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved under International

and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

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written permission of HarperCollins.

Ebook Edition © July 2014

ISBN: 9780007558438

Version 2014-09-16

Digital eFirst: Automatically produced by Atomik ePublisher from Easypress.

For the girls who are my real life Lia and Stephanie; Bethany, Crissy, Deana, Kelly, Jenny, Renee and Tamara.

Deana and Renee - thanks for always knowing what group we’re in and where my comb is. I hope you make it off the island soon.

Kelly, Jenny and Tamara - even though we’re scattered around the country, I couldn’t have asked for a better, more fabulous group of ladies to be lucky enough to call my longtime friends. Heart you guys! Can we all be in one state at the same time someday soon?!

Crissy - thanks for being my partner in crime and joining me on many, many adventures through Orlando, Scotland and England.

Bethany - My sister from another mister. Thanks for all the pep talks, laughter and crazy poses on roller coasters.

CHAPTER ONE

The newsroom was in a frenzy. A meth lab had exploded in one of the motels along US 192 westbound. Nobody was hurt but most of the rooms had to be evacuated. I was in the middle of typing the reporter’s package intro, ignoring the steady beeping of my cell phone. It was Stephanie. She’d been texting me all day, presumably to continue her barrage of insults.

“Did the keyboard do something to piss you off?”

I stopped pounding my fingers against the keys and looked up, meeting the bright, almond eyes of my co-worker and cubemate, Sydney Makeeda.

“Didn’t even realize I was doing it, Syd.”

She laughed. “I can tell. I thought your hand was going to smash through the desk. Everything okay?”

“For a Tuesday? Mostly.”

“How’s that delicious British boyfriend of yours?”

I couldn’t help but smile. Alastair Holden always had that effect on me. “He’s good. He flew back to Glasgow though. I guess they needed him at headquarters.”

She let out a low whistle. “Hot, English and the head of a media company. Can you and I trade lives for, like, ten minutes? Don’t tell Ray.”

“Sydney!” I laughed.

“Will he be back soon? I can tell you miss him like crazy.”

“I hope so.”

Mindful not to abuse the keys anymore, I finished typing the intro and sent a message to my executive producer, Jeanie, so she could take a look. An alert from the Associated Press dinged on everyone’s computer like a warped version of Carole of the Bells. Amid the chaos, my desk phone rang.

“Lia Meyers,” I answered a little more haughtily than normal.

“I want to offer you an exclusive interview.”

The low voice with a slight rasp made me sit up straight.

Jesus.

“I’m not interested, Nathan,” I grumbled, pissed off that my ex-boyfriend had the balls to call me at work. Or at all.

“You should be.” His smugness seeped through the phone. “I’ve considered every station in Orlando but want to give it to you.”

Stretching back in my seat, I took a deep breath. Securing an interview with him would rank highly with my news director. Bruce loves this exclusive shit, especially when it involves a U.S. senator’s son who also happens to be an influential businessman.

“What’s it about?”

“Still as inquisitive as ever,” he chuckled.

If I could have reached through the phone and torn out his vocal cords I would have done.

“It’s a perfectly normal question to ask. What is it?”

“Some damaging information has come to light about a prominent figure. That’s all I can say right now without giving too much away.”

I squirmed in the chair. His pompous attitude irked me.

“Alright,” I said. “How do you want to do this?”

“Have dinner with me tonight and we’ll discuss the details.”

I drummed my fingers on the desk. “There’s always an underlying scheme with you, isn’t there?”

He laughed. “Come on, Sparkle. It’s a business meeting. My treat, of course.”

“We don’t need to have dinner to finalize an interview. We can hash it out right now on the phone.”

“No, we can’t.” His tone was clipped. “I have a conference call that started five minutes ago. Felicia will email you with the restaurant information. I’ll see you at eight.”

He killed the call before I had a chance to react. Dinner with him? My skin crawled. I didn’t want to be in the same city as him, let alone share a table at a restaurant. A notification appeared in my inbox. Grimacing, I read the message from his assistant. He’d made reservations at Norman’s in the Ritz. Our restaurant. Rubbing my temples I stood up and walked to Bruce Singleton’s office.

“Lia. I was just going to call you.” My news director hunched over his computer, squinting at the screen. All the frizzy mad scientist hair on his head bobbed as he nodded at an invisible request. “Sit, sit.”

“I’ve heard from Nathan Greyson.” I didn’t wait for Bruce to initiate whatever it was he wanted. “He says he’ll give us an exclusive interview about something. Did you reach out to his public relations team recently?”

“No. Did he tell you what it was about?” Bruce eyed me curiously.

My mind raced. What does he want?

“Something about information coming to light involving a prominent figure. I’m going to meet, um, call him back later. As soon as I know anything more, I’ll fill you in.”

We chatted for a few minutes about the evening show before I went back to my desk. I had some down time before the broadcast went live and decided to call Stephanie.

“Hey,” she answered after the first ring.

“Hi.”

The awkward pause between us made me cringe.

“What are you doing tonight?” She broke the silence first. I slumped in my chair.

“I’m supposed to have dinner with Nathan, believe it or not.”

“Are you shitting me? Why?”

“He wants to give us some exclusive interview about something,” I sighed.

“So where does the dinner come in all this?”

“You know him. There’s always an ulterior motive.”

“Are you going?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean you don’t know? You’re not going. Simple as that.”

I tapped my fingernails on the desk. “If it were just him asking me to dinner, obviously I wouldn’t go. But this is—”

“Lia, he’s an asshole. If he wants to give you guys an interview you can talk to him on the phone about it. He knows that. You know that. Come on.”

I’d just about had it with Stephanie’s attitude in recent days so her proclamations, although correct, pissed me off. I’m not a helpless animal.

“Look, I appreciate your concern or whatever but I’m going. End of story.”

“Do you need me to book a table at the same restaurant in case he tries something?”

“No. Your covert operations aren’t necessary but thanks.”

Silence. Again. My eye twitched.

“Did Alastair go back to Glasgow?”

“Yeah. He left this morning.”

“That was quick,” she muttered. “How long was he here? Two weeks?”

“Yep.”

“Well, be careful,” she said, sounding grim. “I still don’t trust him.”

“Let’s not start this again, okay?”

“I can’t help it, Lia. It’s like you’re ignoring everything that happened at the estate.”

“We’re working through all that,” I said, my jaw tight.

“Right. I forgot. He collared you with a diamond necklace and all of a sudden he’s Prince Charming.”

“He didn’t collar me.”

“Whatever. He’s manipulating you. He’s using your feelings for him to control you.”

I played with the diamond-encrusted ‘A’ hanging from my neck. “And you know this how? You barely acknowledged him when he was here.”

“I hear things. His reputation isn’t the greatest when it comes to women.”

“You hear things. From who? Darren?”

“No.” She paused. “Cassie.”

I rolled my eyes. Cassie Zanor was the graphic design manager at the company that recently hired my best friend, Stephanie. They happened to be located in Glasgow and did most of the marketing campaigns for Alastair’s company. For some reason, Stephanie had been taking everything this girl said as gospel.

“She doesn’t know him,” I replied smoothly. “Neither do you.”

“How well do you know him, Lia?” she shot back. “From what I’ve heard, he’s a master at concealing his motives. He takes what he wants and disposes of it when he’s had enough. Look how easily he pushed you aside in England. You think he won’t do that again?”

My heart rate increased making the blood pound in my ears. Stephanie always knew how to play on my deepest fears with precision. Taking a few cleansing breaths, I stamped down my burgeoning anger.

“I appreciate your concern but you have to stop. I’m not doing this while I’m at work.”

The message line on the rundown beeped. One body found at the scene. Not explosion related. Cradling the phone against my shoulder, I typed a quick reply to Tyler’s message asking him to send more information when he talked to the police.

“You sound busy. Give me a call later.”

“Yeah. There’s a breaking story. Bye.” Annoyed, I slammed the phone down and tried to focus on the rest of the show.

* * *

I sat at the impeccably set table in the restaurant, dreading Nathan’s arrival. I hadn’t seen him since he thought letting himself into my apartment was a smart way to win back my affections. I shivered. Not even the soothing shades of ivory and yellows calmed me. Of course he’d arranged it so we were sitting at our table by the picture window. Glancing around the cozy, circular dining room I watched other patrons enjoy their meals, drinking with ease and engaging in relaxed conversation. I sipped my Prosecco, hoping it would take the edge off.

A low hum of chatter vibrated through the room. Looking up, I saw Nathan striding toward the table. All eyes were on him. His tall, powerful body was complimented by a stunning double-breasted gray suit which had been paired with a sapphire tie to match his eyes. He looked every bit the privileged son of a U.S. Senator. Too bad he’s such a possessive, controlling asshole.

“Lia.” His smile spread easily. Unbuttoning his jacket, he sat across from me. “Thank you for agreeing to see me.”

“Like I had a choice,” I muttered.

“You always have a choice,” he said softly. I shot him a skeptical glance. I knew this act far too well.

“What do you want? I’d rather not spend my entire night here.”

“Relax. Have some more wine. This won’t take long but I’d prefer not to jump right into business.” Something in his tone made my hair stand on end.

He waved the server over and ordered a bottle of champagne, along with oysters and shrimp ceviche. My guard sprang up, rigid and unyielding. He’d ordered my favorite appetizers. What’s going on?

“How’s married life treating your sister?” He ran a hand through his short, sandy blond hair.

“Dayna’s fine,” I snapped. “What do you want?”

Smoothing down his tie, he leaned forward. The unflinching gaze he locked on me froze my blood. I sipped my sparkling wine, waiting for his response.

“I want to apologize. For everything. The fight when you thought you were pregnant. The Black and White Ball. Waiting in your apartment. I realize that I wasn’t the best version of myself when we were together. You deserved better from me.”

Dumbfounded, I stared at him. This wasn’t the first time he’d apologized. I had a mental rolodex of remorseful statements he’d professed over the past two years. Something about this one unnerved me. Sincerity reflected deeply in his eyes. Clutching the cloth napkin on my lap, I wet my lips. My instincts remained on high alert.

“I’m going to take that at face value and say thank you,” I said slowly. “Why are you saying this now?”

Settling back into his chair, he shrugged. His eyes coasted over the diamond necklace resting on my neck.

“Holden give you that?”

I stiffened. “Yes.”

He smirked. “A bit understated for a media mogul, no?”

“Some people don’t have a need to flaunt their wealth. You should try it.”

“Don’t underestimate him, Lia. He’s worth billions and controls Britain’s top media enterprise. Now that they’re buying up stations here, he’s going to be more conscious of who he allows into his inner circle. He may not be flashing his cash with cars and jewelry but he is in other ways. If you don’t believe it, you’re not paying close enough attention.”

The palms of my hands ached from my nails digging into the skin.

“I’m not telling you this to hurt you or start a fight,” he continued. “I know his type. The Holden family name rests upon his decisions now. It’s a huge burden. One false step and the empire goes down the drain.”

Nausea rolled through my stomach as the server arrived and placed our appetizers on the table. Nathan leisurely reached for an oyster, enjoying it without a care in the world. I refused to let myself become consumed with his words.

“You don’t know anything about him.”

“Did you tell him where I worked and where I’d be on the day he showed up unannounced?”

A harsh breath pushed out of my mouth.

“Exactly,” he stated. “That Brit has just as many, if not more, resources than I do.”

The annoying, self-gratifying grin on his face drove me mad. Bastard.

“Stalking is your territory, not his. Don’t lump him into the same low-life category as you just because he sucker punched you.”

I’d defend Alastair until I took my last breath. An overwhelming emptiness filled me. I missed him. I wanted him here, not thousands of miles away.

“He’s lucky I’m not a petty man. I could have reported him for aggravated assault.”

Nathan’s voice clung to me like barbed wire. His dark blue irises slid over my face. Reaching across the table, he lifted my hand. His touch made me cringe but I couldn’t make a move. Too many eyes casually watched us and if I made it look like there was about to be an ‘event’ they’d whip out their smartphones without hesitation.

“You know how this works, Sparkle. I vetted you long before asking you on our first date. I didn’t do it because I got off on having that kind of power. I did it to protect my family name.”

“So, the stalking and the jealousy and the possessiveness were an added bonus?”

Narrowing his eyes slightly, Nathan squeezed my hand. “Do you have any idea how rare and special you are? A woman like you doesn’t come around more than once in a man’s life. I did what I had to do to keep you in mine.”

“And look how that ended,” I snickered.

Pain and regret ravaged his face. I was so used to Alastair’s stony façade I’d forgotten how expressive Nathan could be. A twinge of guilt spread through me conflicting wildly with the general feeling of disgust I’d had since he called me. This whole dinner meeting felt strange, more like an act of contrition than business. But why? What did Nathan have to gain by being so forthcoming with me? An image of him punching the wall inches away from my head hijacked my mind. A sliver of terror streaked through me. I pulled my hand away from him. Contrite or not, he could be dangerous when he wanted. Reaching for the ceviche, I pushed aside my anxiety.

“So what’s this exclusive story you have?”

He grinned. “Business already? We haven’t ordered our main dishes yet. Patience. I’ll tell you.”

“You’ll tell me now or this dinner ends. I’ve spent more than enough time listening to your bullshit.”

“I realize you’re angry,” he murmured. “I thought this could be the beginning of a healing process. For both of us.”

“What’s in it for you?” My brain was fried. I knocked back the rest of the Prosecco in one gulp.

“Your trust.” He grasped my hand again.

His admission left me speechless. I couldn’t wrap my mind around this version of the man who’d made my life a living hell for two years. Well, not two whole years. He was rather charming and fun in the beginning. Oh my God, STOP IT. I was so confused. I wanted to believe he was truly sorry. I didn’t know why, exactly. Sitting with him, studying his expressions and demeanor, I had no reason to doubt the validity of anything he’d said. I wished I knew his motive. He always had one.

“Excuse me, Mr. Greyson?”

A petite, brunette woman stood next to our table. Nathan eyed her with mild interest. I snapped my hand away, aware our uninvited guest had seen it.

“Sorry to interrupt your dinner. I’m Rachel Jameson with—”

“I know who you are,” he cut her off. “Feel free to call my public relations department if you’re looking for an interview.”

“Oh, actually, that’s not why I’m here.” Rachel smiled widely, unaffected by Nathan’s curt manner. “I wanted to talk to your date.” She fixed an inquisitive stare on me, her chocolate eyes gleaming.

I knew who she was, too; a blogger for Orlando’s society pages. Dressed to kill in a fitted orchid maxi dress, she exuded the unflustered confidence a tabloid reporter needed to possess. Rachel was well known around the city and had stirred the pot on numerous occasions with her exposés. More succinctly put, she’d base most of her writings on assumption rather than fact.

“What do you want to talk to me about?” I tried to employ an impassive expression. Not sure if I succeeded. She’d referred to me as Nathan’s ‘date’ for a reaction. I wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction.

“I don’t want to intrude on your evening, Miss Meyers. Give me a call when you’re not busy.” Passing me her business card, she flashed a cunning smile. “Enjoy the rest of your date.”

I was beyond suspicious. She’d referred to this dinner as a ‘date’ twice. I broke out into a cold sweat. Nathan’s cell phone rang loudly, rattling my already shaky nerves. Excusing himself, he left the table to take the call.

Reaching for my own phone, an unsettled feeling crept into my bones. I scrolled through a few emails. There wasn’t anything from Alastair. It was late in Glasgow. He was probably asleep, although he’d been known to work well into the night. I sent him a quick text.

8:50pm Miss you xx

8:51pm Ditto, love x

My heart ached to be near him. What I wouldn’t give to go home and find him sprawled across my mattress.

8:53pm Remember, don’t pack anything when you fly here.

8:54pm Nothing?

8:55pm No. I’ll have everything you need. And maybe a surprise or two. x

Smiling, I put the phone away. The server came by to take our order but Nathan was still off on his phone call. I ordered yellowtail snapper for myself and a rib-eye steak for him. It was his favorite and I assumed he’d want it anyway. He didn’t return to the table until our entrées arrived.

“I’m afraid I have to cut this short. Sorry we didn’t get to talk much business.” Nathan paid for the meal as promised and escorted me to the valet. “Thanks for dinner, Lia. I’ll give you a call next week.”

His brusque manner surprised me a bit. What is it with these guys and their mysterious phone calls?

“Sure. Whenever you want to tell me what this big exclusive thing is, I’ll be waiting.” I cast him a cool glance, wondering if there even was a story.

* * *

A large white envelope rested against my door. I eyed it suspiciously before picking it up. My name was written clearly in block letters across the front but there was no address. I turned it to see if there was anything written on the back. Nothing. I turned it over again, noticing how light it was. A cold chill ran down my spine. I unlocked the door and walked inside my apartment.

I couldn’t stop my hands from shaking as I opened it. Oh my God.

A stack of eight-by-ten photos fell to the floor. Dropping to my knees, I sifted through them. There were photos of me at the grocery store, walking into work and going to the gym. The last one made me shudder. The perfectly framed photo of me standing with Alastair in the private lot at the beach sent me over the edge. I clasped my hands to my mouth and screamed. Trembling, I threw the photos, scattering them across the living room. Yanking my phone out of my bag I dialed the first number that popped into my mind.

“Hello?”

“You son of a bitch. How dare you.”

“Lia? What are you tal—”

“Fuck you, Nathan. Don’t play innocent with me. Whatever your plan was for tonight just blew up in your face.”

Tremors shook every nerve in my body. I paced the room like a caged lion.

“You’re upset. What happened?”

“If you think for one minute I’m going to allow this to continue, you are sorely mistaken. I don’t care who your father is, I’m getting a restraining order.”

Muffled voices filled the background. I strained to hear what they were saying.

“I swear to you. I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m at my parents’ house. Let me come over—”

“The photos, Nathan,” I shouted. “The envelope of photos that was waiting for me at my door. Who do you have following me this time?”

“Nobody,” he answered quietly.

Rage shook me to the core. I hated him. I hated his lies.

“I don’t believe you.”

A long, exasperated sigh cascaded through the phone. “You’re going to have to trust me on this one. I don’t have anyone following you. All the things I told you at dinner were true. I want this to be a time for us to heal. Why would I do something like this? I have my faults but I’m not that arrogant.”

Tears bullied their way out of my eyes, rolling fast down my cheeks. He sounded so goddam sincere. I couldn’t think straight.

“Lia, let me come over. Let me help you.”

“No.” I ended the call.

CHAPTER TWO

I navigated the streets of downtown Orlando in a fog. The loud blast of a truck’s horn jolted my attention. I swerved sharply, avoiding a collision. Sitting at the red light, I shook from fear and anger. By the time I arrived at Stephanie’s condo I needed a stiff drink.

She opened the front door as I trudged up the walkway.

“Jesus Christ, Lia.” She ran out, grabbing the overnight bag from my hands. “Were you followed here? Are you alright?”

“I don’t know.”

“Come inside. I already have wine poured.”

Smiling a bit, I followed her into the kitchen. The table was set for a romantic dinner for two. Raising my brows, I glanced at my best friend. Her jet-black hair, which she was letting grow out, sat perfectly arranged in a low bun. She looked fresh off the pages of Vogue in her lime green tank dress.

“Am I interrupting something?”

“Um, well.” She blushed. “Sorta. But don’t worry about it. This is more important.”

“You had a date?” I sat down and took a sip of wine. “Stephanie Ann Tempe, are you keeping secrets from me?”

She rolled her eyes, sitting down. “Not really. He’s just some guy I met last week. We’ve gone out a couple times. Nothing to get all excited about.”

“Last week? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were busy with Alastair. I didn’t want to intrude.”

“For crying out loud. Telling me about a date isn’t intruding. Stop being ridiculous.”

“It’s not important.” She waved her hand. “What are you going to do about Nathan?”

I took a long sip from the glass. Dealing with Nathan wasn’t my main concern. Telling Alastair about this weighed heavily on my mind.

“I think— I’m not sure if he’s the one behind it.”

“Are you nuts? This is his dirty work. I have no doubt.” Her ice blue eyes flashed with determination and anger. She despised him almost as much as I did.

“That’s the thing. It does reek of him but it’s too perfectly arranged. I mean, really. Is he cocky enough to invite me to dinner under the false pretense that he has some big juicy gossip about someone only to scare the shit out of me by leaving an envelope filled with pictures at my doorstep? He’s an asshole but he’s not that twisted.”

While Stephanie droned on about Nathan’s ability to manipulate various situations, I thought back to the birthday party I went to at Sydney’s. I thought I’d seen something flash in the sunlight. A car windshield? A camera lens? My head pounded.

“Have you told Alastair yet?”

I snapped out of my reverie and looked up.

“No. It’s, like, three in the morning over there. I’m not waking him up.”

“You have to tell him.”

I bristled at her tone. Honestly, one minute she’s warning me about him and the next she’s pushing me to run to him for help.

“I will, I will. Relax.”

“Before you go see him this weekend.”

“What are you, my mother?”

“I’m only trying to help.”

“Really? Then mind your own business for once, please. I’m not a defenseless animal who needs rescuing.”

We stared at one another for a minute, tension billowing through the kitchen. Sometimes being her friend tested my patience. I knew her concern came from a good place and I appreciated it, my only problem was she didn’t know when to back off.

“Fine.” She sighed. “You can stay here as long as you want. Have you thought about going to the police?”

“Yeah. I just don’t know what they can do. There wasn’t a threatening note or anything. A pile of pictures in an unmarked envelope doesn’t exactly scream mortal danger.”

Stephanie pursed her lips. “You were followed. I think you should at least file a complaint or something. That way it’s on record and if something else happens they’ll know this is a recurring problem.”

Rubbing my temples, I nodded. Working in the news enabled me to establish good contacts at the police department. I knew who to call if I decided to go down that road. Exhaustion creaked through my body.

“I’m beat. Thanks for letting me stay here.”

Stephanie circled the table and hugged me. Even though I had a flesh and blood sister, she was as close to me as Dayna. We could fight like cats and dogs or have disagreements but our bond remained unbreakable. I could always turn to her, no matter the circumstance.

“The guest bedroom is all made up,” she said, squeezing me tight. “Seriously. You can stay here as long as you need.”

That was as close to an apology as I was going to get for the time being.

Once I snuggled under the blankets, I reached for my phone. I wanted to call Alastair but I didn’t want to worry him. He’d probably flip out and fly back here. His little quirk about always needing to know if I was safe was no joke. Telling him wasn’t an option until I knew all the facts. He didn’t need added pressure, especially with everything he was dealing with at work.

And then there was Nathan. What am I going to do about him? Anxiety churned through my body. I tossed and turned forever before finally falling asleep.

The next day was uncomfortable to say the least. I was jumpy and paranoid. I nearly suffered a panic attack in the afternoon walking to the bathroom at work when I heard footsteps behind me.

“Hey, Lia.”

I spun around, my heart beating a mile a minute. Katie Vitale, our morning show reporter, stood next to Edit Bay One. Her eyes widened at my blatant display of fear.

“Didn’t mean to startle you. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. My mind is just littered with a zillion things.”

She grinned, tossing her strawberry-blonde hair over her left shoulder. “Ugh, I know the feeling. They’re having me cover the Malone trial starting tomorrow. I’d rather stay on the motel explosion.”

“I think we’ve milked that one for all it’s worth.”

“Well,” she huffed, “I guess. Hey, are you going to be around this weekend?”

“Nope. I’ll be out of town.”

Folding her arms, Katie sized me up with a shrewd glance. “Visiting the competition?”

Her slightly sarcastic tone irked me. Not everyone at my station was dazzled by that fact I was dating our biggest rival’s newly minted CEO. A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “I’m visiting my boyfriend, yes.”

“Must be nice to get all this time off. I asked to use a vacation day next Monday so I could go to Panama City for the weekend. I was told I’m needed in the area just in case something new breaks in the motel story, which you so succinctly described as being ‘milked.’ Obviously, Bruce sees it differently. But you get to flitter off to Scotland. You have Singleton wrapped around your finger, don’t you?”

Funny how a few snotty words from someone could turn me from being paranoid to exasperated in less than ten seconds. I clenched my fists in an effort to control whatever response was about to be unleashed.

“I’m not taking any time off, not that it’s any of your business. I switched my schedule with Louise.”

Giving me her best whatever stare, Katie turned on her heel and sauntered down the hallway. This wasn’t the first time she’d voiced her opinions on my love life. When I dated Nathan she’d made it clear I’d landed the biggest catch since Kate nabbed Will and I should marry him immediately. Sometimes working in a newsroom was like being in high school.

I spent the remainder of the afternoon reordering stories in the rundown and editing scripts. Sydney and I chatted about her upcoming cookout bash at the lake house. She and her husband, Ray, have been throwing this late summer party for as long as I’d lived in Orlando. Aside from the massive fireworks display at Lake Eola on the Fourth of July, the Makeeda family soirée was the biggest event of the season.

By the time I settled into the control room for the broadcast, I’d managed to push aside my annoyance over Katie and my trepidations over the photos.

I decided to stay with Stephanie one more night and headed home on Thursday. Everything looked exactly as I’d left it. Pictures were still scattered across the living room floor. I shoved them back in the envelope and tossed it on the kitchen table.

I peeked out the window. There were still another couple hours of good sunlight. A long, hard jog would be beneficial. I changed and drove out to Cranes Roost Park. Drowning out the world with music, I ran around the lake until my legs begged for mercy and the July humidity saturated my lungs. Running in this sweltering heat drained me but I loved the escape. At no other time did I feel more alive than when I ran. Once I arrived back home, I filled the tub and soaked my sore muscles. Exhausted, I collapsed into bed.

* * *

“Hello?” I mumbled into the pillow. I think the phone was at my ear. The ringing finally stopped. Squinting at the clock on my nightstand I learned it was barely five in the morning.

“Did I wake you, kitten?”

Blood sang through my veins as I heard Alastair’s velvety English accent through the phone. I smiled. “You’re five hours ahead of me. You know you did.”

His low, throaty laugh curled my toes. I half expected to turn and see him lying next to me.

“Sorry. I wanted to hear your voice. I don’t like waking up alone.”

“I know the feeling,” I said, sliding my hand along the cool sheets where his body should have been. “Are you working from home today?”

“No. The office. I’m in between meetings. I have about seven minutes to give you my undivided attention.”

I laughed, stretching my legs. “Well, well Mr. CEO. A whole seven minutes? How do you plan to spend this time?”

“Enjoying the sound of your voice,” he answered, lowering his tone. “I like hearing you first thing in the morning.”

I closed my eyes, amazed at how quickly my heart was beating. Goose bumps rippled across my skin. The effect he had on me transcended an ocean and several time zones.

“Are you trying to seduce me over the phone?”

“Only if you want me to. Although I’d need more than,” he paused, “six minutes.”

“I doubt that,” I muttered, kicking off the blankets. My internal body temperature was off the charts. Another one of his deep, sexy laughs quickened my pulse.

“Patience, love.”

“I’m barely awake. You’re a tease with a gorgeous accent who knows how to push my buttons. Thin ice, Holden, thin ice.”

“I should wake you up early more often. Which buttons am I pushing, exactly?”

Christ. I could almost see the smile on his lips. Shifting on the mattress, I curled up on my side. The pillow he’d used still smelled like him. I inhaled deeply, wishing I could wrap myself around him.

“Patience, chief.”

“Fair enough.”

I squeezed the phone. Hearing his voice unhinged me a bit. I wanted to tell him what happened this week. More than anything I wanted to feel him next to me. Steeling myself against the unwelcome onslaught of emotion, I took a deep breath.

“You’re awfully quiet. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I’m just a little tired seeing as someone thought it would be funny to wake me up at the crack of dawn.”

There was a long pause.

“You’re sure there’s nothing else bothering you?”

I hated lying to him.

“Only that I miss you like crazy.”

He sighed heavily. “I can’t wait until you get here. I have a few things planned for you.”

“Oh?” I sat up, leaning against the headboard. “What things?”

“A lesson, of sorts.”

My erratic pulse skipped a few beats. “What type of lesson?”

“Something I’ve been wanting to teach you. A curiosity of mine, really. I’ll ease you into it, until you get a feel for what you’re doing. Then, I want to see you take control and show me what you can do.”

I squeezed the pillow to within an inch of its life. In all honesty, whatever he just described made my ovaries move. I swallowed hard. “I think it’s safe to say I’m intrigued.”

“Good. I have to go, love. Think of me today.”

“Obviously.”

He laughed good and loud. “Have a safe flight. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

A smile remained plastered to my face all day. That early morning phone call was the perfect remedy for my weeklong jitters. Not even a barrage of breaking stories derailed my good mood.

“Are you humming?”

I looked up from the computer screen and was greeted by Sydney’s smiling face.

“Uh, maybe?”

She laughed. “Don’t be embarrassed. I’d hum too if I were heading for a weekend of naughtiness with a hot Brit.”

I grinned, feeling my cheeks heat up.

“Seriously, Lia. That man is too gorgeous to just cuddle. The illegal things I would do to him,” she smiled.

“Sydney!”

“Hypothetically speaking, of course.” She winked. “I only have eyes for Ray.”

My desk phone rang, mercifully ending the over-sharing session.

“Lia Meyers.”

“Do you have a minute?”

I clenched the receiver, wishing I hadn’t answered. “What do you want, Nathan?”

“Rachel Jameson is behind the pictures.”

“What? How do you know?”

The length of the pause was torture.

“I don’t want to get into that right now.”

My stomach rolled. I swallowed, trying to keep a serene tone. Sydney might be working but her ears had sharpened.

“I’d appreciate it if you could go into a little more detail.”

“Not over the phone while you’re at work. I debated whether or not to call but felt you should at least know that. Let me come by when you’re home and we can talk.”

“I can’t. I’m going straight to the airport from the station.”

“Shit,” he hissed. “Don’t go visit him.”

Any shred of the good mood I’d enjoyed all day disappeared. I glanced over the partition separating my cubicle from Sydney’s. She had headphones on to listen to a press conference. Turning my chair so it faced the back of the newsroom, I lowered my voice.

“I don’t know what little scheme you’ve cooked up with Rachel but it needs to stop. I should have known she was in on it when she showed up at dinner. You’re a piece of work, Nathan. How many times do I have to say it? This is over. We’re done. Don’t call me again.”

I pulled the phone away from my ear only to hear him yell for me to stop. I didn’t know what possessed me to listen.

“You’re not giving me any choice here, Lia. This isn’t how I wanted to tell you.” He almost sounded apologetic. “Rachel was hired to follow you. She’s being paid to dig up dirt from your past and to keep an eye on you.”

Panic seized my heart. “Who hired her?”

“I don’t want to do this over the phone.”

“Who hired her?” I asked through clenched teeth.

Nathan sighed. “Money was wired to her from an account in the United Kingdom.”

My body went cold. All the lively sounds of the newsroom faded into oblivion. Immense pressure squeezed between my ears. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

“Lia.” He paused. “The authorizing signature was from Jason Holden.”

Dropping the phone into its cradle, I stood up abruptly and somehow walked to the restroom. One of the editors was washing her hands. She smiled as I brushed by and locked myself in a stall. The cool stainless steel door did nothing to soothe the heated skin on my forehead. For the most part, I was numb. So much had been thrown at me over the past few months and this new revelation didn’t deliver the massive blow I would have expected. Partly because I didn’t believe a word coming out Nathan’s mouth and partly because I refused to accept what I was told.

Alastair’s uncle isn’t financing a tabloid reporter to dig up dirt on me. That’s ridiculous.

I leaned against the door. My heart pounded so quickly that the inside of my ears hurt. We were barely three weeks removed from the biggest breakthrough in our relationship. He had opened up. He told me everything. Or did he?

No. I wouldn’t allow my insecurities to run rampant. This was all part of Nathan’s sick, twisted plan to win me back. Anger roiled my stomach. Straightening, I walked out of the stall, did a quick check in the mirror and went back to my desk. I zeroed in on nothing but the rundown and various scripts that needed tweaking. The broadcast flew by in a nanosecond. The next thing I knew, I was in the sanctuary of my car.

Gripping the steering wheel, I forced myself to breathe. I had a nine-hour flight to endure. The last thing I wanted was to spend it pissed off. I drove more aggressively than usual through the traffic. My only goal was to get to the airport lounge and try to unwind. Since I didn’t have any luggage, I zipped through security.

Once I was settled in the lounge with a glass of chardonnay I felt better. Not great, but better. Of course I flirted with the idea of getting back in my car and going home. If his uncle really was behind all this nonsense, visiting Alastair was the last thing I should do. It hurt my heart to even consider the possibility. All of this could be cleared up quickly if I asked him. Oh yeah. That will go over well. Hi, Alastair. Is your uncle stalking me? Oh, he is? Amazing.

The ridiculousness of that scenario made me laugh. A couple of passengers looked at me funnily. I smiled at them and sipped the wine. By my third glass, a nice fuzzy calm settled my nerves. The Holden family wasn’t investigating me. They had no reason to.

CHAPTER THREE

A sizable group of family and friends were gathered near the arrivals entrance at Glasgow International Airport to welcome weary travelers home. I assumed Alastair’s driver, Paxton, would be picking me up. I scanned the crowd for a tall broad-shouldered man in his forties with salt and pepper hair. All I saw was a young guy in jeans, black t-shirt and backwards baseball cap with his back to me.

Shuffling past him and another group of people I wondered if I’d have to take a taxi. The thought annoyed me. Plus, I was cranky because my period decided to show up early thanks to the high altitude while flying.

“There you are.”

I turned toward the familiar rich voice and wound up staring directly at the guy in the ball cap. Seeing Alastair always hit all my hot buttons. The casual look didn’t mask his aura of powerful elegance at all.

“What the hell is on your head?”

Alastair laughed. “You don’t like it?” He turned the hat so it faced the proper direction. It made him look slightly younger than his thirty-one years. The letters HWM were embroidered on the front.

“It’s cute.”

“I was trying to be incognito.”

“I’ll let you in on a secret. Don’t wear a Holden World Media hat if you don’t want to be recognized.” I grinned, wrapping my arms around him. Feeling his athletic body pressed to mine set everything straight. His energy really had become an extension of my own. When we shared the same space, I felt more alive, more aware. Just…more.

“I need to get you out of here and back to my house so I can welcome you properly,” he said, draping an arm across my shoulders.

He whisked me off to the parking lot and drove back to his neighborhood in Bearsden like a man on a mission. The tree-lined street was quiet and pretty. His light gray sandstone house sat on a pristine lot with a manicured lawn and vibrant patches of shrubbery and flowers.

Still so perfect on the outside, like him.

Most of the world only saw the stoic, successful young businessman who’d recently been named CEO of his grandfather’s media empire. He handled his business dealings with the cool precision of a surgeon. As much as I craved him when he was in CEO-mode, peeling away the hard exterior to expose the vulnerable man who only showed himself to me was a drug I would never quit.

I’d barely walked through the front door when he lunged, pinning me against the wall. At the mercy of his lips and tongue, I gasped, inhaling sharply. The rim of his hat knocked into my forehead. I ripped it off his head, throwing it across the hallway. He kissed me with such ferocity I thought he might bruise my lips. Circling each of my wrists with his hands, he held them firmly against the wall and pushed the weight of his six-foot frame into me. I liked it when he was untamed. His passion for me was a turn on.

“I missed you,” he said, biting my bottom lip.

“It’s only been four days.”

“Felt like an eternity.” Gripping my wrists tighter, he flexed his hips into mine. The friction sent a pleasurable wave through me.

“I want you. Now. Against this wall.” He kissed me again, this time slower and deeper. Each stroke of his tongue was matched with a tantalizing thrust of his hips. He knew exactly how to get me firing on all cylinders. Heat blossomed and spread through my body. Maybe he was right. Four days did feel like an eternity.

He grazed his teeth down the side of my neck, setting off a barrage of goose bumps. Releasing my wrists, he slid his hands down my body and started unbuttoning my jeans.

Shit.

“Alastair.”

He looked at me, his green eyes cloudy with lust. I brushed my thumb over his mouth.

“We have to stop.”

A sexy grin curled his lips as he pushed down my jeans. “Not into hallway sex?”

“No. I mean, yes but…oh! What the…”

He lightly stroked the sensitive skin along my tailbone. The tingling sensation was euphoric, shooting up my spine, into my throat and back down to my toes.

“We won’t limit this to the hallway. I plan to have you in every room.”

Each caress heightened my arousal. No one had ever touched me there before and it was phenomenal. He pinned my arms against the wall again, holding on tighter. The overwhelming strength, both physical and sexual, was too much. I tried to wriggle out of his grasp.

“Ah, Lia,” he said, his breath warm on my cheek. “Stay still. As much as I like it when you want to take charge, it’s my house. My rules.”

That dominant stare was not of this world. I’d seen variations of it before but never so raw and focused. The veil he usually kept locked in place vanished, unleashing a torrent of want. I loved it. My heart raced as though I’d just finished running a marathon. Flexing his hips into mine once more, he grinned lasciviously.

“This look” - he kissed me - “will never leave your face this weekend.”

Being caught in his seductive bubble was proving to be too much for me to handle. I considered going full force with him, monthly lady visitor and all. Thankfully, that thought only lasted a split second.

“I have my period.”

A blurted phrase like that certainly alters the mood pretty damn quick. The world snapped into focus. Alastair paused, stared at me for a few seconds and stepped back. Confused, he cocked his head to the side.

“Now? I thought you said it wasn’t due until Monday.”

“I think being on a plane expedited the process.”

“No hallway sex then.”

The coy grin on his face stoked the inferno deep inside me. My mouth watered.

“Not so fast, Holden.”

I shoved his body against the wall. Shocked, he exhaled harshly. I kissed his neck.

“You were saying about how you like it when I take charge? Don’t move.”

As I lowered to my knees, he grabbed my arms and pulled me back up. “Wait.”

I looked at him, dumbfounded. “For real? You were just plastered all over me.”

The thick cloud of want returned with a vengeance. His fingers dug into my skin as his grasp tightened. I could see him battling with himself internally. But why? Thinking as quickly as my love-fuzzed brain would allow, I placed my hands on his hips and leaned into his chest.

“Tell me what you want,” I insisted, using the words he’d spoken to me time and again.

His expression faltered in a manner so subtle I almost missed the change. Releasing his hold on me, he aimed a laser stare in my direction. “I want you, love.”

I unbuttoned his jeans, peeling them off as I sank to the floor. He made the male body look like a piece of art. I traced along his hipbone, savoring the v-shape. His labored breathing filled the hallway. I teased him a bit, running my nails along his inner thighs before taking his erection into my mouth. I loved hearing him sigh and moan as I took my time enjoying his body. Every little quiver, no matter how subtle, spurred me on. I had him exactly how I wanted him; vulnerable. He shoved his hands through my hair, pulling it. I responded by hollowing my cheeks, forming an airtight suction.

He groaned, his left leg shaking violently. I kept one hand on his hip and the other around his length. He was close. I could feel it. His body was rigid. Fisting his hands in my hair tighter, he held me in place. Always the control freak. I teased him again, releasing him from my mouth and letting my warm breath glide over him.

“Don’t stop,” he ordered in a hoarse whisper.

Looking up at him, my heart skipped a beat. Eyes closed, his head was pressed against the wall. Ecstasy was etched upon his face. Mine. Carnal instinct took over. Focusing on just the tip, I wrapped my lips around him. With a yell, he came hot and thick in my mouth. I didn’t move until he finished.

Folding to the floor like a paper doll, he sat in front of me. I sat back on my heels, admiring his sated expression. Tilting his head to the side, he ran a hand through the tousled mass of dark red hair framing his gorgeous face.

“No hallway sex, huh?” I smiled.

“Bit of a minx, aren’t you?”

I laughed. “You have no idea.”

“So it seems.”

“Are you blushing?”

“No.” He smirked. “Come closer, please.”

Scooting forward, I leaned over him, placing my hands on either side of his legs. The warm glow radiating from his emerald eyes made me so happy. He cupped my cheeks, smiling softly.

“Welcome back to Glasgow. I hope this is a weekend you’ll never forget.”

“So far, so good.”

Still smiling, he pulled our foreheads together. “You probably want to freshen up after your long flight. Everything you need is my bedroom. I’ll fix us some breakfast.”

He stood up, redressing with ease. I grabbed his hand and walked with him toward the kitchen. Everything sat in its place in his immaculate house. It would look perfect gracing the pages of Architectural Digest with its luxurious furniture and ornate decorations. Neutral tones suggested a warm welcome, subtly accented with deep, rich colors. But there were no personal touches, nothing that gave anything away about the guarded man who lived here. My heart pinged with sadness. Buried beneath his hard outer shell was a broken soul trying to heal after years of self-reproach. Nobody saw that part of him except for me.

Slapping me playfully on the behind, he told me to take as much time as I needed. I scurried off to the bedroom. The door to his walk-in closet was wide open. I peeked in, stunned by the array of clothes bursting from each corner. One side held all of his suits, ties and dress shirts. Shelves stacked with more casual clothes lined the wall.

I swallowed, looking to my left. The rest of his closet was filled with clothes for me. Not just jeans and capris and other everyday items I wore but formal dresses and gorgeous high heels, too. Neatly folded on shelves were various satin and silk nightgowns and robes. Jesus. There are enough outfits in here to last at least six months.

“Too much?”

Startled, I spun around. Alastair leaned against the doorframe, concern flashing in his eyes.

“It’s, um, there’s a lot of stuff.”

“I don’t want you to think…Lia, are you alright?”

I held onto the doorknob. Everything that happened this past week flooded back into my consciousness. The room spun. I felt Alastair’s arms tighten around my waist.

“Look at me.”

I did as I was told, focusing on his firm hold. “I’m fine, sorry. Must be the jet lag.”

His searing eyes scrutinized my face. I forced a smile, hoping to convince him nothing was wrong.

“Seriously. You know me and jet lag. Next thing you know I’ll be tripping over carpets.”

That seemed to work. He lifted my hand, pressing a small kiss to the palm.

“Did you buy all this yourself?”

“Of course I did. Who else would?”

“I don’t know. I thought maybe you’d sent Paxton to do this.”

“Paxton?” His eyes widened in amusement. “He’s a great bloke and all but I don’t think he’d appreciate being sent out with a list of women’s clothes and beauty products to purchase.”

“Well, I mean, he drives you around. I just thought he—”

“He drives me around for work purposes, that’s all. He’s my security detail, not my errand boy,” he scowled, retreating a step behind his shield.

Dammit.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to imply you can’t do things for yourself.”

Too late. The relaxed, sated aura dissipated. He stared at me blankly for a few seconds. The silence was deafening. I’d much rather he shouted or complained about whatever it was that bothered him. The quiet added layers of tension but this was his way. I’d be able to see through his cracks if I was patient enough. Of course, he could see through me with zero effort. The give and take was a delicate balancing act we were still figuring out.

“I’ll leave you to do whatever freshening you need. Come find me in the kitchen when you’re done.”

Without so much as a backward glance he walked out. I felt sick to my stomach. Deciding not to dwell upon his abrupt mood swing, I went into the bathroom. Lined up on the counter were a variety of my favorite beauty products. He remembered. I grabbed the bottle of almond scented bubble bath. Stripping out of my clothes, I filled the white stone bathtub until it almost overflowed. Settling into the warm soapy water, I leaned my head back. Another unpleasant replay of the week’s events consumed me. I had to stop thinking about it. All I wanted was to enjoy my time with Alastair. Nathan and those damn photos could wait. There was no way in hell I’d bring up the crazy accusation that his uncle hired a tabloid reporter to follow me. Not until I knew for certain.

“Room for one more?”

I jumped, opening my eyes. Alastair stood in the middle of the bathroom in all his naked glory. I took my time admiring every toned inch of him.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He climbed in and sat down facing me. “Come here.”

The egg-shaped tub was more than big enough for the two of us so I straddled his lap with my legs wrapped around his waist. He scooped a small handful of bubbles from my shoulder.

“I could smell this in the kitchen. I’m glad you like it.”

I cupped his jaw, kissing him. “Of course I like it. It’s from you.”

A little smile curved his mouth. “You don’t mind if I postpone breakfast a bit, do you? The thought of you sitting in here naked without me was distracting.”

“I don’t mind. You’ll have to feed me eventually though.”

Pulling him closer, I pressed our bodies together. This intimate skin-on-skin contact made us both shudder. Apparently the tense exchange by the closet was forgotten. I hugged him a little tighter, kissing his shoulder.

“You feel so good,” he murmured, sliding his hands down my back. I leaned back to look at him. “Don’t move. I want you close. I always want you to be close.”

“I want that, too.”

He squeezed my ass. “You’d better.”

“Hey.” I pulled back, greeted by a smug grin. “Watch your hands, chief.”

“Oh, I am.”

Another squeeze. I narrowed my eyes. “Enjoying yourself?”

“Quite. You have a nice, pert bum.”

“So, you basically interrupted my bath to cop a feel?”

“I’ll take what I can get. Although, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to shag you senseless right now.”

I laughed. “Shag? Honestly, you Brits are too polite.”

His dark, challenging stare quickened my pulse. “I can be impolite if you prefer.”

My skin tightened and warmed under the firm grasp of his fingers. He cupped my left breast, sealing his mouth around the nipple. It beaded under the warmth of his tongue. His other hand disappeared under the water. I jumped when his fingers slid between my legs.

“You can’t—”

“I’m not going near anything you don’t want touched. Trust me.” His hot, commanding stare burned through me. I twitched in his lap, eliciting a small moan from him. This connection, this intensity we shared scared me as much as it turned me on.

Circling both arms around my waist, he brushed his fingers over my tailbone. I shivered, amazed at how sensitive that area was for me.

“What this look does to me.” He traced one finger up my spine. “You own me with those beautiful amber eyes.”

On cue, my body woke with ravenous desire. I wanted him and his come-hither stare. Figures my hormones would rage when I was, for all intents and purposes, incapacitated in the sex department. A devilish grin curved his lips as he cupped my jaw.

“Close your eyes.”

I did, basking in the warmth of his skin on mine.

“Keep them closed,” he whispered.

The heat from his hands left my face. I swallowed, wondering where I’d feel them next.

I waited.

Nothing.

I’m an idiot for sitting here with my eyes closed.

“Want to know what I’m doing?” His low, raspy question tickled my neck. It startled me.

“No.”

He chuckled, pressing gentle kisses along my jaw, stopping at the corner of my mouth.

“You’re so soft and silky,” he whispered, gliding his lips down my neck. “And beautiful. And—”

“Alastair.”

“I like the way you say my name.”

Teasing along the edge of my lips with his tongue, he coaxed them open without any resistance. I was a rag doll in his arms, sighing into his luscious kiss. He invaded my mouth, claiming and savoring me. I kissed him harder, pressing into him. The desperation and intensity of his movements increased. So did the way he stroked the skin over my tailbone. Sparks of pleasure shot through me, filling every inch until I thought I might burst. Unable to control myself I rolled my hips, sending ripples through the water.

“Stay still, kitten,” he ordered, his rich voice and velvety accent invading my senses. Pulling one hand away, he pressed his palm to my lower abdomen. I felt his thumb slide down, stopping just shy of where I wanted his touch the most.

“You’re teasing me, Holden.”

“Am I?”

Opening my eyes, I was greeted with a white-hot stare. The vulnerability behind it took my breath away. “Yes.”

“I’m at a disadvantage, love. Unless,” he paused, sliding his thumb lower, brushing it against my hypersensitive button of nerves. I nearly shot into orbit. Gauging my reaction, he pressed and held his thumb against me. “Is this impolite enough for you?”

Steam from the warm water mixed with our mutual desire, altering the climate in the bathroom. No longer were we just sitting in a tub. We were nestled deeply in our never-ending craving for each other. It was hard to imagine there had been a time when I shrugged off his advances.

Another firm press sent a shockwave of pleasure cascading through me.

“Look at me,” he growled. “I’d better be the only thing dominating your thoughts, Amelia.”

Crushing his lips to mine, he finished me off with expertise and finesse. The disorganized mess that doubled for my mind shorted out, succumbing to an orgasm so intense it took awhile for me to regain composure. If I owned him with just a look, he possessed me with one touch. Sagging into the water, I wrapped my arms around him, resting my head on his shoulder.

“Feel a bit more relaxed now?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He kissed the top of my head. “I have something fun planned and need you stress-free.”

I looked at him. “Am I stressed?”

“You’ve seemed a little off since we spoke yesterday.”

His ability to see through me could be annoying. I rolled my eyes. “I’m fine.”

Arching a brow, he squeezed my waist. “We both know something is bothering you. However, I’m going to give you a free pass this time.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“That smart mouth of yours will get you in trouble one of these days.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes.” He nipped at my earlobe. “Especially if I have anything to say about it.”

“All bark and no bite, Holden.”

He had my arms pinned behind my back so quickly there was barely a ripple in the water. “Is that a challenge?”

“Only if you’re up for it.”

The look of surprise that crossed his face amused me. I wondered how many of his ex-lovers acted this way around him or if they just gave him what he wanted, no questions asked.

“Feisty.”

“I try,” I said, grinning facetiously.

“I like it.”

“I like you.”

The unguarded smile that blossomed on his lips was so beautiful it warmed my soul.

“I like you, too,” he said, releasing my arms.

“You’d better, otherwise I’m sitting naked in a bathtub with the wrong guy.”

He squeezed my waist so hard I yelped.

“I told you that smart mouth would get you in trouble,” he smirked.

“Be gentle when you tickle me. I’m delicate.” I could barely the get the words out and not laugh.

“You are delicate. And you’re mine. No naked anything with other men.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I whispered, kissing him hard and wrapping my arms around his neck.

“Alright then. I’m hungry, so you must be famished.” Carefully lifting me off him, he stood and climbed out of the tub. I pouted.

“None of that.” He leaned over and kissed my nose. “Finish up in here. I’ll have breakfast waiting for you.”

I stared at his naked backside as he walked out. Grinning, I slid under the water. Love, lust and infatuation. Girl, you’ve got it bad for him.

CHAPTER FOUR

The lush Scottish countryside flew by in a green blur. I hung my arm out the car window, skimming my hand along the warm breeze. The sun shone bright in the sky, fending off the wisps of clouds that tried to spoil its celestial show. For me, this sky was far more beautiful than any sunny day in Orlando.

“Now are you going to tell me what we’re doing?”

“Nope.”

I looked over at Alastair. He flashed a brilliant smile and gave the car a little more gas. The Mercedes’ engine growled, kicking into higher gear. I did enjoy watching him drive. Especially out here in the middle of nowhere. His fluid control and relaxed stance behind the wheel added another layer of hotness to his already scorching exterior.

The car rolled to a stop on a dusty patch at the side of the road. A large meadow spread out to our left. Aside from various clusters of trees, there was nothing to see for miles.

“We’ve arrived.”

Leaving the engine idling, Alastair got out of the car. I followed him, spurred on by a healthy dose of curiosity.

“Where are we?”

“Carbeth.”

“And what’s so special about this place?”

He turned, a goofy grin plastered on his face. “Nothing. It’s a bit out of the way and I thought it would be a good place for your lesson.”

Now I was completely confused. Alastair kept that ridiculous smile aimed in my direction.

“You’re going to learn how to drive my sexy little car.”

“What?”

A loud laugh echoed through the breeze. “Don’t look so excited. It’s really simple.”

I folded my arms. “Why do you want me to drive your car?”

“No reason. Just curious to see you behind the wheel.”

“I told you I can’t drive a stick.”

“Yes, I know. Hence the lesson. Get in.”

“So bossy.”

I settled in behind the wheel and adjusted the seat so I could reach the pedals. Alastair folded his lean frame onto the passenger seat and grinned.

“Looking good, doll face.”

“Oh my God. What did I say about faking the American accent?”

He chuckled. “Are you ready to learn?”

“I suppose.”

“Alright. Press down on the brake and clutch. Put the gear in first and release the emergency brake.”

“You might want to buckle up,” I muttered, doing as he instructed.

“Now, gently give it some gas and lift your foot off the clutch slowly.”

The car rumbled beneath me as I pressed on the accelerator. Tightening my grip on the steering wheel, I carefully lifted my foot off the clutch. The car stuttered a bit before rolling forward.

“That’s it. Give it a little more.”

Taking a quick glance to my right, I eased the car onto the road. Stay on the left, stay on the left. Driving on the wrong side of the road while sitting in the wrong side of the car was a tad disorienting. I kept repeating my little mantra as I accelerated, shifting into second. I’d only driven a stick shift a few times. My dad tried to teach me when I was sixteen. He thought it would be beneficial to know ‘just in case.’

Okay, this might be easier than I thought. The road didn’t have any major curves as far as I could see. I eased the car into third, feeling more confident I wouldn’t end up upside down in a ditch. Adrenaline gave me an added boost of courage.

“Ready, Holden?”

I gunned it, charged by the power raging in the SLK55’s engine. I heard a thump and looked to my left. Alastair clasped the door handle.

“Too fast?”

“No, love,” he answered in a low, gravelly tone.

By the time I hit sixth gear I really had a feel for it. The car purred and hugged the road at my command. Alastair remained suspiciously quiet, observing every move I made. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face if I tried. This was almost as liberating as jogging along the coastline.

I glanced at him. His expression may have been blank but his eyes glowed a molten forest green. After several miles, I saw an area to pull over. Gliding the car to a stop, I put it in neutral, popped the brake and cut the engine.

“How d—”

I was silenced by a kiss.

“Impressive, Meyers.”

He looked a little peaked but otherwise seemed fine. A twinge of guilt shot through me. Maybe my driving so fast had reminded him of the accident that killed his family. My stomach sank. Not what I was going for.

“Come with me.”

Those words always sent a charge through me. Grinning, he got out of the car. I waited while he grabbed a blanket from the trunk and followed him to a large elm tree. After he spread the blanket he motioned for me to sit. Once I was settled he laid down, resting his head in my lap. I played with his hair, enjoying the quiet. Only the occasional chirping bird interrupted the relative peace of our little roadside pit stop.

“Everything okay at work?” I asked. There was a long pause before he answered.

“I suppose.”

Here we go. The parade of vagueness begins.

“How’s your grandfather been feeling?”

“Fine.”

“And your aunt and uncle? How are they?”

“Same as always. Katherine keeps asking when I’m bringing you by the house again.”

The house. I had to stifle a laugh. My whole apartment building could fit neatly inside the Holden Estate with room to spare.

“We should go back there and visit. I’m sure they’d love to see you outside of official family gatherings.”

Alastair folded his arms across his chest and stared up at the sky. I could tell he hated the idea. He’d mentioned he avoided going to the estate unless it was necessary. His aunt was a sweet woman, though. I couldn’t imagine why he wouldn’t want to spend time with her. The uncle was another story. I’d noticed Alastair’s relationship with him seemed strained.

“You look lovely today.”

I came screeching back to the present and glanced down at him as he fingered the hem on the green chevron striped tank top I’d picked from the closet. I’d paired it with denim shorts.

“Thank you.”

“Everything fits alright?”

“Um, yeah.”

“But…?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Well, the bra is a little snug. But I think that has more to do with, you know, hormones and stuff.”

“Snug?” He reached up, skimming his fingers over the swell of my breasts and cupped one of them. “Feels good to me.”

“Smart ass.”

“What? I think you look smashing. Sexy as always.”

“Whatever.”

A slight frown marred his otherwise serene expression. Anxiety rushed through my body. The late afternoon sunlight shone off his eyes as he looked up at me, turning them an even more vibrant green.

“What’s on your mind?”

“Nothing.”

He smiled bitterly. “Is this what I do to you? Give annoying one word answers when there is clearly something going on?”

“Sometimes.”

He was quiet for a few seconds. “Okay then. This morning, when you asked about Paxton running errands for me? The reason I got upset is because when I was younger my uncle always drilled into my head that nothing should ever be handed to me. I should work hard for every advantage, just as he and my father did. It didn’t matter that we were wealthy. The minute we let someone else do the most simple task for us, we lost our sense of independence.”

The transformation in his manner of speaking was jarring. He sounded monotone, almost as though he were reciting an unpleasant oath. Regardless of my suspicions about his uncle, this seemed to be a decent piece of advice. But what did I know?

Some of the tension melted from his face. “Sorry I was so abrupt with you. It’s a bit of a sore spot with me.”

“You have a lot of sore spots.” I poked him in the stomach. “I’m going to need a roadmap pretty soon to navigate through them.”

“No you won’t,” he said softly, staring up at me with reverence. “You’re gorgeous in this light.”

Sitting up slowly, he twisted a piece of my hair around his finger. Sunlight reflected off the chestnut strands in shades of copper and auburn. More stunning for me was the way it set his hair ablaze with color.

“So are you.”

He scrunched his nose. “If you say so. Come. I want to take you somewhere.”

For the first time ever I didn’t ask where we were going. I simply followed him back to the car and remained silent. I liked how this weekend was progressing. We felt more comfortable around one another, physically and emotionally. At least I did. I could tell he did to a certain extent. There were still an abundance of layers to peel away before I’d be secure enough knowing he fully trusted me with his emotions. Patience was the key. The last thing I wanted to do was rush him. Or complicate matters with accusations of stalking.

I winced, pushing the thought out of my mind.

“We’ve arrived.”

I glanced out the window and saw a familiar looking thatched cottage.

“I remember this place,” I grinned, following him to the front door. The same ‘at home’ feeling washed over me when I entered the cozy living room. Everything about this cottage was the exact opposite of his house. It was modest and lived in. The hard wood floors were a warm honey color partly covered by a soft cream throw rug. Small lamps and sconces cast a pleasant glow throughout. Even the low ceilings had charm with their exposed beams.

“What do you remember about it?”

Leaning against the crimson couch, I smiled. “I remember you being a gentleman after my unattractive display from too many martinis.”

“Is that all?”

The longing in his eyes radiated through the room. In a heartbeat, he stood in front of me. A flurry of nerves rushed through my stomach. He brushed his cheek against mine, the stubble lightly tickling me. I lost myself in his delicious scent. The mix of shampoo, body wash and him was so enticing.

“This is where I first kissed you,” he whispered, brushing his thumb over my lips. “This is where you made me feel for the first time in years.”

Something about the cottage had a calming effect on him. He stood before me, devoid of any protective shield or mask. Seeing him so open melted my heart. He moved closer, gently running his knuckles down my cheek.

“Please tell me what’s bothering you.”

Panic streaked through me. I can’t. Not moving, I struggled to maintain eye contact with him. He stayed silent, watching me carefully. Feigning aloofness was out of the question. He saw through me too easily.

“Rough week at the office, chief. That’s all.” I grinned, hoping it touched my eyes so he’d be convinced. There was truth to that. It had been a rough week.

Cradling my face gently as though he were holding porcelain, he studied me. It made me uncomfortable. I knew it was my own fault for not being forthcoming but I had to keep this from him. He hovered his lips over mine.

“We are so much more alike than I realized,” he said, kissing me softly. “You’ll tell me when you’re ready, yes?”

“There’s noth—”

His mouth covered mine, the pressure making my lips burn. I wrapped my fingers around the back of his neck, holding him tight against me. His impassioned kisses were just as magnificent as the tender ones. They lit my bloodstream on fire. Hazy and throbbing with want, I met his ardent stare.

“Are you going to keep kissing me like that until I tell you?”

“Yes.”

“Then you’ll have to wait.”

Leaning his forehead to mine, he laughed. “You drive a hard bargain, Meyers.”

I ran my hands up and down his back, gliding them slowly over the cotton t-shirt. A low moan vibrated in his throat. I loved the sounds he made when he was turned on. Lifting the hem of his shirt I snuck my hands under, caressing the warm, soft skin along his lower back. I felt his muscles contract.

“Don’t control it,” I said against the corner of his mouth. “Let go.”

He jerked backwards, burning me with a blistering stare. The heat from his body still pulsed against me. His raw emotion was palpable. Teetering on the edge, he fought to retain control. I made him look this way. I broke his every defense.

“You’re mine, Holden. You don’t have to hide behind the mask with me.”

I wanted so much for him to see me as his safe place, someone he could trust with his emotions. I think on some level he did. Our relationship was new and unchartered territory for both of us. Alastair standing there and looking at me with that bewitching stare made it difficult to concentrate. Even when he fought to corral his feelings, the strength of his desire hit me at full force.

“You are so goddam sexy.” I didn’t even recognize the sound of my own voice, mostly because that was supposed to be an inside thought.

A salacious grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Ditto, love.”

He scooped me up off the floor and tossed me over his shoulder. I shrieked in surprise as he carried me to the bedroom, laughing when he placed me on the bed. He strode over to a small desk and opened a laptop. Slow, jazzy piano music filled the room.

“Who is that?”

“Jamie Cullum.” He climbed onto the mattress. Poised over me, he lowered his head so our noses touched. “We’re going to lie here and forget the world for a while, alright?”

Enclosed within his magnetic sphere I reached up, touching his cheek. “If that’s what you want.”

His jaw tensed, eyes flashing. “You are what I want. Only you. Always.”

He kissed me with the feverish passion of a man who’d finally found the one thing that gave his life meaning. We made out like sex-starved teenagers, rolling around on the bed, yanking each other’s shirts off. Hands and fingers moved greedily over skin, grabbing and caressing. His body was solid, lean muscle next to my soft curves. I had no definitive thought process, only where I should touch him next.

When we finally stopped, I had ended up on top of him, slowly kissing his neck.

“What are you doing with that smart mouth of yours, Amelia?”

“Staking my claim.” I nibbled at his skin. He tensed briefly, then moaned and relaxed. I kissed down his chest, smiling as the reddish-brown hairs tickled my face. A quick squeeze at my waist stopped me.

“Hey.” I sat up.

“I have to get something. Don’t move.”

He kissed my nose before standing up and leaving the room. I grabbed one of the oversized pillows and flopped onto my stomach, listening to INXS sing soulfully about afterglow. Resting my chin on my hand I smiled, looking out into the bedroom. Like the rest of the cottage, this room was warm and cozily draped in rich neutral colors. It reminded me a bit of the color scheme in his living room, only without the cold, sterile aura.

He seemed much happier and at peace here than he did anywhere else. But maybe that was just my wishful thinking. Anytime he let his guard down was a moment to behold. Oh, how I loved when he did. I could only hope he realized how much it meant to me.

I noticed something move out the corner of my eye. Looking to my left I saw Alastair standing by the door, pointing a camera in my direction.

“What are you doing?” I jumped.

Confused, he lowered the camera. I clutched the comforter, trying to tame my furiously beating heart. Dammit. Control yourself.

“You just,” I stammered, “I wasn’t expecting you to be taking pictures of me.”

“I was going to say something but you looked so pretty lying there. Sorry.” His shy little smile made me melt. So did the fact that he was shirtless wearing only his jeans. “Want to see?”

“Sure,” I sighed, sitting up. Settling next to me, he turned the camera so I could look at the preview screen. There I was, stretched out on my stomach clad in only my bra and shorts, hair all mussed up. My pinky finger rested on my lips, which were curled into a lovesick smile. To top it all off, my legs were bent at the knees, feet pointing up to the ceiling. Oh my God.

“I look so…” I wrinkled my nose.

“Perfect.”

“I’m far from perfect.”

He frowned. “I want you to see yourself through my eyes. This is my favorite smile of yours. You have so many different ones but this one…it’s…“ He swallowed hard. “I like to think you smile like this when you’re thinking about me.”

I blinked at him, stunned.

“Too cheesy again?”

“No. It’s, um…you have a favorite smile?”

“I have a lot of favorite things about you. At the risk of sounding too soppy, I’ll end it there.”

Regaining some of his trademark cool-as-ice demeanor, he leaned against the headboard. The guy who once declared he didn’t do relationships certainly knew how to charm a girl. Always a master at disguising his feelings, the mask slid back into place, locking in any trace of emotion that tried to escape. Not what I wanted.

“Can I ask you something?”

He eyed me suspiciously. “Alright.”

“How did you end up with this place?”

The switch from stoic to tranquil was subtle. He stared out in an almost dreamlike state. I was fascinated.

“It belonged to my mum’s parents. They were from Scotland and bought this cottage shortly after they married. I never met them. They died before I was born and left it to her. Years went by before anyone thought to do anything with it. I remember my parents talking about having it renovated so we could spend summers here. Obviously that never happened.” His shoulders slumped. “When I turned eighteen and finally got the keys to the place I drove out here to see it. I’d never been before. It was rundown and needed loads of work to be livable. I hired some contractors, told them what I wanted and here we are.”

Every layer I managed to peel away held an intriguing nugget of information.

“You never considered selling it?”

“No.” His voice tightened. “Not an option.”

“So, you’re part Scottish then?”

A huge smile brightened his face. “Aye. My being a ginger didn’t give it away, lass?”

“At least your attempt at a Scottish accent is better than your American one. What other tricks can you do? Got any kilts in your closet?”

Raising an eyebrow, he grinned wickedly. “You’d like that wouldn’t you?”

“I like you just as you are now; half naked in your jeans, relaxed and playful. This cottage has an amazing effect on your whole being. It makes me happy to see you this way.” The words tumbled out of my mouth faster than I could employ some sort of filter.

“I feel safe here,” he said quietly, not breaking eye contact with me. “For someone like me, that’s rare.”

The strength of his admission hit me hard. This was his sanctuary, a place to lock out the world and be himself. I studied his body language, looking for any signs of withdrawal. He sat calmly, hands resting in his lap. I half expected him to start meditating.

“Is that why you brought me here?”

Staring darkly, he repositioned himself to kneel in front of me. Every muscle moved with controlled precision. I sat up on my knees so we were eye to eye. He still seemed relaxed but there was a hint of danger in his eyes.

“We all want to be understood, to find that one person who needs no explanation when they look at you. I’ve wandered through most of my life shutting out that possibility. And then I met you.” He paused, tracing his finger along my jaw. “Nobody has seen me so completely. We’re two sides of the same coin, Amelia. I am yours and you are mine. Always.”

A pleasurable shiver ran down my spine.

“I told you once that you made me feel so much, it hurt. Even now, in the safety of this cottage, it hurts. I don’t understand it but I know I can’t live without it.” He used both hands to cup my jaw, fixing a stare on me so hot the intensity burned straight to the pit of my stomach. I grabbed his waist, pulling him closer.

“I hate to break it to you, Holden, but you have it bad for me.”

“Is that so?”

“Yup.”

“Your way with words is stunning as always, Meyers.”

“I love you, too.” I leaned in, brushing my lips on his. “The thing I mentioned before about you being so goddam sexy?”

“Yes?”

“Thought I’d, you know, bring it up again.”

He kissed my forehead. “Tell me what you want. I’ll give you the world if you asked.”

“I have everything I want right in front of me.”

He slowly traced his fingers along the contours of my body, savoring each curve with gentle strokes. “I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

“Why?”

The atmosphere shifted as an unrelenting tempest of want and need gathered around us.

“Because I said so, love,” he said in a low, commanding tone. Only the feral gleam in his eyes betrayed the outer shell of control. When he spoke to me like this my whole body came alive.

I watched him saunter out of the room and trembled with anticipation. Not even the stress of the past week could derail the frenzy of lust that continued to build. I became more attuned to my deepest, most intimate desires with him. He brought out a side of me I’d never allowed myself to set free with anyone else.

I barely noticed the lights turning off as they were replaced by the flickering glow of candles. A haunting piano melody filled the room rounded out by a slow, seductive electronic beat. Alastair had me caged against the mattress and locked in a deep kiss as wisps of the lyrics floated through what was left of any conscious thoughts in my mind.

“This song,” he whispered on my lips, “is called Bloodstream. It describes exactly what you do to me.”

Too overwhelmed by him and how he covered every inch of me in magnificent kisses, I neglected to pay attention to the song.

CHAPTER FIVE

The mattress moved as Alastair stirred next to me, draping an arm over my stomach. His face held none of the dispassionate, guarded façade it did while he was awake. Sleep almost gave him a seraphic glow. My tragic angel.

Carefully removing his arm, I almost managed to get up without waking him.

“Lia,” he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. “Stay with me.”

“I’m just getting some water,” I whispered, kissing his forehead.

“Hurry back, love.”

He was sound asleep before I left the bedside. I tiptoed to the living room. The cottage floors were old and creaky so I made sure to move as quietly as possible. I noticed the green light on my cell phone blinking from the coffee table. I grabbed it and took a small blanket from the couch. Taking a deep breath, I unlatched the door and went outside. A chilly breeze swept over my bare skin. Even in July Scotland had a way of reminding me not to get overly comfortable with the warmer temperatures.

Hugging the blanket around me, I unlocked the phone. Several text messages from Nathan waited for me. I was about to respond when the phone vibrated in my hand.

“What?” I hissed.

“I thought you’d be sleeping,” Nathan drawled. “Did I wake you?”

“No. Why the hell are you calling me in the middle of the night?”

I heard him sigh in a way that suggested he was rubbing his hand over his face. I’d seen him do that a million times, usually when he was frustrated. “When do you get back to Orlando? I need to see you.”

I scrunched my toes into the cool grass. “No, you don’t.”

“Listen,” he snapped, “do you want my help or not? If you do, we’re doing this my way.”

“I don’t take orders from you. We don’t ever need to be in the same space.”

“Dammit Lia, stop being so difficult.”

My anger at him and with myself for reopening this door flooded my body. “I’m not say—”

The phone was ripped from my hand. I spun around, coming face to face with one pissed off Englishman. Alastair put the phone to his ear and said in a deadly calm tone, “Leave. Her. Alone.”

Moonlight cast a silver glow on his stony expression, accentuating the unfiltered animosity in his eyes. He remained still as a statue, holding my phone in a death grip. Seconds passed by with slow torture.

“Call or talk to her again and it will be one of the last things you do.” Ending the call, he lowered his hand and stared at me. “Is this what’s been bothering you?”

I couldn’t answer. I just pulled the blanket tighter. Reaching out as though he was going to touch my cheek, Alastair stopped and scowled. Vulnerability hovered behind his eyes like smoke before disappearing, wrenching my heart.

“I—”

“Tell me why you were on the phone with him, in my front garden, at two in the morning.”

This wasn’t a request. Gone was the relaxed, playful man I’d spent the day with. I was now presented with his public persona, the one so guarded and locked it gave weight to the reputation that he was standoffish and didn’t want to be bothered. I hated knowing I caused this side of him to materialize.

“He’s been after me all week about some exclusive interview.” The words flowed out of my mouth with little effort. I had no idea my brain could even work let alone react with such logic. “He won’t tell me what it’s about and already,” I raked a hand through my tangled hair, “finagled a dinner meeting out of me this week.”

A raised eyebrow was his only response.

“I hated every second of it,” I blurted. “He kept apologizing for everything and wanted to make amends. I didn’t—”

“Do you want to be with him?” he interrupted with strained agony in his voice.

Air rushed out of my lungs forcing me to bend forward and clutch my thighs. “No. Jesus, Alastair, why would you even think that?”

“You know his demons. You don’t know all of mine. Familiarity can be comforting even in the most undesirable circumstances.”

“That’s crazy talk and you know it.” I moved closer to him. “This is all on me. I fucked up and should have told you but I wanted this weekend to be about us. No drama. No stress. Just you. And me.”

Dropping the blanket, I put my hands on his bare chest. I felt the ferocious vibrations of his heart beating and waited for him to push me away or shrink further into his shell. How could I expect him to see me as his safe place if I treated him this way? A hot, gritty lump forced its way up my throat.

“Look at me.” He wrapped both hands around my neck, pushing his thumbs into my jaw and compelling me to look up. Passion and determination blazed from his eyes. “I’ve never worked harder at anything in my life. Every instinct I have tells me not to get attached to you, not to let you in. But you are my clarity. I’ve never felt as strongly for someone as I do for you and it scares the shit out of me. I will move heaven and earth for you but if I am not what you want—”

“You are the only thing I want,” I yelled, my voice echoing through the darkness.

“—I will step aside.”

The weight of his words hung in the air, dulling the stars and muting the moon’s glow. I couldn’t breathe. I could only stand and shiver. Letting go of my neck, he bent down and picked up the blanket, draping it over my shoulders. I wilted under the heaviness, feeling it more as a burden than comfort.

“I’m sorry.” Thick tears rolled down my cheeks. Wiping them away with his thumb, he considered saying something. Instead, he kissed the corner of my mouth. I grabbed the back of his head, pulling his lips to mine, desperate to show him how much I loved him. He held me tightly, kissing down my neck, whispering words of affection. You are my world…my everything…always…always…always.

Scooping me in his arms, he carried me back into the cottage.

* * *

Buchanan Street was apparently the place to be on Sunday afternoon. Scores of high-end retail stores lined both sides of the pedestrian friendly street. For someone as well-versed in shopping as me, this was heaven. Warm sunlight shone down as Alastair and I walked hand in hand on the strikingly beautiful granite stonework. I drank in the intricate mix of Victorian architecture and urban design. Glasgow had quickly become one of my favorite places on earth.

“This way.” Alastair tugged gently at my hand, guiding me down another street lined with shops. We stopped in front of a jewelry store. My pulse skyrocketed when he reached for the door.

“Are we going in there?”

“Yes, love.”

Either I swayed or a rare earthquake shook the sidewalk.

“Relax, Lia. It’s not what you think. Not yet.”

He led me to a display case filled with glittering diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and every other precious stone imaginable. Bypassing those, he stopped at the far end of the display. Inside sat the most unique, beautiful ring I’d ever seen. A gorgeously polished cognac amber nugget was nestled beneath a swirling setting of white gold encrusted with small diamonds. The nugget was huge and oval within its imperfect shape. The setting was wrapped around the amber, almost mimicking a hug.

“Mr. Holden. Welcome back,” a well-dressed man from behind the counter greeted him. I glanced at the lapel of his dark suit and noticed a nametag. Alright, Robert. What do the two of you have in store for me?

Alastair squeezed my hand and grinned. “Been getting many inquires about this?” he gestured toward the ring.

“Several. It’s not often we keep a custom designed ring on display when it’s already spoken for.”

I swallowed. Hard. Robert opened the display case, removed the ring and laid it on a piece of velvet in front of me. My free hand flew to my neck, grasping the necklace Alastair had given me only a few weeks ago at the beach. I ran my thumb over the platinum ‘A.’

“Try it on,” he encouraged, letting go of my hand.

I picked it up and slid it onto the middle finger of my left hand, immediately feeling its weight. Holding up my hand, I admired the way the amber glowed and the diamonds sparkled under the soft light.

“The stone’s color reminded me of your eyes,” Alastair said, brushing his thumb over the ring. “I hope you—”

I silenced him with a kiss. Feeling the firm pressure of his lips moving with mine negated any reservations I had about public displays of affection.

“I love you. So much,” I declared, tightening my grip on his shirt. “Always.”

Little by little, fragments of the impenetrable outer shell were breaking away, revealing the man I adored. It wasn’t a complete shedding of the barrier. He kept enough in place to let me know there were still some issues we had to work through. “I want everyone to know you’re mine. Off the market, so to speak.”

By everyone, I knew he meant only one specific person. His penetrating stare was sultry but it made me nervous.

“I only have eyes for you, Alastair Holden.”

The slightly arched eyebrow did nothing to quell the undeniable disdain he held for my ex. “Good.”

Grinning, I pulled him close for a soft kiss.

Two women took it upon themselves to pick this moment to stand next to us and peruse the jewelry in the case. It was clear they knew exactly who he was. They shot sideways glances at me while pretending to coo over the rings. He probably didn’t appreciate these people being so intrusive. Much to my surprise, he fisted his hand in my hair and kissed me with such force I almost fell backwards. Sliding his tongue around mine in long slow strokes, he kept us locked in this heated embrace far longer than I would have expected. Not that I minded.

“My Lia,” he breathed. “Let’s get out of here.”

I swear I saw the two women fanning themselves as we left.

* * *

The level of concentration on his face was staggering as he flipped through a large cookbook. I stood on the opposite side of the breakfast bar, not hiding the amused smile growing on my lips.

“You’re staring.”

“So are you. I’m hungry. Get started, chief.”

He flicked those bright emerald irises at me, making my heart race. “I’d rather not have this go pear shaped if you don’t mind.”

“C’mon. It’s only dinner. Don’t be so…” I paused, looking for the right word, “British.”

He smirked. “You don’t know what pear shaped means, do you?”

Tapping my nails on the counter, I shrugged. I knew what it meant but was more interested in the stare being leveled at me than his use of slang. Those eyes could stop time. Oh, and that mouth. Even twisted in a wry grin it made my insides quiver. Mine. Every inch of him was mine.

“What are you thinking about?” The rich, velvet tenor of his voice curled my toes.

“You. Duh.”

“Very articulate.”

“What can I say? You’re, like, totally hot and I wanna see you naked.” I twirled my hair in an exaggerated manner and winked.

He smiled slightly. Since we returned to his house in Bearsden after the jewelry store I’d been trying to draw out his playful side. The emotional roller coaster from last night had a strong hold on both of us. I’d hoped it would have weakened by now. Strumming his fingers on the counter, Alastair sighed.

“How about we order food instead and do…couple-y things?”

“Couple-y things?” I scrunched my nose. “Who’s being articulate now?”

He shrugged. “I have this big living room that I never use. I thought maybe we could watch a movie or listen to music or…have a snog or two.”

“Oh, those couple-y things. You mean, what normal people do?” I teased.

“Cheeky.” His pretty eyes dropped their shield sending a rush of happiness through me. “What do you prefer? Chinese, Indian or Italian?”

“Keep it simple. You can’t go wrong with pizza.”

Shooting me an exaggerated eye roll, he rifled through one of the drawers and pulled out a menu. Judging by the name of the restaurant, it was something Italian and most certainly not pizza. He disappeared to his office without asking me what I wanted. I made myself comfortable in the museum-like living room. The couch cushions were so puffy I had a feeling I was the only one to ever sit on them. I was afraid to touch anything. Even the remote control for the flat screen television looked unused. The only thing in here that had any personal feel to it was the photo he’d taken of Big Ben with a red bus driving past it.

I smiled to myself, wondering what he was going to do with the pictures he’d taken of me last night. It wasn’t too big of a stretch to think he’d display them somewhere in the house. Preferably the bedroom. Although from my understanding nobody ever came here so he could blow the pictures up poster sized and hang them all over the house if he wanted. Silly, silly thoughts.

“You look like the cat that got the cream,” he remarked, striding through the room. “I’m going to pick up the food. It’s just down the street so I won’t be long. Make yourself comfortable.”

I grabbed the remote and stretched out on the couch, saluting him. “Yes, sir.”

His gaze darkened as he hovered over me. “Be careful, kitten. I could get used to you saying that.”

Spurred on by the heated stare leveled at me, I ran a finger down his shirt. “Is that so, Mr. Holden?”

“Vixen,” he muttered, nipping at my earlobe. “I’ll deal with you when I come back.”

“I’m counting on it.”

“Wow.” The throaty laugh I loved so much filled the room. “Someone is extra feisty tonight.”

I heard him chuckling all the way to the door. Once he was gone, I decided to take another self-guided tour of his house. Strolling past the master bedroom and home office, I noticed a closed door at the far end of the hallway. I twisted the doorknob and was surprised to find it locked. My curiosity shot off the charts. I figured it was a second bedroom but why keep it under lock and key? What is he hiding now? Scolding myself for always assuming the worst, I went to his bedroom. The camera sat on his bureau. I grabbed it, turned on the preview screen and almost dropped it.

A picture of me sleeping popped up. Thank goodness I wasn’t slack jawed or drooling in the photo. I actually looked quite peaceful with one hand curled under my chin. Taking a deep breath, I scrolled through more photos. They were all of me. He must have taken a dozen while I was sleeping. The rest were from when he’d been lurking by the door.

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