Catch My Breath

Lynn Montagano

A division of HarperCollinsPublishers

www.harpercollins.co.uk

Contents

Lynn Montagano

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

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Love Romance?

About HarperImpulse

Copyright

About the Publisher

Lynn Montagano

I’m a former TV news writer who took the plunge and finally wrote a novel. I know, right? Insanity. Prior to jumping into novel writing, I spent the majority of my career working in radio and television as a promotions director, writer and associate producer. I love any job that is challenging and creative.

I grew up in a small town in Rhode Island before spreading my wings to discover this great, big world. Traveling, like writing, has become a necessary part of my life. My favorite place is and always will be London. It’s my home away from home.

For now, I’m a displaced New Englander hanging my hat in Northern California. If you can see me through the fog, wave hello.

To my family and friends, for always being my biggest supporters and loudest cheerleaders.

And to my passport (yes, my passport), for opening up the world and introducing me to my favorite place on Earth.

CHAPTER ONE

“Amelia Grace Meyers. Naptime is over. Let’s go. We’re getting picked up at seven for the benefit. I don’t want to be late.”

The blankets were unceremoniously ripped from my body, destroying the warm cocoon I’d wrapped around myself. I sat up with a start, blinded by the bright light spilling from the bedside lamp. Grabbing the blankets, I flopped back onto the mattress.

“You’re mean,” I whined into the pillow, trying to figure out what the hell my best friend was talking about. And more importantly, where I was. I opened a sleepy eye and saw Stephanie Tempe, all perfumed and primped, standing at the foot of the bed. Oh right. Scotland.

“What time is it?” I yawned.

“Quarter past six. Get up.”

I crawled out of bed, shooting a half-hearted glare in her direction. Why I agreed to go to this event with her tonight was beyond me. I stumbled toward the bathroom, deftly avoiding the suitcases that were scattered in a schizophrenic maze on the floor. I’d been in Glasgow for twelve hours and still hadn’t technically seen the outside of this room. Who knew jet lag could be so vicious?

Twenty minutes - and a furious effort on my part to look presentable - later, our heels clicked in unison on the marble floor in the hotel lobby.

“You totally set a new record for getting ready,” Stephanie remarked as we waited for our ride. I nodded, yawning. When the black Land Rover arrived, I curled up on the seat, watching the streets of Glasgow streak by in a blob of color.

My brain finally sprang to life as I stepped onto the sidewalk, marveling at the hectic, excited energy surrounding me. I didn’t get dazzled easily, but this was shaping up to be a fun night. The stunning Victorian building glowed under the bright lights as scores of men and women dressed in their finest suits and gowns chatted amongst themselves. I stood in place, smitten with the old world charm of the city.

I knew I was smiling a bit too much, giving away my status as a tourist, but I couldn’t help it. The way the old buildings mingled with eye-popping steel and glass structures reminded me of New York. Only this version had a Scottish accent.

Taking a few steps to my right, I nearly stumbled off the curb. I steadied myself on the backend of a gray Mercedes SUV. Wake. Up. I tried to see if anyone was inside to witness my less than suave move, but couldn’t make out anything through the dark tint.

“Come on, Lia. Darren’s waiting for us inside.” Stephanie waved, immersing herself in the twinkling aura of elegance and waltzing toward the main doors. I snapped out of my daze and followed her.

We passed through a grand entrance hall with small domed ceilings covered in tiled mosaics. I was struck by the two massive staircases flanking either side. One was made out of white Carrara marble, while the other was a deep red. Multi colored and gold veins swirled around the staircase, giving it a darker, more alluring feel.

As I walked up the white marble stairs, I felt a twinge of disappointment that the other one led to a different part of the building. All that rich color seemed much more exciting.

We navigated our way through the crowd and found Darren MacCourty leaning against the bar. He looked rather dashing in a black suit and tie.

"Steph! Lia! You made it.” He engulfed Stephanie in a giant bear hug and swung her around a couple of times. After he put her down, he gave me a quick peck on each cheek.

"You ladies look gorgeous. Can I offer you something to drink? There’s champagne, wine and something called a Kilted Knight.” A Glaswegian accent danced around his words, much to my delight. He was our one-man welcoming committee for our extended Scottish vacation.

Stephanie opted for champagne while I chose the Kilted Knight. A delectable combination of peach, melon and mint yumminess floated over my taste buds.

“How’s the holiday going?” he asked as we walked to our table.

“Eh, it’s going. Lia’s been asleep since we got here,” Stephanie teased.

“Have a few more drinks.” Darren grinned at me. “You'll feel brand new. Never mind the sleep.”

“If you say so,” I said, smiling back. “Thanks for inviting us to this, by the way.”

“Ah, no worries. Probably not as exciting as the events you go to in Orlando, but it’s a good excuse for me to look sharp on the arms of two lovely lasses like yourselves.”

He winked, draping his arms around our shoulders. I laughed at his easy, boyish charm. I’d met him through Stephanie a few years ago, but he made me feel as though I’d known him forever.

“Looking for someone?” I followed his gaze through the room.

“Yeah. I wanted to introduce you both to one of my mates. He was supposed to meet us here. Probably buggered off to a dark corner to avoid the guests.”

“Is he single?” Stephanie grinned.

“That’s nice. Ask about the availability of others right in front of me,” Darren teased. “You can ask him tomorrow at the football match. Excuse me, soccer game.”

I got a kick out of watching them tease each other. There weren’t any romantic feelings, just an honest tight friendship that continued to get stronger no matter how far Glasgow and Orlando were from one another.

The three of us meandered around the room, chatting with some of Darren’s co-workers. They were intrigued by the “colonials,” as one of them put it. Stephanie ate up the attention. I was still so tired; taking a back seat to people watch seemed more appealing.

By the time we sat down for dinner, I was borderline comatose. Several people gave speeches and thanked everyone for their generous donations. Before the silent auction started, I excused myself to use the ladies’ room. One other woman was in there fixing her hair.

“I love your dress,” she said. “Where did you get it?”

“Neiman Marcus.”

“Are you Canadian?”

I shook my head, stifling a yawn. “American. I’m here on vacation.”

“Watch out for the local fellas. They’re rather sweet on American girls. Something about your accents.”

Bright white teeth appeared from behind her over-glossed lips. I wanted to believe she was being nice and welcoming, but I’d had enough experience engaging in high society bathroom small talk to know the difference.

“Thanks for the tip.”

After she left, I gave myself a once-over in the mirror, then made a pass at the bar for another drink.

My heel snagged on the carpet, sending me flying. I landed nose-first in a charcoal gray tailored Armani suit. Momentarily stunned, I clutched onto the toned arms that were wrapped around me. As I looked up my heart nearly stopped.

Wide emerald eyes fringed with long lashes gazed down at me with guarded curiosity. His sculpted mouth twisted into a cautious smile, softening his jawline.

“Are you alright?” he asked as he loosened his grip on me. His voice was rich and smooth, like a full-bodied wine. The English accent he had could charm the pants off a nun. It made me want to fall into his arms again.

I stepped back, smoothing down my dress. He didn’t look much older than thirty, but his worn eyes betrayed his youth.

“I’m fine. I’m not usually that clumsy. Sorry.”

His brows furrowed. “I kept telling them someone was going to stumble over that patch of carpet. You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Aside from my bruised ego and general lack of grace, I think I’ll be alright.” I smiled up at him in an effort to thwart the growing blush from creeping up my neck. I wasn’t the type who embarrassed easily and needed to regain some sort of composure. No luck.

His expression altered subtly as his stare intensified. Something shifted in the air between us. It was as though he’d tethered me with some freakishly strong invisible rope. My pulse quickened. I was caught smack dab in the middle of his magnetic pull without any means of escape.

Not that I wanted to get away. His tall frame filled out the suit with powerful elegance. The quiet control with which he held himself mirrored royalty. A tousled mass of thick, dark red hair framed chiseled features that would inspire Michelangelo. But it was those eyes that got me.

They were so astute, yet veiled. I wanted to know what was behind them.

“Would you like a drink?”

How he made such an innocent question sound so seductive was beyond me. His dark stare was unflinching. If I said no, he’d probably take it as a personal insult. And I did want another one of those fruity-minty drinks; I just couldn’t articulate the words.

“I hear the signature drink is rather good. Would you like that?”

“Yes, please,” I finally managed to say.

Forget my cheeks, my whole body flushed as I watched him move toward the bar. A silver cufflink glinted off his crisply pressed gray and white pinstriped shirt. I noticed he paired it with a solid gray tie before he caught me looking. A smile ghosted across his lips as his languid gaze traced my curves. I made a big deal out of inspecting the carpet for more hidden traps that my shoes could fall victim to.

He handed me the drink, my fingers brushing his when I clasped the glass. Against my better judgment I fell captive to his stare once more. Luckily, I remembered my manners and thanked him.

“My pleasure. Have you been enjoying yourself?”

“Yeah. Well, aside from making an ass of myself just now.”

A flash of white appeared revealing a dazzling smile. It was extremely sexy and charming. And dangerous. I felt myself falling deeper and deeper under his spell.

“Trust me, stumbling on a carpet is not the worst thing I’ve seen at these events.”

“No?”

“Stick around long enough and you just might see some of these well-dressed ladies toss off their shoes and throw some shapes when the band starts playing.” He grinned.

“Throw some what?”

“Dance.” His eyes flared with humor.

“You Brits and your crazy sayings,” I laughed.

“We like to keep you Americans on your toes.”

I took a long sip of my cocktail to prevent a stupid grin from spreading across my face.

“Don’t have too many of those. They’re rather potent.”

“But they’re so good. Don’t piss on my fireworks.” I smiled broadly.

A deep, throaty laugh filled the space between us.

“’Throwing shapes’ baffled you, but you know ‘piss on my fireworks?’”

“My sister only taught me the fun slang,” I laughed.

“Does she live here?”

“Not in Glasgow, no. She lives in London.”

“Well then, you’ll have to thank her for me,” he said, smoothing down his tie.

“Thank her for what?”

“Pretty Americans who know British slang are rare in these parts.”

“Interesting.” I looked up at him through my lashes.

“What?”

“Someone just warned me that you guys have a thing for American girls.”

His eyebrows arched. “And what did they say?”

“It has something to do with our accents.”

“You have an accent?” He angled toward me. “I hadn’t noticed.”

The way that he was looking at me caused me to completely forget my exhaustion. His dark eyes and sexy grin woke me up in more ways than one, pushing several of my hot buttons.

“Be careful,” he said, clasping the glass in my hand. “You don’t want to spill it all over your dress.”

Way to go. “You must think I’m a hot mess. First I take a nose-dive into your suit and now I’m dropping drinks.”

“Like I said, I’ve seen worse.”

The longer I held his gaze, the faster my heart raced. There was something…forbidden in the way he looked at me.

“I should probably get back to my friends.”

“Do you have to?”

A suffocating aura of want enveloped me. He was closer, dominating the space between us. Our quick, breezy exchange was light years away from the hazy, thick fog of desire that hung in the air. Get it together, Lia. Walk away.

“You’re rather deep in thought.”

I blinked. “Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. I thought maybe I was boring you.”

A shrill ring sounded from his pocket. He fished out a cell phone, frowning at the screen.

“I have to take this.”

And just like that, I was pulled out of his engaging aura and plopped back into reality.

I plastered on a polite smile. “It’s okay. Thanks again for the drink.”

He nodded at me and answered the call before slipping off to a quiet corner. My head was so cloudy from the jet lag, the drinks and now that guy. I turned on my heel and trotted off to find Darren and Stephanie.

“There you are.” Stephanie stood up as I approached the table. “We were about to send out a search party.”

“Sorry. I got a little sidetracked.”

“You okay?”

“Yep. Why?”

“You have that deer-in-headlights look.” She stared at me intently. “You’re shaking. I thought we agreed there was to be no worrying about that loser while we’re on vacation?”

I attempted to steady my hands as I smoothed down the fitted silk bodice of my dress. “It’s not that, Steph. I’m just tired.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Excuse me, ladies? May I take your photograph for the foundation’s website?”

A young man with a camera bigger than his head stood in front of us, poised and ready. Not ones to turn down a picture, we posed for him. He thanked us and walked off to find some more willing subjects.

“I wish you had let me do your hair tonight. All that gorgeousness pulled into a ponytail makes me sad,” Stephanie pouted.

I frowned, playing with a few chestnut strands. “It’s fine. I was going for a simple look anyway since we were running late.”

“I would have done a nice French twist or something for you in the car.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at Stephanie’s distress over my hair. In her slinky, full-length ice blue gown, she was the epitome of effortless glamour. The dress matched her eye color perfectly and contrasted with her short, jet-black hair. She was one of those girls who would look fabulous in a trash bag. At twenty-nine, she was a couple years older than me.

“You’re doing everyone’s hair next week for the wedding. I can go one night without a fancy up-do.”

“Fine,” she relented.

“Is it fun seeing Darren again? It’s been, what, two years or something since you’ve seen him, right? I’m surprised he remembered what you looked like.” I grinned.

“Smart ass. I’ve known him since I was sixteen. He could pick me out of one of those Where’s Waldo things. Blindfolded.”

“I could pick you out of one of those things blindfolded. You’d never be caught wearing horizontal stripes.”

We linked arms and went to check out the silent auction. Darren was already scrutinizing one of the tables when we found him. We spent a good chunk of the evening ogling all the luxurious items that were up for auction; a weekend for two in Paris, wine tasting in Tuscany, spa getaways and a number of other items that were extremely tempting.

“A group of us are thinking of going to The Living Room. This event is a bit boring. Do you two want to come?”

I was vaguely aware of Darren’s question. My thoughts were still tangled around my encounter at the bar.

“Hello. Earth to Lia,” Stephanie sang out. “Do you want to come out with us? Or would you rather go back to the suite and catch up on your beauty sleep?”

“Where are you guys going?”

“The Living Room. It’s a trendy lounge and nightclub. Right up your alley. Fancy cocktails and all that,” Darren said.

“Um, sure. Why not. I have to kick this exhaustion at some point, right?” I kept scanning the room for the nameless, stumble-rescuing, aesthetically pleasing Knight In Shining Armani. He seemed to have disappeared. To say I was sad was beyond an understatement.

Darren escorted us out to our waiting Land Rover. It was still parked behind the gray Mercedes SUV I almost fell onto earlier. The blonde girl from the bathroom was standing next to it. She looked annoyed but brightened when she saw Darren.

“Hi, Mac. I was hoping to bump into you tonight.”

“Hey, Sarah. Lovely to see you,” he addressed her politely, and then turned to us. ”Stephanie, Lia, this is Sarah Everett. She’s the vice president at my agency.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” she smiled. “Lia, you’re the girl I met earlier, right? Nice to see you again.”

She fixed her gaze on Darren.

“Where are you all off to?”

“Out for a quick bevvie. We’re trying to help Lia overcome jet lag by keeping her out as late as possible.” Darren slung his arm around my shoulders and grinned. “Waiting for someone?”

“Aren’t I always? Have you—”

“Good evening, Miss Everett.” A well-dressed man walked over to us from the Mercedes. I assumed he was the driver but his imposing frame made me think he could easily pass for a bodyguard. He smiled at me before continuing to address Sarah. “Sorry you’ve been waiting for so long, but he’s still tied up with some clients. He says to call him at the office on Monday if you’d like to discuss the marketing plan regarding the new acquisitions.”

Sarah’s face fell. “Oh. Alright. Thank you, Paxton.” She glanced at us, waved and walked off.

“Good to see you, Mr. MacCourty.” He shook hands with Darren.

“Ah, stop with the formalities, Pax. My dad is Mr. MacCourty.”

“Fair enough,” he laughed. “Have a good night.”

As he retreated back to his car, Darren opened the rear passenger door of the Land Rover for us to climb in. I yawned for the zillionth time.

“You sure you’re up for this Lia? We can go back to the hotel.” Stephanie half looked at me while fixing her hair in the rear view mirror.

“I’ll be alright. Another hour or so and … ”

Noticing the tall toned figure of a man, I shut up abruptly. Walking at a fast clip, he slipped through the crowd on the sidewalk like a ghost and climbed into the Mercedes. It was my handsome mystery guy.

CHAPTER TWO

Kanye West kept trying to convince me that what doesn’t kill me, would make me stronger as I jogged along the streets of Glasgow on Saturday morning. It was by no stretch of the imagination a warm April day. A chill hung in the air, wrapping its frozen fingers around the city. It reminded me of the brisk spring mornings in Connecticut, where I grew up. I inhaled the frosty air, daring it to freeze out my lungs as I ran. It was a good way to keep myself honest, seeing as I’d been living in the sweltering heat of Florida for five years. One could get very used to the luxury of warm weather all the time.

Our hotel had a gym, but I preferred the outdoors. I loved to run. It was something I picked up in college as a stress reliever during midterms. Other kids drank; I ran. I often wished I could run right out of my skin sometimes. The escape was wonderful.

Some of my favorite moments were spent running along Cocoa Beach early on a summer morning. But that was with him. Thinking about those days brought back a flood of memories that I tried not to dwell upon. When things were good, they were great. Then it all went down in flames. I swallowed hard against the sandpapery lump that fought its way up my throat. I packaged the memories and shoved them to the back of my mind.

I jogged for a little more than a half mile before I came upon a clearing. A huge manicured field stretched out to my left. About seven or eight young boys were playing soccer on one end. A flurry of activity at the far end caught my attention, so I slowed my pace to a brisk walk.

A group of guys was playing rugby. I’d never actually seen the game played in person before, so I walked to the edge of the field. But it was just my luck that the match had ended. The guys all clapped one another on the back and chatted amongst themselves as they grabbed their gym bags. As I got closer, one of them looked right at me. The force of his stare stopped me in my tracks.

He walked over in long, graceful strides. Sunlight glinted off his dark red hair, accentuating the chocolate flecks. Oh wow, it’s him. I lowered the music and hastily wiped sweat from my cheeks.

“Well, hello.” His rich, velvety voice swirled around me.

I swallowed hard. “Hi.”

“I thought you looked familiar. Had any more encounters with wayward carpets since last night?”

“No. I walk exclusively on hardwood now.”

“Wise choice.”

Without the benefit of my high heels, he towered over me. He was hot even with mud caked on his clothes. And wow, did he smell good. Traces of cologne still lingered on him mixed with his post-game sweat and pheromones. It was so intoxicating I had to look away. When I focused on him again, he was studying me with the same guarded curiosity as last night. Part of me wished I wasn’t a hot, sweaty mess.

“I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name,” he said with a small grin.

“Oh. I’m Amelia Meyers. But please, call me Lia.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Amelia.” My name rolled off his tongue readily, like he’d been born to say it for all eternity. “What brings you to Glasgow?”

“A wedding.”

He slung a gym bag over his shoulder, grasping the strap. The small movement caused his muscles to flex.

“Yours?”

“What? Oh God no. My sister’s.”

“The one in London?”

“Yep.”

“Why isn’t she getting married there?”

This guy was awfully nosey.

“They thought it would be romantic to have a wedding at a Scottish castle. Her fiancé is from Newcastle, so it was either London, Newcastle or Scotland.” I shrugged, stealing a glance at him.

“How long will you be in Glasgow?”

“We leave—“

“We?”

“Yeah. My best friend and I. She’s—”

“She,” he said quietly. Bright emerald irises slid over my face as he traced one of his slender fingers along his mouth. I wanted to snap at him for all the interrupting, but a flurry of nerves ran through my stomach. It’s not physically possible for someone to become more attractive overnight, is it? I blinked myself out of this hypnotic state.

“Oi! We’re off to eat, mate. Come on,” an impatient, stocky man yelled.

Tall, Dark and Sexy clearly didn’t enjoy being at the receiving end of that. His expression hardened as he turned around. I could only imagine the look he gave the other guy. It must have been scathing because the poor soul abruptly left.

When he faced me again his eyes were blazing hot.

“Finished with your run? I can drive you back to—”

“No,” I blurted out. “I mean, I’m not done yet, but thank you.”

The thought of sitting in an enclosed space with him was too much to handle. Standing this close to him in an open field was challenging enough.

“You’re sure? You look a bit out of breath.”

“Doubting my stamina?” I put my hands on my hips, narrowing my eyes.

The corner of his mouth ticked up into a small grin. “Not at all. I’m quite sure you can go for a while, but jogging can be taxing on the body. A slow and steady climb is best to achieve maximum results.”

I wasn’t entirely sure we were talking about exercise anymore. I couldn’t form a sentence, so I stared at him.

“Don’t let me keep you.”

He gestured to the field. That little mischievous grin rankled me to the core. He’s teasing me. He’s got me flustered and now he’s teasing me. In an instant he managed to turn me on and turn me off simultaneously.

I still couldn’t form a complete sentence, which pissed me off.

“Okay then. Nice to see you again.” He kept grinning and sauntered off toward the parking lot leaving me in a funk. Annoyed by my pre-teen giddiness, I turned up my iPod and ran like hell.

Stephanie was awake and all bright eyed and bushy tailed when I got back. She buzzed around the suite in a huge fluffy robe, laying clothes on the couch.

“Hey. How was your run?”

“Eventful.” I tossed my iPod on the end table and plopped onto the chair.

“Oh really?” She stopped fussing with the clothes. “How so?”

Since we hadn’t had a chance to chat about what happened at the benefit, I quickly relayed the story, and then told her what happened at the field. She blinked at me like I had fifty heads.

“Did you get his phone number?”

“No.”

“What? Why not?”

“It really didn’t cross my mind.”

“Didn’t cross your mind? Honestly Lia,” she huffed. “It’s like you forgot how to flirt. You run into the same hot guy twice and act like it’s no big deal. And why didn’t you ask his name?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t expecting to see him on my morning jog.”

“Well, we’ll have to stalk every tall, super toned, hot guy with red hair in Glasgow while we’re here then, won’t we?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Oh please. The old Lia would not only have asked his name and gotten a number, she’d be out having drinks with him right now.”

I fought back a smile. “I hate it when you’re right.”

“Maybe he’ll be at the soccer game,” she teased. “Darren did say he was bringing a friend.”

“Yeah, right,” I snorted. “You watch too many sappy chick flicks.”

“So jaded,” she sighed.

All talk of the mystery man took a backseat as we prepared for our day out with Darren. He’d bought us tickets to see his team and already announced his intention to convert us into loyal followers. I didn’t understand soccer at all, but the players were nice to look at.

I showered and threw on my favorite pair of faded jeans, a light sweater and sneakers. Seeing as we’d be outside all day, I figured casual was best.

“Braids and a baseball hat?” Stephanie giggled.

“It’s comfortable. Besides, if the weather goes sour and it starts to rain I'll be covered.”

“Always so prepared,” Stephanie remarked as she slid on her vintage sunglasses. “Alright, Sporty Barbie, ready to go?"

"Let's do this.”

Groups of young men and women clad in various team apparel lined the street leading up to the pub. The air was thick with cigarette smoke and excited chatter. The sun was shining and many people were taking advantage of the rare, nice weather.

"This is insanity. Look at all these people. Figures that Darren would pick the most popular area to meet." Stephanie craned her neck to get a better view through the throng of sports fans. She had a good three inches on me so I just watched all the people nearby.

I became very engrossed in a trio of young men to my right. They debated the merits of one player over another on a particular team. I hadn't the foggiest idea what they were talking about, but enjoyed listening to their accents.

An elbow suddenly greeted me in the side.

"Ow! What the hell?"

"Sorry, sorry. I see Darren. Let's go."

We navigated our way through several groups of people standing on the sidewalk. Once we reached a clearing, I spotted Darren. His spiky blond hair was immobile in the breeze as he chatted to someone next to him. My view of the other person was obstructed by a rather tall, lanky guy. As soon as he walked away, I sucked in a breath.

“Holy shit.” I stopped short.

“What? What’s wrong?”

“That’s him,” I barely squeaked out. Stephanie paused and followed my gaze. I drank in every inch of him. Faded black jeans molded to his toned legs perfectly. His lean upper body was showcased in a tight, long sleeved gray cotton shirt. Snap out of it, Meyers.

“Shut the front door, no it’s not.”

I didn’t have a chance to answer her. Darren saw us and waved us over. I married my eyes to the pavement and took a deep breath.

“Hey, you two. I ordered up some nice, Florida sunshine for today. What do you think?”

“Not bad,” Stephanie laughed.

Glancing up at Darren from under the rim of my hat, I could feel the other guy staring at me.

“Lia, Stephanie. This is Alastair Holden. He’s coming to the match with us. Don’t let his ginger hair frighten you.”

Even his name dripped with elegance. I squared my shoulders and boldly fixed my stare on him. So help me God, he was incredible.

“Get your eyes checked, MacCourty,” he said dryly. “It’s nice to see you again, Amelia.”

Darren’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. He looked from Alastair to me. “You two know each other?”

“We met last night by the bar,” Alastair answered, “she was having some trouble negotiating the carpet.”

“Well then. We should get walking toward the stadium," Darren said. "It's about a twenty-five minute walk from here and the match starts in forty-five."

Stephanie linked arms with him as they started up the street. "We'll lead the way. You guys try to keep up.”

I fell into step with Alastair. A nervous, twitchy energy radiated from every cell in my body. We walked silently side by side for several minutes.

"So, this rugby thing I saw you playing earlier. When did you start?"

"This rugby thing…" He mimicked me. "You have quite a way with words."

“Are you going to tease me or answer my question?” I raised an eyebrow, looking at him incredulously.

“University.”

“Do you play anything else? Or is rugby it?”

“That’s pretty much it for organized sport. Work doesn’t allow me much free time, so I only get to join in on the weekends every so often.”

“Is this one of those free weekends?”

“It seems to be.”

His arm bumped into mine and I noticed a little smile cross his lips.

“What would you normally be doing if Darren hadn’t asked you to the game?”

“Working, probably.”

“That sounds amazing,” I snickered. “Do you ever have any fun?”

“You are quite the curious kitten, aren’t you? Questions, questions, questions.”

“They’re instrumental in getting answers.” I replied with a grin.

“Fair enough.”

As charming as he was, I could tell he was also extremely guarded. He steered the conversation away from himself so it focused more on me. I was just as guarded though. For the time being, I planned to keep him at arm’s length.

We all huddled at the street corner waiting for the crosswalk signal to change. As we stood in silence, I noticed several women staring at Alastair. They casually sized me up before whispering amongst themselves. He flicked his gaze from me to them. When we got the go-ahead, Alastair placed his hand at the small of my back. It was a light touch, but I was aware of the warmth bleeding through my sweater.

The stadium loomed large in the distance. I could hear singing and chanting the closer we got to it. Darren passed a ticket to each of us.

“Now, this is very important,” he said solemnly, looking at Stephanie and me. “You must only cheer for my side.”

Stephanie burst out laughing at Darren’s seriousness. “It’s just a game, D.”

“It’s so much more than that, Steph,” he exclaimed, turning to walk through the gate. Alastair and I followed close behind. Once we got past the turnstiles, we walked through a tunnel into the stadium. Our seats weren’t too shabby; along midfield, tenth row. Darren attempted to explain the finer aspects of the game to Stephanie. She shot me a pleading look of help and surrendered to his lessons.

“Is this your first proper Scottish football match then?” Alastair asked.

“Yep.”

“If you have any questions I’ll do my best to answer them.”

“Thanks, I think.”

He smiled slightly as we settled back into our seats to watch the start of the match. It was an uneventful game up until the final two minutes.

Tens of thousands of people erupted into a massive throaty cheer as the soccer ball scooted past the keeper and hit the net with a low swoosh. Darren and Stephanie leapt to their feet and joined the celebration. The home team had just taken the lead away from the visiting rivals.

A sea of green and white scarves waved from side to side in a show of solidarity for the home team. The crowd noise didn't let up as the last seconds of the match ticked away. When the final whistle blew, everyone roared.

"Now that was a goal." Darren pumped his fist in the air. "First good win in a while. A celebratory pint is in order.”

Cool, drizzling rain fell as we walked toward the main road. I stifled an I-told-you-so while watching Stephanie cower away from the droplets.

Oodles of iconic black cabs zipped through the streets. Alastair hailed one effortlessly. Stephanie bolted inside as soon as it stopped. Darren joined her, leaving me alone with Alastair for several seconds. When I made my move, he wrapped his fingers around the doorframe, blocking my ability to get in.

“I have to admit, I’m not much of a football fan. I almost told Darren ‘no’ today.”

“What changed your mind?”

A sly grin curled his lips. “He said he wanted to introduce me to his American friends, Stephanie and Lia. Since I learned your name this morning, I figured you would be one of them.”

He came to see me? My knees almost gave out. A crazy, voracious tremor of desire raced through me. I brushed past him and climbed in. Stephanie gave me a funny look as I settled into the little jump seat facing the three of them. The cab was severely lacking in the visual stimulation department. I struggled to find a place to rest my eyes that wasn’t tall, lean, sinewy and hot. Alastair looked far too amused at the expense of my discomfort.

Thankfully, the cab ride back to our hotel in the West End was quick. Darren suggested we all go to a restaurant nearby for some sandwiches and drinks. I dove into my burger the minute it hit the table. My stomach snarled angrily at the unintentional neglect it had received over the past few days.

"They don't feed you in the states?" Alastair asked in mock disbelief. "I would assume you could get a good hamburger there on any street corner."

"Lia has spent most of the past day sleeping," Stephanie teased.

“I said it last night, I’ll say it again. Have more pints. Never mind the sleep," Darren waved his hand in the air to ward off the notion.

Stephanie flashed a smile before leaning back against the booth to chat with Darren. I became abundantly aware of Alastair’s presence to my left. His arm brushed mine as he turned to face me.

“Is this your first time abroad then?"

“No,” I paused. “Where in England are you from?”

“Ascot. It’s to the west of London.”

“Ascot? Like the races?” Visions of big hats and suits with tails popped into my head.

“Yes, like the races.” He smirked.

I rolled my eyes and took another bite of the burger. He ran a hand through his hair. It looked so soft and silky. I clenched my fist to stop myself from reaching out and touching it.

"What do you think so far?" he asked, rubbing the stubble on his jaw. “Of Scotland, I mean.”

The hamburger lodged in my throat. Trying to eat next to this beautiful creature was not for amateurs. Every move he made was calculated and seductive.

Draping his arm across the back of the booth, his fingers brushed against the curve of my shoulder. I noticed Stephanie sneak a glance in my direction and grin. I sat up straighter, giving her a look.

"I haven't really seen much of it, but so far so good," I answered.

His fingers traced my shoulder, then the nape of my neck. It was a soft touch, but it was powerful. I fought to maintain a serene expression as I studied his features. He really was fiercely handsome. His fair skin was porcelain smooth. Charm oozed from him, along with a huge dose of raw sexuality. Against my better judgment, I was hooked.

“How was the rest of your run this morning?” he asked, hovering the bottle of beer in front of his sculpted lips. He parted them and waited for my response. I nearly slipped off the seat. He took a sip and smiled slightly.

“Fine.”

“Just ‘fine’?”

I shrugged. He touched my shoulder again. A surge of heat rushed through me.

“Sounds like you weren’t able to achieve maximum satisfaction. Need a personal trainer?”

I held my breath and counted to ten before answering. Jesus.

“Let me guess. You think you’re the perfect guy for the job,” I smirked.

Alastair’s eyes darkened. Whatever shield he had in place over them slid away unleashing a fiery intensity. We just stared at each other. I moistened my lips almost as a reflex.

“Do you have plans tonight?” he asked, not releasing me from his tractor beam stare.

“No,” I answered, a bit too breathy. “Why?”

“Thought maybe I could show you around the city. Football and charity benefits aren’t a proper way to see Glasgow.”

“Hey,” Darren interrupted, leaning forward. “I hate to cut this short, but I gotta go. We’ll walk you girls back to the hotel.”

“That’s not necessary Darren. I’ll walk Lia back when we’re finished. You two can go.” He leaned back, lowering his hands to his lap.

The calm, commanding tone he used sent a shockwave through me. I saw Stephanie’s eyes widen in disbelief.

“I won’t be too much longer,” I said, finally finding my voice.

The three of them had a brief conversation but I wasn’t aware of any of it. I was too busy focusing on the circular strokes he was making on my thigh. His powerful energy surrounded me, invading every fiber of my being. Thank goodness the table was wide enough to cover up his shenanigans. I snapped awake just as they walked off. The sounds and smells of the restaurant came roaring back, clanging through my brain.

“What are you doing?” I barked, jerking my leg away.

“Nothing,” he muttered, pulling his wallet out from his back pocket. He dropped a handful of bills on the table. “Let’s go for a walk.”

We stepped out into the crisp evening air. I hoped it would knock a few degrees off my increased body temperature. Alastair placed his hand at the small of my back, guiding me down the sidewalk. I had no idea where he was taking me, but since it was a busy street, I figured kidnapping was out of the question.

He glanced over his shoulder before gently taking my elbow and moving me towards a cluster of trees next to a nearby building. There was a nice little park-like atmosphere with benches and shrubbery. My blood froze as his luminous eyes locked with mine.

“Can I see you again tomorrow?”

“We’re supposed to be going to Edinburgh for the day.”

“Change your plans.” It wasn’t so much a question as it was an order.

I crossed my arms and gave him a look. “I’m not going to ditch Stephanie.”

“Is Darren going with you tomorrow?” he asked, moving closer to me.

“Yep.”

“He’ll be more than enough company for your friend.” He pulled gently on the end of my braid. It resonated deep within me, setting off a spark. I had to get away from him.

“Alastair, I’m not—”

He held my face, the warmth of his skin washing over me. “Tell me you don’t feel whatever this is between us, and I’ll walk away now.”

CHAPTER THREE

Blood pounded in my ears while Alastair traced his fingers along my jaw. His movements were smooth and controlled, as though he was afraid he'd spook me. I lost my ability to breathe as my mouth went dry. His verdant gaze made my knees shake.

Of course I felt whatever it was that hummed between us. I felt it since last night but I’d never admit it to him.

“I should get back to the hotel.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t come here looking for this,” I snapped, my voice rising. “If anything, I want to get away from it.”

“My kitten has claws.” His smug grin irked me.

“I’m not your kitten. I don’t want whatever it is you’re offering,” I grumbled.

Staring at me for several seconds, he stroked the curve of my cheek then dipped his mouth close to my ear.

“Your body betrays you, Lia.”

Desire ran thickly through my veins as he slowly moved his hands down my neck, over my shoulders and onto my waist. I wet my dry lips, eliciting a small groan from him. It was a gorgeous sound, immediately conjuring images of him and I tangled together on the ground where we stood. I was in the middle of a busy city on a sidewalk, yet he made me feel like we were completely alone.

My walls finally went up with a resounding bang, enabling me to snap myself out of his powerful trance.

“I can’t…I’m not interested in being a one-night stand for you.”

I pulled away from him sharply and walked back to the hotel on wobbly legs. I willed myself to make it to the elevators. The concierge smiled warmly as I stumbled past. When the elevator arrived I jumped in like it was my salvation. Thankfully nobody else was around. I slumped against the wall and exhaled.

I didn’t stop shaking until I was safely in the room.

“You’re back already?” Stephanie yelled from the bathroom. “I’m taking a bubble bath. We’ll talk when I’m done.”

Collapsing onto the couch, I covered my eyes with my arm. My head pounded, my skin tingled and my heart raced. Never in my life had I experienced such a strong reaction to a person. A soft knock at the door startled me.

I shuffled over and opened it without looking through the peephole. A young man dressed in the hotel’s concierge uniform smiled at me.

“Amelia Meyers?”

“Yes.”

“This is for you,” he said, handing me a small envelope.

“Thank you.”

“Cheers, miss. Good night.”

I closed the door, went back to the couch and opened it. Written in perfect block penmanship was a phone number and a simple request: Call me. Please. Alastair x

“That was some serious flirting I saw today. Well done.” Stephanie perched on the edge of the couch, towel drying her hair. I quickly folded the note.

“What’s that?” she asked.

Dammit.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t ‘nothing,’ me. The two of you flirted and circled each other like dogs all day. What happened after Darren and I left?”

“Nothing.”

“You are the worst liar on the planet,” she exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. “That man is sex on a stick. I could feel the tension between you guys and I wasn’t even taking part in the conversation. You were mentally tearing his clothes off all afternoon. And he’s so primed and ready for you, it’s not even funny.”

“There will be none of that.” I clenched the note, crinkling the paper.

"Oh come on. Enjoy it."

“Is there a particular reason why you want me to have what will most likely be a one-night stand with this guy?”

“He’s hot. His entire physical being exudes wild, uninhibited sex. Do a little something for yourself for once. You need this. Grab him, throw him down and use him for his body.”

“Gee, when you put it like that…”

“You’re a fabulous, successful, available twenty-seven year old woman. But you’ve become too buttoned up and in control all the time. Where’s my spontaneous Lia? My bold Lia? I miss her.”

We exchanged glances. I sighed.

“She’s still there, Steph. It’s just taking me a bit to find her again.”

“Sweetie, just because Nathan turned out to be a grade-A asshole doesn’t mean you should let it rule the rest of your life. You have to live a little.”

* * *

I stared at my cell phone. Ten-thirty. It was still relatively early, but Stephanie had already turned in for the night. I was sitting alone in the suite’s living room, wide-awake and twitchy. The crumpled note beckoned me from the coffee table. It annoyed me that I couldn’t get him out of my mind but I couldn’t help myself. I reached for the phone, ignoring all of my instincts as they screamed in protest.

Taking a deep breath, I dialed Alastair’s number and waited. It rang once. Twice. Three times. Voicemail. I hung up and went to bed.

A frantic, incessant beeping woke me out of a somewhat deep sleep. It was anything but restful anyway, so the interruption wasn’t too unwelcome. I glanced at the time. Two in the morning? Only one person on the planet would have the balls to text me at this hour. Nathan. I cringed, wishing he would leave me alone. The phone beeped again. Grumbling, I grabbed it.

1:58am Hello, Amelia. Sorry I missed your call earlier. Do you always call someone and not leave a message?

Relief swept through me. It wasn’t Nathan. The relief was soon replaced with anticipation. A tiny smile played at the corners of my lips.

2:00am How did you know it was me?

The phone rang in my hand, scaring the hell out of me.

“Hello?”

“I knew it was you because everyone else who has this number knows to leave a message.”

I could almost see his smirk through the phone.

“You’re up late,” I said, stretching.

“I was working. What’s your excuse?”

“Someone texted me at two in the morning.”

He chuckled, low and deep. Lying like this and hearing his voice so intimately close was a turn on. I smiled in spite of myself.

“I don’t want to keep you up. You have a busy day planned tomorrow.”

Don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it.

“I’m not going with them.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, grimacing. Eager, much?

“You’re not? What are you doing instead?”

My brain was apparently on hiatus, because my mouth spouted off whatever the hell it wanted.

“You tell me.” I curled up on my side, closing my eyes.

“I’ll call you in the morning,” he paused. “Amelia?”

“Yes?”

“Sleep well.”

* * *

Getting Stephanie out of the hotel while dodging her questions was an exercise in elusiveness at its finest. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to tell her what I was doing for the day, I just didn’t know.

Riding down in the elevator proved to be more nerve-wracking than I had anticipated. I hadn’t been this giddy and nervous to see a guy since, well, never. I reminded myself to play it cool, that it was just a simple afternoon out in the city. Besides, I could fake a stomach cramp if I wanted an easy way out. The elevator doors opened and I strode through the lobby. I could see Alastair standing on the sidewalk, looking hot in a t-shirt and jacket with his hands tucked in the pockets of distressed jeans.

This wasn’t going to be easy.

“Lia.” He slid his emerald eyes over me in his dangerously alluring way. My resolve to resist him weakened by the second. Holding my hand, he traced along the palm with his thumb. The sensation made my vision double.

“I like you with your hair down.”

“Thank you.” I twisted the ends, mentally kicking myself for enjoying his flattery.

“Let’s go somewhere casual and fun. What do you say?”

“Do you even do casual and fun?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Depends. Would you like to go or not?”

I sighed dramatically. “Okay.”

* * *

"The object of this game is quite simple really. You have to score more points than me." Alastair tossed a pale pink ball in his hand, looking smug. I folded my arms across my chest. We were at a pub attempting to play snooker. It didn't sound too difficult. I gathered it was similar to pool, only the balls weren't numbered.

Fifteen red balls were arranged in a triangle. The pink ball that Alastair nonchalantly tossed around needed to be placed at the top of the triangle but couldn’t touch it. There were five other assorted colored balls. Each one had its own value. I grabbed my beer and circled the table.

Alastair grinned and leaned against it as I walked by. "Nervous, Meyers?"

"Not at all, Holden."

“Played a lot of English snooker while growing up in Florida then?”

“I didn’t grow up in Florida,” I corrected him, “I’m from Connecticut originally. And no, I didn’t play it, but I’m a fast learner.”

“While I admire your tenacity, you will lose."

He placed the pink ball on the table and reached for a cue stick. I watched him closely as he chalked it and leaned over the table. The tip of his tongue poked out of his mouth as he concentrated. In one smooth strike he broke the triangle, scattering red balls across the felt. He potted two of them immediately. His next shot wasn’t so great. The white cue ball skated past the yellow one he'd aimed for. I snickered.

"So glad you find me amusing." Alastair handed me the cue stick, motioning toward the table. "I believe it's your turn."

His smile nearly knocked me off my feet. I raised the stick, leaned over and aimed. Just as I was about to strike, he hovered over me.

"You're not going to hit anything with the cue pointed so low."

His warm breath tickled my ear, sending tremors rippling under my skin.

"You're distracting me. That's not fair."

"Just trying to be helpful. Give you a sporting chance and all that."

“Sport yourself over there so I can take my shot.”

The cue stick was difficult to hold thanks to my hands’ obscene levels of clamminess. I blew a wayward piece of hair away from my eyes and bent over the table again. Even though I couldn’t see him, I was keenly aware of Alastair’s eyes roaming slowly down my body.

I aimed, striking the white cue ball. It skirted and snapped against two red ones, spinning them into the corner pocket. Feeling more confident, I took another shot. By some stroke of beginner’s luck, I potted a green one and a brown one.

“Told you I was a fast learner,” I bragged.

He sidled up close, leaving me eye level with his mouth. An extremely persistent pounding noise filled my ears. Alastair bowed his head and looked down at me over the bridge of his straight nose. “Then I’ll have to teach you another game.”

I clasped the cue stick close to my legs. He cupped his hand around my hip and squeezed. Staggering backwards, I knocked into the table. It wobbled violently. Both of our pint glasses crashed to the floor, scattering shards around our feet. Several people stopped what they were doing and stared at us.

“Sorry about that,” Alastair called out. “We have a rather impassioned snooker player over here.”

Completely horrified, I apologized to Alastair and anybody else within earshot. This wasn’t normal behavior for me. But of course, being around him turned me into a nervous, twitchy mess. He pointed me to a nearby chair to sit while someone swept up the broken glass.

Un-freaking-believable.

"Are you alright?" he asked, bemused.

"I'm fine, thanks for your concern,” I grumbled. “Don’t think this is an excuse to get out of losing the game.”

When the broken glass was cleared away, I grabbed the cue stick and prepared for another shot. Alastair never had a chance. I beat him swiftly and succinctly. We negotiated a bet for the next game. Loser buys the winner a drink of their choice. The competitive juices started flowing. I wasn’t about to lose to this guy.

Four games and three pints later, it was clear I was out of my league against him. Apparently my beginner’s luck had run its course. Alastair didn’t seem to mind at all. He methodically made perfect shot after perfect shot.

“I didn’t mean to scare you off last night,” he said, leaning against the table. His statement was so out of the blue I stared at him in shock. Scare me off? I gripped my pint glass.

“You didn’t. I meant what I said.”

He clenched his jaw and rolled the cue stick between his hands. I couldn’t tell if he was annoyed or not. Pushing himself away from the table, he stood in front of me, dominating my line of sight. The pub became a vacuum.

“I find you very intriguing,” he stated.

“You do?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Do I need to have a specific reason?”

Caught in the emerald glow of his eyes, I parted my lips to allow more oxygen. Another foggy haze messed with my logic.

“I was, um, just curious. I’m pretty boring,” I stammered.

“I highly doubt that.”

“You probably say—”

He hovered his lips over mine, stopping me in mid-thought. I could practically taste him. And my God, he smelled delicious. Not of cologne but shampoo and body wash and…him. It made me dizzy. He curled his hand around my waist, pulling me closer. I put my hands on his toned abdomen to steady myself.

“Come with me.”

It wasn’t a request. Those three words sent a shudder through me. The intensity of his stare was enough to get me to move. He laced his fingers through mine, leading me out to the curb. We hopped in a cab and went back to the hotel. My heart was beating a furious tattoo. As we walked through the lobby toward the elevators a daunting scenario took shape. What if Stephanie had already returned? Then you sit in the living room like a normal functioning adult, you moron.

When the elevator arrived, I stood as far away from him as the space would allow. It wasn’t easy. That crazy gravitational pull he had was drawing me toward him, one cell at a time. Electricity buzzed between us so quickly we could have powered the building.

We both let out audible sighs walking into the hall. I was relieved to see an empty suite when I opened the door. Stephanie must have Darren running laps with all the shopping she had planned.

“What are you smiling about?” Alastair looked at me curiously.

“Oh, I was just picturing Darren trying to keep up with Stephanie and her shopping marathon through Edinburgh.”

“I haven’t known Darren very long, but he always speaks very fondly of his American friend."

“How long have you known each other?”

“His agency does the marketing campaigns for my grandfather’s company. I know a few people who work there and ended up bumping into him at an event last year.”

He moved toward me in calculated, controlled strides. That intense, undeniable pull ignited again.

“I had a lovely time with you today.” He leaned so close to me I could feel his breath on my neck. Gasping, my eyelids fluttered closed. He was beyond dangerous. He was downright lethal. “Are you always so easily led back to a hotel with a stranger?”

“Do you always invite yourself into a strange woman’s hotel room?”

“Cheeky.”

“I have a feeling people need to be on their toes when they’re around you,” I grinned.

“Some might say that. But you’re not the type to ever let your guard down, are you?”

My smile faltered a bit. Those luminous eyes of his were very observant. Too observant for my liking. He laced his fingers through mine.

“I made the mistake of letting my guard down too much once. I’ve been paying for it ever since.” I swallowed back an acrid lump.

“Don’t let the ghosts of your past haunt your future,” he whispered. The look in his eyes betrayed the little pearl of wisdom he just dispensed. It was almost as though he said it more to convince himself than me.

“Your eyes are like butterscotch.”

“What?”

“The color,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Oh. Yeah. Amber, or something like that. I always thought they were just, you know, regular brown.”

“There is nothing regular about them. Or you.” He lightly fingered my hair, tucking a strand behind my ear.

“Does this charm thing that you’ve got going for you work often?”

“Charm thing?” The corners of his mouth curled up. “I’ve had some success with it.”

“Have you?”

“It’s working right now.”

Someone is extremely confident. This spell he’d cast was messing with me.

“You’re quite lovely, Lia. Pity you’re leaving soon. I’d like to take you—” he paused, tracing his thumb over my lower lip. I shuddered. “—out. Again.”

“You would?” I asked hoarsely.

Nodding, he stroked the curve of my cheek. “Are you coming back to Glasgow after the wedding?”

“Yeah…yes. Saturday.”

Backing away from him, I bumped into the arm of the couch. I almost toppled over it, but managed to steady myself. Being in his presence made me so damn skittish, it was frustrating.

“I’m supposed to make an appearance at a cocktail party for my grandfather’s company.”

Oh good, he’s busy.

“You should come. Or we could go out to dinner.” Like an apparition, he was in front of me, stroking his fingers along my arm. “What do you say? Fancy spending the night with me?”

The unspoken promise behind that question nearly shattered me on the spot. This was supposed to be an easy trip across the pond. Go to the wedding, hang out with the family and go home. Not fend off an amazingly sexy, impossible-to-resist guy.

“Stop overthinking,” he ordered.

Stormy, dark eyes carved a path through my skull. I wilted beneath the strength of his stare. A shaky breath escaped my lips as he traced his finger along my jaw and down my neck. He drew me into his hypnotic orbit with such ease. I was powerless to resist.

“This is inevitable, Amelia. Don’t deny it.”

Inevitable? Each stroke of his fingers left a fiery trail in its wake. The smooth, soft skin of his cheek brushed against mine.

“Come with me.”

Oh Jesus, those three words. I jolted out of his seductive haze like I was on fire, trying to avoid his eyes. His expression was one of pure lust.

“No,” I whispered.

His mouth fell open slightly in surprise. “No?”

“No,” I repeated, louder. “Do you not hear that word very often?”

Impassivity dominated his features. He studied me as though I was the most confusing creature on the planet. We stood so close to one another I was overcome by his intoxicating scent.

“Why not?”

“Because,” I sighed. “I’m not interested.”

“In what, Lia? Food or drinks?”

“You know what I mean.”

He looked right through me, down into my soul. I didn’t know how it happened, but he pierced through my wall. There was something else behind his intense stare that made me flush. I tried to hold his penetrating gaze but dropped my eyes to his mouth. Not smart. It was very distracting.

“Tell me what you want,” he coaxed.

“I…”

The damp warmth of his lips on my neck ignited my blood. He teased along my throat, methodically kissing it. This sensual assault wreaked havoc on me, making my insides liquefy. Unable to hold off my own yearning any longer, I moaned. Alastair stopped nibbling on my neck and focused his lusty stare.

“Next Saturday?“ I asked as a hazy, sexually charged cloud fogged my brain.

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

I still wasn’t thinking straight.

“Brilliant.” He smiled. “Until we meet again.”

CHAPTER FOUR

“You know, I found out some interesting things about Alastair while you were busy on your mysterious date,” Stephanie glanced at me. We were sitting on the train heading down to Gretna Green. The Scottish countryside flew by in a blur of green and brown. I’d been quiet most of the trip, lost in my thoughts. Damn her for piquing my curiosity.

“And?”

She grinned. “He’s thirty-one, single and filthy rich. His grandfather is Samuel Holden, owner and CEO of Holden World Media. It’s a huge, billion-dollar corporation; TV, broadband, cell phones and music. Alastair is the chief financial officer and heir to the whole thing. You certainly have a way of attracting the high rollers.”

I cringed, feeling nauseous. Why does the universe have such a twisted sense of humor? Guys like that are trouble. They’re controlling, jealous and possessive. I just had an explosive break-up with one of them a couple of months ago. I refused to put myself through that again. But Alastair was…different? I wanted him to be.

“Sounds familiar,” I sighed.

“Oh my gosh. Alastair is nothing like Nathan. He has manners. I’m willing to bet he’d treat you like a princess.”

“It started like this with Nathan, too. Remember? He was all charming and fun, then wham! I couldn’t even make eye contact with another guy if he was in the same room.” I swallowed hard. “He broke me. I didn’t see it coming, but it happened. When I realized it, I was in too deep and…”

I stared at the floor, annoyed. Even now, he still had control over me. Bastard.

“Give Alastair the benefit of the doubt,” Stephanie said softly.

“We’ll see what happens next weekend at the cocktail party. Why is it you two were discussing him?” Stephanie and Darren engaged in more gossip-based conversations than anyone else on the planet. It was an obsession with them.

“Because you won’t. And because Darren knows him. He also overhears stuff from the girls in the office. They’re all enamored with him. Remember that blonde from the benefit? Sarah? Apparently, she’s been trying to get in Alastair’s pants for years.”

Jealousy cut through me like a hot blade. I had zero right to feel this way. He wasn’t mine or anything but the thought of him even flirting with another woman made my skin crawl. I slumped into my seat, looking out the window. I still had to reconcile what happened yesterday. Now that I was away from his magnetic sphere, I could think rationally. I shouldn’t have succumbed so readily to his seductive charms.

I stared out as green field after green field sped by alongside the train. I needed to quiet my mind and stop obsessing over this. My sister was getting married in a few days. That’s where my focus ought to be.

When we finally arrived in Gretna Green, we were greeted by a very excited bride-to-be. Seeing my little sister was always a treat. I missed her terribly.

“Did you guys have fun exploring Glasgow this weekend?” Dayna asked as we piled into the cab.

“Your sister did,” Stephanie volunteered. I glared at her.

Dayna fixed a curious stare on me. “What does she mean, Lia?”

“Nothing,” I said firmly. My sister’s eyes widened, but she didn’t press the issue.

“By the way, mom is on the rampage. She’s not real big on the wedding planner they have on staff at the castle. When I left to meet you guys, they were arguing over how the napkins should be folded.”

I burst out laughing. “If I ever get married, I’m eloping.”

“You will not.” She playfully chided me. “Any imperfections that mom notices at my wedding will get totally micromanaged for yours.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” I snorted. The cab came to a rolling stop in front of Auchen Castle. Despite the gloomy gray skies, it was like entering a fairytale. When we walked in to the main foyer, I immediately saw our mother talking with the wedding planner.

“My girls,” Lillian Meyers exclaimed, hugging both of us. “Excuse me for a second.” She strutted back to a short, stout woman holding cloth napkins.

“Celeste, we can’t have these folded like that. People won’t be able to see the silverware.”

Dayna and I exchanged amused glances. Our mother was in her element. She loved planning a huge event. Spouting off orders to people was her other great love.

“Ah, the yin and the yang are here.” Our dad hugged us and grinned. He’d nicknamed us that when we were kids.

“Dad, are you going to call us that forever?” Dayna scrunched up her nose.

“Yes, blondie, I am.” He ruffled her hair, eliciting a squeal of displeasure from my sister.

“Joe, stop teasing her,” my mother scolded.

Living in Florida kept me away from my family for most of the year. Dayna only saw us at Christmas, so it was rare that the entire Meyers clan was in one place at the same time. Being scattered around the world seemed to work for us though.

* * *

The days and hours flew by as the wedding grew closer and closer. Guests arrived on Wednesday, and by Thursday there was a palpable excitement in the air. I was arranging the seating cards in alphabetical order, lost in thought.

“How’s work going Lia? Is it too stressful?”

I looked up from the letter Ks and smiled at my mom.

“It’s good. Television people are television people.”

“Too bad we can’t see the program at home. It’s no fun bragging about your big shot producer daughter with nothing to show for it.”

I could practically taste the sourness in her voice. She loved to brag about me and Dayna to her circle of friends. The ladies she chose to spend her time with all had doctors, lawyers and business magnates as offspring. We were the lone creative types. With Dayna writing for a food magazine in London, my mother never failed to remind me how much easier it was to show the women back home her articles, than explain my broadcasts.

“It’s regular, local news. No more intriguing than what you watch in Darien. Google the station. We stream the news live every night.”

Her aquamarine eyes narrowed at the mention of watching something online. She looked just like an older version of my sister when she did that.

“I know you don’t like watching TV online, but it’s all the rage. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll put something together and send it to you guys. I’m sure Dad would like to see it too.”

“Your father would love it,” she beamed. “How have you been doing since breaking up with Nathan?”

It only took her four days to ask, I thought, trying to smooth out my annoyance at the mere mention of his name. “Fine.”

“Lia, you’re trembling,” she said softly. “It’s okay to still be upset.”

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails left little half moons in my palms. Anger boiled through my veins.

“I’m not upset,” I glowered, snatching another name card. “He’s not someone I want to talk about at the wedding, if you don’t mind.”

Thankfully, my dad chose that exact moment to interrupt our conversation. “Hey, kiddo,” he smiled at me. “Mind if I steal your mom for a bit?”

Salvation. He always knew when to diffuse a tense situation between me and my mother. He draped an arm around her shoulder and led her toward the hall. I finished with the cards and spent the rest of the night curled up in my castle hotel room.

* * *

A frigid wind swept through the courtyard on Friday afternoon. It rustled the trees and sent leaves swirling. We crowded close together by a fountain, dresses fluttering about and well-sprayed hair-dos fighting against the breeze. Dayna's sparkling cathedral veil slapped me in the face just as the photographer snapped a picture.

"Stay still ladies. Don't move….and smile," he directed.

I huddled in close to my sister, trying valiantly to keep a happy, relaxed smile plastered on my frozen face. Why she had to pick Scotland in April to get married mystified me. Castle staff members brought out a few platters of food for us to snack on, but it was difficult shoving bacon wrapped scallops in one's mouth while attempting a pretty smile at the same time.

The photographer dismissed the bridesmaids and groomsmen, but kept Dayna and her new husband, Andrew, for some couples shots. I trotted over to a plate lined with delicate rolls of raspberry and brie wrapped in filo pastry.

"Aren't those tasty?" my mother asked as she popped one in her mouth as well.

I managed a semi-enthusiastic nod while reaching for another roll.

"Your father and I can't wait to sit down and enjoy dinner. I had no idea being mother-of-the-bride was so exhausting!"

I grinned and watched the photographer finish up with the newlyweds. Dayna looked stunning in her ivory gown and Andrew was handsome in his tuxedo. Dayna squealed in delight, or shock, as Andrew scooped her off her feet. Her veil caught the breeze that was still blowing through the courtyard and soared over their heads, the crystals sparkling in the sunlight.

"Let's get this party started," Andrew Riley bellowed, carrying the new Mrs. Riley toward the reception hall.

Soft light glittered through the crystal chandeliers in the castle's main reception hall. The space was warm and inviting, with half a dozen decorated tables spread throughout. Dayna and Andrew had purposely kept the wedding numbers low, based on the distance guests would have to travel. Only immediate family and a handful of their closest friends were there, making the affair cozy and intimate.

Smiling guests filled the room. A low hum of conversation mixed with soft music. Some of Andrew's friends gathered around their newly betrothed mate, singing and chanting some soccer songs but changing the words for the occasion.

"These Brits and their soccer,” Stephanie remarked, resting her arm on my shoulder.

“Yeah. Dayna told me he drags her to at least one game a month. I told her she should bring a magazine and read.”

We laughed as Andrew sang along with his friends.

"By the way,” Stephanie grinned. "You are a vision in sage, my friend.”

The sage chiffon flowed effortlessly around my legs as I swished the gown back and forth. “The color doesn't look as dreadful on as I thought it would. Thank goodness."

After the main courses were enjoyed and dessert served, the DJ let loose and we partied the night away. My mom and dad danced to song after song. Stephanie managed to pair off with one of Andrew's friends. They sat huddled at a table by one of the massive picture windows. Her peals of laughter floated over the music.

Before the reception ended, all of us made our way to the back terrace for one final surprise for the bride and groom. Once everyone gathered outside, the night sky lit up with a dazzling display of fireworks. Glasses of champagne were raised and the bride and groom were toasted, as brilliant colors burst across the sky, illuminating the castle.

I stayed out on the terrace after everyone went back inside. Stars shimmered and glittered their way through thin tendrils of clouds in the night sky. A soft breeze tickled my skin. This was the closest I’d been to experiencing pure serenity in months. I wanted to bottle up this moment of peace and solitude forever.

“What are you doing out here all by yourself?”

I turned, surprised to see my sister.

“Admiring the view.”

“What view? It’s pitch black out here.” Dayna gathered up her dress and stood next to me.

“I was looking at the stars. I don’t get to see them much in Orlando with all the light pollution.”

“I know what you mean. We don’t see them in London either.” She flicked a strand of my hair behind my shoulder.

“Why aren’t you inside mingling with everyone?”

“They won’t mind if I’m spending quality time with my big sister,” she grinned.

“I know that look. What do you want?”

She sighed. “We haven’t really talked since the break up. Is he still harassing you?”

The one person I could never lie to was Dayna. Sure, Stephanie could read me like a book, but Dayna knew what was on the page before it was written.

“Not anymore. Well, not since I moved. There’s a guard stationed at the entrance gate, so he couldn’t get in even if he tried. Plus, I have an alarm in my apartment.”

“How about the texting and calling?”

“That cooled off last week.”

“Are you sure he still doesn’t have someone tailing you? He’s a sneaky fucker.”

I had to smile at Dayna’s pissed off expression. It clashed so fiercely with her sparkly veil and wedding gown.

“You look like a demented bride with that grimace,” I giggled.

“Lia, come on. I’m serious.”

I leaned my head back, inhaling the crisp, fresh air. “There’s nobody tailing me. There’s no more harassing. I don’t know what it means, but hopefully he got bored and moved on. Although, I wouldn’t wish him on any girl.”

“Guys like that think they own the world just because their bank accounts are bigger than their dicks. He’ll find some willing gold-digger to boss around and tell what to wear and who to talk to. I’m just glad you finally saw him for who he really is.”

We both turned our heads to see where the blast of music was coming from. Andrew had opened one of the French doors, waving to us.

“There you are. You coming back inside?”

“In a minute,” Dayna answered. Her new husband nodded and closed the door.

“Go back to your reception. I’ll hang out here a bit longer.”

Bright blue eyes lingered on my face long enough to make me squirm. I really wish everyone would stop fussing over me.

“I know we’re an ocean and a time zone apart, but if you need anything, anything, you call me, okay?”

“Dayna—“

“Just because you’re my big sister doesn’t mean I don’t worry about you. We Meyers girls have to stick together.”

“Yeah, I know. Thanks, Cinnamon.”

“Ugh, you and Dad with the nicknames,” she groaned. “Don’t ever use it in front of Andy. I’ll never hear the end of it.”

“I make no promises.” I smirked.

Dayna pulled me into a suffocating hug before returning to the reception.

* * *

I sat quietly on the cushy bed in my room, flipping through a magazine. The reception ended a couple of hours ago but people were still laughing and walking through the hallway. My sage dress rested on a chair by the window with the pair of sparkling heels next to it on the floor. I have to pack at some point. Now is not the time.

Leaning back against the pillows, I stretched my legs, wiggling my French manicured toes. Letting out a big sigh, I grabbed the magazine again. Nothing was coming into focus on the pages. It was all jumbled words and blurry images. According to my cell phone it was barely one in the morning. I idly wondered what Alastair was doing.

A stupid smile attacked my lips. Really? I thought back to what Stephanie said about my ‘needing’ this. She might be right but I wasn’t ready to jump into something physical with anyone. Although, it could be fun. He is awfully sexy.

The door swung open, smacking against the wall. "Jesus, Stephanie. You just about gave me a freaking heart attack."

"Relax. I didn't do anything. These doors are so old and heavy, I had to push really hard.” Stephanie kicked off her heels and flopped on the bed. "What were you thinking about so intently that I scared you so badly?"

I sighed, annoyed. "Nothing."

“Liar. You’re thinking about your guy.”

“He’s not my guy.”

“Are you nervous about seeing him tomorrow?”

“No.”

“Oh my God,” she snorted. Stephanie knew. Stephanie always knew when I tried to hide my feelings. Sometimes, being her best friend was a curse as much as it was a blessing. “Did I tell you Darren’s company is hiring a graphic designer? He says I should apply.”

“That’s exciting. Isn’t that your dream job?”

“Yeah, but I thought I’d be doing it in Orlando.”

“You have to go where the opportunity takes you. Otherwise, you’ll be cutting hair for the rest of your life.”

Stephanie rolled her eyes. “I don’t know.”

“Apply. What’s the worst that can happen?”

“You know if I do, Darren will make certain I get hired,” she fretted, her face turning white.

“And that’s a bad thing?”

“Well,” she shrugged. “Not really. I mean, I have a built-in friend and stuff, but … I don’t know.”

“Do it. Darren wouldn’t suggest it if he thought you weren’t up for the challenge.”

Stephanie’s ice blue eyes lit up. I knew she couldn’t back down from anything that remotely resembled a challenge.

“Maybe I will, Amelia Grace. That way, you can move here with me and go on fabulous dates with one Alastair Holden.” She started digging through her purse. "What time are we getting up tomorrow? Will I have time to pack after breakfast, or should I do it now? I want to get to Glasgow at a decent hour. Darren's expecting us by mid-afternoon."

"There’ll be time to pack in the morning. We'll catch the one o'clock train and be back in Glasgow by three. No worries."

"Perfect. I'll see you at breakfast. Sleep well.”

Stephanie bounded out of the room as exuberantly as she entered. I leaned my head back a little too abruptly, hitting the headboard.

“Honestly,” I grumbled, grabbing for my phone to set the alarm. It beeped the second I touched it.

1:06am I hope you had a cracking time at the wedding. I’ll meet you at 8 tomorrow night. Wear something sexy.

1:07am Don’t push your luck, Holden.

1:10am Fair enough. Good night, Amelia

1:11am Good night

I set the alarm and tossed the phone on the nightstand. Curling up under the blankets, I let my mind run a bit, thinking about what was in store for tomorrow night.

Sleep? Not possible.

CHAPTER FIVE

The cocktail bar was crowded when we arrived Saturday night. It looked very chic with its rich purples, deep grays and cocoa browns draped over velvet couches and leather booths. The whole room gave off a very seductive, captivating vibe. I was wound up tighter than a drum and needed something to take the edge off. Darren and Stephanie ended up coming too. His company was invited, so they took it as an excuse to have a fun night out. I followed them to a reserved table.

“Fancy a drink? I’ve already got us a bottle of Riesling.” Darren motioned to the table.

That was more than enough for me. I poured a generous amount for myself and downed it. Stephanie rolled her eyes.

"Easy on the booze tonight, Lia. I know how you get when you’re pretending not to be nervous.”

Ignoring the ferocious tremor of nerves in my stomach, I poured another glass and took a sip. “I’m not pretending.”

Some of Darren’s co-workers joined us, saving me from Stephanie’s scrutinizing glances.

“Lia, Steph this is Cassie Zanor. She’s one of the graphic designers at the agency,” Darren said.

Cassie smiled warmly and greeted us. Petite and curvy with dark cocoa skin, she was adorable. Stephanie chatted with her about the open job position. Another one of his co-workers took a shine to me right away. He seemed nice enough. I think he said his name was William, but it could have been Jack for all I knew.

Three minty flavored martinis later I was laughing at everything Bill-Jack said. He was cute in a scruffy way. His features were a bit too delicate for my taste, but he had extremely kind brown eyes. He’d recently gotten a buzz cut and was quite keen on getting me to rub his peach fuzz head.

“I bet you’ve never felt a head like this before. Give it a go.”

“I don’t want to be responsible for messing up your hair,” I smiled half-heartedly.

“Ah, good one.” He angled toward me. “Just once.”

Christ. “Okay. Just once.”

I brushed the palm of my hand across his head quickly. It tickled a little.

“See? Feels good right?” His eager smile made my skin crawl. Your scruffy cuteness is fading, Bill-Jack.

“Can I get you another drink?”

“I think I’m going to get the next one myself, but thanks. I need to stretch my legs a bit.” I smiled at him and went over to the bar. While I waited for the bartender, I whipped my phone out. Nine. I’ve totally been ditched. Or was it stood-up? Either way, this wasn’t a real date so it didn’t matter.

“Why is such a pretty girl getting her own drink?” A dark-haired man with a friendly enough rasp to his voice was standing next to me. These Scottish accents kept getting more and more attractive each time I heard them.

“I felt like walking around a bit.”

“Did you now? I’m Brent Garrison,” he extended his hand. I shook it firmly and introduced myself.

“What brings you to Glasgow, Lia?”

“Vacation.”

“How long will you be here?” He rested his arm lazily on the bar.

“I leave tomorrow morning.”

“And I’m just meeting you now? That is a shame.” He tilted his head, causing some of the wavy, chocolate brown hair framing his face to flop to the side. “What are you drinking? It’s my treat.”

“No, thank you, that’s not necessary.”

A hand suddenly found itself on my lower back. The sensation sent a crazy jolt through me.

“What’s not necessary?” Alastair looked sharply at Brent who returned his chilly stare.

“I was just offering her a drink. Problem?” He smiled tightly.

Alastair remained silent for several seconds, keeping his hand pressed to my back.

“Not at the moment,” he finally said.

Brent shook his head, chuckling.

“We were just having a friendly conversation. No need to get territorial. Nice meeting you, Lia.” He tilted his glass toward me and walked off.

Alastair positioned himself so he was standing in front of me.

“Was he bothering you?”

“What? No.” A weird sense of déjà vu crept through my body. “Why?”

“He has a habit of hitting on anything in a skirt.”

“So do most warm-blooded men.” I smiled, moving my eyes along every well dressed inch of him.

“Enjoying the view?”

I glanced up at him through my lashes. “Maybe.”

“Is there something I can do to make that a more definitive answer?” A lazy, sexy grin curled his mouth.

My heart took up residence in my throat, pounding furiously. I should be annoyed that he just showed up without an explanation for his lateness, but I liked flirting with him. A lot.

A pretty blonde server walked over and placed two drinks on the bar. One of them was the minty martini I’d been enjoying all night.

“How did you know I was drinking these?”

“I saw that guy you were with buy them for you.”

“You’ve been watching me?” Panic seized my chest.

How is this happening again? I’m thousands of miles away from home. Being tracked and stalked by another over privileged, possessive rich guy wasn’t on my vacation itinerary. The walls felt like they were closing in around me, crushing my lungs. I dug my fingernails into the velvet cushion on the barstool. He was watching me? I’ve been here for an hour and he’s been in the shadows keeping tabs...

“Lia.” His voice cut through the vacuum, snapping me back to reality. Heat radiated from his eyes, drawing me closer. It muted everything else in the room and calmed my nerves.

“I simply noticed you were here with your friends while I was sidetracked by some clients. That’s all. Your sparkly dress is hard to miss.”

He had a point. The dress did scream look at me.

“Sorry.”

“It’s alright.”

He stared at me with an unreadable expression, making my insides twist anxiously. At least last week I knew he was staring at me out of lust. This was unnerving.

“Did you have a nice time at your sister’s wedding?”

“Yeah, I did. How was your week?”

“Typical.” He angled his body closer. “Except for the fact that I spent most of it thinking about you.”

He’s a smooth operator, this one.

“Did you?”

He nodded, running his knuckles along my cheek.

“Anything you want to share?”

Sliding his fingers down my arm, he skimmed them over my hip, settling on my waist. Goosebumps poked out all over my skin. I knocked back the martini like it was a shot. It went down much too easily for such a strong drink. My face was already a bit numb from the previous ones.

He scanned the room quickly before pulling me closer.

“There is a time and a place for sharing,” he said, dipping his head closer to my ear. “This is not one of them.”

A smile evaporated from his face as he backed away from me, leaving a chill in the air between us. Puzzled, I followed his frigid gaze. I saw nothing but people enjoying themselves.

“Is something wrong?”

Alastair didn’t answer right away. His constant scanning of the lounge freaked me out a little. It was too bad that the blonde server hadn’t been by to replenish my martini. I could have used another.

“Everything’s fine,” he finally said. I met his eyes and was floored by the hardness in them. Even his expression was stony.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

There was something about the clipped, almost dismissive way he responded which bugged me. I sat on the velvet stool, swiveling to face the crowd. The room wiggled a bit thanks to my fuzzy martini brain.

“I have to take care of something. I won’t be long.”

“Can it wait?” I asked, turning back to him. He slid his cell phone in his pants pocket.

“No,” he looked at me coolly, “it can’t.”

I watched him disappear down a hallway toward the hotel entrance. Shaking off an unsettled feeling, I ordered another drink and went back to sit at the table.

“Having a good time, Lia?” Darren winked at me.

“Sure.”

“Did Alastair leave?” Stephanie asked, frowning.

“No, he’s taking care of something,” I said, waving my hand.

“How many of those have you had?” She eyed the glass.

“Not nearly enough,” I muttered.

A bunch of other people had joined the table, but I ignored the conversation. I had to know what he was doing. After a beat, I stood up and went to see what the hell was happening.

The hallway was quiet and empty. A handful of administrative offices lined one side. I walked down to the door leading to the hotel and turned around. Angry, I stormed back toward the lounge. First he’s an hour late, now he disappears. I’m all set, thanks. Out of nowhere, Alastair appeared, all smoldering and hot. Without saying a word, he pulled me into one of the offices.

“What are you—“

“Are you involved with anyone?” he interrupted.

“This is a really bizarre time for you to be asking me that.”

“Are you?”

I clenched my fists, blood churning through my veins.

“No. Why did you walk off like that?”

“It’s not important.”

He tensed, clearly uncomfortable with my question.

“Alastair, you can’t—“

“Leave it alone, Lia.”

The cold look in his eyes shut me up immediately. A detached, passive expression blanketed his face, rendering any charm or charisma obsolete. And this is my cue to leave, jackass. He grabbed my arm as I tried to walk to the door.

“Get your hands off me,” I hissed.

He sucked in a breath, as though he’d woken up from a bad dream. His grip on my arm relaxed but I didn’t leave. His eyes stopped me. They were pleading, apologizing for something far greater than just grabbing me.

“I didn’t mean to do that,” he atoned. “Did I hurt you?”

The culmination of all the martinis I’d had throughout the night paraded through my bloodstream with great fanfare, systematically shutting down my sense of logic and most motor skills. My legs wobbled.

“No. I’m fine. You just took me by surprise.” My face and lips vanished, causing me to speak much slower than normal. At least it felt that way.

“You’re going to pinch those right off.”

He pulled my hand away from my mouth. I’d been tugging my lip without even realizing it.

“They’re numb. You can feel them?"

He gently traced my lips with his thumb. “Yes. I hope you’re not pissed.”

“You think I’m mad at you?” I asked.

He tilted his head, grinning.

“Not mad. Drunk. I thought you said you knew British slang?”

“I do. I just…” I answered, trailing off. I was annoyed that I couldn’t feel my face and probably sounded like a drunken idiot. I should have just gone back to Darren’s townhouse.

“You really need to stop doing this. I can assure you, they are where they're supposed to be.”

He pulled my hand away from my mouth again.

“I can’t feel them,” I complained. “Stop laughing at me. Now I’m pissed.”

“So now you’re drunk?” He folded his arms, raising an eyebrow.

“What? No. I’m pissed. You know what I mean.”

Am I not making sense? Stupid alcohol.

“Oddly enough I do,” he said, stroking my cheek. “Why are you upset with me?”

“For starters, you were late. Then you were snippy with that guy at the bar. And now, this whole walking away with no explanation.”

“Is that all?”

“Yeah, I guess—”

He planted a lush, wet kiss squarely on my mouth. It was quick and chaste but enough to set off a spark.

“Good. Want to get out of here?”

“This office?” A noticeable tingle buzzed through the numbness, tickling the outer edges of my lips.

“This place in general. I never liked it here.”

“And go where?”

He shrugged, grabbing my hand. Walking somewhat slower than a sloth in molasses, we made our way toward the lounge.

“You don’t like many things, do you?” I asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you don’t like soccer, but you went to the game. And now, this place. Is there anything you do like?”

He remained quiet until we got back to the table. His only response was a quick squeeze of my hand before pulling out a chair for me to sit.

“Look what we have here,” Brent announced, capturing everyone’s attention. “The elusive Alastair Holden has graced us with his presence this evening for more than his requisite ten minutes.”

I did not like the tone of that guy’s voice. Alastair lowered himself onto the chair next to mine, never taking his eyes off him.

“Center of attention as usual, Garrison?” he responded smoothly.

“Don’t be jealous, Holden. You can’t have all the attention and all the…” he paused, glancing at me, seeming to reconsider his thoughts. “I’ll give my sister your regards when I talk to her this week. She’s looking forward to reuniting with you at your grandfather’s retirement party.”

“I didn’t know she was invited,” he said, in a menacingly calm voice.

“She’s quite excited to see you. Keeps mentioning how much it would mean to her if the two of you—”

“That’s enough, Brent.”

I could feel the anger and tension seeping out of Alastair’s pores. The room no longer had a defined horizon. Everything swayed and rolled as I let Brent’s words snake through my mind. When I looked around the table it hit me that Stephanie wasn’t there. Neither was Darren. I have to leave. I have to get away from this.

I stood up too quickly, sending the room into a rapid spin.

“Careful,” Alastair said, rising to help steady me. “Let’s go. You okay to walk?”

“I don’t know where Stephanie is. I can’t just leave.”

“She’s over there. Come on.”

I was finally able to make out where Stephanie was standing as we got closer. She was still talking to Cassie. Her face lit up when she saw me.

“Oh my gosh, you’ll never guess,” she exclaimed.

“What?”

“Cassie is the manager of the graphic design team and wants to see some of my work.”

“That’s great, Steph.” Warmth and happiness filled me from seeing her so excited.

“Y’all look like you’re leaving. Where are you off to?”

“Just out for a drive,” Alastair answered. “No need to worry. Have Darren text me when you’re back at his flat and I’ll drop Lia off then.”

Stephanie scrutinized him. Great. She had that over-protective-friend look on her face.

“I’ll be fine,” I said. “Go find out more about this job and fill me in later.”

“Keep your phone on,” she said, raising an eyebrow, before rejoining Cassie.

A blast of chilly night air gave me a brief dose of renewed energy when we walked outside. My brain was still much too cloudy from all the martinis though. I was surprised when Alastair bypassed the valet and went straight for an idling Mercedes SUV. What are the odds this is the one I practically fell onto last week?

I climbed in as gracefully as I could, settling into the soft, leather seat. Alastair climbed in next to me.

“Paxton, this is Lia.”

The driver turned and smiled at me. Yep. It’s the same guy from last week.

“Nice to see you, miss. Where to Alastair?”

“The cottage, please.”

Unable to fight off the boozy fatigue, I rested my head on Alastair’s shoulder for what felt like a split second.

He nudged me gently, waking me up. “We’re here.”

I sat up, looking out the window. He got out of the car and offered me his hand. I stepped onto the ground, my heels sinking into the soft earth. It was dark and quiet, with no discernible landscape. But, oh, when I looked up. The sky was a swirl of onyx and fluorite with bright stars dancing through it. I’d never seen anything like it, not even as a child at the science museum. The dark expanse was huge, stretching far and wide. Staring at it filled me with an even greater serenity than I’d felt last night on the terrace.

“Come inside,” Alastair whispered, holding my hand. He led me toward a small, two-story thatched cottage. The dark wooden front door creaked as he opened it. Once inside, I immediately felt at home. Soft lights glowed from the end tables as Alastair walked through, flipping switches.

“Make yourself comfortable.” He pointed to one of the crimson couches. “I’m going to get you some water.”

I kicked off my heels and scrunched my toes in the plush throw rug before sitting down. I heard him moving around in the kitchen, opening the refrigerator. A few moments later he handed me the bottled water.

“Is this where you live?” I asked, watching him settle onto the couch next to me.

“No. It’s just where I come when I want to get away.”

I nodded, sipping the water. I hadn’t realized how thirsty I was from all the martinis. My lips were still mysteriously among the missing though. Being in this cottage had a soothing, calming effect on me. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it just felt…right.

“What are you thinking about?”

The look in his eyes made me melt. There was no veil, no hard edge, which had been there earlier. They were soft, almost gentle.

“What was all that with Brent before? Why was he being such an ass?”

“That’s just the way he is,” he said, stiffening.

“Are you dating his sister?” I pushed the words out in one rushed breath.

“No.”

He looked me dead in the eye, not flinching. His stare tore through me the same way it always did, only this time I didn’t want it to stop.

Tilting his head, he leaned closer. The parts of me that weren’t numb from alcohol shivered in anticipation. Swallowing hard, he backed away. I unclenched my hands, not even realizing I’d fisted them. He didn’t want to kiss me. I should be relieved.

Keeping my eyes downcast, I fidgeted with my dress. I felt his hand run over my shoulder and down my arm. His touch was incredible but I had to keep a level head. A one-night stand was the last thing I needed, especially after having so many drinks.

The constant touch of his skin on mine did nothing to help convince me otherwise.

“You’ve successfully lured me to your house, Holden. What do you plan to do now?”

Oh no. The alcohol speaks.

He tilted my chin up so our mouths were just about touching. “Nothing, Amelia. Not this way.”

The logical side of my brain was satisfied with his answer. The drunk part? Not so much. Getting a handle on my breathing was difficult. The fact that he was now stroking my cheek and staring at me with such yearning made it nearly impossible.

That mouth. I wanted it on me.

I’m loaded. This isn’t smart.

“Maybe you should just take me back to Darren’s place. It’s late and I have an early—“

Pressing his mouth to mine, he stopped my rambling. I inhaled his warm breath in shock. Tangling his fingers through my hair, he pulled gently. I leaned my head back, gasping. With stormy restraint, he took advantage and slid his tongue past my lips, kissing me slowly and deeply. My mind went blank. I was lightheaded, unaware of anything but him.

Caressing his face, I ran my fingers over his cheeks and jaw. He groaned, kissing me harder, setting my blood on fire.

Abandoning my trepidations, I straddled his lap. Grasping my lower back, his fingers dug into my skin. I shoved my hands in his hair, pulling it and slanting his head so I could fully taste him. His moan was low and sexy, reverberating through me.

His body stiffened as he fisted his hand in my hair, trying to regain control. I relaxed my grip and surrendered to him.

“We have to stop,” he rasped against my lips.

“Why?”

His chest heaved and fell as he sighed. My mind and sense of logic were wrapped in a boozy blanket, obscuring any distinction between stop-it-now and this-feels-good-keep-going.

The alcohol won again. I kissed him greedily. He was too good not to. I got a rush from how he savored me with the long slow strokes of his tongue. Lust throbbed ferociously through my body. No man had ever gotten me this hot and bothered with just a kiss.

Working fast, I pulled up his shirt, scratching my nails down his chest. His muscles twitched and contracted under my touch. He brushed my hair back, cupped my jaw and pulled his mouth away.

“Don’t,” he said rather unconvincingly.

“I want to.”

His quiet moan drove me wild. My hand disappeared into the thick, dark red softness of his hair.

“No, Lia.” His eyes hardened in a determined stare.

He was rejecting me? Everything spun wildly. I broke out into a cold sweat as my vision tripled and stomach churned. Seconds later it rolled again as nausea spread through my body. No, no, no.

CHAPTER SIX

I could count on one hand how many times I’d been sick from drinking too much. This was going down as the most mortifying one in history. My entire body lurched as all the minty martinis flew out into the toilet. At least I had enough presence of mind to flush it immediately.

Disgusted with myself, I rested my head on my arm to quiet the pounding.

This is attractive. I bet he loves having drunk girls on their knees in front of the toilet.

Someone gathered my hair into a low ponytail.

Oh my God. Please don't let me puke with him kneeling beside me.

Too late. Another horrific wave of nausea overtook my body. Alastair knelt quietly beside me, stroking my back. I prayed to the gods of porcelain thrones to keep his clothes free from any splashback. When it seemed I’d completely emptied my stomach, I slumped against the wall and whimpered.

"Don't move. I'll be right back," he said.

Where else could I possibly go? I cradled my head in my hands. What a disaster. A few minutes later Alastair walked back in carrying a toothbrush, a washcloth and the bottle of water.

"Come here." He knelt next to me and pressed the washcloth to my face. "I've run it under cold water. Sorry if it's a bit chilly."

The cool cotton felt good against my flaming skin. Tears flowed down my cheeks in thick streams.

"No tears, love. You've nothing to be ashamed of."

I looked at him through watery eyes. I was so embarrassed. I must look like such an asshole to him.

"Drink this." He handed me the water.

"Thank you."

Alastair tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "You're welcome. I'll let you finish up in here. Come find me when you're done, alright?”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“This.”

Tilting my chin up, he started to say something then stopped. We stared at one another for a couple minutes.

“I’ll be in the bedroom down the hall. Take your time.”

Once he was gone, I stood up and brushed my teeth quickly, then splashed more cold water on my face. I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror and grimaced.

I walked cautiously into the hall. A nasty headache pounded between my ears. All I wanted to do was lie down. There was light spilling from a nearby room. I staggered toward it, willing the rumbling in my stomach to settle down.

My vision doubled and I had to reach for the doorframe. He was at my side immediately, helping me to the bed. A t-shirt and flannel boxer shorts were folded on the pillow. I wasted no time changing into them. Yanking the dress over my head, I stood with it tangled around my arms. Some of the embellished sequins caught on my lace undergarments.

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