Mending the Billionaire Scotsman: A Clean Scottish Romance Book Two

by Bree Livingston

  She winced as pain flared in her leg. When she’d been hit, the right side of her right jean leg had caught fire, and the entire side of her calf had been burned. Of the things that hurt, that was the one that hurt the most. When they’d treated it, the doctor had warned her that burns were usually pretty painful. She’d had no idea how right he was.

  All of the outside wounds would eventually heal. The damage on the inside…she wasn’t sure that would ever stop aching.

  The door to her room opened, and she looked over her shoulder to find Penelope walking in. Well, she knew Penelope would either disown her outright or scream at her and then disown her. May as well take the lumps now.

  “We need to talk,” Penelope said.

  “Yeah, I guess we do.” She waited for the verbal beating she knew was coming.

  “Angus said the fire was set on purpose.”

  Okay, well, Paige guessed she could play along. “I think so. I smelled gasoline.”

  “They’re really thankful you had enough wits to save the horses.”

  “It was hard to miss. They were kinda freaking out.”

  Penelope sat beside her. “Does your leg hurt?”

  Yes. But she didn’t need to know that. “Not as much as other things.”

  Penelope touched the side of Paige’s head. “They said you were hit in the head.”

  Paige nodded. “I think the person who set the fire did it. They probably knew I saw them.”

  Penelope pointed to the burn. “That looks like it hurts too.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Other than your broken heart?”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Paige managed to choke out.

  Penelope put her arms around Paige’s shoulders and hugged her. “I know you pretended to be me and gave the interview for that article. I know you gave it at Cawdor Castle, and I know you tried to fix it.”

  Paige pulled away. She knew? How? “What?”

  “I overheard you in the bathroom the day I found my dress.”

  Paige’s mouth dropped open.

  Shrugging, Penelope continued. “I was in the bathroom when you were on the phone.”

  “That was you?”

  “I took a page out of your book and spied on you.”

  “So all this time you’ve known?”

  Penelope nodded and smiled.

  “And you don’t hate me?”

  “You told that reporter that you loved me and that it would break my heart for that article to come out. You told her Angus was a good man and that he loved me.”

  “Oh.”

  “And I knew by the way you reacted to my dress that you’d changed your mind about my wedding and move.”

  “You heard the whole thing, huh?” The pain in Paige’s leg throbbed. In the process of talking, she’d stopped swinging it. She bit back the burning sensation to continue talking with her sister. When she moved it this time, it didn’t seem to help at all.

  “The whole thing.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “I know. You were so hurt and angry that day you found out I was moving. And since then, things have changed. You begged that reporter not to print that story. You even went so far as to send her an invitation.”

  “Does Angus know?”

  “Yeah, and we don’t care. We don’t care what some stupid article says. When we’re sixty and still holding hands, they’ll know we were serious.”

  A tear streaked down Paige’s cheek. “He doesn’t hate me?”

  “Not at all. He told me about your little talk too.”

  A thin smile spread on Paige’s lips. “Oh, that.” Her leg began to hurt worse, and she swung it harder.

  “Yeah, that. He was quite thrilled with that. Having your blessing. It meant something to both of us.”

  “You have it. I love both of you. Spending time with him, it didn’t take long to realize why you fell in love with him. He’s…pretty wonderful.”

  Penelope smiled wide. “Yeah, he is.”

  “I’m happy for you.”

  “And I want to be happy for you too.”

  “I’m fine, sis.”

  “I don’t think so. I think something happened between you and Rory before today, and you haven’t been the same since.”

  Paige patted her sister’s hand. “I’m okay, Penelope. I love you, but really, I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

  “Okay, then I’ll talk, and you listen.”

  It was a fight not to stand up and leave. She was grateful for the forgiveness. Happy even. She’d expected her sister to never speak to her again, and instead, she probably had a better relationship with her now than when she walked in the room. But Paige didn’t want to talk about Rory or anything to do with Rory.

  “You love him. And he loves you.”

  Paige looked away. Wrong.

  “He told me he did,” Penelope said.

  “Right, now who’s pretending?”

  “I’m telling the truth.”

  Aside from her leg burning, which was making it increasingly difficult to think, she desperately wanted Penelope to stop. Penelope hadn’t been there. Hadn’t seen the look of revolt on his face. How his eyes had hardened and his heart had shut off from her.

  “Please, stop. I’m begging you. Please, just let it go. My head hurts. I’m tired. It’s been a long night, and I just want…I need you to stop. If you want to stay, that’s great, but I don’t want to talk about it or hear about it.”

  “But—”

  Paige held her hand up. “My leg hurts. It won’t stop burning. I can’t think.” Paige looked at Penelope with tears in her eyes.

  “I’ll get someone right now.”

  Paige wished she was faking it, but she wasn’t. She lay back on the bed and cried. Her leg throbbed harder and harder. The bandage was leaking something, and when she touched it, it felt like it was still on fire.

  When Penelope returned, she was followed in by a nurse holding a needle.

  “This should help pretty quickly,” said the nurse.

  Next thing Paige knew, the pain was easing, and she could barely keep her eyes open. “What did they give me?”

  “Something to stop your leg from hurting and help you rest. We’ll talk when you wake up.”

  Paige nodded, but she had no idea what she was agreeing to. Her eyes closed, and she was gone.

  CHAPTER 40

  Rory looked up just as Angus dismounted his horse. “What’s got ye runnin’ so fast?”

  “They got the person who started the fire.”

  Rory and Taran both dropped what they were doing and stared at Angus.

  “Gemma.”

  “Gemma?” Rory and Taran said in unison.

  “Why?” asked Rory.

  “That developer had spoken to her pop about selling. He’d told her about it. She was struggling financially. When she called the developer, he said he’d reward her if she could get us to sell along with her pop.”

  “Did her pop know?” asked Taran.

  Angus shook his head. “He didn’t even know she was in town. She was holed up in a hotel a town over.”

  Rory couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “So she had nae idea her pop had agreed to sell ye the place?”

  “No idea.”

  Taran set his hands on his hips. “How did they find out it was her?”

  “A fingerprint on one of the gas cans. Apparently, she’s been struggling for some time, and she’s had a few previous felonies.”

  Rory sighed. “Why didnae she come talk to us?”

  Angus rubbed his jaw with his hand like he was trying to avoid the question.

  “What?” asked Taran.

  When Angus caught his gaze, the corners of his lips were turned down. “She was abusing drugs and was too ashamed to ask for help.”

  “Oh, Gemma. What can we do for her?” asked Rory.

  Angus put his hand on his hip. “Right now? Nothing. Trust me. She’s gonna have to decide for herself if she wa
nts to be clean and sober. No one can do that but her.”

  Taran crossed his arms over his chest. “Is she gettin’ help?”

  “That, I don’t know.”

  Rory looked at Taran and then Angus. “I dinnae want to press charges.”

  Taran held up his hand. “Now hold on—”

  Rory stopped him. “If she agrees to enter treatment and successfully complete it.”

  Taran nodded. “Okay, that I can agree to. How about ye, Angus?”

  “I can agree to that. I’ll talk to Mum and Pop and see if they’ll get on board. I’m sure they will. They’ve known her since she was a baby. I’m sure they’ll want her clean and sober too.”

  Taran turned and walked to the other side of the building. Rory could feel Angus’s eyes on him.

  “What?” he asked without looking at him.

  “You need to go talk to her,” Angus said.

  Angus was a broken record, and so was Taran. Both had been on his case since the night of the fire. He’d yet found the courage to speak to Paige. He needed to apologize. To thank her for saving the horses. But the idea of facing her…he didn’t know how to look her in the eyes.

  “I’ve got work to do.” Rory and Taran had been working on a temporary shelter for the horses until a new barn could be built.

  “She’s been out of the hospital a week, and you’ve done everything you can to hide from her.”

  “I’ve got nothin’ to say.” Rory avoided looking at Angus, settling his gaze on the sheep in the distance.

  “Sure ye do. Ye need to tell her ye love her,” Taran called from the other side of the structure.

  “Mind yer own business,” Rory called over his shoulder.

  “What is wrong with you?” Angus asked.

  Rory stopped and hung his head. “I said horrible things to her. I used her past like a weapon and threw everythin’ I could at her. She took it without sayin’ a word.”

  Angus walked to him and set his hand on Rory’s shoulder. “And she still went into that barn and saved things that meant something to you.”

  “Which only makes me feel more guilty.” Rory’s voice broke.

  “You’re a coward.”

  Rory jerked his head up. “What?”

  Angus’s eyebrows pinched together. “You can’t even tell her thank you. Her leg is burned, and when it’s healed, there will be a permanent reminder of you.”

  Angus may as well have given him an uppercut.

  “That’s nae fair.” Rory pulled away.

  “You’re right, and it’s not fair to her for you to run away. You love her. And she loves you.”

  His brother didn’t understand. He didn’t know how Rory had spoken to her. The hate he’d spewed. “I’ve broken it. I dinnae think it can be repaired.”

  “I’ve got it on good authority that it can be. I’ve even been told she’ll be in the guesthouse alone. All you have to do is go to her. Tell her how you feel about her.”

  “But—”

  “There’s a chance you’ve blown it. Of that, there’s no doubt. But do you want to go through the rest of your life not even trying? What if there’s a chance? What if she still wants you? Do you really want to give that up?”

  Rory finally met Angus’s gaze. “I dinnae know.”

  “My wedding is in two weeks. I expect you to be there with Paige on your arm, escorting her down the aisle of the church. That’s what Penelope wants, and you’re going to give it your best shot, or I’m going to take you over my knee and give you the beating of your life.”

  Rory snorted. “I’m bigger than ye, and I dinnae have a broken arm.”

  “I don’t need two arms to take you. Now, go. Get the girl.”

  Rory hesitated.

  Angus took him by the scruff of his shirt and led him to his horse. “Go. Get. The. Girl.”

  “Fine. I’m taking a shower first, though. You might want to tell Penelope and Sarah that.” He mounted Gladys and nudged her into a run. It was pointless to go see Paige. Even if he wanted a chance with her, some words just couldn’t be unspoken, and how were they supposed to move past what he’d said to her?

  Rory hurried to the farmhouse, took the fastest shower he could, and dressed. At first, he’d felt light, thinking about seeing Paige. He would talk to her. Work things out. But the closer he got to the front door of the farmhouse, the more his feet felt like lead. He couldn’t…

  He paced in front of the door, pausing to touch the doorknob time after time. A thrill would shoot through him, he’d grab the handle, and as quickly it had come, dread would replace it. No, fear. Fear that she’d tell him to leave. That she hated him for what he’d put her though.

  Coward. Angus’s voice and the word were like ice as it sluiced through him. It was an ugly word. Not a word his brother would have casually thrown at him.

  Rory collapsed into a nearby chair, one hand draped loosely over his knee, the other holding his head.

  He was no coward. Not now, not ever. If she turned him away, he would be able to say he’d given it his best shot. Otherwise, he’d live with the regret the rest of his life.

  Rory shot out of the chair and out the front door. His palms were damp as he crossed the field to the guesthouse. The nervous energy made his skin tingle, and he paused at the door.

  This was a mistake. He scratched the nape of his neck and turned his back to the door.

  It was all such a mess, but he had to try.

  Rory turned and tapped on the door. No answer. He rapt his knuckles against the wood a little harder. And there was still no answer. The curtains were closed, so he had no idea what state of dress Paige was in or if she’d seen him coming and chosen not to answer.

  Instead of knocking again, he let himself in and shut the door behind him. His gaze immediately landed on Paige.

  She was sitting on the floor with her head angled back. Her eyes were closed, and by the way she was softly breathing, she was asleep. A coffee mug hung loosely from her hand, and he could see the contents on the verge of spilling. She had on the short robe from before, but this time he could see a shirt underneath. The only thing new was the large burn on her leg that had been left open to the air. It was ugly and red and painful-looking.

  He didn’t want to wake her. Not when she looked so peaceful. The word “coward” floated to his mind again, and he pushed it down. It was wrong to wake her.

  He’d set the coffee cup next to her and leave her alone. He could talk to her some other time.

  Three long strides, and he squatted next to her, trying to pry the coffee mug out of her hand.

  She lifted her head and blinked. “Rory?”

  “Aye.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “I’d come to speak with ye, but ye were asleep. I was only tryin’ to keep yer coffee from spillin’.”

  “Speak with me? Coffee?” She sat up. “Sorry, the medicine they’ve prescribed makes me a little fuzzy at times.”

  “That’s okay.”

  “Why are you here again?”

  “I was hopin’ we could talk.”

  Paige looked down. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I don’t hold anything against you. I’m not angry or anything.” She looked up and held his gaze. “You’re free of me.”

  CHAPTER 41

  “F ree of ye? What does that mean?” Rory stared at her.

  With a grunt and a little work, she got off the floor and stood with a bit of a wobble. She didn’t want to talk to Rory. The past week, she’d flat-out refused to even speak of him. Penelope and Sarah both had nearly driven her to the point of checking into a hotel.

  “It means we’re good. There’s nothing to talk about.”

  Rory stood and faced her. “There’s a lot to talk about. I love ye, Paige.”

  Paige looked at him. Those three words were supposed to make her heart race and fill her stomach full of butterflies. They were supposed to make her feel like she was walking on air. But they didn’t. Whatever part
of her that loved and wanted him had been shelved over the last week in an effort to shield herself from the hurt of seeing him until Penelope’s wedding. Then she’d return home. She couldn’t risk opening herself up for another heartbreak.

  “No.”

  The reserve of strength she’d used to tell him no had left her insides shaking and on the verge of tears. If she stayed, she’d cry, and he’d feel sorry for her.

  “Please go.” Without another word, she limped out of the living room and into her bedroom and shut the door.

  She wilted onto the edge of her bed and took several deep, shuddering breaths.

  The door opened, and Rory charged in with the same look as the night he’d found out about the article.

  She angled away from him. “I don’t want to talk. I am here for my sister’s wedding. I will play my part. I will show up where I need to be. I will do what she asks of me, and then I will go home. I’ve said all that needs to be said.”

  “Well, I havena said all I need to say, and if this is my only chance to say them, then yer going to listen.”

  Paige closed her eyes. She didn’t want to hear it.

  “Look at me.”

  Paige stood and faced him with her arms crossed over her chest. “Okay, what?”

  “I was full of hot air. All my talk of lettin’ go and movin’ on. Livin’ in the moment and not worryin’ about what was down the road. It was all a bunch of lies. I didnae know it at the time, but they were. When ye told me ye loved me and that ye would move here, it suddenly became a tangible thing. There was a real chance with ye, and it terrified me.”

  Her heart hurt, and it felt like she was trying to rebuild her wall as fast as it was crumbling.

  “And I used that article as the final nail to worm my way out of tellin’ ye how I felt about ye. I knew ye had an explanation. I knew there had to be a reason, and I didnae want to hear them. That night, I pulled out every misdeed from yer past and slung it at ye like mud. Penelope called me on it. That’s why I’d come back. I’d come to apologize and tell ye I love ye.” He took a step closer. “I’m sorry. I wish I could take it back.”