The Swede

by Maureen Smith

  Scarlett laughed. “Back off, dude. The Swede’s mine.”

  Cooper’s grin widened. “Lennox says you’ve always had a thing for him. So I guess fairy tales really do come true.”

  “I don’t know…” Scarlett’s gaze drifted to her brother. He had grown very quiet, staring down at the counter with a muscle throbbing in his cheek. “Lenny?”

  He closed his eyes. Then suddenly he turned and hurled his glass across the room. Red wine splattered like blood against the brick wall, broken glass exploding all over.

  He hunched over the counter, gripping the edge so tightly that his knuckles protruded.

  Scarlett and Cooper just watched him, their hearts aching for him.

  He grabbed the other glass, filled it and drank deeply, gulping mouthfuls as if he were trying to drown himself.

  Seeing him like this was absolutely gut-wrenching. “Lenny—”

  He slammed the empty glass down. “I just realized something.” His voice was raw with pain. So much pain. “You haven’t sung ‘Happy Birthday’ to me.”

  Scarlett stared at him. “I didn’t think—”

  “Please,” he croaked, staring back at her. “I just need to hear something good right now.”

  She swallowed thickly. Voice hoarse with emotion, she began crooning softly, “Happy birthday to you…”

  Lennox squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head.

  Scarlett went around the center island and put her arms around him.

  An anguished sob tore from his throat. And then he crumpled against her, dropping his head onto her shoulder. She held him tenderly, rubbing his back while he sobbed like his heart was breaking.

  By the time she finished singing, she and Cooper were weeping as well.

  Chapter 28

  Scarlett

  Diamonds and Pearls

  * * *

  Scarlett awakened to the soothing caress of a warm hand brushing her hair back from her face. She sighed contentedly, stretching into the gentle touch like a cat wanting to be stroked.

  Hearing the low murmur of a masculine voice, she slowly opened her eyes to find Viggo sitting on the side of her bed and gazing down at her with the most tender expression.

  She blinked, dazedly registering the fresh shiner under his eye. “Viggo?”

  He smiled. “Hey, beautiful.”

  She blinked again, then sat up and threw her arms around his neck. He hugged her back just as tightly, running his hand up and down her back and murmuring endearments into her hair.

  She pulled back and stared at him, embarrassed to feel tears stinging her eyes. “You’re back,” she whispered.

  His eyes glinted. “I’m back.”

  The sight of him strummed her heartstrings. She brushed her fingers over the purple bruise under his eye and tsk-tsked softly. “That was an ugly fight.”

  “You saw it?”

  “Of course.” She caressed his cheek and sighed. “At least you won. The fight, I mean. Sucks that you guys lost the game.”

  “Yeah.” His tone was darkly wry. “That wasn’t so good.”

  “You racked up a lot of penalty minutes.”

  “I know. Missing you fucks up my mood.” He turned his face into her palm and kissed it, unleashing butterflies in her stomach.

  “I don’t want you distracted,” she murmured. “People will start blaming me.”

  “Don’t worry about that.”

  “Okay, but you have to stop fighting.”

  “Did you really just say that to a hockey player?”

  “Hmm. Good point.” She smiled as he kissed her knuckles. The soft brush of his lips raised goosebumps on her arm. “How’d you know I was here?”

  “Our practice got pushed back to the afternoon, so I stopped by your house to surprise you. Your mom answered the door and told me you moved out.” Concerned gray eyes probed hers. “Are you okay?”

  As the memories of yesterday came rushing back, she swallowed a painful knot of sorrow. “I’ll be fine. Not sure about my brother, though.” She glanced toward the empty doorway. “Where is he?”

  “Making coffee. He says you guys were up pretty late drinking and you’re probably hung over.”

  “Not really. I can handle wine better than hard liquor.” She massaged the dull ache in her temple. “But I’m glad I have the day off from work.”

  “I was gonna take you to breakfast—” Viggo chuckled wryly at her grimace “—but I’m guessing you’re not very hungry.”

  “Uh, no. Not at the moment.” She searched his face. “Did my mom tell you why I moved out?”

  “No.” He met her gaze. “Lennox told me.”

  “Oh.” She bit her lip.

  He gently tucked her hair behind her ear. “It’s gonna be okay, Scarlett.”

  She dropped her eyes to his broad chest and swallowed. “I hope you’re right.”

  He tilted her chin up to meet his gaze once again. “Come home with me.”

  Her heart did a crazy little lurch. Home. With him. It sounded so right.

  But she shook her head. “I should probably stay here with Lennox.”

  “You don’t have to.”

  She looked over Viggo’s shoulder to see her brother standing in the doorway. “Hey, Lenny.”

  “Hey, baby girl.” His smile was a little weary. “You don’t have to stay. I mean, you’re more than welcome to if you want. But you don’t have to.”

  Scarlett could read between the lines. “Are you putting me out?”

  “What? Of course not.”

  A shard of hurt lodged in her chest. She sat all the way up, prompting Viggo to stand as she mumbled to her brother, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to impose.”

  Lennox scowled. “You’re not impos— ah, hell. Don’t go getting that look on your face.”

  “What look?”

  “The look you used to get when I wouldn’t let you play football with me and my friends. Your bottom lip would poke out and your Bambi eyes would get all watery, and I’d feel guilty as hell for saying no to you.”

  “You don’t have to feel guilty,” she assured him. “I should have realized you and Cooper needed space to process everything that’s happened.”

  “It’s not just that,” Lennox said, coming into the room. “We’re gonna be busy trying to get the gym off the ground—”

  “Of course. I understand. I’m sorry—”

  “Dammit, will you stop apologizing?” Lennox sat on the side of the bed and clasped her hands between his, peering directly into her eyes. “Listen to me. You’re not imposing. I couldn’t have gotten through yesterday without you and Cooper. And what you did for me, standing up to Dad like that…” He shook his head, his expression softening with gratitude. “I couldn’t have asked for a better sister, a better friend or a better ally. Seriously, Scarlett. There aren’t enough words to describe how grateful I am for you.”

  She sent him a wobbly smile. “I’ll always be here for you.”

  “I know. And I truly appreciate that.” Lennox gave her a conspiratorial wink. “But I think someone else needs you more right now.”

  Scarlett looked over at Viggo. He stood by the window with one shoulder propped against the wall, his lips quirking as he stared out at the overcast sky.

  “That shiner’s gonna need some TLC,” Lennox teased.

  Scarlett smiled. “You might be right.”

  Viggo grinned. “He’s definitely right.”

  Lennox laughed and tweaked Scarlett’s nose. “The four of us should go out to dinner sometime.”

  She felt her face light up. “Like a double date?”

  “Yeah.” His eyes twinkled. “Like a double date.”

  She gently cupped his cheek. “I’d like that very much.”

  “Me, too.”

  They shared a meaningful smile, silently celebrating the milestone that had been reached.

  While Scarlett showered and dressed, Cooper made omelets for Lennox and Viggo. When she came out of the room, they were la
ughing and talking around the kitchen table. It warmed her heart to see Viggo getting along so well with her brother and his boyfriend.

  When he glanced up at her and winked, it was all she could do not to fling herself into his arms and smooch him all over his bruised but beautiful face.

  “Still not hungry, Scar?” Cooper called out. “I can make you an omelet.”

  “Nah, I’m good. But I’ll take one of those blueberry muffins for the road.”

  Viggo finished his coffee, then stood and grabbed her suitcase. They said their goodbyes, headed outside to the parking lot and climbed into the truck. It was cold and drizzling, a perfect day for curling up under the covers and watching movies.

  Once they were on their way, Scarlett said earnestly, “Thank you so much.”

  “For what?”

  “Investing in their gym. That was very generous of you and Reid.”

  Viggo gave her a wry look. “You weren’t supposed to know.”

  “Cooper let it slip. Please don’t be mad. They’re both super excited and so grateful. Thank you, Viggo.”

  “You don’t have to thank me. It was a good investment.” Keeping his eyes on the road, he reached over to stroke her cheek. “Thank you for coming home with me.”

  She laughed. “Because crashing at your luxurious penthouse will be such a hardship, right?”

  His chuckle was low and soft, melting over her like warm molasses. “I enjoy your company. And it’ll be nice to have you waiting for me when I come home.”

  Her stomach went into free fall. She felt a ridiculously dreamy smile pull at her lips as she sank deeper into the seat. “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Me, too.” Those gray eyes rested on her for only the briefest second before sliding back to the road. He looked amazingly yummy in his pale blue V-neck sweater. The fine wool outlined his powerful shoulders, carved pecs and heavy biceps. The way his faded jeans hugged his thighs made her want to ride him.

  He suddenly looked deep in thought, stroking the golden stubble on his chin as he maneuvered through the maze of downtown streets.

  Scarlett grinned, watching him. “What’re you thinking about?”

  He glanced at her, smiling faintly. “The way you are with your brother…protective and nurturing. You’d make a great mom.”

  She felt an invisible fist squeeze around her heart. There was nothing casual about his remark. It was loaded with meaning. Loaded with questions.

  She didn’t know how to respond, so she just bit into her blueberry muffin and chewed quietly. She could tell that he wanted to say more, but she really didn’t want to get into this right now.

  When his phone rang through the car’s Bluetooth system, she was almost relieved—until the caller’s name appeared on the dashboard display.

  It was a woman. Elsa.

  Scarlett ran through a mental checklist of his mother and sisters’ names. Hedda. Freya. Astrid. Svea.

  Who the fuck is Elsa?

  Viggo pressed the button to decline the call, his gaze flicking over her face. “Sorry about that.”

  She stared straight ahead. “Do you have something to be sorry about?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Who’s Elsa? Some Swedish bunny?”

  He shifted in the seat, frowning. “She’s an old girlfriend.”

  Scarlett’s stomach twisted with jealousy. An ex was worse than a bunny. There was history. Feelings.

  “She works for a large energy company in Sweden,” he explained. “She’s coming here on business and wanted to get together for dinner.”

  “Of course she does,” Scarlett muttered darkly. Just when they seem to have gotten rid of Audrey, along comes Elsa. Wasn’t Elsa the name of the snow queen in Frozen? Viggo’s ex probably looked like a Disney princess.

  “She left me a message a few days ago,” he was saying, “but I haven’t gotten around to calling her back yet.”

  Scarlett’s fingers tightened, crushing the half-eaten muffin in the napkin. “So where are you taking her to dinner?”

  He scowled at her. “I’m not.”

  “You’re not?” she challenged.

  “No,” he growled. “Why the fuck would I?”

  “You tell me,” she retorted.

  They had reached his building. He didn’t say another word, his jaw clamped tight as he swung into the sky garage and barreled his way into the Jetsons-style elevator that shot them up to the top floor.

  She watched nervously as he parked in his private carport, then hopped out of the truck and stalked around to open her door. She held up a hand to indicate she didn’t need his help getting down. But he ignored her, his eyes flashing a dangerous warning as he plucked her out of the seat and set her down, then slammed the door.

  She hated being manhandled. “Listen—”

  “No, you listen.” He grabbed her face in his hands, staring into her eyes with such feral intensity that her breath shorted out and her legs wobbled. “I don’t know what the fuck happened between you and that smarmy son of a bitch. You won’t tell me a goddamn thing, so I can only imagine the worst. I’m sorry he hurt you, baby. I truly am. But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m not him. You need to get that through your head right the fuck now, you understand? I won’t pay for another man’s sins. If I tell you I’m not going to dinner with my ex, I mean what I fucking say!”

  Scarlett swallowed hard, her heart thrumming wildly as she stared up at him. The dark bruise under his eye coupled with his stubble-darkened jaw made him look pretty scary. And knee-weakeningly hot.

  His burning gaze raked over her face. Then he crushed his mouth to hers in a deep, searing kiss that tilted the ground beneath her feet and revved her senses into overdrive.

  Gasping, she wound her arms around his neck, her fingers fisting in his hair.

  He growled low in his throat and pulled her hard against him, his hands sweeping down her back to roughly palm her ass. She shivered and whimpered as heat, hunger and need pounded through every part of her body.

  He slanted his head the other way, changing the angle of the kiss as he plundered her mouth with furious strokes of his tongue. She moaned brokenly and clung to him, rocking herself into the hardness behind his zipper.

  He kissed her deeper, more urgently, pinning her against the passenger door with his massive body. No other man had ever made her feel so out of control, so wildly carnal. She wanted him to take her right there, up against the truck, in broad freaking daylight.

  Someone wolf-whistled nearby. “Way to go, Sandström!”

  Swearing, Viggo dragged his mouth from Scarlett’s and buried his face in her neck, his harsh breaths gusting over her skin. Shivering, she closed her eyes and breathed in his scent, savoring how good he smelled while cursing the asshole who’d interrupted them.

  After several moments Viggo lifted his head, his lips brushing the hair at her temple before he looked down at her. “Let’s go inside.”

  Her mouth twitched. “That’s probably a good idea.”

  He stepped back and adjusted himself in his pants, wincing and muttering something she didn’t catch. She bit her lip as he opened the back door and grabbed her suitcase, then took her hand and tugged her along behind him as he headed inside the building.

  When they entered his penthouse, she toed off her combat boots and lined them up neatly by the door. Viggo did the same, giving her a look that was so warm and tender she shot him a curious smile.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” He brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes and smiled. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  Her cheeks flushed with pleasure. “Me, too.”

  He leaned down and kissed her forehead, sending a warm shiver down her back. Pulling away, he tweaked her nose and winked. “Let me take your suitcase upstairs.”

  She smiled. “While you do that, I’ll be getting something to drink.”

  “Sure. Make yourself comfortable.” He picked up her suitcase and headed for the
stairs.

  Humming a made-up tune, she padded to the kitchen in her socked feet and opened the Sub-Zero refrigerator. It was super clean and well stocked, the contents so meticulously organized that the fridge could have been featured in an appliance commercial.

  Feeling the heat of Viggo’s gaze, she looked up and saw him watching her from the top of the curved staircase.

  She stopped humming. “What?”

  He smiled. “The sound of your voice, songbird. It’s music to my ears.”

  She grinned and blew him a kiss, which he pretended to catch before turning and disappearing down the hall.

  After much deliberation—there were too many choices—she plucked out a bottle of sparkling water and closed the refrigerator.

  She twisted the cap off the bottle and took a gulp as Viggo came jogging down the stairs. Even the way he descended steps was droolworthy. He moved like the powerful athlete he was, like he could drop and do two hundred pushups without breaking a sweat.

  As she watched him saunter across the floor like a well-honed machine, she mentally sang the line from Adele’s song: I love the way your body moves…towards me from across the room…

  He gave her a lazy smile as he approached. “Why’re you looking at me like that?”

  “No reason.” She sipped more water, smiling to herself.

  Ignoring the high stools around the center island, Viggo perched on the marble countertop, positioning himself in front of her.

  She sighed appreciatively, looking around the two-story penthouse. “Your place is immaculate, Viggo. And it always smells so wonderful.”

  He smiled. “I’ll pass along your compliments to my housekeeper. She’s a godsend.”

  “No kidding. This place is humongous. She definitely earns every penny you pay her.” Scarlett shook her head. “Why does one guy need such a big place, anyway?”

  “I have a big family,” he reminded her. “They visit pretty often.”

  “From Sweden?”

  “No. From Saturn.” He grinned crookedly. “Of course from Sweden.”

  She grinned, swigging more water. “How often do they visit?”

  “Several times a year. Sometimes it’s all of them. Other times it’s just my parents or a couple of my siblings.”