Scottish Seducer: Opposites Attract: Jane Austin fangirl and the Scottish Billionaire (Steel Series Book 6)

by Victoria Pinder

  “Got it.” I nodded for full effect and hoped to transition this conversation. “I’m spoiling the mood.”

  She swirled her wine in her glass and sat back. “We’re still in the get-to-know-you phase, really. So what’s going on?”

  Fuck. What was in the back of my mind now required words. I sipped my wine to settle on exactly how I wanted to say this. As I finished, I said, “I’ve never really found someone I want to spend time with long term.”

  Her half-smile wasn’t offended. She held her glass to her side and asked, “Why not? I’ve seen pictures. You’re surrounded by gorgeous, fashionably dressed women.”

  True. I always had choices, but no one I’d taken seriously. I glanced at her profile. Stephanie was interesting, attractive, and fit into my life. Part of me wished I hadn’t made that bet with Logan as I said, “Those relationships are meaningless and, while seemingly fun, I know I haven’t been taken seriously as a child, or as an adult. I’ve always been the spare, and my brother is in charge of our family…and I’ve rarely wanted to take a woman home. And I already invited you.”

  She played with her necklace as she asked, “Do you not want me to go to the Highland Games with you?”

  Now or never. If I wanted us to have a future, she needed the truth. I took her wine, placed it on the table, and held her hand. Then I scooted to the edge of my seat and said, “I want that very much, but I have to tell you something.”

  She cupped my face and stood, tugging me to join her. “Whatever it is, tell me after.”

  My heart beat a little faster as she walked backward into our villa as I asked, “After what?”

  Once she passed the threshold, she unbuttoned her shirt and dropped it on the floor while she continued to tug me toward the bedroom. “After you take me to bed.”

  “Saucy minx.” I let go of her hand to toss my shirt.

  She unbuttoned her pants and let them slip off those sexy thighs of hers as we made it to the bedroom door. “Only with you. Richard said I was cold.”

  I let my pants hit the floor as we reached the bed, but I shook my head. “You were with a man who didn’t deserve you, but I’m not him.”

  She unhooked her bra and scooted higher on the bed as she said, “I want to be reminded that last night wasn’t just a dream.”

  My attention was laser-focused on her breasts, and I caught myself waiting like a schoolboy for her to drop her bra while I slipped out of my boxer briefs.

  I remembered then that I had my own insecurities about this relationship, so I looked into her eyes and said, “Tell me you’re not here for my money.”

  She flinched and said, “What?”

  My cock was growing for her. But first, I needed to hear her answer, so I nodded and said, “Just please tell me.”

  She scooted over next to me, completely naked. Last night I’d been raw and ready for her, but now…I needed a minute.

  She rested her hand on my shoulder and said, “Wait. I’m not. I’ve never asked you for a dime.”

  The sparks that came from her simple touch calmed me like magic. I swallowed and patted her knee. “No, it’s just that I’m starting to think you’re different from…”

  She squeezed my arm. “From who?”

  The only other time I thought I was serious about a woman, I remember standing in the hall after knocking on her door that was partially closed, but the music was turned way up, and she must not have heard me. The scene replayed like a movie that just happened in my head, and I said, “In college, I briefly dated a girl named Willow.”

  She gently massaged my shoulders as she said, “Ahh. And she used you?”

  Willow’s high-pitched voice showed not an ounce of shame while I listened to her tell a friend how she intended to secure my inheritance for herself. Ironically, my inheritance was a pittance compared to what I earned for myself later, but I just said, “I overheard her telling her friends she was only dating me for my money.”

  She dropped her chin to her chest and said, “Ouch.”

  Willow’s betrayal had made it easier to avoid talking about important things to women not related to my business deals.

  I traced Stephanie’s leg higher and said, “So I have trouble trusting myself near you.”

  She kissed my cheek and said, “But Charlie, that’s the beauty of new…neither one of us knows what happens next. I thought for sure you’d just want one night with me, though that first time was hot.”

  I trailed my fingers up to her pussy and pressed against her inner core while I murmured, close to her ear, “I do remember what makes you scream.”

  She scooted back and let my arm go when she said, “Come and kiss me. I want to be seduced right now.”

  Taking control was sexy, but our lips met, and all thoughts of anyone but Stephanie dissipated, though I needed to hear her infectious laugh.

  So as the kiss ended, I squeezed her boobs while sucking on her bottom lip and said, “I haven’t seen you bounce your breasts, and I thought we had a deal.”

  This time, she chuckled and shook her head at me, but she wiggled her hips so her chest bounced adorably.

  I gave her a thumbs-up for the boobie-shaking until she lay down, opened her thighs, and I forgot what I was about to say. I was rock-hard and she was the magnet that pulled me closer.

  I traced her thigh to her center, but she reached down and directed me where she preferred to be touched.

  I did as she asked and remembered last night’s discovery of what would happen if I pushed her clit up a little.

  Her moans indicated she and her pussy were of one mind: they wanted to be pounded.

  But I went slow and locked eyes with her as I very slowly moved deeper inside her, filling her.

  Her eyes glazed over as she let out soft sighs and squeezed my ass.

  I kissed her again because she was the center of my coming storm.

  I tickled her one more time, and she laughed, until we picked up the pace. I refused to stop until I knew she was lost in the tornado then found my own release.

  Stephanie somehow made my life better, even though I wasn’t sure her feelings for me were completely real, even if I already wanted to keep her...forever.

  Chapter 13

  Stephanie

  Seriously, the steamy hotel shower left my skin dewy and soft just from cleaning myself.

  Charlie knew how to hit almost all my buttons, including my inner goddess, who loved being clean and pampered.

  When I finally emerged, drying my hair, I was ready to drive and give Charlie a tour of Chatsworth House. The house was begun in the 11th century, but during the Regency era, the so-called “Bachelor Duke” who’d owned it hosted many parties, and Jane Austen herself mentioned the house in Pride and Prejudice.

  While I was chosen to be part of next year’s Jane Austen planning committee, this was one of the most important of the places rented for the ten-day festivities. We rented buses to get there, but it was worth it, as the house was amazing.

  I took the towel off my head and opened the door. I heard a male voice as it said, “I’ll look her in the eye and judge for myself, Charlie.”

  I glanced all around and saw Charlie on the phone on the terrace. He had it on speaker as he said, “See you soon, Logan.”

  So he must be talking to his brother, though my skin prickled like I was the subject of that conversation. I ignored my intuition and kissed his cheek.

  His eyes were wide like I’d caught him doing something he shouldn’t. I tilted my head and asked, “Why are you looking at me so strangely?”

  His face turned red as he asked, “What did you hear?”

  Okay, so the conversation was absolutely about me. I shrugged and said, “You said ‘Logan’, so I assume it was your brother.”

  He took my hand to lead me inside as he said, “Yes. He’s looking forward to me going to the Highland Games. He has assigned me…us…a few duties.”

  I bounded off to the bedroom to get my clothes and discovered Cha
rlie had bought me a nice yellow day dress with small flowers embroidered along the hem and matching flats.

  I pulled it on as I said, “Sounds fun. Is it true that people toss logs?”

  He took the diamond studs out of the bedside drawer and gave them to me as he said, “Yes, though I won’t be entering the competition.”

  His muscles were temptingly firm and well defined, but I finished dressing and put the earrings in as I said, “Could be fun to see you as a big gladiator type tossing tree trunks around.”

  He took the keys to the car and said, “Another time. I have to work on my space flight deal right now.”

  My limbs were still a little weak from last night, but I held his hand as we headed out and I recited his many businesses deals. “And the bank. And the app. And run the airline and mobile phone and laptop companies you recently acquired.”

  He held the car door for me and said, “I like technology. And the app is much bigger. It’s three-D and will blow the rest of the computer world out of the water.”

  Fair point. He had his fingers in so many pies, keeping up with him would be almost impossible for anyone. Honestly, this was another reason we’d never fit, since I was more of a one commitment at a time type, but as he started the car I asked, “How do you keep track of so many businesses at once?”

  He drove faster than I did, his eyes on the road, as he said, “I have other people run them so I can chase my next idea.”

  Work was an easy conversation, because it distracted me from overanalyzing the sex. I swallowed and asked, “Which is...?”

  He followed the signs to the house we were to tour as he said, “I want to buy a bank.”

  A small spasm surprised me. I hadn’t expected that answer, so I adjusted my earrings as I said, “That’s not your usual style.”

  He winked at me and made the final turn onto the estate as he said, “That’s what my brother said, but if I buy it, then it makes it easier for me to fund the space plans.”

  I grinned and nodded as we pulled into a spot. “Now that sounds more like you.”

  We both stepped out of the car, and my bearings were off since I normally took the bus or carriages here and had never parked in a lot. I took his hand and asked, “Where are we?”

  He kissed my knuckles and guided me like he’d been here a dozen times. I blinked and finally noticed the small signs he’d already seen.

  A moment later we were near the bridge and river. We trotted up the estate, but a small lake caught my eye. He saw me and kissed my cheek as he said, “Wait here. I’ll let them know we’ve arrived.”

  “Excellent,” I said, and imagined myself transported to the Pride and Prejudice miniseries where Colin Firth jumped into the lake for a swim on a hot day.

  I had always enjoyed that interpretation of the books, and that scene in particular, because it was so clear from that moment that Darcy loved Elizabeth.

  While I waited, I got a bit glazy, dreaming of Charlie’s kisses. My body instantly returned to the moments when I was truly his. For a second, I was Elizabeth and Charlie was Darcy when she saw him come out of the lake, but then I shook off my imagination as silly. Charlie wasn’t any character in a book that I could pin down, but him being here, with me, was enough.

  I hummed for a moment but when a dark cloud covered the sun, I glanced up—and my blood went cold. I straightened my spine and said, “Richard. Ann. What the hell are you both doing here?”

  Richard stayed back and seemed stiff. “You’re still with Mr. Grannd?”

  I squared my shoulders and wished I could call on a genie to make these two disappear from my life permanently. I gestured toward the house and said, “He’ll be out in a moment. I decided to stay here and enjoy the lake. What are you both doing here?”

  Ann lifted her finger and I could see she wore the ring Richard had bought for me while she said, “We came to inquire about prices if we decide to have our wedding here.”

  Chill bumps swept down my arms. I couldn’t breathe, and I didn’t understand why she hadn’t demanded a different ring. I’d worn it in front of her for months. My stomach did a flip at the thought. “Your wedding?”

  Ann preened a bit and, with a smile that almost seemed full of pride as she took Richard’s hand, said, “Yes. We’re getting married, but we should warn you. Don’t fall in love with Charlie Grannd.”

  Adrenaline shot through me, but I played with my necklace and asked, “Why not?”

  Richard straightened and announced in a way that implied he also spoke for Ann, “Because we all know he’ll never fit into your life. He’s probably using you.”

  My stomach did flips. This was crazy. But I pretended we were friendly and waved as I took off toward where Charlie had disappeared earlier. “Have a wonderful life, you two.”

  Once they were out of sight, I halted, my stomach in knots. If I hadn’t moved in with Charlie, I’d be crying my eyes out right now. I couldn’t wait a second longer and ran into the house.

  Charlie was just coming out when I met him. I hugged him, and for a second, I found myself at peace, and said, “Charlie.”

  He offered his arm and said, “Ready for you to walk me through this place.”

  Right. We walked into 365-bedroom home with 24-carat gold embedded in the windows. The main room with the grand staircase rivaled a palace, but today my breath wasn’t taken away. I said, “I just ran into Richard and Ann.”

  He gave my arms a brisk rub and made the chill inside disappear as he said, “Today? That’s strange.”

  I was never this weak, but just this once I rested my head on his strong shoulder and took comfort in being his, when I said, “They’re getting married and want to rent this house.”

  He hugged me and kissed my forehead. “Are you upset?”

  I let out a little sigh and straightened, though he still held my hand like he was my anchor. “A little,” I said. “He didn’t want to commit to me, but how could I have been that blind for that long?”

  He curled his fingers through my hair while his thumb brushed my cheek. “What do you mean?”

  My heart had a different beat to it today, but as we walked up the stairs, we went to a private room that I’d never seen before since it wasn’t part of the normal tour. We stepped inside what was obviously the private library. I’d only seen it in movies, but I couldn’t manage to set aside my upset to appreciate it.

  I massaged my temples and over my nose and said, “Their affair must have lasted longer than my own failed engagement, and I even mentioned renting space at Chatsworth House, but he brushed it off, saying it was too expensive.”

  Charlie didn’t even glance around the fine room as he said, “So you were jealous.”

  I quivered. I’d never done that before, but I looked down and said, “Yes and no. I don’t want Richard back or anything, but I do wish…” you loved me. I swallowed the thought back, grateful I hadn’t said it out loud.

  I shook myself, took a deep breath, and said, “Never mind. Let’s start the tour.”

  He squeezed my hand as we turned toward the main dining hall and he asked, “You wish what?”

  Fuck. I needed to be smarter about this. Falling in love with Charlie was stupid. I knew we were temporary, but I smiled as I said, “That I could believe in love...not that we’re anywhere near talking about that kind of thing...”

  He brushed his hand down my back, and for one second, I thought he’d say “I love you”. But there I was, stuck in my daydreams again. He hesitated, swallowed, and said, “It’s okay. I’m happy the fool let you go, but there’s something I do need to discuss with you.”

  Right. I was the fool.

  Time to tell my guest about how, during the Regency period, this was one of the most impressive and famous homes for the nobility, and it’s believed to be the model for Darcy’s Pemberley.

  I nodded and said, “After the tour. It really is a beautiful spot, and besides being featured in various Pride and Prejudice films and Death comes to
Pemberley, this house was used for The Duchess, as well as scenes in The Crown and Downton Abbey and many more. So the staff understand the video people’s needs.”

  He stared at my profile like he cared, when he said, “I’ll rent it for the app, but if I ever do marry, my brother and clan would expect it to be in the Highlands—not in some fancy English estate—and I’d wear my tartans.”

  I glanced up and down his side and reminded myself that it was easier to live in the present when I was near him. “You do have nice legs. It was the first thing I noticed about you when you stepped out of the car.”

  He chuckled and I ignored how that warmth of his filled my soul. If he was mine forever, and he loved me the way I love him, then I’d have everything I ever wanted that money could never, ever buy.

  Chapter 14

  Charlie

  I checked my phone. The email confirmed the apartment. I needed to ensure Stephanie cared for me like I was starting to care about her.

  I might even be falling in love, but right now it was all a lie. And I needed to weed past the lies to get to the truth.

  We finished walking the garden as her blonde hair captured the afternoon sun.

  Neither of us said much on the drive back, but as we entered the hotel, I recognized the grey Mercedes and half wanted to get Stephanie out of there, fast.

  My heart hammered. This was not how I’d planned to find out if Stephanie truly cared for me...or not. Hopefully, my brother didn’t say anything before I had a chance to tell her myself.

  I stiffened as we headed inside, and as soon as we crossed into the lobby, I met my brother’s dark brown eyes. I rested my hand on Stephanie’s back and said, “Logan, what are you and Caroline doing here?”

  Logan kept his hands behind his back until we joined them. He shook Stephanie’s hand and said, “Caroline told me all about Stephanie, and I didn’t want to wait till the games to meet her.”

  Stephanie smiled like she was happy and asked, “Are you Logan Grannd?”

  I let out a small laugh. If she was this much fun for the rest of our lives, I’d never let her go.