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

by Victoria Pinder

My core was on fire right now, like I’d just made a huge mistake, when I said, “He said he loves me.”

  She beamed her huge smile at me. “That’s amazing.”

  I frowned and turned away. “No, it’s not.” My chest was tight, but I said, “I’ll miss you guys.”

  Outside, I took my phone out of my dress pocket and called a car. The night air was chilly, but I’d grown used to it.

  Soon, it would rain again, but as my car approached, I dashed out. No one noticed me as I returned to the borrowed apartment and locked the door behind me.

  No one was coming for me tonight. I started to take off my costume when my phone rang. I was still in the Regency era undergarments that covered more of me than my normal clothes as I answered, and said, “Ridley, hi.”

  My family loved me. And, unlike Indigo, who always knew what she wanted and how to get it, Ridley and Olivia had both struggled like me. I’d see Olivia tomorrow, but Ridley was in Texas. I returned to my room to undo my stays as she said, “Finally, you answered. I’ve been trying to call you back.”

  Once I could breathe, the sensation in my stomach felt even more like rocks. I slumped on the bed in my chemise. “I’ll be able to see you soon. I bought a plane ticket to go home, and Georgie said I can stay at our parents’ old home until I get settled.”

  “Why? I spoke to Carter about your new man.”

  I lay back on the bed, ignoring my elaborate hairdo. “He’s not—what did he say?”

  “He said he and Charlie worked out some deal that was better than the one they left behind.”

  Exactly what Charlie told me, which shouldn’t twist my heart so much. I sat up and put her on speaker so I could get out of my starched white chemise, as I said, “That’s good.”

  “He also said he’d be open to any of Charlie’s crazy ideas that Charlie somehow makes work, because most people aren’t as forward-thinking as he is.”

  Forward thinking was his specialty. I rummaged through my bag for a T-shirt I’d sleep in and normal panties as I said, “That sounds like Charlie.”

  “He sounds good for you. I was always afraid you’d end up never living your life.”

  Now he had family support. I glanced out my window and wished I could see the moon. “Don’t start, Ridley.”

  “Right, if you are coming home and not marrying this guy, then the closest university in Texas needs a new Jane Austen professor, and you have your master’s in English and Regency history.”

  Marry? My heart thumped, but I said, “I’ll think about that later, but send me an email with the job.”

  We hung up and I finished getting ready for bed. At least this was something normal.

  But I was too wound up to sleep. I checked my phone for the job description, but I saw Charlie’s name on an unread email. My heart leapt as I asked myself, “What’s this?”

  I clicked and read.

  Stephanie,

  I was wrong to test you and throw you out of my life so suddenly. I was hurt in the past, so I thought it was okay to push you away so I wouldn’t be hurt again. I won’t bother you anymore, but you’ll always be the only woman I’ve ever truly loved. I own that my behavior was intolerable to you, and I’ll live with that regret forever. I am sending this because I love you, and I will always wish the best for you.

  Charlie

  He loves me. I love him. I ached.

  I had made a horrible mistake. If I didn’t believe in love, then I was the true fool.

  Hopefully, he was up. I needed to see him.

  Right now.

  Chapter 18

  Charlie

  My brother called shortly after I’d showered and thrown on some undershorts. Since Stephanie arrived, I’d been sleeping naked. And, my pillow still had her essence on it, which made it impossible for me to sleep at all.

  I put him on speaker and headed downstairs to make myself the warm milk with cinnamon that usually calmed me down on nights when I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep much, if at all.

  Logan said, “Congrats, little brother.”

  Outside the townhome where ghosts of Stephanie appeared when I blinked, the rain came down fast and furious as I asked, “For what, Logan?”

  “It seems we’re in the trillionaire club now.”

  Yet, I’d lost Stephanie because of my quest to achieve this. And honestly, it was never about money so much as the ability to fuel my dreams. But those plans seemed empty without her. I stopped on the bottom step and stared out to the dark skies and asked, “What?”

  “I own stock in your company.”

  So he’d be the Grannd who has both money and children. I’d probably be alone forever, but I headed into the kitchen, poured the milk into the stainless steel warmer and frother, and said, “And?”

  “With the bank merger, we’ve crossed over.”

  I grabbed the cinnamon and nutmeg from my cabinet and put a half teaspoon of cinnamon and half that of nutmeg in my cup as I said, “Right, the bank deal. I’m sure my lawyers went right to work on that. Glad to hear I’ve enriched the family more than our parents ever believed possible.”

  “Dad never understood you. So when you bring Stephanie up, we’ll celebrate together.”

  For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I hadn’t expected my brother to mention her. Her name alone still sent shockwaves through me, but I ignored my reaction and asked, “Will Caroline be there?”

  “I don’t know.”

  The milk finished and I poured it in my mug, putting the warmer in the sink as I said, “If you truly love her, then forget everything I ever said and marry her.”

  “Maybe, though I don’t know. I don’t know if we’d get along for a lifetime.”

  Caroline was always cold. But then Stephanie said she couldn’t take more chances on me and us because she’d been hurt. I stirred my milk and said, “Then cut her loose now so she can find the man who wants her.”

  “That sounds serious.”

  I let out a sigh and said, “I suppose I am tonight.” A loud noise grabbed my attention. It wasn’t just thunder out there. Someone was banging on my door. I told my brother, “I have to go,” as soon I saw the outline of a person on the other side of the door.

  I opened it to find Stephanie huddled on my porch looking like a drowned cat.

  She hopped from one foot to the other and back again, saying, “You answered. Please let me in.”

  The rain intensified, and I beckoned her in. “Yes. Of course. Dreich weather we’re having, and you must be soaked to the skin.” I gave her my untouched milk and locked the door as I said, “Let me get you a towel or something.”

  I wasn’t wearing enough to offer the shirt I wasn’t wearing. She dripped on the floor and grabbed my arm. “I don’t care about being wet. I’m here because I made a mistake earlier.”

  I held up a finger and left her for a moment to search the guest bathroom for a towel. The hand towel wasn’t much, and I had no idea where staff kept linens, but it was clean, so I brought it to her and asked, “About what?”

  I noticed that she’d put the now empty mug on the side table. At least the milk would help warm her.

  She patted the towel on her arms, and neck, and hair, then just stood there hugging her waist. I glanced down and noticed her braless nipples just as she said, “After dinner, I bought myself a plane ticket. I was done with men and London and even Jane Austen. I wanted to go home.”

  If she stayed, I’d never want for anything ever again. But I only said, “Naturally.”

  She grabbed my arms like I’d told her to leave and said, “But then your email said you love me, and I was happier than I’ve ever been in my life.” She had tears in her eyes and said, “But I was so afraid of opening up again, afraid to be hurt and afraid to be happy that…I really fucked it all up.”

  My chest wanted to explode, and my arms hoped to hold her. But I wasn’t sure she’d stay, so I stilled and said, “I see.”

  She looked down and mumbled, “What I am very badly
trying to say is, I love you, and I hope we can start over.”

  My heart thundered louder than the storm outside, but I let her go and directed her to the living room so I could start the fire as I said, “We can’t.”

  Her face paled and she didn’t move. “Oh. It was that bad. Well, I’m sorry to have bothered you.”

  She turned and hurried toward the door, but I jumped in her way. She glanced up at me and I said, “Just listen for a second. We can’t start over because I’m already knee-deep in love with you. And I also got great news from my brother today.”

  She gaped like she was in shock. I took her hand and led her to the fire I’d switched on. The last thing we needed was for her to be sick.

  She peered up at me through wet tendrils of hair. “Yeah? Is he getting married or something?”

  She sat down near the flames, and I joined her, saying, “No. The bank deal has technically made me a trillionaire, but I discovered it meant nothing because I lost you over that deal. The money didn’t seem worth it.”

  Her small chuckle seemed genuine and her bright eyes were the ones I wanted to see every day for the rest of my life when she said, “Well, that sounds like congratulations are in order.”

  I shook my head and tucked a clump of wet, wayward hair off her face. “Only if you’ll stick around this time and marry me.”

  She rocked back, looking stunned. “What?”

  I took out a hairpin that must be poking her scalp and continued. Her hair fell to surround her face as I said, “I admit I have issues, but I love you. And I don’t want to start over, because I need you back in my life right now.”

  She kissed my cheek and said, “I need you too, Charlie Grannd, but please believe me when I say I’m not here for your money. I’m here because being with you makes me happy.”

  I gave her the last pin and rested my forehead against hers as I said, “I admit the money is nice, though I do hope you’ll start wearing the jewelry I give you.”

  She nodded and laughed. “I packed the diamonds you snuck back in my bag.”

  My insides sparked, but I kissed her cheek and walked away. She truly was wet. I ran up to my room and threw open the closet to grab a shirt. I turned, and there she was, standing in my bedroom already. I tossed her the garment. She caught it as I said, “Even if you were leaving me, I couldn’t leave you completely naked. I hoped you’d remember me every time you saw yourself in the mirror, sparkling the way you normally do.”

  She reached for her dripping cotton pants as she said, “Actually, I think tonight we should definitely be naked.”

  She stripped, and I tossed the sopping clothes on the towel warmer to deal with later as I said, “That sounds acceptable.”

  She crossed her arms. “Just acceptable?”

  I reached for her shirt that already didn’t cover much. She lifted her arms to help me take it off as I said, “You know I’m hard as rocks around you. Now and always.”

  Her shirt ended up with her pants. Now all I needed to get rid of were those simple cotton panties of hers and the fun could begin. I tugged at them and she said, “Hmm, I’m thinking I want to see what my Scottish Seducer has to offer.”

  Now she was absolutely naked. My entire body hungered to have her, though I said as I put her hand on my cock, “My sweet romantic. There you are. If you want, I’ll book us at Gretna Green for our wedding.”

  “That works for me,” She said and stretched up on tiptoe and kissed me.

  Only with her did thoughts of tomorrow and what I intended to do next disappear.

  I was right here, with Stephanie, the woman I loved, and I didn’t want to be anywhere else, ever again.

  Chapter 19

  Stephanie

  Last night, I must have passed out at some point and dreamed I was engaged and happy.

  I blinked my eyes and discovered I actually was in Charlie’s bed. My dream was true, and my heart did a happy dance.

  I glanced down and saw my sheets were half covering me and Charlie was sitting on a chair next to the bed, completely dressed and ready for the day. I tugged up the sheet as I asked, “What are you doing?”

  He cocked his head with a gleam in his eyes as he said, “Deciding which breast is my favorite.”

  He came to the bed and kissed me. I curled my arms around him because it was still like a dream that I was here with him at all. He let me go and said, “We have to get up now and go.”

  I blinked but jumped out of bed as I asked, “We do?”

  He ran his eyes up and down my naked body, like he was memorizing me. “We’re meeting with your friends, and they’re already here.”

  My hair stood on end as I rushed to the bathroom and said, “I did tell them last night that I was leaving town,” before slamming the door.

  He knocked on the door and pushed a bag into the room that contained black pants and a black shirt with flats in my size. I finished showering and dressed in a rush. I swear the soft, satiny fabric made me feel a bit like classy Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but I bolted out of the room, ready to go, “Let’s go.”

  He walked with me, but led me up the stairs, not down. I decided not to ask questions, but when he opened the roof door, I heard a deafening whop-whop-whop sound and screamed out my question, “Is that a helicopter?”

  “Yes.” He said, and opened the door to reveal my three best friends, with croissants, small sandwiches, champagne, coffee, and tea. As he held my waist to help me climb in the helicopter, he said, “This is a much faster way to get to Bath so I can start over properly.”

  I was momentarily speechless, but my friend Amelia handed me a mimosa as I stammered, “B-Bath? With Sophia, Amelia, and Charlotte?”

  Charlotte showed me an itinerary for a weekend at the hotel in Bath, where my best friends and I could all rusticate like Jane Austen. Country walks, private tours, but also spas to “take the waters.”

  My heart was full. Charlie didn’t need to do this.

  Sophia said, “We all promised to help Charlie pick out a ring.”

  Charlotte took the itinerary back, but squeezed my hand when she said, “And go to Scotland for your wedding.”

  Amelia finished her drink and passed around the sandwiches as she said, “Yes. Are you sure you don’t want to invite Ann and Richard? I’m sure they’ll be pea green with envy when you put their wedding to shame.”

  Either they didn’t know or there was more gossip there, but I didn’t care or ask. Charlie mattered to me. I was standing when we took off, and almost lost my balance. Amelia put the plate down and offered me the tea I was aiming for, pouring the tea like riding in helicopters didn’t shake us, and she passed it to me like a pro.

  My heart was full, and proud of her because she worked so hard to be a proper Austenite, and happy for Charlie as I said, “I don’t care about those two idiots. I just want us to be happy.”

  I’d never flown in a helicopter and discovered what fun it could be watch the clear green grounds of the Bath hotel get closer and closer while we landed.

  But the laughter of friends and the closeness of Charlie where what made this morning magical.

  His arms around me felt right. Part of my soul knew I hadn’t earned the second chance he gave me last night, but the rest of me was thrilled. I’d forever be grateful and work hard to be his equal so we’d both remain madly in love, forever.

  As we landed, I looked over at the building to see a man standing there, watching us land.

  After Charlie helped me and all my friends out of the helicopter, he took my hand and said, “Seems my brother is joining us.”

  My friends all made themselves presentable as we walked over, but I stayed next to Charlie.

  No more bets or lies stood between us. As I stepped into the shade and Charlie hugged his brother, he said, “Logan, this is Stephanie, as you know. These are her friends, Amelia, Sophia, and Charlotte.” Charlotte turned pink while Charlie introduced him to my friends, “And this is my oldest brother, Lo
gan Grannd, the Duke of Aindal.”

  Logan glanced at sweet Charlotte as he said, “My brother is blessed to be surrounded by such lovely women.”

  He shook hands with each of them, and we all trooped to the waiting limo.

  One day, maybe I’d be used to this, but as we settled in—with plenty of room for more—Charlie asked his brother, “Why have you decided to join us while we pick out a ring for Stephanie?”

  Logan passed out water to everyone, but he stalled near Charlotte as he said, “I took your advice last night.”

  Charlie wrapped his arm around me and asked, “What advice?”

  Logan’s face turned red, but he said, “Charlie said if I don’t love Caroline, I need to stop inviting her to things, so I have formally ended our friendship.”

  My sweet friend Charlotte reminded me a bit of Jane in Pride and Prejudice, making those googly eyes at Charlie’s brother. Sophia normally helped, but it was time for me to ask the point-blank question. “Did you ever…make her intimate promises, Your Grace?”

  Sophia twitched, which made me laugh, but she scooted closer to Charlotte.

  Charlie’s brother chuckled when he said, “Logan is fine. I’m not uppity like the British lords. And your forthrightness is unexpected and welcome, as my future sister-in-law.”

  Good. I needed Charlie to be happy after all this, so I took his hand in mine, but my friends were my friends, too. So I said, “Thank you. So, did you?”

  He tugged his ear and turned away. “No. Caroline and I never dated. The most we ever did was kiss on the cheek, but next time, let’s not embarrass me publicly.”

  I caught another glance between Logan and Charlotte. I pivoted back to poke the ribs of the best man I ever met or ever would, and said, “A duke and a gentleman, huh? What happened to you, Charlie?”

  He winked at me as the car stopped and he whispered in my ear, “He got all the genteel parts, but we both know I’m the one you want.”

  My skin had warm goose bumps. Others hopped out of the car, but I curled my hands around his neck and said, “Of course I do. I love you.”