Lion of Caledonia: International Billionaires VII: The Scots

by Caro LaFever

  Everything else meant nothing.

  “Jen! Are ye having fun?” Robbie’s small face screwed into a frown of worry.

  No. She wasn’t having fun and she wouldn’t have fun for a very long time. Even the word would bring back memories she wouldn’t be able to escape, not as long as she breathed. “I’m fine.”

  “Are ye sure?” The boy ducked under a stream of ribbons before glancing at her again, his eyes still worried.

  “I’m sure.” She forced a smile and that seemed to satisfy him because he gave her one of his own.

  The dance continued, the circle growing smaller and smaller as the ribbons wrapped around the pole.

  “Jen!” Robbie’s grin spread across his flushed cheeks. “We’re almost done with doing the pole.”

  Glancing over, she saw he was right. Which meant she’d need to find another errand or activity soon.

  Cam had been stalking her.

  Relentlessly.

  His rambunctious guests had helped her escape his first attempt at pinning her down. Their demands for more breakfast muffins and fruit had let her scurry to the kitchen, leaving him stewing in the dining room. She’d managed to hide from his predator gaze for the rest of the morning by taking a long, solitary walk through the moor and beside the loch. Saying goodbye to the land and the water and the home she’d come to love.

  A tear or two or three had been shed.

  No one had seen and no one would know.

  He’d tried to pounce on her once more as soon as she’d returned, but she’d raced to help carry the platters filled with lunchtime goodies. Scones with ginger jam, seed cakes, and pork pies. Apple tarts and dishes of fresh sliced tomatoes. She’d included cucumber and watercress sandwiches in her order too, thinking how wonderful it would be to mix Cam’s heritage with her own.

  What a silly, stupid romantic she’d been.

  Not anymore. Not now.

  Jen’s throat hurt as she rounded the pole one more time.

  Cam had strode beside her, trying to ask her questions, but the caterer had raced over with her own questions and finally, he’d sullenly walked away.

  There wasn’t anything to say.

  Not anymore.

  Not now.

  “Hey, Da!” His son waved at the throng of people standing and watching the May Day dance around the pole. “Do ye see me and Jen?”

  “Yes.” The one word answer came back with a snap. “I see ye both just fine.”

  She glanced Cam’s way. He stood, arms crossed, a ferocious frown on his face. By the look in his eyes, she could tell he hadn’t finished with their game of cat and mouse, and he didn’t intend to lose.

  She swung back to stare in front of her. Cameron Steward wouldn’t be put off all day. Stubborn and determined when he chose to be, he’d eventually drive her into a corner and make her talk. Leaving last night would have been the best. He would have taken her rejection in stride and wouldn’t have been hovering outside her door, waiting. Now, though, he was on the scent, in the hunt, and there’d be no way she’d slip from his house without him knowing.

  She had to talk to him. Give him some sort of explanation so he’d quit his pursuit. So she could sneak away unnoticed. There wasn’t anything left to say, yet she’d have to say something. Not anything important. Not anything about the future.

  But something.

  “Yeah!” His son danced by her, the last of the ribbon dropping from his hand. “We did it! The May Pole is done.”

  “Yes, we did.” She let herself ruffle his spiky hair one more time, taking in his brilliant smile. “I love you, Robbie.”

  His eyes widened and then, gleamed with emotion. “I love ye too.”

  Grief knotted in her throat. Kneeling, she took his hands in hers. “I want you to love your father and listen to what he tells you.”

  A puzzled frown furrowed his brows. “I love him, Jen. You’ll not worry about that any longer.”

  “Okay. I won’t.” Her one good deed, here. She took in the love shining in the boy’s gaze and smiled. “Don’t ever stop.”

  Although Cam had hurt her last night, she couldn’t blame him. He’d never made any promises to her and he’d been honest about the type of man he was. Restless. Bold. Rash. Onto the next adventure and, in this case, onto the next woman. Her hurt was real, yet it was her own fault for being a dreamer. Her hurt didn’t extend to wanting Cam or Robbie to hurt at all.

  “And I’ll listen to what he has to say,” the boy said, his face scrunching in wary concession. “But I’m not going to always do what he says.”

  “Is that simmering rebellion I hear in your voice, Rob?” Cam’s long shadow loomed above both of them.

  “Naw.” His son gave him a jaunty grin. “Just me telling Jen the truth.”

  A big paw reached down and lifted a laughing boy into strong arms. “The truth is, you’ll do as your da tells ye to, if ye know what’s good.”

  She straightened to a stand, letting one last picture slide into her memories. Cam’s face lit with love, Robbie giggling as he placed his trusting head on a broad shoulder. The bond strong now, and sure.

  Time for her to leave.

  “Go and eat some of those fancy Sassenach sandwiches Jenny picked for the midday feast.” He dumped Rob on his feet and swatted the top of his head. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  The boy laughed at the last instruction and raced off towards the tables piled with food.

  Cam turned to give her a glare. “And now. Ye and me. We’re going to have a talk.”

  “All right.”

  He stilled, clearly surprised at her agreement.

  Hating herself for the lie, but knowing it had to be done, she lifted a hand to her throat and coughed.

  Immediate concern swept across his features. He reached out and tugged her closer. “Is it your breathing, then? Are ye having an attack?”

  “Perhaps.” She bent her head to his chest, not letting him see the sorrow and hurt and guilt on her face. “I had one last night too.”

  His warm hand rubbed along her spine. “Why didn’t ye let me in, lass? I could have helped ye.”

  “I didn’t want to keep you up all night.” Nestling into his arms, she let herself breathe him in one more time. His heat and scent and comfort.

  Cam Steward might not be the man of her dreams, yet he was a good man with a good heart. It wasn’t his fault his heart beat for the next new thing and the next new experience. She couldn’t fault him for something that was innate.

  “I could have calmed ye.” The confidence in his voice made her smile, a wistful, bittersweet regret bursting inside.

  Pulling her away from him, he ducked his head to peer at her. She kept the smile on and hoped it rose into her eyes too. “I’m tired, Cam.”

  His tawny brows drew down, a look of frustration filling his gaze. “Then why have ye been running around for the past few days? I told ye to let Mrs. Rivers handle the staff. I wanted ye to just enjoy.”

  “I have enjoyed the party.” She had. Up until last night. “I think I’ll go to my room, though, and rest for a bit.”

  “Ye do that.” His hands moved over her arms sending tingles of unwanted want through her blood. “I’ll take care of all this and say your goodbyes for ye.”

  His neighbors and most of the guests would be leaving this afternoon. Only Tre and Amanda would be staying on for one more night. She shied away from thinking about what Cam and Amanda might do during the course of this evening.

  She didn’t want to know.

  She didn’t have the right.

  “Jenny?” He bent closer, his arousing mouth too close. “Ye go have a nap and when ye wake ye come down and join us for some drinks.”

  She couldn’t have him looking for her again. “I’m going to sleep and if I don’t wake, I want everyone to leave me alone.”

  “I can come and hold ye later. It might help ye sleep.”

  Jen wondered if she’d ever sleep again without his warm
body next to hers. But she was being foolish and maudlin. She’d survived losing her mother and father when she’d been five. She could survive losing Cam. “I’ll do better alone. It’s only for tonight.”

  Only for forever.

  He straightened. “Okay. Ye can have your way.”

  “Thank—”

  “Tomorrow, though, Jenny. Ye and me. We’re going to have a serious talk.”

  There would be no more tomorrows for them. The painful reality struck her, making her gasp in a breath.

  “Hell.” His mouth twisted in self-disgust. “Here I am nattering on, when you’re having a hard time breathing.”

  His hands tightened on her shoulders and whipped her around to face the house. “I was thinking of giving ye a kiss, but we’ll do that tomorrow.”

  No kissing tomorrow. Or ever again.

  “Do ye want me to walk ye to your room?” his gruff voice was filled with need.

  “No.” She broke from his grasp. “You might not let me sleep.”

  He chuckled, a rough, reluctant sound. “Get going. Before I change my mind.”

  Jen left Cameron Steward. Once and for all.

  “It was a fine party, Cam.” Amanda lazed on the library sofa, her long legs stretched in front of the roaring fire. “Stop worrying.”

  He wasn’t worried about any silly thing like that. He was worried about Jenny.

  She hadn’t come back. She’d warned him and he’d done what she asked. He hadn’t bothered her, yet his conscience screamed at him to check on her. Make sure she was fine, make sure she was safe.

  His instincts were screaming too.

  Something was wrong.

  Something wasn’t right.

  Tre leaned his elbows on his knees, rolling a half-filled scotch glass in his hands. His gaze was as worried as his own. And when both Tre’s and his own instincts were on alert, he always paid attention.

  “Do ye have something to say, dobber?” Cam tried to pretend all was well by placing his open hands on his flat stomach.

  “I’m not sure I should bring this up.” Tre’s dark brows lowered. “I’m not sure what’s going on here. It might be best for me to keep my peace.”

  “Naw.” His fingers curled into his palms. “I trust your judgment. Tell me.”

  His friend’s eyes turned dark. “Did Jen tell ye she only thought of ye as a friend?” he burst out. “That she was only having a bit of fun with ye?”

  “What?” His whole body stiffened. “What do ye mean by that?”

  “I thought as much.” Tre heaved a sigh and poured the rest of the drink down his throat. “I asked ye if you’d talked to her, and ye said yes. But I figured you’d be a tad more upset than ye were if you’d known the truth.”

  A sick brew of pain threatened, yet he pushed it away. Jenny wouldn’t say that. Jenny wasn’t capable of having a bit of fun with a man and nonchalantly walking away. He knew her. “You’re claiming my Jenny told ye this?”

  “My Jenny.” Amanda hummed from the sofa. “Now I know what really happened between you and me last night.”

  Tre glanced her way, then back at him with a scowl. “What the hell were ye doing with Amanda last night?”

  “That’s for us to know and you to find out.” Her sassy response was so typical of Amanda, Cam almost smiled. If it weren’t for his gut stewing with confusion and worry, he’d have responded with the same answer.

  His friend shot her a glare. “Don’t try your guff with me, Ms. Reed. I know what you’re capable of.”

  “Bugger off.” Her tone went sharp. “You’re not my mum nor my dad.”

  “Quit. Both of ye.” His hands tightened into fists of frustration. “Tre. Tell me you’re winding me up with all this stuff about Jenny.”

  “Not in the slightest. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so hard on her, though, considering ye and Amanda were having some fun last night.” His friend stood, fire in his eyes. “Maybe I should have known Cam Steward was on another lark, instead of getting serious about a lass.”

  “Hard on her?” He jumped to his feet, anger blowing away his confusion. Pacing over to Tre, he got right in his face. “What the hell did ye do to her?”

  “I asked her some questions to make sure ye were both on the same page.” His friend didn’t retreat an inch. “I defended ye. Told her ye weren’t fooling around with her.”

  “Ye had no right to quiz her.” Something warm slid inside his heart, reminding him this man before him had always stood by his side. Yet, that didn’t excuse his nosiness or his aggression with Jenny. “It’s no business of yours what’s going on between us.”

  “Is that so?” Tre’s hand grabbed his arm in a tight grip, a blaze of hurt burning in his gaze. “I’m supposed to let ye do something stupid and instead of stopping ye, I’m to let ye fall?”

  “Now it’s my turn to tell you both to stop.” Amanda rose and slid between the two of them. “Sit down and talk like adults, not idiot teenagers.”

  His friend made a sound of pained aggravation deep in his throat and sat.

  Cam paced to his favorite window and glared out at the moonlit night. “If ye hurt her, Tre, I swear—”

  “I didn’t lay a hand on her, ye nutter. Ye know me better than that.” Tre’s voice was edged with disgust. “In fact, I was protecting ye, if ye want to know.”

  “Protecting me?” He turned in astonishment to stare at his friend. “When the hell did ye ever need to protect me?”

  “I don’t know.” Tre leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. “Maybe when I saw ye pinning your heart on your sleeve.”

  A flush of mortification heated his skin. Had he been so obvious? Tre and he were close, but he hadn’t thought his emotions were that easy to detect. Hell, he didn’t even know what was truly in his heart yet. How could his friend? “I was doing no such thing.”

  “Well, then.” Tre shrugged. “Looks like both ye and Jen were only having a bit of fun and there’s nothing to worry about. I’ll keep my nose out if it from now on.”

  “I wouldn’t be so sure.” Amanda smiled, a tease in her eyes. “After all, I wouldn’t say most men, when given a chance at me, would say no.”

  Cam grunted.

  “Our dear Cameron did just that last night though.” She flung her blonde hair over one shoulder, as if she couldn’t care less. But she still was going to get in a dig, he could see it in her eyes. “A gold-embossed, full-on invitation.”

  “Ye don’t say,” Tre drawled, picking up the tease. “I wouldn’t be adverse to having that invitation thrown at me.”

  She sniffed. “Maybe someday.”

  His friend grinned, not provoked in the least. “Do I need to pin my heart on my sleeve for ye, sweet Amanda?”

  “If I wait for that day to come, I’ll be an old, grey lady.”

  Dismissing the familiar interplay, Cam turned back to stare at the loch. Whatever Tre had heard, it hadn’t been what he thought. He’d stake his life on it. Jenny didn’t have a bad bone in her body, and she didn’t know how to lie with any effectiveness.

  He wanted to prove it tonight, but it was past one in the morning. He should leave it alone for now. He’d say goodbye to these two tomorrow. Then he’d sort out Jenny and himself. They’d get back to working together on his book during the day, and working on giving each other pleasure during the night. He’d have the time to judge if he’d hurt her by going forward with their relationship, or if he had the ability to make this work.

  His heart, his stupid and confused heart lifted.

  Still restless, he prowled to the other window, his mind half listening to the banter going on between his friends.

  He had plans for his boy, too. They’d spend this summer getting to know each other under Jenny’s careful guidance. He trusted her to keep them both in line and both on track. By the time the fall arrived, he’d have sorted out the school situation for Rob. He’d had a chance to talk to some of neighboring parents during the bonfire party and today. The local school
was good. Jenny could tour it with him and tell him if was good enough for his son.

  The thought of his son conjured him up in real life. “Da?”

  Swinging around, he met his son’s worried gaze. The lad shuffled into the library, dragging his wooden sword behind him, his Spiderman pajamas turned inside out.

  Cam grimaced.

  When he’d checked on his boy earlier this evening, he’d found him hot with sweat, twisted in his sheets. Waking Rob from his bad dream, he’d stripped him of the damp pjs and remade his bed. He probably should have turned on the lights, but he hadn’t wanted to disturb the boy any further. So what the hell. So he dressed his kid inside out. What did it matter? He’d be a good father eventually, with Jenny’s help.

  He paced to his boy and lifted him into his arms. “What is it? Did ye have a hard time falling asleep again?”

  “Yes. I went to Jen like she told me I should.”

  He patted a skinny arm. “She locked the door on ye, did she? She did the same to me last night.”

  “That’s a surprise.” Amanda chimed in.

  “Shoosh now,” he threw over his shoulder. “No more digs. Not with Rob here.”

  “There’s the protective parent I always knew was in ye, Cameron,” Tre said, a grin in his voice.

  “Ye shoosh, too.” He swung back to meet his son’s gaze. “She needed some sleep, Rob. That’s all.”

  “No. That’s not all.” Tawny brows, so like his own, furrowed. “She’s not there, Da.”

  “What?” Confusion swirled inside as he tried to make sense of the words. “What do ye mean?”

  “She’s gone.” The brown and gold of Rob’s eyes gleamed with sudden tears. “She took all her stuff, too.”

  His hands tightened on the small body with disbelief. “You’ve got it wrong.”

  “I wish.” The boy stared at him, two teardrops streaking down his white cheeks. “But I don’t.”

  He dropped his son to his feet, every muscle in his body taut with dread. “Ye stay here with Tre and Amanda.”

  “Okay.” Rob clutched his fingers. “You’ll find her, Da, right?”

  “I’ll find her.”

  He took off, running through the library doors, telling himself this must be a mistake, his boy must be wrong. Yet Rob wasn’t the type to raise a false alarm. Maybe, hopefully, possibly the fact he hadn’t worn his glasses might be the cause of this whole problem.