Page 14 of Scottish Seducer
Chapter 5
Stephanie
My lips tingled.Charlie’s kisses made my legs all wobbly, so sitting in the car was a good thing. I hadn’t needed to hold him so tightly, but I was actually dizzy from his kisses, and I quivered all over with awareness.
The windows were steamed up when the kiss ended, and I was breathless. But I ignored how my body ached for more and unlocked the doors. As I slid out, the refreshing air only primed my body for more kisses, more...Charlie.
My nipples were hard when he circled the car, and I swear he knew, despite my T-shirt and full-coverage bra. As he approached, the air was charged with desire.
He rested his warm hand on my lower back and I stared at that succulent mouth of his. But then my phone rang. I almost lost my balance, but reached in my pocket and saw Sophia’s name as I said, “I need to take this call.”
He kissed my forehead and said, “I’ll get us tickets to go inside and meet you by the river when you’ve finished your call.”
Sparks rushed through me, but I ignored the sensation and kept calm when I said, “Thanks, Charlie.”
I watched him walk toward the roaring river and my heart raced.
Unlike every other guy I’d ever dated, Charlie was in his own world, and for some reason, that made me feel more special.
The third ring finally got my attention, and I answered quickly so it wouldn’t go to voice mail. “Hey, Sophia. What’s going on?”
Charlie turned the corner and I lost sight of him. So I locked the car doors with a beep as she said, “I just went to your flat with Charlotte and Amelia to drop off the wine for our dinner party tonight.”
My gaze narrowed. She had a key, so I asked, “Okay?”
“Richard and Ann were there. They moved all your belongings into your room, and none of your furniture was in the living room.”
Heat erupted from my belly and spread to every cell in my body while my gut tightened. I had no idea why they’d been there yesterday when I kicked them out. Maybe I misunderstood Sophia and asked, “What do you mean?”
“They moved in. When I yelled at Ann about how dare she do this to you, she showed me the lease. She had your name taken off and intends to tell you that you have to move out as soon as you get back.”
I braced myself on the hood of the car so I wouldn’t faint because of the way my heart was pounding. “Oh, God.”
“Look, you can sleep on my couch when you get here, and we’ll figure it out.”
I glanced up. Tears filled my eyes. If I didn’t maintain a residence, I’d break part of my residency requirements and be sent back to Pittsburgh, where I had nothing. Anxiety that had not haunted me in years sent me on mental lockdown for a moment, but then I said, “Let me think. I’ll call you soon.”
Weeping was never pretty. I hung up without explaining, but hopeful I could avoid anything ugly. I hadn’t realized they hadn’t changed one bit. I put my phone away and headed toward the river, where Charlie was looking around him with a peaceful smile.
Part of me wished I could trust whatever the feeling was that I had for him, but he’d never be mine for long. We were from two separate universes.
His eyes widened as I approached. I wiped my face to make sure there were no tears and said, “Charlie?”
He opened his arms like he’d hug me and asked, “Is everything okay?”
I took the offer and his muscular arms around me helped me forget for a moment. Once he let me go, I was almost warm again as I asked, “Were you joking earlier in the car about me being your roommate?”
We walked up the cobblestone path to the blacksmith shop that once was the center of Gretna Green’s clandestine marriage mart of years past. He bumped into me playfully. “I said I’d prefer you to move into my townhome.”
He was rich, which hopefully meant he had a spare bed I could use for a while. I fidgeted, my heart pounding, but trying not to let it show. Then I said, “I remember, but were you serious?”
He stopped where we could see the huge steel sculpture of two clasped hands that formed the arch many wedding parties used as a backdrop for photos.
“Absolutely,” he said. “I’ve never had a roommate before, except my brother Logan when we were children. But you’re much prettier and less hairy than he is.”
I chuckled. Charlie was a crazy bet, but he was just temporary until I found my own place, if he let me. I bounced on my toes, cheerful again, and said, “Then I need a place to crash when we get to London and I’m sure your place is nicer than Sophia’s lumpy couch.”
He wrapped his arms around my waist like he’d protect me from all harm and asked, “What happened?”
