Page 49 of Scottish Seducer
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 inBreakfast 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, Logan 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.
