Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91373 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 457(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
We watched each other come, clinging onto one another through our lovemaking, and I felt the bond between us grow stronger, tightening its grip until it was almost painful.
I had to hope that with time, what we felt for each other would become more comfortable and easier to bear.
Sixteen
THEO
Three days after Sarah’s cousin’s arrival, I still felt out of sorts. I didn’t want to overthink anything because I was … well, it would probably mean the end for Sarah and me, and I wasn’t quite ready for that.
Staring out of the living room window at the wintry day, I tried to ignore the fast beating of my pulse but couldn’t. It felt like my heart had been racing for the last two days, and I was uncomfortable in my own damn skin.
Maybe it was the Highlands.
December this far north wasn’t this southerner’s optimum environment.
Soft hands slid around my waist, and I inhaled her citrusy scent as she pressed a kiss to my shoulder blade. “Good morning.”
I covered her hands with mine, my pulse slowing a bit as Sarah rested her cheek against my back. “Morning, love.”
“Is everything okay?” She pulled away to rest her pert little bottom on her desk to face me. Those stunning green eyes met mine. “You seem a bit out of sorts.”
Yes, I was, wasn’t I. Maybe it wasn’t just the Highlands. Maybe it was …
No.
It was probably because I suspected the one friend who I trusted had broken my confidence and tattled on me like a schoolboy to Sarah’s cousin. It had to be North who’d told Jared I was here. He was the only one who knew. I had to admit it stung more than I liked that he thought me such a philandering bastard that I’d hurt Sarah. Not to mention the way others seemed to treat Sarah as if she were fragile and incapable of making her own adult decisions. They didn’t know her. Not even the people who purported to know her best really actually bloody knew her.
She had a quiet fire and inner strength that put most people to shame.
“You’re thinking pretty hard over there.”
I nodded. “I think North told Jared.”
Sympathy softened her expression. “I’m sorry.”
I shrugged. “It’s good to know where one stands.”
“Theo—”
“Let’s go to London,” I cut her off, unable to discuss North or anything remotely related to wounded feelings.
Sarah’s brows rose. “London?”
“Yes. Have you ever been to London at Christmastime? It’s something to see.”
“I’ve never been to London, full stop. I’ve … I’ve never left Scotland.”
Taken aback, I reached out to caress her pretty cheek. “Well, little darling, we need to do something about that.”
“My agent is in London and she did suggest meeting when she visits Edinburgh next year, but maybe I could meet her if we go to London now,” she mused.
Glad she was giving it serious contemplation, I pressed, “And the weather is milder in London too. We could take a break from writing while I show you the sights.”
“But my deadline …”
“It’ll still be there. Everyone needs a break, Sarah. You’ve been working every day for the past two months.”
She considered this and then nodded. “All right. Let’s go to London.”
Relieved, knowing a change of scenery to somewhere more familiar would ground me again, I picked her up and twirled her around. Her excited giggles filled my ears and an invisible hand stroked a tender caress across my heart. Lowering her, I patted her bottom. “Go get ready.”
She shoved me playfully, her face wreathed in smiles, before she hurried from the room like a child at Christmas.
I stared after her, feeling …
Feeling too much.
Seventeen
SARAH
After Theo suggested I do some clothes shopping in London and spend a little of my money on myself, it didn’t take me long to pack. We were ready to leave in record time.
I had a moment of panic when, just as we stepped out the front door, I asked, “I don’t need a passport, do I?”
Theo raised an eyebrow. “You don’t have one?”
“No.”
“Well, you should get one. But to travel to London you just need ID. Your driver’s license will do.”
“Speaking of, what about my car?” I gestured to it as he led me to his rental.
“Leave it. We’ll figure something out.” Then he peered at my vehicle for a few seconds before turning back to me with a smirk. “We need to do something about this car, Sarah. You’re making all the other millionaires look bad.”
My laughter echoed off the driveway as I shoved him playfully aside to load my bag into the boot of his car.
We chatted about all the sights Theo wanted to show me when we got to London, and I let the butterflies of excitement fill my belly as I anticipated our trip. It was out of character for me to do something so impulsive, but it made me feel alive. I sincerely believed Grandpa would be proud of me for going out into the world.