Catch My Breath

“Have you?”

“It’s working right now.”

Someone is extremely confident. This spell he’d cast was messing with me.

“You’re quite lovely, Lia. Pity you’re leaving soon. I’d like to take you—” he paused, tracing his thumb over my lower lip. I shuddered. “—out. Again.”

“You would?” I asked hoarsely.

Nodding, he stroked the curve of my cheek. “Are you coming back to Glasgow after the wedding?”

“Yeah…yes. Saturday.”

Backing away from him, I bumped into the arm of the couch. I almost toppled over it, but managed to steady myself. Being in his presence made me so damn skittish, it was frustrating.

“I’m supposed to make an appearance at a cocktail party for my grandfather’s company.”

Oh good, he’s busy.

“You should come. Or we could go out to dinner.” Like an apparition, he was in front of me, stroking his fingers along my arm. “What do you say? Fancy spending the night with me?”

The unspoken promise behind that question nearly shattered me on the spot. This was supposed to be an easy trip across the pond. Go to the wedding, hang out with the family and go home. Not fend off an amazingly sexy, impossible-to-resist guy.

“Stop overthinking,” he ordered.

Stormy, dark eyes carved a path through my skull. I wilted beneath the strength of his stare. A shaky breath escaped my lips as he traced his finger along my jaw and down my neck. He drew me into his hypnotic orbit with such ease. I was powerless to resist.

“This is inevitable, Amelia. Don’t deny it.”

Inevitable? Each stroke of his fingers left a fiery trail in its wake. The smooth, soft skin of his cheek brushed against mine.

“Come with me.”

Oh Jesus, those three words. I jolted out of his seductive haze like I was on fire, trying to avoid his eyes. His expression was one of pure lust.

“No,” I whispered.

His mouth fell open slightly in surprise. “No?”

“No,” I repeated, louder. “Do you not hear that word very often?”

Impassivity dominated his features. He studied me as though I was the most confusing creature on the planet. We stood so close to one another I was overcome by his intoxicating scent.

“Why not?”

“Because,” I sighed. “I’m not interested.”

“In what, Lia? Food or drinks?”

“You know what I mean.”

He looked right through me, down into my soul. I didn’t know how it happened, but he pierced through my wall. There was something else behind his intense stare that made me flush. I tried to hold his penetrating gaze but dropped my eyes to his mouth. Not smart. It was very distracting.

“Tell me what you want,” he coaxed.

“I…”

The damp warmth of his lips on my neck ignited my blood. He teased along my throat, methodically kissing it. This sensual assault wreaked havoc on me, making my insides liquefy. Unable to hold off my own yearning any longer, I moaned. Alastair stopped nibbling on my neck and focused his lusty stare.

“Next Saturday?“ I asked as a hazy, sexually charged cloud fogged my brain.

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

I still wasn’t thinking straight.

“Brilliant.” He smiled. “Until we meet again.”

CHAPTER FOUR (#u0a54b365-2b51-5473-98e5-bae33eb7a3dc)

“You know, I found out some interesting things about Alastair while you were busy on your mysterious date,” Stephanie glanced at me. We were sitting on the train heading down to Gretna Green. The Scottish countryside flew by in a blur of green and brown. I’d been quiet most of the trip, lost in my thoughts. Damn her for piquing my curiosity.

“And?”

She grinned. “He’s thirty-one, single and filthy rich. His grandfather is Samuel Holden, owner and CEO of Holden World Media. It’s a huge, billion-dollar corporation; TV, broadband, cell phones and music. Alastair is the chief financial officer and heir to the whole thing. You certainly have a way of attracting the high rollers.”

I cringed, feeling nauseous. Why does the universe have such a twisted sense of humor?Guys like that are trouble. They’re controlling, jealous and possessive. I just had an explosive break-up with one of them a couple of months ago. I refused to put myself through that again. But Alastair was…different? I wanted him to be.

“Sounds familiar,” I sighed.

“Oh my gosh. Alastair is nothing like Nathan. He has manners. I’m willing to bet he’d treat you like a princess.”

“It started like this with Nathan, too. Remember? He was all charming and fun, then wham! I couldn’t even make eye contact with another guy if he was in the same room.” I swallowed hard. “He broke me. I didn’t see it coming, but it happened. When I realized it, I was in too deep and…”

I stared at the floor, annoyed. Even now, he still had control over me. Bastard.

“Give Alastair the benefit of the doubt,” Stephanie said softly.

“We’ll see what happens next weekend at the cocktail party. Why is it you two were discussing him?” Stephanie and Darren engaged in more gossip-based conversations than anyone else on the planet. It was an obsession with them.

“Because you won’t. And because Darren knows him. He also overhears stuff from the girls in the office. They’re all enamored with him. Remember that blonde from the benefit? Sarah? Apparently, she’s been trying to get in Alastair’s pants for years.”

Jealousy cut through me like a hot blade. I had zero right to feel this way. He wasn’t mine or anything but the thought of him even flirting with another woman made my skin crawl. I slumped into my seat, looking out the window. I still had to reconcile what happened yesterday. Now that I was away from his magnetic sphere, I could think rationally. I shouldn’t have succumbed so readily to his seductive charms.

I stared out as green field after green field sped by alongside the train. I needed to quiet my mind and stop obsessing over this. My sister was getting married in a few days. That’s where my focus ought to be.

When we finally arrived in Gretna Green, we were greeted by a very excited bride-to-be. Seeing my little sister was always a treat. I missed her terribly.