Page 46 of Scottish Seducer
Soon, it would rain again, but as my car approached, I dashed out. No one noticed me as I returned to the borrowed apartment and locked the door behind me.
No one was coming for me tonight. I started to take off my costume when my phone rang. I was still in the Regency era undergarments that covered more of me than my normal clothes as I answered, and said, “Ridley, hi.”
My family loved me. And, unlike Indigo, who always knew what she wanted and how to get it, Ridley and Olivia had both struggled like me. I’d see Olivia tomorrow, but Ridley was in Texas. I returned to my room to undo my stays as she said, “Finally, you answered. I’ve been trying to call you back.”
Once I could breathe, the sensation in my stomach felt even more like rocks. I slumped on the bed in my chemise. “I’ll be able to see you soon. I bought a plane ticket to go home, and Georgie said I can stay at our parents’ old home until I get settled.”
“Why? I spoke to Carter about your new man.”
I lay back on the bed, ignoring my elaborate hairdo. “He’s not—what did he say?”
“He said he and Charlie worked out some deal that was better than the one they left behind.”
Exactly what Charlie told me, which shouldn’t twist my heart so much. I sat up and put her on speaker so I could get out of my starched white chemise, as I said, “That’s good.”
“He also said he’d be open to any of Charlie’s crazy ideas that Charlie somehow makes work, because most people aren’t as forward-thinking as he is.”
Forward thinking was his specialty. I rummaged through my bag for a T-shirt I’d sleep in and normal panties as I said, “That sounds like Charlie.”
“He sounds good for you. I was always afraid you’d end up never living your life.”
Now he had family support. I glanced out my window and wished I could see the moon. “Don’t start, Ridley.”
“Right, if you are coming home and not marrying this guy, then the closest university in Texas needs a new Jane Austen professor, and you have your master’s in English and Regency history.”
Marry? My heart thumped, but I said, “I’ll think about that later, but send me an email with the job.”
We hung up and I finished getting ready for bed. At least this was something normal.
But I was too wound up to sleep. I checked my phone for the job description, but I saw Charlie’s name on an unread email. My heart leapt as I asked myself, “What’s this?”
I clicked and read.
Stephanie,
I was wrong to test you and throw you out of my life so suddenly. I was hurt in the past, so I thought it was okay to push you away so I wouldn’t be hurt again. I won’t bother you anymore, but you’ll always be the only woman I’ve ever truly loved. I own that my behavior was intolerable to you, and I’ll live with that regret forever. I am sending this because I love you, and I will always wish the best for you.
Charlie
He loves me. I love him.I ached.
I had made a horrible mistake. If I didn’t believe in love, then I was the true fool.
Hopefully, he was up. I needed to see him.
Right now.
