Page 16 of Scottish Seducer
Chapter 6
Charlie
We droveto my townhome across from Hyde Park. Because she was on the job, she had the address in her phone, so she didn’t need to ask for directions.
Instead she fascinated me with how she blathered on about books, and how, as soon as she read them when she was thirteen her world had changed. I don’t remember a book ever doing that to me, though I mentioned how the stars twinkled and they fueled my own dreams.
As we parked the car, I pointed to the moving truck out front and the men carrying boxes and said, “Seems like the movers have your things already.”
She got out of the car but let out a sigh as she shook her head. “Which means those...those...well, anyway, they had all night to rifle through my things, I suppose.”
Part of me hoped to meet this ex of hers one day, but then I shouldn’t judge her based on bad decisions. My last date only ever talked about how she never ate anything, and I’d tuned her out to the point I didn’t really remember her face.
She wasn’t like Stephanie, who hadn’t shrieked when I offered her tattie scones.
However, as walked to the front of the house, three women her age all piled out of a small car. I swallowed and asked, “Who are they?”
Her eyes widened but then she threw her arms out to greet everyone as she said, “My friends…Sophia, Amelia, and Charlotte.” Once the women let her go, she asked, “Why are you three here?”
One of the women, with a bit of a crooked tooth, grinned at us and asked, “You’re moving to Knightsbridge? With Charlie Grannd?”
American as well. They all seemed animated. Stephanie massaged the middle of her forehead then led the group to me as she said, “Right, this is Sophia. She’s the leader in the group.”
I shook hands and said, “Nice to meet you.”
She then beckoned for the short, dark-haired one to step forward as she said, “And this is Amelia. She’s the brains of the operation.”
“I see. Nice to meet you.”
She had the long-haired blonde step forward, and said, “Then, there is sweet Charlotte.”
She looked very old-school British, with the requisite pink cheeks, though her accent was definitely from across the pond. I greeted her then said, “Lovely to meet you all, ladies.”
As the three stepped back, I rested my hand on Stephanie’s back and asked, “How do you describe your role in the group, Stephanie?”
Her friends all stared at where I was touching her and my own skin tingled like I’d been judged, as she said, “I’m the wandering troublemaker.”
I held her closer as I said, “Very doubtful. Well, invite your friends in.”
The taller brunette waved her hands, leaned over and whispered something in Stephanie’s ear, then said loudly, “No, thanks. We just needed to know Ann and Richard hadn’t sent your things to a garbage dump, but when the movers stopped here, we waited. We’ll come for a visit once you’re settled in.”
All three women went back to their very tiny car, and we stood next to it as Stephanie said, “I’ll call you. It’s still my turn to host the wine party.”
I tugged my ear, unsure whether I should insist they come in or not, but Stephanie waved and I joined her as she said, “Absolutely. See you tomorrow, then.”
Once they drove off, I pointed her toward the door as I asked, “Wine party?”
I opened the door to freshly waxed floors that shone so brightly we could almost see our reflections in the mahogany. She stayed focused on the crystal chandelier, though, as she said, “We take turns having each other over for a glass of wine each week. It was my turn tomorrow, which is how Sophia figured out what Richard and Ann had done.”
I decided to have my steward pick out vintage wines based on the time period she loved so much. I took her hand and tried to ignore the spark as I directed her up the stairs.
She kept up, and we made it the personal area. I opened the yellow bedroom where her things were deposited and said, “Excellent. Now we’re here, let’s talk for a moment.”
She covered her mouth when she saw her boxes, tears in her eyes. “All we’ve done is talk for the past few hours. And I need to thank you for rescuing my stuff, and because your home is beautiful.”
Right. She was like all the others. Here for my money. I wasn’t completely blind, but I walked to the window seat that overlooked Hyde Park and said, “Yes, but I changed your job description at my company.”
Her face went white. “Oh, no. I was fine where I was.”
