The Scotch Series: The Complete Series (Scotch #1-3) - Penelope Sky Page 0,135

and wet, and the embrace lasted for seconds.

Now I was awake again, warmed by the unexpected affection he gave me. Joy radiated through me when I realized I accomplished something I never thought was possible. But then the guilt quickly followed afterward. The more Crewe softened for me, the more I softened for him. I felt loyalty to this man when I shouldn’t feel anything. I felt jealousy when I shouldn’t care where he was or who he was with.

I felt everything when I shouldn’t feel anything.

30

Crewe

“Crewe, you have a moment?” Ariel poked her head inside my office.

“I always have a moment for you.”

She smiled and walked inside, looking elegant in her tight skirt and blouse. She always looked perfectly manicured every time I saw her. Even when I needed something from her in the middle of the night, she looked as elegant as a queen. “Have I ever told you you’re my favorite boss?” She sat down and crossed her legs.

“No. But I assumed. What’s up?”

“I have the hairdresser and makeup artist lined up for London.” The second she was mentioned, Ariel’s mood soured. “And I strongly encourage the etiquette course. Should I set that up as well?”

I knew London would never go for it. Besides, she was perfect the way she was. “That won’t be necessary.”

Ariel made the note without objection, but her jaw tightened in annoyance. “Very well. And you’re still certain you want to take her? There’s going to be a lot of respectable people there.”

I’d assured Ariel nothing serious was going on between London and me. In fact, I gave her my word. But now everything was changing, and I wasn’t even sure what was going on. It would be easier to take Sasha or someone else, but I didn’t want another woman on my arm. London wouldn’t want that either. “Yes, I’m certain.”

Ariel hid her annoyance again, but I knew her so well that it was obvious she was ticked.

“You should bring someone, Ariel. It’s a social function, after all.” I never met any of the men in her life. She never talked about her personal life, even when I asked questions. I understood her need for professionalism, but we were still friends. I cared about her as a person, not just a business partner.

“I may.”

“That’s great. I’d love to meet him.”

She only smiled in response.

“I might give him a bit of an interrogation, but I’m sure he can handle it. If he’s with you, he must be pretty solid.”

Her smile didn’t drop. “We’ll see.” She rose from the chair, standing on her heels with an ease that implied she was barefoot. “Need anything else?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“You know where to find me.” She walked out and closed the door behind her.

My thoughts turned to London once I was alone. That woman was on my mind constantly, even when I was in the middle of a business meeting. Like a cloud that hung over my head, she followed me everywhere I went.

Letting her speak to her brother was an impulse decision. Maybe I would regret it later, but I suspected I wouldn’t. He thought his life could be claimed at any point in time when my thumb decided to hit the trigger. London would never jeopardize her brother’s life, and Joseph wouldn’t cross me again.

I wondered if the threat on Joseph’s life wasn’t the only reason London was with me.

That she wanted to be with me.

Every time we were together, it seemed different. She wanted me all to herself, she wanted me to spend all of her free time with me, and she looked at me like I was the only man in the world who mattered.

I wondered if her feelings had grown from hatred, to lust…and to something more.

I was afraid the same had happened to me.

I told myself that would never happen because it didn’t seem possible. My heart had been broken and humiliated, and I was too angry to feel anything besides spite. But I cut back on drinking, stopped seeing other women, and London was the only thing I thought about exclusively.

How did I get here?

Dimitri knocked on the door and popped his head inside. “Sir, may I come in?”

“Yes.” I didn’t miss Dunbar at all. Ever since he’d been put on tower duty, he hadn’t had any conflicts with London. It was an easy fix.

Dimitri approached my desk with an envelope in hand. “London asked me to give this to you.”

“Lady London,” I corrected as I took the