The Scotch Series: The Complete Series (Scotch #1-3) - Penelope Sky Page 0,168

by mutual friends. I’d heard nothing but good things about him, but I’d never met him in person. Instead of feeling nervous like I usually did on a first date, I didn’t feel anything at all.

I walked inside and saw him sitting in a booth, wearing a t-shirt and jeans. He had dirty-blond hair and light-colored eyes, looking handsome but with a distinct boyish charm. He smiled when he saw me, a dimple in each cheek.

He was cute, but I didn’t feel that thrill shoot down my spine.

I walked over to him and extended my hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

He shook my hand. “You too.”

I took a seat across from him and studied the menu. “So what are you thinking?”

“That you’re very pretty,” he said with a smile.

A chuckle formed in my throat, but I didn’t let it escape. “I meant about the menu. What are you going to get?”

“Hmm…” He eyed the choices on the wall. “I’m not picky. I’ll eat anything.”

“Ditto.”

“You wanna split one, then?” he asked. “How about the supreme?”

“I like the way you think.”

He winked before he went up to the counter and ordered.

The second I was alone in the booth, my face fell and my thoughts turned to the man I hadn’t stopped thinking about. Crewe was always on my mind, and even when I was asleep, he was in my dreams.

I thought I would have forgotten him by now, but I hadn’t. I finally had my life back, the kind of freedom I’d gone six months without having, but it didn’t feel as good as I thought it would. I found myself missing the stone walls of the castle, the comfortable bed I used to sleep in every night, and the view from the bedroom window. I missed listening to Crewe brush his teeth before bed and watching him shave in the morning when he got out of the shower.

Now I felt empty inside.

There was no excitement in my life, just the same mundane routine I did every day. On my days off, I spent time with my friends, but most of them were busy studying for their exams. I didn’t have any family, so there wasn’t anyone to open up to about my struggle.

I wondered if Crewe still thought about me.

Will returned with our number on a stand and two sodas. “It’ll be fifteen minutes.”

I tried to push Crewe out of my mind, but that was almost impossible to do when I was with other men. I hadn’t slept with anyone, but I still felt like I was betraying Crewe in some way. And I felt bad for my dates since they were constantly being compared to the man I’d slept with for the past six months—a duke. “I hope my stomach can manage it.”

“I can order some breadsticks or something.”

“No, it’s okay,” I said quickly. “It’ll ruin my appetite if I eat now.”

“Yeah, me too.” He stared at me and faltered, unsure what to say to keep the conversation going.

Crewe and I never had that problem. We wouldn’t speak for hours, and that was perfectly fine. It was comfortable, actually. “So, you’re an accountant?”

“Yeah. I’ve been working at my dad’s office, but I’m gonna open up my own soon. Just wanted to get a few years of experience before I did that.”

“Not a bad idea.”

“You’re a physician assistant, right?”

I nodded.

“You gonna start medical school again in the fall?” He knew exactly why I dropped out of the program to begin with. Some of the other men I dated treated me like fragile glass, damaged goods. Other men were brave enough to date me, but they had their guard up the whole time.

I didn’t appreciate being looked at like that, like there was something wrong with me. While Crewe shouldn’t have kidnapped me, our relationship was consensual. I had the power to say no whenever I wanted. None of my dates would understand that because I didn’t want to discuss my time in Scotland. “That’s the plan. But I like what I do now.”

“Sounds like a good gig. Plus, you’re getting paid.”

I nodded. “It is nice to buy food and shoes—those are the two things I can’t live without.”

He chuckled, but it didn’t seem genuine.

I was already bored, and we hadn’t even gotten our food yet. None of the guys I met were interesting. They were all the same—educated, nice, and predictable. They lacked the attraction and passion Crewe possessed. Crewe was dark and dangerous, but in a good way. He