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Authors: Sabrina York

Call of the Wild Wind (Waterloo Heroes Book 2) (12 page)

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Oh, that was a lovely thought. “Do you really think so?”

“I think the only way you can find out is by asking him.”

So true.

The thought also made her stomach churn. What if, when put to the point, he did not share her deeper feelings? What if she was the only one interested in pursuing this tension between them? What if—

It was pointless to wonder. She needed to speak with Charles.

If he wasn’t interested in her, so be it. She would leave posthaste even though it would break her heart and, indeed, condemn her to a lifetime of loneliness.

Oh, not because of any old ring. Or curse. Or family legend. But because she knew now, there was no other man for her.

If she could not have Charles, she didn’t want anyone at all.

“Britannia?”

Her pulse lurched and she whirled around to find the object of her thoughts standing in the shadows, hovering at the entrance of the garden.

“Y-yes?”

He hesitated. Kicked the toe of his shoe into the grass. “May I have a moment of your time?”

Britannia glanced at Chelsea, who attempted to hide her smile. She patted Britannia on the shoulder. “I shall leave you two alone.” And then she leaned in and whispered, “Good luck.”

She watched as Chelsea headed back to the house, desperately attempting to calm herself. It didn’t help that Charles stepped closer. But didn’t touch her, thank God. She needed to focus on her questions and she knew if he so much as breathed on her, her attention would shatter.

“I’m sorry to interrupt,” he said softly.

“Chelsea and I were done speaking.”

“Were you?” He toyed with a protruding branch, most likely to have something to do with his hands. “What did you talk about?”

“Peter. Or John.”

“And?”

“She loves him.”

“I…ah… How do you feel about that?”

She sucked in a deep breath and locked her gaze on his face. “May I ask you something, Charles?”

He blinked. “Of course.”

“How disappointed were you? When we discovered John was Peter?”

He didn’t answer, but his fingers tightened on the branch. It snapped.

“I’d really like to know, Charles.” The fact that he’d been so blasé, so casual about it, had devastated her.

His lashes flickered. His Adam’s apple bobbed. Without meeting her gaze he said, “I…ah…was verra disappointed.”

“You didn’t seem upset.”

“Upset?
Upset?
” A snort. He pinned her with his icy-sharp gaze. “Do you no’ know? Can you no’ see it?”

Her heart fluttered. Her head went light. “See what?”

He grimaced and turned away, which made her heart flutter in panic. But then he pinned her with an intense stare and whispered, “Can you no’ see how much I need you?”

Yes. Yes.

“You
need
me?”

His stare intensified. His features went taut. “Aye.”

“So why did you act like you didn’t care when I found Peter again?”

He huffed a laugh. “Surely that is not a mystery to you?”

“Clearly it is.”

“Do you intend to humble me utterly, Britannia Halsey?”

Humble him? What had she ever done to humble him? “Tell me. Please.”

“How should I act when the woman I love is reunited with the love of her life?”

The woman he
loved
? Oh lord, had he said that? Had he truly said that?

“He’s not,” she blurted.

Charles blinked. “What?”

“He’s not the love of my life.” She took his hands and stared into his eyes, willing all her adoration to shine through.

He must have missed it, for he broke away and raked his hair with his fingers. “Beyond that, you are the daughter of a duke. You’ve lived in London your whole life.”

“I rather prefer the country.”

He ignored her. “And what am I? Naught but a lowly Scot. A savage. A lesser soul?”

“No. No. Never.” She tugged on his arm until he turned to her. “Never. Never that.”

“Then what?” His tone was ragged, his eyes red-rimmed.

“What are you to me?” she asked.

“Yes.”

Her heart swelled. “Everything. You are everything to me.”

To her aggravation, he did not seem to believe her. He stood rigid, his expression harsh. “My life is here. In Scotland.” He gestured to the lovely garden, the beautiful vista beyond the shore, dappled in moonlight as it was. “A far cry from the life you lead in London. I couldn’t ask you to—”

“I hated that life. Hated those parties. Hated pretending. Hated interacting with insincere and arrogant members of the ton.” She stepped closer and took hold of his sleeve as though, by that small gesture, she could claim him. Keep him.

He stared at her hand for a moment, then swallowed. “What about Peter?”

“Peter can worry about Peter.”

“But your betrothal?”

She snorted. “I believe Peter has other plans. With your blessing, of course.”

He stared at her for a long, long moment, as though he were fitting the pieces of a puzzle together in his head. At long last, he said, “And what do
you
want in all this, Britannia?”

“I think you know.” She set her hand on his cheek and he turned into it. There was no need for prevarication. Not anymore.

He stared at her. His eyes shone. His nostrils flared. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

She sucked in a breath and prepared herself to say the words she’d been holding back for so long, even before she knew them. “I love you, Charles Grant. I love you with all my heart.” Ah. They tasted good.

“Then you’re mine?”

She tipped back her head and gazed up at him. “Yours and yours alone, my wild warrior.”

He snorted a laugh. “Hardly wild.”

“Very wild.” She smiled him. “I mean,
verra
wild. When you kiss me, at least.”

His eyes narrowed. His intensity flared. “That is an invitation if I’ve ever heard one,” he said, and he lowered his head and kissed her.

It was, perhaps, a coincidence that just then, the wild Scottish wind kicked up, whipping through the garden with an unholy and glorious glee, as though the elements themselves were celebrating Charles and Britannia with the enthusiasm of someone who’d had a role in bringing the two together.

Or perhaps it was no coincidence at all.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & sexy to scorching romance. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.com to check out her books, excerpts and contests.

For more information, or to connect with Sabrina, visit SabrinaYork.Com

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Books by Sabrina York

HISTORICAL

BookShots
Bedding the Highlander

Waterloo Heroes
Tarnished Honor
Call of the Wild Wind

Untamed Highlanders

Hannah and the Highlander
Book 1
Susana and the Scot
Book 2
Lana and the Laird
Book 3

The Dundragon Time Travel Trilogy

Laird of her Heart
Book 1
Her Hot Highlander Book 2 (Coming Soon)
His Highland Lass Book 3 (Coming Soon)