A Scot for Christmas (Jane Austen Fan Club Book 1) Read online

  He stared at the road and said, “That sounds dramatic.”

  Probably true. I settled back in my seat. “I wish I’d gone to school in a European country that doesn’t charge for tuition.”

  His eyes narrowed. “How much do you owe?”

  Every one of my American friends and I were in debt. I would be on a payment plan for the rest of my life. I put my hands on my lap, since they’d warmed up. “Fifty thousand for my fancy degree, and of course my rent, my utilities, and to prove to immigration I’m not here to be a burden.”

  He winked at me. “You’re not a burden. You’re far too pretty and smart for that, which makes you a rare combination and quite endearing.”

  Aww. Sweet guys were rare. No one thought I was beautiful, but endearing was nice. I shrugged and said, “You’re strange, Harris.”

  We passed a sign that said the kilometers to Bath, but they still didn’t make sense in my head, though I’d lived in London for years.

  He kept his voice low when he said, “Only to you.”

  Right. I channeled my father and said, “Most rich, entitled men just want a piece of ass at his side, where he makes all the calls, and she sits there all pretty.”

  He chuckled, and that sound filled me with desire that I would rather not have felt. I had no job, which meant no time for romance.

  “Glad you’re sounding more like yourself again, with those opinions about nobility and wealth.”

  It felt a little stuffy, so I unbuttoned my jacket. “It’s the heat in your fancy car. I’m dethawing, and it’s helping me think, cutie.”

  His face turned beet red. “You’re probably the first woman that’s ever called me that.”

  Cutie was an understatement, but the last thing hot men ever needed to know was that they were hot. I settled in my seat and said, “Strange. Maybe that’s why you like being around me.”

  He reached between us and offered me a water. I took it, and the brush of his hand on mine sent a shock through me.

  I lowered my head and said, “On a more serious note, thank you for being my hero today. I wasn’t expecting you.”

  He looked at me, and I could have sworn he’d undressed me in that quick glance. “What are the odds that I would be in London, travelling toward Bath, on the same night you were? Sometimes business works in my favor. I’m just glad I saw your car.”

  “Me too. I would have frozen to death, waiting for a tow for three hours.”

  “You’d be a Sophia-cicle by now.”

  “Thank God you had business in London,” I said, reveling in the warmth in the car.

  “Don’t stress it, lassie.”

  Maybe if I ended up getting the job in Scotland, I would see Harris more often. Normally, I didn’t crush on any guy, but he was my one exception.

  Chapter 2

  Harris

  For a month, Miss Sophia Reynolds had been a vibrant, colorful dream. I’d wanted to see her again. She was part of why I’d agreed to come to Bath.

  I suddenly realized I should have run a background check on her, and I wondered if I could have prevented her current distress if I had known she worked for my London firm. Maybe I was wrong, so I would ask to be sure.

  Yet since I’d met her, she’d proven why she was the most interesting person to me. Unbridled honesty was like a ray of light in the dreary world, and no one spoke to me like Sophia did.

  I needed to see if she was half as vibrant as I remembered, which was why I’d decided to go to Bath in the first place. I should probably tell her who I was, including being the Duke of Finnes, which I’d purposely avoided revealing, though she could have googled it and not said anything. She’d already shown she was even more interesting than I remembered.

  I drove and stared ahead as I asked, “Want to grab a bite when we arrive and settle in?”

  She put her feet on her seat then curled her arms around her legs and squeezed them. “Sure. That sounds nice. I could use a burger and a beer.”

  No woman I’d known only wanted the simplest things from me. “That’s all you want?”

  She lowered her legs and let out a small sigh. “It’s been a trying day. I lost my job. My car died. Bills are still due, and I’ll probably lose my right to be in your beautiful country.”

  My ears buzzed, but I automatically responded to the easiest point. “Scotland is my country, not England.”

  Human resources had been specifically directed to tell the good workers about the new firm I’d funded as I ended all funding to the mismanaged London office. If she was worried, then they hadn’t included her in the new application referral list. The sycophants were probably hoping to keep their jobs instead. I hadn’t been paying that close attention to what happened, as I’d gotten the company when I bought a trust, but it was bleeding money. The morning’s email notices were the last time I would ever deal with the bad business.

  It was why I’d driven to London to personally see that HR finally followed through.

  She rocked like a little girl, with zero idea who I was. “Of course. Sorry to offend. I grew up in Denver, then after my mom died, my alcoholic father bounced us around. So having a home or a place of my own at all is a nice feeling.”

  “It sounds like your childhood was hard.” I massaged my forehead. She seemed stressed, so I changed topics to find out what she’d been told and whether the reason for her stress was on me. I focused on the road as I asked, “You work in marketing?”

  “I did. Until today. Now I’m jobless.”

  My stomach tightened. Fuck. Her issues were partly on me. I lifted an eyebrow. “Linguist Provocateurs?”

  She narrowed her gaze. “How did you guess?”

  I flashed a smile at her, as I could fix everything now that I was fully aware. Sophia had given me a pleasurable reprieve, and the only reason I hadn’t seduced her last time was because she hadn’t known who I was, and I’d enjoyed how she talked to me, like we were equals. “I know the owner.”

  I should have just apologized, but I’d never said sorry in my life.

  She shook her head and gave a small pfft then said, “He must be a real asshole.”

  I tugged at my polo shirt collar. “Okay, I’m the owner.”

  Her eyes widened, and her face lost all color. “What the—I didn’t know that.”

  I reached out to hold her hand, if she was willing, as we drove. “It’s fine. I had it coming, though it was the board that was heartless.”

  She ignored my hand and faced the window. “I’ll say. I don’t think I want to talk to you anymore.”

  I deserved that. I put my arm down, but I kept my voice steady as I said, “Tell you what. I’m opening a smaller office near my home in Scotland, and I need people. It seems HR didn’t fully pass that information on to all the employees. I was in a meeting about it for two hours today.”

  Her entire body pivoted. “I’ve got an interview on Monday in Edinburgh. Is that you?”

  Good. My new team had started as requested. An idea hit me. Sophia seemed to be a leader, and if she was able to recognize strengths and weaknesses in people, she would be great for the start-up as a marketing expert to build her own team. At the wedding where we’d met, she’d directed countless small details without blinking.

  After the second time we’d met, I wanted to tell her who I was, which was not just her old employer. “Yes, and if you have dinner with me, I can promise you’ll get a job and a promotion.”

  She crossed her arms, and it was clear she didn’t trust me. Voice tight, she asked, “Why a promotion?”

  It kept her near me. She was mine, though we’d not kissed yet. I kept that to myself and instead said, “Because you’d know who the real workers were. And I suspect you’d be a capable manager.”

  She lowered her arms to her sides. “It’s true. I always did want to be a senior manager.”

  Perfect. If she moved into my castle, then she’d realize we were meant to be together. But I kept that to myself. “So, you’ll have dinne
r with me?”

  Her side-eye didn’t convey much as she asked, “Still just burgers and beer?”

  I shrugged and took the turn to head to the hotel via the sideroads. “If you want something else, we can.”

  She shook her head. “No. I think a job and a car fix is more than enough.”

  Good. She’d forgiven me. I winked. “I’ll pay those student loans, too, as long as you leave your apartment in London to move to Scotland.”

  Her faced reddened. “I can’t believe I told you about that now. And why would you do that?”

  The last thing I wanted was for her to silence herself. “Because I feel guilty. I’ve taken advantage of your innocence a bit.”

  She played with her necklace as she asked, “How? We’ve never kissed or anything.”

  I’d wanted to. I’d not forgotten her either. My cheeks heated as I said, “You had no idea who I was, and I never told you.”

  We passed the hotel sign. It was time.

  She asked, “Told me what?”

  “Charlotte told me she didn’t have you working on the guest list from London.” I straightened my spine, as I’d always been told to be proud of my heritage as leader of my clan. “And you never asked for my last name, but I need you to know my name is Harris Kellison. I’m the Duke of Finnes.”

  Her eyes widened. “What the fuck?” She pivoted away from me again.

  “You look almost mad at me.”

  She snorted and said, “You’re a rich, arrogant, entitled duke who fires people at Christmastime, and you danced with me, of all people.”

  True. The firing bit had been supposed to be done after New Year's, but I’d lost track of the company and the board. I’d been more focused on my more profitable shipping business, which my ancestors had started. I said, “I liked dancing with you.”

  It was a good thing I’d picked her up so that we could straighten the mess out. I’d cursed myself out for two months, since I hadn’t told her. I drove into the parking lot of the hotel and found a spot.

  “But you didn’t tell me when we met because you knew I was beneath you and your employee.”

  Once I’d turned off the engine, I held up my hand like I was swearing in court. “I don’t believe that, and I didn’t know where you worked. I just knew you were pretty and funny when you didn’t mean to be. I figured it out from your story on the way here.”

  She let herself out on her side. “I should hate you.”

  I jumped out to get our bags and walk beside her. “But you don’t because I can help you. We can’t have you kicked out of the country at Christmas.” I held the door for her to go into the lobby.

  She stopped, crossed her arms, and said, “We’re here and apparently in the same party tomorrow. Can you not tell anyone about our conversation today while I figure it out?”

  I inched closer and smelled her light floral scent, which made my mouth water. “Convince me over the beer.”

  She reached for her bag and waved for me to follow her to the check-in line. “Fine. I’ll change and meet you in the restaurant in twenty minutes.”

  “I look forward to it,” I said quickly.

  The sooner Sophia realized our lives were intertwined, the faster we would both get what we wanted.

  We checked in, and her room was next to mine, though she was sharing with her friend Amelia. Without another word, we proceeded down the hall.

  When we made it her door, I said, “See you soon.”

  She nodded and waved goodbye. I went to my room to freshen up.

  Soon, Sophia would work with me and realize that I was the only man she’d ever met who was worth her time.

  I’d wanted to find her sooner, but business had delayed me. I’d dealt with them, so I had more time off, but the six weeks without seeing her burned on my mind.

  Now she knew, so winning her was the next battle.

  I finished cleaning up and headed out. In the hall near our rooms, Logan stopped me and asked, “Hey, I saw you come in with Sophia. Have there been developments, or are you still holding on to your secret?”

  “She knows who I am. Can’t say she’s overjoyed about it.”

  “You’ll win her over. Charlotte will be relieved. She has not appreciated keeping your secret.”

  Fair enough. But if I came up in female conversation, I had a chance. I only nodded, despite the rush of adrenaline that gave me, then said, “We’re meeting in a few minutes, and I have some calls to make. Thanks for telling me she’d be here.”

  “No problem. See you soon.” He patted me on the back and headed to his room.

  The moment Sophia joined me, Operation Make Her Mine would commence, and I was looking forward to it.

  Chapter 3

  Sophia

  Adrenaline rushed through my veins as I changed in the bathroom.

  It was the third and final outfit I’d packed. None of my clothes had the right “I like you, but I don’t want your help” feel to them. The sweetheart neckline of my black dress had a more of a “kiss me, I’m yours” look, so I peeled off the dress.

  Maybe it wasn’t the dress but the gleam in my eyes when I saw myself in the mirror. My arms still had goose bumps from my being next to Harris, and my body didn’t seem to get that he was way, way out of my league.

  I’d been down the road to heartache, and I wanted to avoid any sign of trouble. And Harris Kellison, the Duke of Finnes, checked all the boxes for trouble.

  I slipped my jeans back on and heard a knock at the door. I called, “Amelia, can you get the door and warn me if it’s Harris?”

  She yelled back, “I still can’t believe he’s a duke and Charlotte didn’t tell me.”

  I tugged a simple white T-shirt on. I would have worn it to lounge around with my friends, but it made me look casual, like I didn’t care at all who he was.

  Charlotte’s voice came through the door. “Oh, she knows! Perfect. I’ve wanted to tell you every day since my wedding, but I was on my honeymoon, then Harris wanted to tell you himself. And he seemed sincere.”

  “Friends don’t hold secrets,” I said, though I really did need to speak to my other best friend. She’d been on his team.

  “He likes you and promised to tell you all about himself because he wanted to date you.”

  “Date” sounded strange. Harris demanded. I put in my simple cubic zirconia studs, which had lost a bit of their sparkle, and ignored the thought that he would know they were fake.

  Done. I headed out, excited to see him.

  Amelia said, “Stephanie and Charlotte brought wine.”

  All my best friends. I hugged them, and when I saw the bottle Stephanie had, I sighed. I missed our weekly wine club, which we’d had when all four of us lived in London. I said, “I don’t have time tonight. I’m meeting Harris in five minutes. Charlotte, Stephanie, why didn’t you tell me?”

  Stephanie’s face was blank. “Tell you what?”

  Maybe she hadn’t known, but Charlotte turned bright red and lowered her head to stare at the floor. “I’m sorry. I found out after my wedding that he hadn’t told you his last name, and he seemed sincerely interested in you. I wanted to give him a chance with my best friend.”

  If anyone might be pushed into silence, it was Charlotte. She was the nicest of us, but I let out a sigh and said, “That’s even worse.”

  Charlotte looked up as Stephanie took her hand. “Why is this bad? You have a duke and my neighbor interested in you.”

  I rubbed my forehead and closed my eyes. None of them knew about David, the long-forgotten jerk and the real reason I had up and moved to London years ago. I never looked backward to let myself regret anything, so I’d never mentioned him. Instead, I avoided that topic and said simply, “He got me fired.”

  Charlotte’s lips thinned. “Wait. What?”

  I reached for my necklace, which I never took off, as it was all I had left of my mom, and said, “I lost my job today. He admitted to me he owned the company and let the board decide.”
r />   As Stephanie and Amelia poured wine for the three of them, Charlotte asked, “Why? He wanted to see you again and asked about you.”

  I bounced on my feet, thankful I’d at least packed my nice flats to wear for the tea, and said, “I’m not dating a duke. There is too much baggage there.”

  Charlotte flinched, as if I’d just thrown water in her face. “Why? I’m married to one, and he’s amazing.”

  I hugged her. The last thing I would ever do was hurt my friends. “Because your duke is sweet and kind, like you. Harris is neither of those things.”

  Stephanie handed Charlotte a wine glass and added, “You wouldn’t want him if he was. What’s Harris like, then?”

  Stephanie had married Charlotte’s husband’s little brother, who was also a billionaire. But of course, Charlotte’s brother was a superstar, and Stephanie’s family was secure and happy. I had none of that. I didn’t even have parents, unless my alcoholic father, whom I hadn’t spoken to in ten years, counted, which he never did for me.

  Excitement rushed inside me at the thought that I would see Harris in a few minutes, though I told myself to keep a level head. “He’s arrogant and uncaring, and he lets others do the dirty work for him so he can keep his hands clean.”

  Amelia clinked glasses with Charlotte. “Last week, you said he was sweet and kind and couldn’t wait to see him again when he returned from his trip.”

  I stiffened as I glanced at both of them. “What?”

  “We know you like the bad boys,” she said then sipped her wine.

  None of them really knew me. I shook my head. “I do not.”

  Stephanie’s gaze narrowed as she said, “You like bad boys. Amelia likes nerdy guys. We’ve met the guys you’ve both dated these past four years.”

  I’d had a few drinks in the past few years with men I knew I would never end up with. They were safe for me, as my heart wasn’t involved.