A billion-pound secret. A past she can’t outrun. This New Year’s, the truth is about to be the ultimate party crasher.
Amelia Cole is a master of the analytical. As a freelance journalist, she knows every story has two sides, and she’s spent years burying her own. When she’s invited to a lavish Scottish castle for Hogmanay, she expects a quiet holiday with her best friends. She doesn’t expect to walk straight into a wall of muscle belonging to the one man who still makes her knees weak: Cameron Keith.
Cameron is more than just a powerful Laird with a billion-pound empire; he’s the “exception” Amelia never truly got over. Years ago, their parents’ scandalous affair tore them apart, leaving Amelia to flee to London while Cameron inherited a legacy of duty and cold, hard numbers.
Now, Cameron is back, and he isn’t just looking for an apology. He’s looking for a bride. He’s armed with a shocking secret from his father’s will and a background check that proves Amelia has been keeping tabs on him, too. To claim his full inheritance, Cameron must marry, but he refuses to settle for anyone but the woman who first had his heart.
When their meddling mothers arrive unexpectedly, the fragile truce between Amelia and Cameron ignites into a storm of desire. Between stolen moments in a tower bedroom and a magical tartan tradition, the chemistry is undeniable. But as the clock strikes midnight, Amelia must decide: is she marrying for a second chance at love, or is she just the final piece of a billionaire’s business deal?
One night. Two rival families. And a magical New Year’s vow that might just lead to a nursery full of future Lairds.
Amelia
My best friend’s castle wasn’t safe. Everyone laughed and joked with each other, but I was on edge. I should probably have left my friends and said no to their invitation the second I heard that their plans included Cameron Keith. I hadn’t seen him in years. Long-ago memories definitely shouldn’t make my stomach tighten and my lips tingle. He’d moved on. So had I, and I was living my dream.
I trekked across the ballroom of Charlotte’s castle, where I’d been invited for the holidays. Earlier, when they mentioned Cameron and going to his house for Hogmanay, I’d already said I needed to get back to London. In no universe would I ever again go willingly to Cameron Keith. The short time we’d been together was enough.
He felt the same, I was sure. I doubted that his seeing my name on the guest list would cause him such distress. He was over me. I was the only one playing out fantasies in my head. The last time I had seen his name in print, it was under a photograph of him holding hands with a beautiful model. The knock-out diamond ring on her finger hadn’t escaped my attention. So he couldn’t be carrying a torch for me.
Not that I’d carried much of one for him, but my bad habit of comparing other men’s kisses to his was on my list of things I needed to stop doing.
Butterflies flew in my belly, and I took my wine to go find a corner to hide in. However, a wall of muscles blocked my path.
My heart fluttered at the sight of him. I looked up at his short and slightly curly hair then moved my gaze down to his warm brown eyes, which took my breath away, passed the hint of hair on his chest, and went lower. Kilts shouldn’t be so damn sexy. I clutched the stem of my Bordeaux.
“Amelia, it’s been a long time.”
Adrenaline at the idea that he’d sought me out rushed through my veins, though I was sure he only wanted to tell me how happy he was.
I refused to look at him so that he wouldn’t see how he still made me tremble. “Cameron… I didn’t think you’d come.”
He rocked on his feet, and his muscles flexed, like he was showing off. Heat rose to my face, and I looked away at the white wall.
Cameron lifted a dark eyebrow and asked, “Why wouldn’t I?” The sound of his voice still made me weak in the knees.
“Because I’m here. I’ve not seen you in a long time.” My stomach clenched as I looked up at him, anticipating the moment he would bring out his fiancée and rub his happiness in my face.