Heirly Ever After, Vernon, Magan [best thriller novels to read .txt] 📗

my chest, trying to appear stern and imposing in all five-foot-two inches. “What are you really planning on doing?”

“There is no cahoots or infiltration plan. I’m here to help you, my damsel in distress, and you’ve helped me to reunite with the family I’ve never known. It’s a win-win for both of us.”

Was that really what this all was for him?

But what else could he want?

“Well, where do we go from here, then? The rest of the family should be coming in, both sides. I have to do wedding prep stuff with my sister, whatever that is, and who knows what’s going to happen?” I let out a deep breath and leaned against the wall behind me. “This was all a really short-sighted idea, and now we’re stuck.”

“We’re not stuck. We move forward.”

“How does one move forward if they’re stuck?”

He smiled, taking a step toward me, and I could already feel the heat of his body radiating off him. When I took in a breath, I inhaled his woodsy cologne, and if I closed my eyes tight, I swore I could taste the tea on his breath.

Stop. Getting. Distracted.

“Have you ever had haggis?” he asked.

I blinked, thrown at the odd question. “Isn’t that like leftover sheep parts scrambled with stuff?”

He let a breath out through his nose as he smiled. “It’s a traditional Scottish pudding, yes, made from parts of a sheep and seasoned with onion.”

“Okay, um, no. I haven’t. I’m also not sure what this has to do with anything.”

“You said you can’t move forward when you’re stuck. Well, haggis is literally that, stuck.”

I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t follow.”

He smiled, taking another step closer so we were now toe-to-toe. “My great-grandfather used to tell me that when our lairds used to slaughter the animal, the workmen could keep the offal as their share. The leftovers. They thought they were stuck with nothing. Until their wives started making haggis.”

I tried not to laugh, so I ended up biting my bottom lip and didn’t meet his gaze. “Not totally following, because you’re making us seem like the leftovers here.”

Jacob shook his head then placed his palms against my cheeks. His hands were warm, rough against my soft skin, and I couldn’t help but lean into him. My own body was betraying me. “I’m letting you know we aren’t completely stuck. There’s always a way to make something work. And so it’s out there who I am now.”

I finally met his gaze, the pleading in those dark green eyes.

He sighed. “If you want me to leave, I will. But I want to get to know my family, and I think we could help each other here. You still need a date, and who better to help you with a noble wedding than a laird himself?”

His words hit me like a bucket of cold water.

I knew nothing about any of this nobility stuff. I wasn’t like my sister who had studied so much history and now had lived here for a year.

If I was here with Chris, I’d be worried the whole time about what he was doing or about him calling a baroness “dude.” But now the focus would be on me. What if I slipped up in front of the royal family? Did they know the royal family? No doubt there were protocols for greeting noble people, for how to dress appropriately, or even for how to eat during a multi-course meal. But I didn’t know any of them. All things I never considered before and now were swimming to the forefront of my mind.

“What kind of noble things would I actually need you for?” I asked, trying to sound confident in my words, but there was a squeak to them like Minnie Mouse.

Cocky. Dimpled. Smirk.

That damn thing infuriated me. Yet also I couldn’t deny that there was something about it that also had me trying to tame down the way it made my heart beat faster.

“Well, this is probably the first of many teas. Plus, there are dinners. Rehearsals. Parties. But I’m sure you’re more than capable of handling a room full of nobles.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

The damn bastard knew the right things to ask to have all my nerves sparking at the same time. It was as if the room had gotten smaller, and I involuntarily put my hand to my throat, making sure I could still breathe.

“Since you’re here anyway, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to keep you around as a sort of personal guide,” I managed to push out, swallowing hard. The words had taken every last bit of effort I could muster.

The heavy door opened, and I found Natalie standing there with one hand on the handle as she leaned forward, her eyes sizing up Jacob. “Is everything okay out here?”

I smiled, trying to muster up the same confidence that he had. Maybe I could at least fake it, and with his help, I’d survive this week. “Doing great, just needed to take a breather. But I think we’re good now.”

Natalie glanced between the two of us, as if her narrowed eyes could magically pull out the truth from both of us. “Okay. Food is about to be served, so whenever you’re ready to join us again would be great.”

I nodded, stepping away from Jacob and making sure I kept my back to him so I could keep my wits about me. “Right behind ya.”

“Me too.” His words were a hot breath right on the back of my neck.

I would keep him to help me with all things nobility and as a distraction from my family’s questions. Nothing more. We both needed each other for this wedding, and that was it.

Or it could easily blow up in both of our faces and ruin my sister’s wedding.

If only we weren’t in too deep now to get out.

Chapter Six

Jacob

Maybe I shouldn’t have pulled out the whole “you need me to understand nobility” card on