The Scottish Bride (The Brides of Holland Springs Book 5)
Marquita Valentine
The Scottish Bride
Tired of waiting for her older brother’s best friend to come to his senses, Cadence Romanov travels to New York City in order to bring Maddox home. But seeing him again opens raw wounds of abandonment. Refusing to be easily led by him again, she runs away to Holland Springs, but not before leaving him a note as to where she’s going. This time, it’s all up to him to win her back.
After one reckless night ends in tragedy, Scottish rugby player Maddox Stewart turned his back on his former life, leaving everything behind, including Cadence... until she tracks him down and demands answers. As soon as Maddox sees her, he knows nothing has changed between them and there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do to have her again. Forced to confront his demons, Maddox must find a way to forgive himself and win back his wife.
Chapter One
Cadence Romanov was done with hiding how she truly felt about Maddox Stewart. Come hell or high water, she was going to tell him today.
No more waiting.
No more obsessing over what he’d say in return.
No more being a child who stalked her big brother’s best friend.
She was twenty-three, dang it, and she could date who she liked. Only she hadn’t liked the guys she’d dated very much. They simply didn’t compare to Maddox with his bright blue eyes, and hair as black as ink. None of them spoke four languages, had a body honed by dedication to a sport that turned into a career, or had ever held her hair back while she spent the night puking after drinking too much at girls’ night out.
That was when she knew it was love... and she’d been waiting months for the perfect moment to confess everything to him.
Peering through the window of her bedroom, she watched as he got out of his car and walked with her brother to the house. Her heart flipped and her stomach dipped as he laughed at something Jude said.
No guy had Maddox’s smile.
She’d always loved watching Maddox as he worked, as he played, and as he flirted. He’d always seemed so sure of himself, so confident in everything he did, that if she hadn’t loved him, she would have been too jealous for words.
Confidence had eluded her at the age of fourteen, her body suddenly like a woman’s while she still felt like a child. Having a beautiful older sister didn’t help, nor did the fact that every guy who crossed paths with Waverly fell in insta-love/lust with her.
Cadence was the afterthought, the one they’d all attempted to settle for when Waverly said no. Except Cadence turned them down as well... until Maddox. But then, he had never been in love with her sister.
At least, she didn’t think so.
His head tipped up, and he looked straight at her.
“Oh crap.” Panicking, she let the curtain fall and stepped back. Taking a deep breath, she hurried to the vanity that had belonged to her great-grandmother and checked her appearance one last time.
The door opened and Waverly stuck her head inside, looking every inch a goddess. Cadence almost decided right then that she’d stay in her room for the rest of the day—Thanksgiving dinner or not.
“Momma wants you to come down and finish making the cucumber sandwiches.”
“I’ll be right there.” She frowned, wondering if she should put on what she always wore—a cute top and jeans—or keep the ridiculously expensive dress on.
Waverly walked inside, shutting the door behind her. “What’s wrong?”
Cadence tried to hide the blush she felt heating her cheeks. “Nothing.”
Her sister tilted her head. “Uh-huh. Want to try again?”
“Maddox is here and... I... I want to let him know that I have major feelings for him,” she said in a rush.
Waverly’s blue eyes rounded. “In the middle of dinner?”
“No.” She gave her sister a look. “Either before or afterwards.”
“You don’t have a plan.”
Cadence shook her head. “I’m more of a by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of gal.”
“Tell me something I don’t know,” Waverly said with a wry smile. “What can I do to help?”
“Not be so beautiful?” And perfect. And kind. And smart. Basically everything Cadence wanted to be all the time. Those traits came easily for her sister. Naturally. Meanwhile, Cadence had to bite her tongue and not say the first thing that came to mind.
Waverly rolled her eyes. “Maddox isn’t interested in this particular Romanov and never has been.”
“Oh my Lord.” Cadence gasped, her heart pounding. “You mean he was interested in—”
“If you name anyone other than yourself, not only will I smack some sense into you, but I also won’t help you,” her sister threatened.
“So he’s only been interested in me? I mean, duh... sheesh, I’m awesome and beautiful. Smart. Got all my teeth straight with braces.” Hope started to bloom in her chest even as she felt like the biggest dork in the world. “Just to clarify, he’s been interested in me because I’m his best friend’s little sister... or he’s always wanted to do me against the nearest wall?”
“Yeah... okay, the phrase he wants to do me against the nearest wall will never leave your mouth in my presence again,” Waverly said, tossing her head. “I can’t think of my little sister like that.”