The Scottish Bride (The Brides of Holland Springs Book 5)(12)

“Aye, he should have,” he softly agreed.

Her heart flipped in her chest. “The boy should have never forgotten his vows either.”

A grimace turned Maddox’s full lips into a thin line. “He did not. The boy was... is faithful.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Except when it comes to staying put.”

He didn’t say anything to that. Instead, he turned away to grab his tools.

“So, you’re here to remember that relationship?” the PA asked.

Cadence nodded. “Yes, and to prove that the boy and girl can start over.”

A faint, mechanical whirring sound filled the room, and then the needles began to dig into her. The room fell silent. Over and over, the points scraped her, until a fine sweat broke out on her skin. She dug her fingernails into the palms of her hands, trying in vain to keep silent. To not break down in tears.

It was stupid, but the tattoo hurt, almost as much as her heart. Actually, everything hurt.

Unable to help herself, she whimpered. The pain immediately stopped. It was replaced by a dull ache.

She glanced up at Maddox, finding agony in his gaze. “Why did you stop?”

“I can’t willingly hurt you, Cadence,” he said.

Tears filled her eyes. “You already did.” She blew out a breath. “Finish it, please.”

His blue eyes clouded, became dark and hooded. It was as if a stranger had taken his place. “Fine.”

The whirring started up again. Once more, her world filled with pain, but it was manageable. Her heart, however, was an entirely different story.





Chapter Six


The hard part—the outline of the trio of doves—was done. All that remained were the details. And wasn’t the devil ever present in them? He didn’t know how much longer he could allow the needles to puncture her skin like this, to make her bleed and flinch.

But she hadn’t said a word to anyone in the past three hours. The camera guy looked a little bored, and the PA had finally stopped talking altogether.

However, he knew Cadence. He knew her tolerance for pain was laughably low, and he felt like crying. Yes, he, Maddox Stewart, youngest son of a duke and former utility player for the Scotland Blue, felt like bawling.

He swiped at the ink and blood with a clean towel, then bent to his task once more, feathering out the delicate lines of the wings. A hint of pink and grey mixed with white gave the birds depth and the appearance of real feathers.

New beginnings.

God, he’d had everything before the accident. There was no need for new beginnings, only to come clean to Jude—his best friend and Cadence’s older brother—and the rest of their respective families.

Except... he needed to make Cadence understand why he left. Maddox needed her to understand that he had no choice in the matter.

“What the lovely Cadence didn’t finish telling in that old tale of boy meets girl was that there was an accident. An accident that was the boy’s fault. It was my fault.”

Simultaneously, the PA and the cameraman’s attentions were caught. The PA made a go-on motion with her hand.

Maddox glanced at Cadence, but her eyes were firmly fixed on the wall. He knew she needed closure. He owed her that much.

“It was a day like any other. My team had won—”

“Your team?”

“Aye. I played for the Scotland Blue.”

“Soccer?”

He frowned. “Rugby.”

“Give me a sec.” The PA whipped out her cell phone, her fingers flying. Eyes widening, she gasped. “You’re that Maddox Stewart?”

“Yeah.”

“Holy shit. You’re royalty.”

He made a face. This was why he hated when Americans found out who he was. Well, the British Monarchy obsessed ones. “Youngest son. No title.”

“But if everyone dies—you get to be king!”

Cadence’s nose scrunched as she lifted her head. “What a horrible thing to say. Maddox loves his family. The only time he wishes death on anyone is when he’s on the pitch.”

Maddox wanted to gather her to him in that instant. His fierce defender.

The PA had the grace to blush. “Sorry. I got carried away.”

Cadence shook her head a little, her shiny brown hair sliding to one side and exposing the nape of her neck. How often had he kissed her there?

He grunted.

Not often enough.

“Back to my story. We were celebrating. My mates and I... decided to be irresponsible that night. I was supposed to be the sober one, but I allowed Jude to sway me. He was celebrating as well—box office hit and all that. We should have called a cab.” He swallowed hard. “I don’t remember much about that night, but I do remember Jude and me arguing over a family matter.”

Maddox could barely say Jude’s name. How his mate must hate him. If only he hadn’t been so damned pigheaded. Okay, so Jude was worried for them because they hadn’t told their parents yet. He hadn’t wanted his little sister to get hurt. “He was pissed. Royally so. That damned Romanov temper.”

Cadence made a noise. “Not all of us.”

“Present company excluded.” Maddox nearly grinned. Nearly. Instead, he applied ointment to the tattoo and continued. “In any case, I woke up the next morning in a hospital.”