The Scottish Bride (The Brides of Holland Springs Book 5)(3)

“Cadence,” her mother called, and they broke apart like boxers in a ring. “Have you finished making the sandwiches?”

“Not yet,” she replied.

“Okay, but don’t wait too much longer, honey.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Maddox caressed her cheek. “We have to tell them.”

“Soon,” she promised. “But for now...”

He bowed his head, touching his forehead to hers. “I know... that’s the other reason I’m keeping it in my pants. Your dad will kill me when he finds out about us.”

“Does that mean you want to stop seeing me?” Cadence lightly asked.

His blue eyes grew diamond hard. “Never.”

It was a vow. And all the encouragement she needed. “I love you,” she said boldly... yet softly. She didn’t want everyone to overhear her declaration to her boyfriend.

The fierceness faded from his gaze, replaced by a softness she’d only glimpsed on occasion. “I should have known you’d be a hell of a lot braver than I could ever be.”

“Does this mean you feel the same way?” She sucked in a breath of air, holding it in until he kissed her forehead, his warm breath coasting over her skin.

“I love you, Cadence Romanov, with my body, heart, and soul.”





Chapter Two


Maddox couldn’t stop his gaze from straying to Cadence and if he didn’t stop, everyone would know what they’d kept secret for so long. It didn’t help that she blushed profusely when their eyes locked, or that he had to ask nearly everyone at the table to repeat themselves when they talked directly to him.

It was his fault, of course. He’d been the one to convince her to keep their relationship a secret, and not because he was ashamed of her. On the contrary, he wanted to beat his chest and shout that Cadence belonged to him.

I love you.

A braver woman he’d never met. She’d looked at him, her pretty eyes clear and bold. He knew she meant it, but... she was young, barely twenty-three, while he was very nearly kissing thirty. He also had her family to contend with. Okay, so he had her father to contend with, and Christian Romanov with his world-famous smile and friendly demeanor did not suffer fools.

No greater fool could fall for one of his daughters, but that was exactly what Maddox had done.

“We need to talk,” Jude said, his voice low. “Outside.”

“After I finish eating.” Actually, he didn’t want to talk to his best friend at all. Mostly because it was becoming harder and harder to keep his relationship with Cadence a secret from Jude.

“If you don’t, I’ll tell my parents you’re corrupting their baby.”

Maddox all but jumped to his feet, bumping the table so hard that it shook. All conversation stopped... except Jude—the bastard had the nerve to snicker.

Maddox stepped on his foot. Best friend or no, Jude was annoying as shit when he chose to be.

Jude punched him in the thigh and he fell into the table, shaking it even harder.

“Everything okay?” Zoe, Cadence’s mother, asked, small lines of worry around her mouth and eyes.

“I, um... I need to...” Maddox looked around; even Cadence was staring at him like he’d gone mad.

“Take it outside, boys,” Christian said.

Thankful for the chance to escape, Maddox grabbed Jude and hauled him out of his chair. “We’ll be right back.”

“Take your time,” Christian muttered. Thankfully, he turned his attention back to his wife, leaning over to whisper in her ear. Her cheeks turned pink, and she smiled shyly while replying so low Maddox couldn’t hear her answer.

Not that it was his business, but their dynamic—the mega-Hollywood star with the sweet girl-next-door intrigued him as soon as he had been old enough to understand it.

“Stop mooning over my mother and get your arse outside,” Jude growled.

Great. Bloody great. “I wasn’t mooning.” But he started for the back door anyway. The porch that it led to would give them privacy to talk.

Would Jude kill him? Or would he give him at least a five-second start before he attempted bodily harm?

As soon as the door shut behind them, Maddox turned to face the music, but he couldn’t quite get out the words that would damn him in his best friend’s eyes.

Jude eyed him. He was very nearly an exact replica of his father except for his dark hair. “Should I start beating the shit out of you before you explain why you were feeling my sister up in the kitchen, or should I hold my temper?”

“It’s not what you think.”

“My eyesight is perfect, just like the rest of me. Try again.”

That damn Romanov smugness. It set his teeth on edge. “I’m not messing around with her. She’s not a hookup.”

Jude cocked a dark brow. “What is she then?”

“A woman.” See, he could be just as much a dick.

“Try again.”

Maddox sat in the nearest chair, running his hand through his hair. “I didn’t mean for it to happen.”

“You didn’t mean to sleep with my sister?”

“No!” At Jude’s hard jaw, Maddox held up his hands to ward him off. “I haven’t... we haven’t taken things that far.”