The Scarlett Legacy (Woodland Creek)(11)

“Oh,” Quinn said. “I’ve never seen you before. What’s with the accent?”

Avalon tilted his head and nodded, a lock of his hair falling into his eyes. He racked his hair back. “Aye. I was shipped off to boarding school in Scotland when I was a lad.”

Quinn peered at him, clearly still suspicious of his story. “What brings you back?”

He rubbed his chin. “Good question. A little business. A little pleasure.”

Quinn grinned. “Come to charm innocent Midwestern girls with your Scottish accent and guitar?”

He chuckled at that. “Not really.” He gave Evie a sidelong glance, making her subconscious of her white lock of hair. “I’ve come to bury my father, and see an old mate.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Evie said.

“Who?”

Evie folded her hands in her lap, eager to hear his answer to Quinn’s question.

One of the girls from Evie’s Asian history class stepped over. “Hi,” she said.

Avalon looked up at her from his seat.

“What can I do for you, gorgeous?”

The girl blushed. “We were hoping you’d play some more. You’re really good.”

Evie raised her brows. The nerve on that girl.

Avalon nodded, glancing at the cat-shaped clock on the wall above Evie’s head. His eyes lingered on hers, making her hold her breath before he turned away.

“Aye. I can play a few more songs.” He looked to Quinn and Evie. “You’ll excuse me, ladies?”

“Of course,” Evie said, nodding. She let out a long breath as she picked up her coffee and looked away.

She couldn’t stand it when he looked at her. It was as if he could see into her soul.

“Sure,” Quinn said. “You didn’t tell us who your friend was, though, and who you’re here to bury. We might know them.”

“I’m burying my father, Hugh Prince.” He stood. “And my old friend is Wesley Scarlett.”

Evie’s head snapped in his direction. She could barely breathe when their eyes locked.

There was no denying who he was. Her suspicions were correct.

Avalon was the man from her dream.

It’s not possible, she thought.

“How do you know Wes?” Quinn looked surprised. “That’s Evie’s older brother.”

He grinned, giving Evie a knowing look. “I know.”

Evie swallowed.

Quinn sipped from her coffee, her eyes going from Evie to Avalon. “Well, what a coincidence that we ran into you then.”

Grinning, Avalon pulled his guitar strap over his head. “Indeed. Especially since I’ll be heading to Scarlett Hall tonight.”





EVIE AND QUINN stood outside Geek Beans, waiting for Avalon to finish chatting with the girl from her class and her two friends.

“You sure this guy is who he says he is?” Quinn looked worried. “It’s getting late and you don’t know him. Why don’t you wait and call Wes to see if his story checks out?”

She believed him. She couldn’t tell Quinn how she knew, but Avalon was destined to be an important part of her life.

To think that the Prince family had one more male heir worried her. She had hoped that the tension between the two families would finally be at an end.

“Well, Wes did go to boarding school in Scotland as well.”

“But you’re going to offer to drive him all the way to your house? I think it’s dangerous. He’s hot and all, but so was Ted Bundy.”

“When you say it that way you make me worry,” Evie said, biting her thumbnail.

She glanced into the storefront to see him packing up his guitar in its leather case and speaking to the owner of the shop. He waved and headed for the door.

“Just be careful.”

Evie gave Quinn a look, adjusting her glasses. “I will.”

She’d make sure Avalon wasn’t a threat.

Avalon stepped outside. “Ladies. You didn’t have to wait on me. I was going to call a cab.”

He rubbed his hands together. “It gets bloody cold here at night.”

“It does,” Quinn said. “At least the rain stopped. You’d better call a cab quickly. We don’t have many, and the winos at the bar will be using them all.”

“Aye,” he checked his watch. “I flew in from San Diego. This is quite a change.”

Evie cleared her throat. “I was thinking I could drive you. We are going to the same place after all. Unless you had other plans.”

The corners of his lips lifted as their eyes locked. Whenever his eyes met hers she heard her heart thumping in her ears.

“I don’t want to be any trouble,” he said. “I’m not usually such a burden. Back home I have a motorcycle and a truck. Can’t exactly fly those over to the states though.”

“Well that’s a relief,” Quinn said, her eyes brightening. “You’re not a bum.” She laughed.

Evie nudged her. “Bye, Quinn. I’ll see you in the student union building in the morning.”

Quinn continued to laugh. She waved as she headed toward her apartment down the road. “Be careful you two. Take care of my best friend.”

Evie watched Quinn walk away, and then looked back at Avalon.