The Charlotte Series: Book 3: The Pretender's Gold

SECTION X-AMERICA 25

Chapter 25

Last night, in Stuart's room

Stu stretched out on his bed staring into the night as the morning drew near. Restlessness kept him awake. He was alone with his thoughts-and they were many!

He spent more than a little time worrying over Emmaline, that she was well and safe. He thought of the pending trip west. It was a sobering thought that it took longer to cross the United States than it did to cross the Atlantic Ocean. He doubted that anything he could encounter could surprise him after his world travels.

But he had Summer with him now...

And then somehow his mind landed on the idea that Em would love Summer.

Summer.

He couldn't remember a time he'd smiled more than he had since he'd met Summer, and not just the polite smiles one uses in company. It surprised him to realize that he'd been truly happy these last five weeks. For the first time since...well...since The Charlotte sank.

He'd experienced joy and he'd had moments of happiness, but since he'd met Summer on the Germanic, he felt different. He felt, lighter, happier...

Whole.

After a few moments of blissful contentment, it occurred to him to wonder how he would introduce them: Summer, his "wife" and Em, his little sister. He couldn't lie to Em but he didn't want to ruin Summer's reputation either. He shook his head to clear away doubt. Em would understand the special circumstances. She was wise beyond her years and she would not judge.

No. He was confident that Em would like Summer very much. He never doubted that Summer would like Em. Summer always tried to think well of everyone. He smiled as his thoughts turned around the friendship that would surely grow between his "wife" and his sister.

Bloody Hell!

He sat up suddenly.

Fuck.

He would have to meet Summer's brother...And that gave him serious pause.

Not for the first time his mind turned back to The Charlotte. Both Jim and Bailey had travelled under the guise of matrimony to protect a woman. Millicent had no family but when his mind turned to imagining what Richard would have done to Bailey if he had not already married Izzy by the time they'd met-he shuddered.

He thought of what he would do if Em-

BLOODY. FUCKING. HELL.

With a primal growl he'd leapt from the bed and stalked the room as anger filled him. Anger directed at himself. Stu well remembered the rage that filled him and how he'd attacked Freddie-and that was only rumors. It was no rumor that he and Summer travelled under the guise of matrimony. Hank would put a bullet in his heart on sight...and Stu couldn't blame him.

Stu dropped hard on the bed and ran his fingers through his hair before falling forward to rest his elbows on his knees and prop his forehead on his palms.

Summer was right.

He'd ruined her.

He would marry her.

He had to marry her.

It was the right thing to do.

He thought of her smile: the special one she saved just for him. He thought of her laugh and how it never failed to make his heart feel light. He admired her beauty, her quick mind, her thoughtfulness...