The Heir and the Spare (3 page)

Edmund came and sat next to me, which secretly thrilled me. I'd met the guy a minute ago, and here I was, completely crushing on him. This was so not like me.

“So, who are all the pictures of?” Edmund asked as he leaned back on my pillow to get a better view. Mom's letter crunched and crumpled beneath him.

“Um, that's my dad and my best friend, Abby.” I pointed to a few pictures of us at graduation. “These are my girlfriends back home and that's Grant.”

Edmund studied Grant's picture. “I'm guessing he's not your brother.”

“No, he's my boyfriend back home.” I shook my head. “Sorry, ex-boyfriend. We broke up just before I left. We're still friends, though.”

Marissa leaned in to get a better look. “That's one good-looking guy. Why'd you break up?”

“I didn't want to do the long-distance thing. If he's the one, he'll still be the one after I graduate.”

“Oh, he
is
rather dashing, isn't he?” Caroline leaned between us to check out the photo. “For your sake I hope he's the one.”

I smiled. “We'll see what happens. Three years is a long time.”

A phone rang and Edmund leaned back, sliding his cell from his pocket. “It's Jax. I'll be right back."

“Who's Jax?” I asked once he was out the door.

“His social-climbing wannabe girlfriend, Lady Jacqueline,” Suzy said.

Marissa groaned. “Is she still sniffing around? I thought she'd finally backed off.”

“Nope, still hoping to snag him,” Suzy said. No one looked happy at the news. “You know how badly their families want them together.”

“Why don't you guys like her?” Sighs and eye rolls met my question.

Caroline tucked her feet up underneath her on the couch. “It's not that we don't like her per se—”

“She's mean, bitchy, stuck-up, and treats everyone like shit, even Edmund.” Preston spat the words out. “Caroline might be too nice to admit it, but I'm not. He's my best mate and I hate that he'll probably end up married to her. She's a really horrible, vile person.”

Married to her?

“Hmm, maybe if I'm really lucky, I'll get to meet her,” I said wryly.

Caroline studied her manicured nails. “I wouldn't count on it. She's not up here much. She has Edmund go into London.”

“Is she a student?” I asked.

“She graduated from London College of Fashion a year ago. She's been working for some hoity-toity fashion label—can't remember which one. She thinks she's the cat's meow. It's revolting, actually.” Suzy scowled.

Edmund returned to my side on the bed. Everyone stared at him, waiting.

Caroline finally spoke. “So, Jax, was it? We thought she'd gotten a clue. What happened?”

He ran a hand over his face, looking worn out. “It's a long, boring story, but she's still very much around. She'll actually be up here next Monday with a friend and wants to get dinner with us.”

“Us? She can't stand us.” Preston scrutinized him.

“She wants to set up one of her single friends with Preston—”

“Oh, hell, no!” Preston stood, his mouth in a tight line.

Edmund gestured toward him. “And
that's
why I want you all to come.”

No one spoke.

“Look, it's not my ideal evening, either, but you know what her friends are like. I need an idiocy buffer. Please say yes.” Edmund looked around the room, stopping on me with a crooked grin.

I returned his smile.
He's so going to be a problem.

“Fine,” Preston groaned. “But you're paying.”

“Deal.” Edmund clapped his hands and pointed at Preston.

As the gang groaned about having to go, I watched Edmund. Maybe I should ask him to come into London with me when I do Mom's next task, Big Ben and Parliament. I closed my eyes and shook my head. I probably
shouldn't
ask him. This Jax chick certainly wouldn't appreciate it.

We'd be going just as friends,
I rationalized.
It's not like he's interested in me.
Plus it sounds like he practically has a girlfriend. I kicked off my shoes and tucked my feet underneath me.
I'm totally asking him.

I tapped a nervous beat on the table as I ate my breakfast. Today was the start of term. When I stepped into my first class, I'd officially be an Oxford girl. My bag sat beside me, filled with new pens and notebooks. Mom's letters were tucked inside the front flap. I wanted her close today.

The early morning light streamed through the windows into the nearly empty dining hall. The quiet was nice. I jumped as my phone buzzed on the wooden tabletop.

Dad.

“Shouldn't you be in bed?” I answered. It was well after one in the morning, Seattle time.

“Well, I wasn't about to let you start school without wishing you luck.” He laughed. “Now that I have, I'm going to crawl into bed. I love you, Peaches.”

We chatted only for a minute more, but it was enough to give me a shot of courage to get through the day.

I nibbled on my chocolate croissant, trying not to drip any on my hunter green summer dress. Students slowly filtered in, fueling up for the day. Pulling my book from my bag, I opened it to the first chapter. Losing myself in a book always helped calm my nerves.

“
Anne of Green Gables
? My grandmother liked that book. She read it to us as children.”

I jumped. It was Edmund. His deep voice alone was enough to get the butterflies stirred up in my stomach. “Did she really?”

He sat on my left and leaned close, reading over my shoulder. “Yeah, Gram always read to my brother and me. She loved Anne Shirley. Well, she just loved to read, really.”

I took a sip of my tea and laid the book down, turning to face him.
Does he ever not look good?

“Sounds like she was a wonderful woman.”

“She was.” The corners of his lips curled into a wistful smile.

This boy, and his crooked grin, had spent far too much time in the forefront of my thoughts. I was glad he was here. It gave me a chance to see if he really was as awesome as my brain kept telling me he was. So far, he was.

“Morning.” A chipper Suzy sat across from me.

“Morning, Suze,” Edmund said as I waved.

She tossed her hair over her shoulder. “So, Evie, you ready for this?”

I nodded. “I suppose so. Can't be all that different from back home.”

“You'll do great,” Edmund said, his voice low and soft. “What's your first class?”

With him so near, I suddenly couldn't remember. I pulled my schedule from my pocket and smoothed it on the tabletop. “Um, European Art with Professor Sawyer.”

Suzy looked at Edmund. “You like Professor Sawyer, don't you?”

“I do; he's quite entertaining. That's why I'm taking the class as well.” He raised his cup of tea to his mouth.

I get to spend the morning with him?
My pulse quickened. This day was off to a fantabulous start.

“Morning, everyone.” Caroline sat beside Suzy, eating an apple. “So, Edmund, where are the bodyguards?”

I glanced at her. Bodyguards?
What is she talking about?

“Oh, they're around here somewhere.” Edmund did a brief survey of the room.

Were they talking about Preston and some other friends? Brit slang was so different from American. I mean, if plaster meant Band-Aid, maybe bodyguards was the equivalent of buds.

Edmund checked the time and turned to me. “We should get going.”

I nodded, finished my croissant, and looped my bag across my body.

“You heading our way, Suze? Caroline?” Edmund asked.

Caroline shook her head as she took another bite.

“Nope. Opposite direction, actually,” Suzy answered, looking disappointed.

“See you later then.” I waved, my thin leather sandals clapping against the wooden flooring.

“Later,” Edmund called as we walked away, his warm hand settling into the small of my back.

My breath caught in my throat. The butterflies in my stomach were now fully awake and flapping all over the place. I knew his touch was innocent, just guiding me to the doors. But it was still sexy as hell.

A crowd of students passed, headed in for breakfast. His hand fell away.
No . . . put it back.

“We've got a bit of a walk.” He slipped his sunglasses on. The warm autumn sun filtered through the colored leaves above us.

“Yeah, but it's a gorgeous day. Doesn't it feel perfect? Like it was made for new beginnings.”
Ugh, how cheesy.
I rolled my eyes at myself.

“How poetic.” He chuckled. “So, do you have any brothers or sisters?”

“Nope, I'm an only.”

He watched me as we walked. “That must've been lonely.”

I shook my head. “Why does everyone always think that? I always had friends around and pets. It was far from lonely. I found plenty of ways to get in trouble and keep my dad busy.” I laughed.

“Did you like being an only?”

“Loved it. What about you? How many brothers and sisters do you have?”

He looked perplexed. “Um, just one, an older brother.”

Silence enveloped us. I had the sinking suspicion I'd said something wrong.
What is he thinking?

Edmund abruptly stopped walking and turned to face me. “Do you really not recognize me?”

“Oh God, should I?”

Shit!
I knew he looked familiar. Why the hell hadn't Suzy or Caroline said something? I was going to feel like such an idiot when he clued me in.

“No, not necessarily, I suppose,” he answered slowly. “It's just . . . I'm not used to people
not
knowing who I am.”

He started walking and I stood there, confused, trying to sort out who the hell he was. With a little jog, I swerved around a bicyclist and caught up to him. “That first night I met you I thought you looked familiar. I just couldn't put my finger on why.”

“Really?” A hint of a smile played on his lips.

I waited for him to enlighten me, but he didn't. “So?”

“So what?” he asked, a playful glint in his eye.

“Care to tell me
why
I should recognize you?”

“Not really, no.” He laughed. I liked the sound of it.

“No, no, no, you brought this up. You have to tell me.” My eyes widened.

With an adorable grin he shook his head. “No, I don't.”

“Mean! And
yes
, you do, or else I'm going to walk around looking like a moron,” I said, laughter burbling up in my throat at the game he was playing.

He bumped his shoulder against mine. “You won't walk around looking like a moron. Quite the contrary, you look very smart.”

“You're really not going to tell me?” I asked, stunned.

He turned to me. “Nope. This is a momentous occasion for me. I'm going to enjoy it. Plus, I have no doubt you'll quickly figure it out. No doubt whatsoever.”

“You really suck.” I smacked his arm playfully, making him laugh. “You have no idea all the names I'm calling you in my head right now.”

“Oh, I can imagine. Trust me, you'll figure it out. I wouldn't be surprised if you had it figured out by dinner.”

“Are you an actor?”

“Nope.”

“Athlete?”

“Sorry, no.” He grinned down at me and chuckled.

“Oh this is going to drive me insane.” I flipped around and walked backwards so I could get a better look. I studied him: shaggy blond hair, blue eyes, strong jaw, and broad shoulders. The sleeves of his white button-down were rolled up, hinting at the musculature underneath. He gave me a big cheesy grin. Nope, nothing was coming to me. I bit my lip in frustration.

He's lucky he's so cute.

Down the path behind us were two guys, keeping their distance but their eyes stayed on us. They looked like regular students, but something was off. They didn't look . . .
right.

“Careful,” Edmund said and pulled me against him. “You were about to bang into that pole just there.”

Once I remembered to breathe, I glanced behind me and saw the lamppost Edmund had rescued me from. “Thanks.”

With an embarrassed sigh, I spun around and fell into step beside him.

“And here we are.” He pointed at a large, weathered gray stone building on the left.

Inside the lecture hall were rows of seats with retractable flip-top desks. Edmund gestured to a pair of seats near the front of the classroom. We sat just as Professor Sawyer dimmed the lights.

“I still can't believe you won't tell me,” I murmured, pulling out a notebook.

“Let me enjoy it while it lasts,” he whispered.

“Good morning, students, and welcome to History of European Art.” Sawyer took off his wire-rimmed spectacles and polished them against his tie.

The professor launched into lecture mode and I scribbled down notes. With Edmund so close, it was a struggle to concentrate. I had to fight the urge to just sit and stare.

When I rested my arm on the armrest, Edmund brushed against it, startling me. A tingle of energy raced through me at his touch. He looked over and cracked one of his adorable grins.

Oh my stars, I'm in trouble.

I leaned back and crossed my legs away from him. My mounting attraction to him was a problem. With this Jax chick lurking in the background it was bound to be a recipe for disaster. Getting my heart trampled was not something on my Oxford agenda.

When the lecture wrapped up I stood, stretched, and glanced at Edmund, who gave me a strained smile. I watched him roll his shoulders and tilt his head from side to side.

On the walk back neither of us said much. I was glad the tall maple trees offered us shade. I slipped my navy sweater off and slung it over my messenger bag.