“That’d be great.Thanks.”Without waiting for a response, I duck into my room.My phone’s battery is running low, so I plug it in and switch the WiFi back on before stripping out of my clothes and putting on the fluffy robe I found in the armoire on my first day here.I check my phone before leaving the room, groaning when I see the flood of spammy emails from the job sites I’ve subscribed to.
I’m about to clear all of them when I see the name of a romance author I worked with several years ago before she left to pursue self-publishing.Curiosity takes hold when I see the subject line:Scottish Doppelgänger?
Hi Abby,
This is really random since we haven’t spoken in years, but are you in Edinburgh, Scotland right now?I’ve been thinking about you a lot recently, and today I could have sworn I saw you on Princes Street.Did my mind conjure you up?Did I just have my first real-life doppelgänger experience?Or are you in Scotland too?
Whatever the case, seeing you or simply *imagining* it was you spurred me to finally email you.I don’t want to assume you’ve followed my career over the last few years, but I’ve had quite a bit of success with indie publishing.I’ve been lucky to work with some great freelance editors, but I’ve never connected with any of them the way I connected with you.I’m between editors—and projects, as I do research for my next book—and it got me wondering if you’ve ever done or would consider doing freelance editing?I would love the chance to work with you again, especially on my current project, since I remember we shared a love for this beautiful country.
If thatwasyou and you’re here for a bit, can we meet for coffee or something?I’m here for another month or so, splitting my time between Edinburgh and Inverness.And if my imagination ran away with me and I conjured you in a case of wishful thinking, can we schedule a video chat?Even if you’re not interested in working together or you don’t have time, I’d still like to catch up.
All the best,
Samantha
I scan the email a second time, unable to ignore the tingles that race across my skin.I try to convince myself the sensations are caused by the damp chill seeping into me, but this unexpected email, paired with the coincidence of Samantha and me being in Edinburgh at the same time, has made my brain buzz.
I’ve been so set on needing to have a specific sort of job—a nine-to-five, something in an office, a sense of structure and order—I haven’t considered other possibilities.And I can’t take the time to consider any of that now because Graeme is waiting.
When I enter the bathroom, he’s sitting on the edge of the tub, staring into the swirling water as he rakes a hand through his damp hair.Floral-scented steam wafts from the bath, giving me the strongest sensation of déjà vu.
Graeme looks up at me, smiling slightly when he sees what I’m wearing.“Hiya.”
“Hiya,” I echo, charmed as always by what I discovered fourteen years ago is a common Scottish greeting.“Do you remember that day we hiked Arthur’s Seat and you drew me a bath afterward?”I don’t know why I’m asking; he already told me he remembers everything.
“Aye, you fell and hurt yourself,” he says.
I wrinkle my nose.“I was hoping you’d forgotten that part.”
He huffs in amusement.“Consider it forgotten.I ran you a bath because you were soaked and filthy after getting caught in the rain.”
“Right, exactly.”I open my mouth to continue, but something about his expression makes me ask, “What’s that look?”
“You weren’t the only thing that slipped that day,” he says, peering up at me with a lopsided smile.
I shove his shoulder.“You’re the worst.What are you talking about?”
“I let my facade slip when I was inspecting your bruise.The one youdidn’tget from falling.”Another cheeky grin, this time paired with a wink that makes me roll my eyes even as it tugs at something in my belly.“I thought for sure you knew I was in love with you.”
I shake my head.“I remember being sort of stunned, maybe even a little confused by your reaction.”I play with the belt on my robe, running it between my fingers before wrapping it around them.“There’s something else I remember.”
He raises his eyebrows in silent question.
My cheeks grow warm.Why am I doing this?There are walks down memory lane, but this is something else entirely.“I imagined what it would be like if you were in the tub with me.It was comforting and soothing, but...sexy too.”
He had ducked his head to look at the water while I was speaking, so I can’t see his reaction now.“Did you touch yourself?”
I’m not sure why the question embarrasses me or makes me want to giggle like a schoolgirl.I started this, after all.“I wanted to, but it felt wrong.We were still just friends.”
He nods slowly, lifting his head and pinning me with those cerulean eyes.“Did youeverthink of me when you touched yourself?”
I watch, mesmerized, as he trails his fingers over the surface of the water.My cheeks heat further as I imagine him doing the same to my skin. “Sometimes.I tried not to, but I couldn’t help it.”
“What about now?”
“After the wedding, I basically retrained my brain and didn’t allow myself to think of you in any romantic or sexual capacity.That being said, in the past month or so, youmighthave made a few appearances in my fantasies...”I watch his face closely, but his expression remains unchanged.
“How about since you’ve been here?”
