Colin, eight years before

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Colin was sneaking out for the tenth time in as many days when his father caught him.

Ian McGregor was a big man, but he was also able to hide in the shadows when necessary.

And apparently catching his son sneaking out to meet a girl was necessary.

“Where are you going, son?”

Colin froze in the act of saddling Bowen. He’d promised CeCe a ride on his stallion before she went home. Which was in only a few days time and because he had to go with his father to London for business the following evening, he needed to see her that evening.

It was his last chance to be alone with the girl who’d captivated him so completely.

She was beautiful on the outside, he’d known that from the first moment he’d seen her. But what had surprised Colin was how strongly he felt connected to the CeCe on the inside.

Generous. Funny. Sweet and shy. She was both a temptress and a shrew, but in the best way, alternately calling him on his bullshit and managing to draw him closer with her honest ways.

He’d kissed her for the first time five days before, and she’d frozen for a moment.

Long enough for him to second-guess her interest, but just as he’d started to pull back, she’d launched herself into his arms and then kissed him senseless.

Literally, her mouth on his made his mind spin.

And he couldn’t wait to kiss her again.

Which meant he needed to get the hell away from his father.

Because if there was one thing his father did not approve of it was Colin seeing anyone besides Olivia Stewart, the girl his age from the neighboring estate. Their fathers were best friends and had been hoping for a matchmaking success, but neither Colin nor Olivia were the least bit interested in each other.

Still, their fathers were interfering ninnies, and though Olivia had taken to dating a university student from Oxford, they still continued to hold out hope for a match.

“I’m going out,” he said. “But I’ll be home early enough to not delay our trip.” He finished saddling Bo and began leading him out from the stables.

“Are you seeing Ollie?” his father asked, using the pet name their family had for Olivia.

Now don’t get him wrong, Olivia was a gorgeous girl and had a hell of a lot of good qualities, but she was as much of a sister to him as . . . well, his own biological sister.

“Dad—” he began.

“She broke up with that snotty English brat,” Ian said. “You could have her now, Son.”

He could never have her. Not Olivia. Not in that way.

Not when a certain American girl was his summer obsession.

Who was going home soon. With whom he wanted to soak up as much time as possible.

And also with whom his family would blow a gasket if they learned of his infatuation.

Because McGregors did not associate with Americans.

Not since a business deal had gone bad in 1896. Yes, in 1896. An American had reneged on a railroad contract in the states and gone with a competitor. And adding further insult to injury, he’d run off with the investment, leaving the McGregor coffers in a bad state.

And so, Americans were anathema and Colin seeing one over Ollie Stewart would the spark to the very dry kindling of his father’s temper.

Which is why he lied.

To get out of an argument. To get to CeCe faster.

Only, he didn’t know until years later how much that little white lie would impact his life.