A Prior Engagement

by S. L. Scott

  Contents

  A Prior Engagement

  Personal Message

  Happy Are Those

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Hotline

  About the Author

  A Prior Engagement

  S.L. Scott

  A Personal Message

  I’ve traveled a path—long and winding. Sometimes I had vast views of the ocean and sometimes I couldn’t see beyond the trees. You were there with me always, supportive and strong, like-minded and challenging, peaceful and inspirational. I will always remember and cherish you for taking this journey with me.

  I give all my love, gratitude, and my forever to my amazing husband and best friend. My kids and my family are everything to me. Thank you for supporting me as I follow my dreams.

  Thank you to the lovely fandom community that accepted me with open arms and embraced my stories. You have touched my heart, warmed my soul, and encouraged me.

  Not only are the following women talented, but they are also smart, funny, and great friends. Thank you: Becca, Irene, Jada, Jenn, Marni, Marla, Mary, and Susi for all of your hard work on this book, but also for your friendship and support, and for suffering through the endless emails, DM’s, IM’s, tweets, texts, calls – yeah, you get the picture. Thank you. Special thanks to Wyndy and Sydney—you are wonderful friends.

  There are people in your life that make it better just by being in it. These are those people to me: Flavia, Jennifer S., Kerri, Kirsten, Laura, Sonia, and Suzanne. You are all fantastic and I’m fortunate to know you. I treasure that we share so much of our lives like we do, and you make me smile.

  “Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.” – Leon Joseph Cardinal Suenens

  Chapter 1

  Forty-five minutes into British Literature, Professor Lang unexpectedly dismissed his students. Everleigh Wright pushed her long brown hair behind her shoulders before piling her belongings back into her bag as a scruffy faced, wrinkled-shirted boy scooted past her. She stood and followed behind him as he headed to the end of the aisle toward the exit.

  That scruffy face belonged to William Ryder, who had noticed the attractive brunette the prior week when the professor called on her to debate the issue of novels of the 1900s being over-romanticized because women writers had found a market niche. She said, “Women writing for women is not a niche, not then and not now. Back then, they were being practical. Women authors knew what they wanted to read and weren’t finding it in celebrated male authors of the time. When I think romance, I think Austen, not Dickens.”

  William leaned forward to get a better look at the girl attached to the lovely voice. She was pretty and soft-spoken, but precise in her words, and held a conviction that deserved attention.

  After her confident statement, she had captured William’s full attention. But he also knew Austen was an easy answer and he bet if challenged, she could also defend male writers of that era.

  When he passed her by, he glanced down, not able to bring himself to speak to her. The atmosphere in the auditorium and prying eyes of the other students was intimidating. He knew she hadn’t paid him any attention anyhow, at least none he was aware of. Although, he was well aware the cute girl never spoke to anyone else in class either, and often appeared to be daydreaming in the middle of the lecture class.

  As William walked down the stairs of the large auditorium, he glanced back at her one last time before he exited. He knew he wouldn’t see her again for two days and wanted a visual to carry with him.

  Following the students out of the building, he tossed his bag over his shoulder, deciding to head to his favorite coffee shop.

  It was a warm spring day, and he walked to campus today instead of riding his bike like he had all winter when he had to hurry for cover from the cold. While walking the two Manhattan blocks from campus to the locally-owned coffeehouse, Bean There, he let his mind wander back to the girl from class. He wondered what her name was and what she daydreamed about because she often seemed lost in her own thoughts. She likes to wear fitted cardigans and pants, not jeans. Did she always look so put together and proper? Did she ever run around in sneakers and workout clothes like most girls on campus? She made the effort for school, but what did she wear in other facets of her life?

  He was smiling as he entered the coffee shop, but felt a little ridiculous as if his thoughts were visible for the world to see.

  William ordered his usual—double espresso black and plain scone. The barista had started preparing it as soon as he opened the door. She set the coffee and scone down on the counter, and asked, “Would you like anything else today, William?” Leaning over the counter a little closer to him, she smiled.

  Looking up for the first time since he had entered the small shop, their eyes met, and he said, “No, thank you. How are you today, Tracy?” Because Tracy was always friendly when she served him, he returned the smile and set his money on the counter, leaving the change as her tip.

  “I’m really good. Um, so how are you?” She asked in a chipper voice.

  “I’m good. I have a lot of reading to do and need a coffee boost. It’s gonna be a long day.” On that note, he turned and walked toward his regular table, but stopped when he saw the table was occupied. A wave of indignation rolled through him, but dissipated just as fast. The girl from class who had occupied more of his thoughts than he was comfortable admitting, had stolen his table.

  William couldn’t hide the smile that erupted when he realized the opportunity presenting itself.

  “Your table’s taken,” Tracy said. There was an edge of anxiety to her tone he picked up on. “But there are plenty of other ones, or you could try a seat at the counter today?”

  He wasn’t deterred, he was hopeful. Before moving toward the table again, he mumbled, “Yeah, sure, another table. Good idea.”

  After dropping his bag on the table closest to his usual spot, he settled into his chair.

  Everleigh was startled by the bag landing loudly on top of the table next to hers. She glanced at the well-worn burgundy backpack and then around the small shop. There were only two other customers in the place and they sat on a couch together near the front window, which meant there were plenty of other tables available. She felt uncomfortable that someone had chosen to sit so close to her.

  Looking up at the guy next to her, she was both cautious and intrigued. A straight nose led to a smile under eyes that were closer to navy than sky blue in color. She didn’t stare at him long, although she did notice his handsome features hidden under the days-old scruff he was sporting. His hair was unkempt, a lot like his clothes, and was disorderly and wild, which made her wonder if he was too.

  She went back to reading the essay on her laptop, trying to ignore the guy who sat uncomfortably clo
se. Picking up where she left off, she began typing again, but found her attention drifting back to him. Sneaking peeks at him out of the corner of her eyes, she noticed his textbook teetering on the edge of the table as he unloaded his laptop. With a quick swoosh, it landed with a bang on the floor between them, causing her to flinch. Her reflexes sent her hand to pick it up just as his did, and their heads hit in the process.

  She grabbed her head. “Ouch!”

  Without thinking, his hand covered the one she had pressed to her forehead. Angling his head, he said, “I’m sorry. Are you all right?”

  She slipped her hand out from under his, which left his against her skin, putting pressure on the spot that hurt the most. Her skin tingled under his touch, and her heart started to race.

  His lips parted and he sighed.

  “I’m okay. It was an accident.” She smiled, returning her hand to her head, but was obstructed by his, which remained.

  He was reluctant to remove his, but was unable to justify its place on her any longer without seeming like a weirdo.

  “Are you all right?” she asked, and strangely already missed his touch.

  When their eyes met for the first time, he was entranced by the deep, oceanic blue of her eyes. “Yes. I am now.” He smiled at the way she let a little laugh escape and then he laughed with her.

  Feeling comfortable in this odd meeting, she tapped his textbook, and asked, “Are you taking this class?”

  “No, I like to read college textbooks for fun.”

  She didn’t get his joke and didn’t say anything more, feeling embarrassed for asking in the first place.

  “No, I’m kidding. I’m in your class. Professor Lang’s class,” he said, making up for his bad joke.

  “Oh. I… uh… I apologize. I haven’t seen you in there.” She felt rude for not recognizing him.

  He reassured her, not wanting to lose her interest because of some stupid remark he made. “There are over a hundred people in the class. It’s okay.”

  Everleigh opened her mouth to say something, but the words didn’t come. She didn’t know what to say to that, so she closed her mouth, and pondered his statement a moment longer. Pointing at her laptop, she felt sheepish. “I have a lot of work to do and not much time left to do it in.”

  William found her reaction fascinating, not quite typical. He didn’t usually have trouble talking to girls, most of the time they even initiated the conversation. But this girl was given the perfect opportunity to continue the conversation she had started, and she didn’t take it. He began overanalyzing their entire exchange starting with how she flinched when his book fell. Her expression exposed a reaction he didn’t quite understand. It was just a book falling, after all, but she flinched. Then she seemed to shift back, and relaxed, enjoying their interaction. After a few minutes, she reverted back, and went to work as if nothing had happened. Maybe she’s telling the truth, and he’s over-thinking the situation.

  As Everleigh pretended to read her laptop screen, she was thinking how nice it would be to have a friend who goes to the same college, even better that they shared a class. She spied on him, and thoughts of a ‘study buddy’ began to cross her mind. Knowing Tom would never consent to her having a friend he didn't know, she returned her gaze back to her own studies, trying to forget the crazy idea before it developed into a possibility.

  They didn’t say another word, but every now and then she could feel the weight of his eyes on her and she liked it.

  Over the next hour, she could feel something building between them, a heavy sensation—a tension of sorts. She didn’t have time to explore the feelings because she had to leave. After packing her bag, she stood up and glanced over at him. He was engrossed in highlighting his textbook as she walked around the table. Out of politeness and because she wanted to, she stopped, turned toward her neighbor, and said, “Good-bye.” Then she left without giving him an opportunity to say anything in response.

  She was so quiet when she spoke that William wondered if he was supposed to hear her pleasantry. Regardless, he knew it was for him and that made him smile… again. He glanced up and saw Tracy grinning at him as she did a little wave of acknowledgment. William felt embarrassed he’d been caught smiling because of the girl who just left his side. It was obvious by her friendly gesture that Tracy assumed he was smiling at her. She’s cute, but he wasn’t drawn to her like the girl he’d bumped heads with. He returned his focus back to his book and finished highlighting the sentence he wanted to memorize later.

  Everleigh made her way two blocks up from Bean There and waited on the side street as instructed the evening before. The car pulled up to the curb promptly at four. She opened the door and tucked her body into the sleek, new sports car. Thomas Whitney loved to show off and this car was his new toy. She believed cars in Manhattan were ridiculous, but would never say such a thing to him. “Hi,” she said in the tone she used to test the waters of her fiancé’s mood.

  “How was your day, Everleigh?” Tom’s deep brown eyes drank her in with approval.

  She was relieved to hear he was in a good mood. “It was educational.” She laughed at her own joke. He didn’t. “We’re starting on the Austen era, so I can’t complain. You know how much I love her work.”

  “That’s nice. I’m sure you’ll do great.” He smiled, and patted her on the knee. He was four years older than she was, but often treated her as a child, which she found frustrating and annoying.

  But in a turn, his hand slid up her leg and squeezed her thigh, a clear indication of his intentions later that night.

  She tensed, undecided how she felt about his gesture at that moment. She should’ve appreciated that he was touching her gently, but she didn’t.

  Glancing at him, she noticed his usually meticulous styled hair was in slight disarray and needed a trim. She liked his hair a little longer. The wavy blonde locks made him look younger than his personality made him seem, but she knew to keep such thoughts to herself.

  His shirt was a little wrinkled. She only noticed because his tie was loosened at the collar, which was unusual for him.

  “How was your day?” she asked curious to why he looked worn out.

  Closing his eyes briefly, Tom rolled his neck to the side to release the tension. She knew he carried it in his shoulders. “It was fine.” His response was short as was his tone.

  He gave her leg another squeeze, and she took a deep breath to counteract the gasp that wanted to escape instead. His touch was all wrong, but she remained still and composed. If she was truthful, it wasn’t just this one time. His touch hadn’t felt right in a long time. He hadn’t felt right in a long time. She tamped down those feelings and concentrated on the present. Dwelling on memories of the past wouldn’t change her future.

  After buckling her seatbelt, she folded her hands in her lap as he pulled into traffic. The distance to her home wasn’t far, but with city traffic, it always took longer than it should. As it started to sprinkle on the windshield, Everleigh directed her attention to the people on the sidewalk.

  When the drizzle turned to rain, Tom asked, “Aren’t you glad you’re not out there?”

  She nodded to please him. It was easier to agree. She didn’t want to start an argument over something he didn’t expect a response to in the first place. He often asked questions he wanted her to agree to, not give her opinion.

  Trapped inside the car, she wished she were out there with the strangers on the street. She couldn’t remember the last time she walked in the rain, or even got caught in it, reminding her of an old song her nanny used to sing. After thoughts of pina coladas crossed her mind, she tried to remember the last time she had walked home from school. Before today, the Town Car was always prompt, picking her up at four o’clock. It was a very manageable walk, but she struggled to remember it.

  Although the change in cars was nice, the pressing silence saddened her when she realized how closed-off she had become to the rest of the world. She watched it roll by from the
confines of the luxury car, knowing she was allowed to touch it, but not be a part of it. She didn’t realize what she was truly choosing when she chose Tom, but four years later it was becoming quite apparent.

  The doorman rushed to escort his residents to the protection of the awning that led to the shiny glass and brass doors just as Tom pulled up to the curb. Walter opened the car door and greeted the couple with a smile. “Good afternoon, Miss Wright, Mr. Whitney.”

  “Good afternoon, Walter. Only a drop off today. Take care of my girl.” Tom winked at Everleigh before he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

  His gentle kiss reminded her of how sweet he could be when he chose to be. His youthfulness was showing. That was the side of him she had fallen in love with, which was also the side of him she thought he’d outgrown. “You’re not coming up?”

  “I can’t, but I’ll be back around six-thirty.”

  She nodded as she stepped out of the car then dashed for the door. Walter raced to keep up, but she got to the door first. She held it open for her doorman, enjoying the reversal of roles.

  Tom hit his palm against the steering wheel twice he was so mad. He hated when she acted childish because it was a glaring reminder of how much more he needed to teach her. Angry, he pulled into traffic, realizing he would need to have another discussion with her about her behavior. That was an issue he thought he’d already covered.

  A sudden rush of freedom swept over her as she rode the twelve floors up. Once inside, she went straight to her room.

  After one loud knock on the door, her sister Audrey barged in, making herself comfortable on the bed. “Hey, Evie, what’s going on?”

  Her sister lounged across her bed watching Everleigh stand in front of her large bay window.

  “It’s raining,” Everleigh said wistfully, her thoughts still on the inclement weather.

  “Yeah, I know. I’m bummed. I really wanted to go out.”

  Surprised by the whine in her sister’s tone, Everleigh turned around, and asked, “Why don’t you then?”

  “Well.” Audrey paused before speaking again as if in debate. “I guess I could—”