Saving Sophie: Book Seven In The Bodyguards Of L.A. County Series (9 page)

He frowned, wondering why she’d gotten so huffy about the puppy. Clearly she liked dogs. He slid the frame back in place as he spotted her purse, reaching for it as the dryer shut off. He quickly zipped the bag and left the room, hurrying down to the kitchen, making himself busy. He tossed the rolls back into the oven he’d forgotten to turn off when he grabbed them out the first time and took two new pale yellow bowls from the cupboard.

Sophie murmured to the pup in her arms as she stopped in the doorway.

He turned, battling with another wave of guilt as their eyes met. “I’ll get us some food.”

“There’s a salad in the fridge,” she said with a hint of cool.

He set down the bowls. “Look, I didn’t realize bringing home a defenseless animal was going to put your back up. I said I would take him to the pound.”

“He’s not going to the pound. You and I both know what will happen to him there.” She moved to the fridge, taking out the milk and a cereal bowl from the cupboard, pouring a small amount into the bottom. She microwaved the dish for fifteen seconds, stirred the milk with her finger, and set it on the floor along with the dog. “Here you go,” she said in her soft voice as she crouched down next to the puppy’s side.

The dog sniffed and started lapping greedily.

“He’s starving. You poor thing,” she cooed, petting him in long, gentle strokes.

He leaned back against the counter, watching Sophie’s graceful fingers move along the brown and black fur. “So give him some more.”

She shook her head, keeping her eyes glued to the dog. “Just a little at a time. We don’t want to make him sick.” She stood and put on an oven mitt, grabbing the homemade rolls she’d made at some point during the day.

“I didn’t mean to make you mad. I thought you’d like having the company.”

She met his gaze, letting loose a small sigh. “Murphy will have a good home here until I can find him a forever family.”

“Murphy?”

“Yes.” She looked down at the sleeping puppy, laughing as the exhausted dog lay by the bowl with his ear in what was left of the milk.

He stared at her, certain he would never get enough of that bright sound. “So how old do you think Murphy is?”

“Mmm. Maybe twelve or thirteen weeks. He’s going to need an appointment with the vet.”

“He’s definitely not ugly. It looks like there’s a bit of retriever and shepherd in him.”

“Yes, I think you’re right.” She grabbed up the bowl and set it in the sink. “Your clothes are still soaked. I figured you would’ve changed.”

“I went to the store.” He gestured toward the bag on the chair.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you still mad?” He didn’t want her to be. Sophie’s quiet disapproval packed a nasty punch.

“A little.” She sighed again. “Why don’t you give me your shirt, and we’ll throw it in the dryer.”

He pulled off his top, setting it in her outstretched hand, then took hold of her fingers, tugging her closer. “I’m sorry.”

Her eyes softened. “Thank you for your apology. It was kind of you to stop instead of leave him there. He probably wouldn’t have lived long if you had. I’m sorry for snapping at you.”

“I should’ve asked.”

“He’s here now. We’ll take good care of him until we can find him a family.”

He nodded, unable to look away from those enchanting violet eyes, wondering who the hell the sweet blond with the wad of cash was. “I’ll get the salad, then I’ll get a shirt.”

“Okay.” She smiled.

He let her go and turned toward the fridge, reminding himself that Sophie and her bagful of secrets had nothing to do with him.

~~~~

Eric hustled from his limo into the building, hurrying for the elevator before it closed. He pressed the button for the fifth floor, crossing his arms, careful to avoid wrinkles as he waited for the doors to open again. He counted down on his Rolex, growing impatient as the second hand started around the watch face for the second time. He was expected at the gallery, but David would be getting a visit first. They had an appointment tomorrow morning, but he wouldn’t be kept waiting for one more moment.

Finally, the elevator came to a stop with a gentle ding and slide of the doors. He moved down the hall, more than ready to hear what his useless PI had to say. He was sick of the excuses and non-answers. David was lucky this trip to New York City had already been planned. He was a busy, important man. Taking impromptu trips didn’t suit his schedule.

He pulled open the second door on the left and walked into the upscale waiting area decorated with ferns and dark leather furnishings.

“Hello, Mr. Winthrop.” David’s secretary greeted him with a polite smile.

He didn’t bother to respond or wait for an invitation to go back to the office.

“Um, excuse me, Mr. Winthrop,” the secretary called after him.

He moved down another hall and walked into a meeting in session.

David and two other men stopped talking.

“I need to speak with you immediately.”

David adjusted the glasses on his ugly pointed nose. “I’m in a meeting.”

“Now you’re not.” Eric nodded at the men staring at him in their starchy pinstripes.

David stood, swiping at the top of his balding head. “If you’ll excuse me for just a moment, gentlemen.” He walked around his desk, taking Eric’s arm as they moved into the hallway.

“Mr. Schmidt,” the secretary came hustling up, her cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll take care of this. Go ahead and get back to work.” He turned to Eric. “What the hell are you doing?”

“I think the better question here, David, is what the hell are
you
doing? I need answers and I need them now. Where the hell is Sophie?”

“I’m working on it. I run her license and social security number every day. I’m checking for bank and credit card activity. You know that. I send you my reports every night by five.”

“It’s not enough. I need her
back
. The wedding’s Saturday, and she’s going to be there.” Sophie would be standing next to him at the altar he’d had hand-carved, so help him god.

“I don’t know what else you want me to do.”

“
Find
her, damn it.”

“It’s only a matter of time. The minute she makes a mistake, I’ll have her. Have I ever let you down?”

David had been letting him down for the last two months. “There’s a first time for everything.”

“We’re going to track her down.”

“June first is right around the corner. You know what’s at stake. I won’t lose out on that money.” He glanced at his watch and straightened his tie. “I have to go to my show. I’m going to be late.”

“Go sell your paintings and let me worry about Sophie.”

“She should be here. She’s making me look like a damn
fool
. Find her, David.” He sailed back out as quickly as he’d come, hoping he’d made himself very clear.

Sophie sat with her foot curled under her on
Morgan Phillips’ couch, enjoying her glass of wine in her cute, pale-green, spaghetti-strap top and white shorts. She’d been nestled in her comfy seat for the last hour, talking and laughing, just being one of the girls. For the other six women this was a normal once-a-month gathering, but for her it was a special moment she would treasure forever. They’d welcomed her with open arms, letting her into their close-knit group because Abby had paved the way. Finally she belonged. She could never repay her new friend for opening up her world so completely.

Only months ago she’d been alone. Eric had slowly and effectively cut her off from anyone and everything until there had only been him. His life had been her entire focus.

She glanced at the pretty wall clock across the room and smiled into her glass as she took another sip of the sweet Riesling. It was ten o’ clock in Maine, and she should have been Mrs. Eric Winthrop. By now she would have been dancing with her new husband in front of hundreds of stuffy guest she barely knew, but instead she was here, surrounded by fun, warm women. This right here was freedom. This was everything she’d ever wanted.

Murphy adjusted himself so his chin rested on her bare foot, and she smiled again, perfectly, wonderfully happy. Reaching down, she gave her new puppy a gentle rub between the ears. He hadn’t left her side since Stone brought him home two days ago. He ran with her each morning and enjoyed his evening walks, trying desperately to catch seagulls. She’d tried her best not to get too attached, but she already was. Eventually she would have to find the sweet little mutt a family, but for now she and Murphy had each other. She stretched forward, taking a chocolate-covered strawberry from the tray on the coffee table, tuning into the conversation humming around her.

“Now that the business is officially back in the black, Tucker really wants to get started,” Wren said as she forked up another bite of the mousse-topped brownies Sophie had brought along.

“So what are you waiting for?” Sarah asked. “The girls and their brother would love to welcome a cousin.”

“Well, they might—” Wren paused with more brownie on her fork. “Are you and Ethan having a boy?”

“Yes.” Sarah beamed. “We found out yesterday. He finally cooperated and faced the way we wanted him to.”

“Aw, a nephew.” Wren got up and walked over to Sarah, hugging her sister-in-law. “Congratulations. I’m going to have to swing by and give Ethan a hug.”

“You know he would love it.”

“Morgan, when are you and Hunter going to give Jacob a brother or sister?” Abby asked.

“Not for a while.” Morgan set her plate on the small tray. “Jake’s finally sleeping through the night. I want to enjoy that for a while. Besides, Hunter and I are happy practicing until we decide we’re ready for round two.”

Everyone chuckled.

“I finally decided to go for it,” Hailey said as she switched Preston to her other breast.

“I’m sure Austin was okay with that,” Abby said with a wiggle of her brows.

“I thought he was going to cry when I took his hand and led him to the bedroom.” Hailey grinned. “God knows I made him wait long enough, but I just wasn’t ready. He was sweet not to pressure me. I thought our first time after the baby was going to be slow and maybe romantic.”

Morgan and Sarah chuckled at that notion.

Hailey grinned again. “Yeah, it ended up being a quickie. A really great, amazing quickie. We slowed down the second time around after we both blew off a little steam.”

“Here’s to seconds.” Abby held up her glass with an exaggerated wink for Hailey.

“Hear, hear.” Hailey said with her glass of lemon water.

“Forget sex.” Alexa shifted uncomfortably in her chair. “At this point I’d agree to give it up for a year. I just want to have this baby.”

Sarah nodded, squeezing Alexa’s hand in sympathy.

“I’ll be sweet enough to have a sweaty bought in your honor, big sis.” Abby chuckled.

“Someday you’ll know the discomfort of which I speak.” Alexa smiled not so sweetly, with a bat of her lashes.

“Someday.” Abby laughed. “But not tonight.”

Sophie took another bite of her sinful strawberry, wondering what all the fuss was about. She hated sex. If she never had it again, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

“You’re quiet over there, Sophie.” Wren said, picking up her merlot.

“Oh, I was just thinking about how much I hate sex.” Her cheeks immediately burned crimson as she realized she’d actually said that out loud.

“Well,” Wren set her wine down without drinking, “I guess that means you need to find yourself a decent partner. The right person makes all the difference.”

“Like Tucker.” Abby teased with a bump of her elbow to Wren’s arm.

“Absolutely.” Wren winked, grinning hugely.

“Maybe Stone would be willing to give you a hand.” Hailey sent Sophie a slow smile. “I mean you do live together.”

“I—I don’t think so.” Sophie set her glass down before she dropped it. “I mean, yes, we live together, but no on the sex.”

“He’s pretty hot,” Hailey added.

Everyone agreed.

“Well, yes.” She sat up straighter and cleared her throat as Stone’s sexy chest and six-pack abs flashed through her mind.

“I bet he’s amazing in bed,” Morgan said with a bite into a white-chocolate strawberry. “The quiet, broody ones usually are. Hunter isn’t exactly quiet, but he certainly can brood.” She bit her lip with a knowing smile.

As if on cue, Hunter walked into the living room with a fussy baby.

“Well speak of the devil,” Morgan said, getting to her feet.

Morgan’s gorgeous golden husband with the insanely blue eyes frowned as he gently bounced his son in his powerful arms. “What?”

“Nothing.” She pressed a playful kiss to his lips. “It looks like Jake’s ready for a snack.” She smiled at her husband and kissed him again as she took their son.

Hunter shook his head and started back down the hall as Morgan moved toward the stairs.

Preston filled his diaper with a loud explosion and let out a wail.

Hailey stood, following Morgan. “I’m going to need to use Jake’s changing table.”

“Come on up.”

Wren’s cell phone rang. She glanced at the readout. “Sorry, but I need to take this.” She put the phone to her ear. “Patrick? Yes. No, the pale blue.” She stood, held up a finger, and left the room.

“Well, I guess I’ll refill the platter,” Abby said. “Sophie, you wanna come with me?”

“Sure.” She grabbed the tray of dirty dishes and followed Abby to the kitchen.

“Our gatherings are a little different now that we have so many babies joining the party.”

“I think it’s wonderful.” She set down the tray and opened the dishwasher.

Abby took several Tupperware containers from the fridge, placing them on the counter. “I hope we didn’t make you uncomfortable just now.”

Sophie paused with a dirty plate in her hand. “What do you mean?”

“The sex talk. They were only teasing.”

“No. It was fine.” She liked that they’d felt comfortable enough to include her in the fun.

Abby stopped arranging strawberries on the platter and faced her. “This is none of my business, but I know—I know what it’s like to hate sex. I also know what it’s like to love it.”

Sophie sighed, swiping her hair behind her ear and grabbed another dish, not quite able to meet Abby’s eyes. “I’m not like other women.”

Abby frowned. “Why do you say that?”

“There’s something wrong with me.” She’d never confessed one of her biggest secrets to anyone, not that there’d been anyone to tell.

“Sexually?”

She nodded, trying to remember that Abby was her friend. Girlfriends talked about sex. “I don’t like sex. It doesn’t excite me.
Ever
.”

“Okay.”

“I’m dysfunctional. I don’t have orgasms, and I don’t look forward to the next time the way the rest of you do.”

Abby grabbed one of the dirty dishes, placing the plate next to the one Sophie just put in. “Has it always been like that?”

She nodded again. “Eric says I’m a dead lay.” She looked down, mortified. “He says I’m a disappointment.”

“I’m sure that’s not true.” Abby rested a supportive hand on her shoulder. “What about your other partners?”

“There haven’t been any.”

“Eric, he’s the only man you’ve been with?”

“Yes. I was always too busy with sports and my mother’s business to get involved with boys. Eric and I were friends. He’s older than me—thirty-seven. Then my mother got sick and things changed. I’m not sure I wanted them to, but it was such a horrible time and it just…did.” She shrugged, remembering the wretched period in her life as if it were yesterday.

“You were vulnerable.”

“Yes. I guess I was.” And she hated that she’d been so weak.

“Were you attracted to him?”

“He was more my friend. I leaned on him a lot as my mother got worse.”

“Can I ask you another question?”

As much as it was embarrassing to talk about, it was also a relief. “Yes.”

“Are you attracted to Stone?”

“I—uh, I don’t know.” She sighed, knowing that wasn’t true. “Yes, I guess, perhaps I might be.”

Abby smiled. “He’s gorgeous and broody, Sophie. A dead woman would find him appealing.”

Sophie grinned. “It’s just that I live with him, and he’s been kind to let me stay. It’s not right—”

“It’s exactly right. And normal. Have you ever thought that there might not be anything wrong with you and maybe you were just with the wrong man? I’ll second what Wren said earlier—the right partner makes all the difference. Trust me. Trust us.”

“I don’t know how to be with a man. I don’t
want
to be with one. Ever.”

Abby nodded. “There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s also okay to change your mind. After the rape, I didn’t think I would ever be able to think about sex in a healthy way again. Then Jerrod came along. I wanted to be with him. I love being with him. When your partner cares about you and wants you to enjoy the experience as much as he does, everything’s different. It’s wonderful.”

She wanted to believe Abby, but her two-year track record in bed spoke for itself. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

She set the last dish in the dishwasher and closed the door. “It looks like we’re all finished.”

Abby secured the lid on the strawberries and put the containers back in the fridge. “Ready for some more fun?”

She smiled. “Definitely.”

“Come on.”

They went out to the living room. Sophie took her seat on the couch as Abby set down the tray and rushed to her sister’s side.

“Lex, are you okay?”

Alexa breathed in and out slowly several times, nodding.

“Contraction?”

Alexa nodded again, smiling as she breathed normally. “A
real
contraction—about a minute long.”

“It’s time.” Abby smiled, taking her sister’s hand.

“
Finally
.” Alexa sighed, getting to her feet with her sister’s help. “I know in a couple hours from now I won’t be so excited to be in pain, but I’m loving it now. I need to call Jack.”

“Alexa, I’m going to take you home,” Sarah said. “I’ll bring Livy back to my house with me so you and Jackson can head to the hospital when you’re ready.”

Alexa grabbed her purse from the entryway table. “That sounds good.”

Abby opened the door for them. “I’ll come by soon. Give me half an hour.”

“Take your time. If you remember, this usually takes a while.” She kissed Abby’s cheek. “I’ll see you soon. Bye, Sophie.”

“Goodbye.” She picked up Murphy. “I’m happy to call a cab if you want to go with your sister and Sarah.”

Abby shook her head. “No. I brought you; I’ll bring you home. Lex’s house is only a couple miles from Stone’s.”

“Okay, but I’d like to go so you can.”

Hunter came back into the room. “Everybody’s leaving?”

“Lex just went into labor,” Abby said. “Sarah’s bringing her home. I’m taking Sophie home. I have no idea where Wren went. Morgan and Hailey are upstairs.”

“I guess I’ll see you guys around.”

“Tell Morgan we said thanks and bye.”

“Will do. Give Jackson and Alexa our best.” He started toward the stairs. “We’ll stop by the hospital and visit tomorrow.”

“Thank Morgan for me,” Sophie piped in.

“I will. See ya.” He disappeared up the steps.

She and Abby hurried to the car despite Alexa’s calm reassurance to take their time. Ten minutes later, Sophie got out in Stone’s driveway. “Thank you again for including me.”

“Thanks for the delicious treats.”

“Tell Alexa and Jackson good luck for me.”

“I will. We should do lunch this week.”

“Definitely. Call me when you have a new nephew to hold.”

“Will do. Bye.”

“Bye.” She waved as Abby backed up and drove away. Murphy cuddled closer, whimpering in her arms as she walked toward the house. As she approached, she could hear the blasting sounds of U-2 pouring through the open windows. “It’s okay,” she reassured, kissing the top of Murphy’s head. “Stone must be working.” She opened the door and went inside, stopping abruptly when she saw her cot, clothes, and shoes piled in the living room. “What in the world? Stone?”

She moved down the hall to the room she typically slept in, pausing in the doorway as Stone put some white concoction where boards met in the fully dry-walled room. He was shirtless and sheened in sweat, wearing his typical grubby work jeans while his arm muscles bunched and flexed with his steady movements. Swallowing, her gaze trailed over the bumps and ridges of his solid back.

He bent down, scooping up more of the goop in the bucket, and turned, jumping. “Son of a bitch. You scared me.” He walked over and clicked off his iPod in the dock, sending the room into silence.

“Sorry. I’m back,” she said, licking her lips, suddenly nervous as her conversation with Abby played through her mind. He looked so
good
with the black kerchief wrapped around his head, accentuating his fierce eyes and strong cheekbones. She slid a glance over his pecs and abs
.
What would it be like to feel those hard muscles against her hands? What would it feel like to lie beneath Stone’s powerful body?