“Fuck him,” Sophie said. Stone was nothing like her ex.Nothing. Her ex had been a master at deceit, hiding behind a charming façade. Stone, on the other hand, was brutally honest—even about his flaws. That honesty was what drew her to him, even if it scared her.
“May ten thousand fat ticks crawl up his asshole and attach,” Donna said.
They toasted to the sentiment.
Sophie pulled out her phone. “I’ll text him and ask if he wants to meet in person next week for our book chat.”
Donna nodded her encouragement.
Sophie took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever response might come. The idea of seeing Stone in person made her heart race, but the fear of his rejection loomed large.
Sophie:Let me make it up to you for not being on time tonight and buy you dinner next week. We can discuss Single Dad in person.
She hit send and put her phone away. She glanced at Donna. “Now what?”
“Now we can plan what you’ll say to the grump whose bones you want to jump.”
Sophie threw back her head and laughed. This was why she adored Donna. “I won’t lie, I have definitely thought about getting him naked.”
“Of course, you have. Otherwise, there’d be no fear you were falling for him.”
Donna’s words struck a chord. The fear of falling for Stone was real, and it terrified her. But the thought of never knowing what could be was even worse.
“Speaking of getting laid,” Sophie said to Donna, “I haven’t forgotten you owe me the rest of the story about the guy whose bones you jumped right before leaving for the retreat.”
Donna’s smile crashed. “Not much to tell. He turned out to be not that effective as a lover.”
Sophie’s phone dinged. She yanked it out of her purse and quickly read the message.
Stone:Something has come up, and I will be out of pocket until further notice. Keep the bookmarks handy, Stone, a guy you once read books with.
Her heart sank, the words souring her stomach. All the hopes and excitement that had been building deflated in an instant. Sophie twisted her lips trying to stem the desire to cry. How could he be so casual about it? Did their connection mean nothing to him?
“New plan,” she said to Donna, her voice trembling slightly. She turned her phone around so her friend could read the text. “Turns out, we’re not reading the same book.”
The disappointment was overwhelming, but beneath it, there was a flicker of anger. How dare he make her like him so much and then just dump her? She deserved better.
Chapter 12
Stone was an ass, and he knew it. He’d jumped ship on Sophie the moment it hit him he wouldn’t mind falling for the professional daydreamer. Which madehima fucking daydreamer. The realization that he could actually fall for her had terrified him. It went against everything he had sworn to himself, everything he thought was best for all concerned.
He’d had no choice but to cut things off before he lost his way and broke them both.
Now, almost two months since their last interaction—two months in which he’d read every book on her damn list of romantic comedies for her columns—it was time to professionally reunite. Emphasis onprofessional. Never in a hundred lifetimes could he let Sophie know he’d been damn close to giving her his heart.
The thought of seeing her again both excited and scared the hell out of him. How could he keep his distance when all he wanted to do was pull her into his arms and kiss her?
In a perfect world, he’d never had to see Sophie again. Fuck. There wouldn’t be anything perfect about a world in which he’dnever see Sophie again. But at least it would be a safe world, free from the risk of heartbreak.
But he didn’t live in a perfect world or a safe world. Without telling him, Clarabelle had contacted Ms. Birdie to let her know he was once again available to help.
Ms. Birdie had quickly arranged for him to return to Sophie duty.
If Stone had been strong, he would have told Ms. Birdie to find another bodyguard for her columnist. But the idea of some other guy protecting Sophie had turned his gut sour. No one would be as invested in her well-being as him. Hell, he’d give up his life ten thousand million times to keep her safe.
All commitment-phobias aside, giving her his heart and asking for hers in return wasn’t in the best interest ofherheart or her safety.
“What’s got you scowling?” Clarabelle asked Stone, glancing over her shoulder at him from her position in the kitchen.
