I hate that he knows my name. I hate that he spent time researching me and that he found my website. I mostly hate that knowing that he's that interested in me makes me that much more interested in him.
CHAPTER FIVE
Nicholas
It tookme less than five minutes to find out almost everything I need to know about Sophia Reese. After I had left the bistro with the full name of her boss, a quick online search revealed details about the fashion conglomerate he runs. A click through to the online profiles of the senior staff at Foster Enterprises steered me to a standard headshot of Sophia and a brief bio about her current position as assistant to Gabriel Foster and the business degree she earned at a community college in Florida.
Once I had her full name, I ran across the poorly designed website she uses to showcase her fashion designs. I wasn't lying to her when I said she has talent. She does.
"That's a new style for you, Nick. If I were you, I'd order it in light blue. It'll complement your eyes."
I flinch when I hear my younger brother's voice behind me. I'm sitting in his office, waiting for him so it shouldn’t surprise me that he walked up behind me without me noticing. He's been doing that since we were kids. Years ago it would have endedwith me in an inescapable headlock. Today, the result is that he caught a glimpse of my phone's screen and an image of the dress that I was looking at on Sophia's website.
"It's one-of-a-kind." I rub the bridge of my nose as my brother, Liam, passes in front of me. "It comes in yellow, take it or leave it."
"Yellow doesn't suit you." Liam tugs on the thigh of his jeans before he sits on the edge of his large wooden desk. "Who are you buying a dress for? Are you seeing someone?"
I glance up to see him smile. He's intimidating as fuck until you know him. He's burly, his hair a long textured mess of light brown and sun-kissed blonde. When I look at him, I still see the little kid who ran at my heel trying to gain my attention. I ignored him. Our older brother, Sebastian, did too. We didn't give Liam the time he deserved, but he turned out all right. He guides people through their grief now, helping them chart their future when a loss has taken away someone they loved.
"I'm not seeing anyone." I pocket my phone. "I met a woman on the subway. She's a fashion designer. I was checking out her stuff."
"Her stuff?" He crosses his arms over his chest. "Or herstuff?"
Considering I've only ever seen Sophia wrapped in a large white wool coat, her body is still a figment of my imagination. She's petite but curvy. Other than what the lines of her coat have given away, I have no idea what she's got hidden under it. I don't care. That face can stop traffic for miles.
"Grow up, Liam."
"I take it you struck out with her." He edges the toe of his boot against mine. "When's the last time that happened to you? It's got to sting."
I fucking hate when he's right. Since Liam became a therapist, it seems like he can read my mind. I try to keep alevel mood when I'm around him, but he sees right through my bullshit. I hate it as much as I appreciate it. "I didn't strike out. We just met."
"You didn't try and lure her to that restaurant in the West Village by writing an invitation in one of your books, did you?" He squints at me. "Tell me you've stopped with that shit, Nick. It makes you look like a selfish fuck."
Generally, I don't care what I look like to the women I take to bed. I'll use my celebrity if I know it's going to result in a good time. The approach has never failed me, until now.
"Women like it, Wolf." I use his nickname to distract him. It always catches him off guard when he hears me say it. "I thought she'd show at the restaurant yesterday but she sent her boss instead."
He hesitates briefly, his eyes cast down as he absorbs what I just said. "You're trying to deflect. Don't."
"I'm not," I argue through a grin. "You're my Wolfie. You know it."
He ignores the comment in favor of focusing on my embarrassing lunch date yesterday. "Was the boss a he or a she?"
"A guy." I roll my eyes. "Gabriel Foster. He's a serious fan, so she sent him to meet me."
He chuckles. "Impressive. I like her already. What's her name?"
"Sophia," I say slowly, savoring the way it sounds. "Sophia Reese."
"Did you come here to talk about Sophia Reese? If you did, I'm all about that. I like a woman who knows what she wants. I guess in your case, it's what she doesn't want."
I shrug. "I'm not here because of her. I'm here to check in on you."
He scratches his elbow through the blue dress shirt he's wearing. "As you can see, I'm still in one piece."
"Are you?" I question with a tilt of my chin. "I know you deal with a lot of heavy shit all day, Liam. I'm around if you need an ear. You know that, right?"
"I can't talk about my clients with you, Nick." He arches his neck back. "Besides, I'm good. I'm helping folks who need me. What more could a guy want?"
