“Stop gossiping, you two,” Rafael said. “It’s obvious they’re together.”
“We’ll get the scoop out of Sophie,” Pepper said to Lisa as they crossed the platform.
Sophie had always planned on spending a few weeks before the wedding in France. As the owner of a bar and grill and a wine bar, she wanted to meet with French vintners and choose wines for her menus. However, when The Oar burned down, she’d decided to tack on a few extra weeks. That hadn’t been surprising. The unexpected had come from Nico. For at least a year, he’d been dodging Sophie’s advances. They were twelve years apart in age, and he’d insisted she was too young for him. However, after he rescued her from the fire, things had changed between them. The next thing they knew, he’d asked the rest of the Wolves for some time away from Wolf Enterprises. He was going with Sophie to France. That was the last they’d heard from him, other than a few texts with heart emojis.
There were hugs all around. While the men loaded the bags into the car, the women huddled together. Pepper studied Sophie. She was gorgeous in a light blue sweater, leggings, and riding boots. Tall and tanned with long blond hair and a face like a Swedish supermodel, the woman could have been in the movies had she been so inclined. Today, however, her beauty had taken on another level. Her skin was dewy and flushed. Turquoise eyes were clear and bright. Golden tresses shone under the thin October light.
She and Nico were definitely doing it. No one looked like that unless they were having very exciting nights. Probably mornings, too.
The three of them walked arm in arm to the car. “You girls were right about this sex thing,” Sophie whispered. “Holy crap.”
“I knew it,” Pepper said. “You have the sex glow.”
Lisa blushed and tucked her chin. She’d always be a nice Midwestern girl, on the outside, at least. “I take it France has been good to you?”
“Nico Bentley’s been good to me.” Sophie raised her left hand to show off a sparkly engagement ring.
Pepper and Lisa gasped in unison. “You guys got engaged?”
“On a bridge overlooking the river Seine,” Sophie said. “It was so romantic.”
They’d reached the car by now. Nico was leaning against the side of a long sedan. Apparently, he’d told the guys the news, as they were high-fiving and patting him on the shoulder.
“You old dog,” Pepper said as she pulled Nico into a hug. “It’s about time you came to your senses.”
“No one ever claimed I was smart,” Nico said.
“We have all kinds of things to tell you,” Sophie said. “But first, is there any news on the arsonist?”
Rafael shook his head. “They’ve got no leads as far as I know. Although they’re not sure they were correct about it being connected to your brother’s group of friends. I’ve got a few friends on the local force, and they’re now thinking it was random.”
“That makes me feel better,” Nico said.
“Agreed,” Rafael said. “I have good news for you, though. Sophie, since you’ve been gone, the property’s been cleared of all the debris. City council pressured the cleanup company to get it done. A burned building in a tourist town is no good.”
“The minute you’re ready, we can start building,” Stone said.
“Or getting the permits started, anyway,” Rafael said. “But we can get you up and running by summer. We’ll put The Oar as top priority.”
Sophie bounced on her toes and grinned. “That’s such great news.”
“Jump in,” Nico said. “I can’t wait for you to see your castle, Pepper.”
Ten minutes later,they pulled up to the former castle. Tucked between pines with wide lawns and a swimming pool, the château was like something out of a fairy tale, complete with turrets and stone walls.
“Oh, it’s perfect,” Pepper said.
Stone lifted her off her feet and twirled her around. “Finally, I can make you an honest woman.”
Rafael and Nico had already set their bags on the gravel driveway.
“Where’s your wedding dress?” Sophie asked.
“We had it sent over,” Pepper said. “The front desk promised to hang it in Lisa’s room. I don’t want my groom to see it before the wedding.”
Stone chuckled as he picked up both of their bags in his giant hands. “Baby, I’d marry you if you wore nothing but a bedsheet, but like I’ve said before, our wedding day is about you.”
How was it possible to love a man as much as she loved Stone Hickman?
