“Sophie,” Will said. “Garrett invited her, and then I invited you. And Jason is dropping in to borrow the food dehydrator. He needs a huge amount of dried citrus slices for the pub before the festival. All those cocktails he’s going to sell. But he can’t stay for dinner.”
“It’s not a working dinner,” Garrett said. “Poor Sophie’s had no social time in Quandong. And who is more social than us?”
“You two maybe. I’m not sure where I fit.”
“Tar-ryn,” Will scolded. “You’re my best friend. Well, apart from this handsome hunk.” He cooed at Garrett. “We often invite you over. You seldom invite us, but given how badly you cook, it’s probably a good thing.”
“I can takeaway with the best of them.”
“You’re the obvious person to invite as well.”
“She’s my boss. Sort of.”
Garrett shrugged, and his belly popped out from under his T-shirt. “Since when have you cared about that?”
“Since never,” Tarryn admitted. “That’s why I mostly work for myself.”
“So just be charming, drink beer, flirt a little. Who knows what will happen.”
Flirt a little. Tarryn rolled her eyes. That had already crossed her mind the first time she set eyes on the rather cute Sophie, but the urge had receded in the face of Sophie’s prickliness. “I’ll be social. I’m not promising anything else. Hold off on the wedding invitations.”
Will exchanged a glance with Garrett. “One step at a time.”
The doorbell rang, and Garrett bustled off to answer it.
Tarryn lifted a beer from the six pack and twisted the top off to take a gulp. “Want one?”
Will shook his head. “I’m saving myself for the luscious bottle of red Garrett bought to go with the beef en croute.” He frowned. “I hope she’s not a vegetarian.”
“I doubt it. She’s a rubbishtarian, going by the junk food wrappers in her car.”
“And here she is!” Will’s loud exclamation cut over what Tarryn might have said next, something about Sophie having no taste.
She turned to see Sophie standing there, a bottle of rosé in her hand. A heat flush crept up to her throat and down into her belly. Sophie looked adorably cute. Gone were the business suits she’d worn around town and the T-shirt and jeans that had been her casual wear. Now she wore a muted pink dress in a soft-looking material that skimmed and clung in all the right places. The neckline rolled down in such a way as to hint at the tops of her breasts, and the dress continued to smooth over her narrow hips before ending above the knee. Silver-grey tights shimmered in the overhead light, and chunky flats finished off the outfit. It was the perfect blend of chic and funk.
Tarryn’s mouth watered. Sophie was gorgeous. Her own jeans and loose sweatshirt seemed scruffy and overly casual, despite how Will and Garrett were dressed. “Hi.” Her nonchalance didn’t quite come off, and her voice rose to an embarrassing squeak. “I wasn’t told you were coming. If I’d known, I’d have dressed up a bit.”
Sophie’s gaze ran a leisurely assessment from the top of Tarryn’s grey curls down to her tennis shoes. “You look fine to me.”
“Drinkies.” Garrett announced. “The pink wine Sophie brought is delicious, or we have beer, gin and tonic, or white wine.”
“I’m sorted.” Tarryn lifted her beer.
The others opted for a gin and tonic and waited while Will fussed with sprigs of rosemary and dehydrated grapefruit slices. “It has to bebetterthan what you get in Sydney.” He squeezed a twist of lime in the top before handing it to Sophie.
She took a sip. “Delicious.”
Will ushered them to a pair of couches facing a low coffee table, where an array of cheeses, olives, and dips awaited. “Sit, socialise. I just need to do a few last-minute things to the meal.”
Sophie lowered herself to the couch. With Garrett blocking the way to the opposite one, Tarryn had to sit next to her. She reached for an olive at the same moment Sophie did. Their fingers brushed, and Tarryn stilled a tiny jolt that raced up her arm.Wow.Had Sophie felt it too? She withdrew the olive and glanced over. Sophie was staring at her fingers as if something very unexpected had happened.
I guess that’s a yes.
“We thought it would be nice to get to you know you a bit better, Sophie. Do you get called Sophie at home? Or a shortened version?” Garrett rested his arm along the back of the couch.
Sophie blinked, as if floating back to earth. “Er, I get Soph sometimes from family and friends.”
“Soph, then,” Garrett said. “After all, once you’ve had dinner with us, you’re a friend. Where do you live in Sydney? Let me guess.” He tilted his face up and closed his eyes as if summoning the spirits. “Inner city terrace house in Paddington that you share with your cranky cat and… a girlfriend?” His voice rose at the end in question.
