“What? Why?” Renata Nardovino’s tone rose an octave, never a good sign. “What did he do?”
Dammit. She shouldn’t have said anything.
“Nothing I couldn’t handle. If it had been a problem, I would’ve called the guys.”
Beyond overprotective, her three older brothers effectively scared away every single date Sophia had ever brought home while growing up. They most definitely would not have been pleased with Gino stealing a kiss at the end of their date, or the fact he’d grown extra hands, and used too much tongue.
Her reflection shook as revulsion shot down her spine. That had been nowhere close to the best kiss she’d ever received. A smile tugged her lips, and her gaze softened in the mirror as the memory of that incredible embrace washed over her.
It’d happen five years ago, right here in the Poconos, during the best New Year’s Eve of her life. Sophia had spent a few days with Brandi and her family. The fact her friend had four smokin’ hot older brothers was a plus, but it was a friend of one of the brothers who’d captured Sophia’s attention—and much more—that week.
Not only had Ryder been an incredible kisser, he’d had a way of making her body quiver with just a look.A look. It was crazy. No one had done that before, or since. Although, with her domineering brothers, she’d only had three lovers, none of which her family knew anything about. Ryder had been her second, and by far, the best. The sexy National Guardsman had kind of ruined her for anyone else.
So far.
The last guy hadn’t measured up, although, in truth, she’d shared quite a bit of wine with Ryder that night, so perhaps that played a part in her exuberant reactions to the man.
Yeah, that was probably it.
“Sophia? Are you still there?” Her mother’s voice brought her back to the present.
“Yes, Ma, sorry. I was towel drying my hair.” Which she immediately started to do, so it wasn’t a complete fib.
“I asked if you ran to the Poconos to get away from my meddling?” Anxiety had crept into her mother’s tone.
“No,” she quickly replied. “And I didn’t run away. I’m here because Phoebe asked me to help with the first few productions at her new theatre, remember? You know I love working with Phoebe.”
“I know you do,” her mother said, sounding relieved. “And Mandy said she’d be happy to fill in for you at work.”
This was a discussion Sophia already had with her sister-in-law a few days ago. The sweetheart was eager to pick up a hammer and stop answering phones for the family’s multi-million dollar construction company. She always thought Mandy’s talents were wasted in their office, and this was the perfect way to prove it. Plus, it helped elevate some of Sophia’s guilt for leaving on such short notice.
“I just hope I’m not the reason you left. That I didn’t push you away,” her mother continued.
She frowned at her reflection. “You could never do that, Ma. I love you, but I would appreciate it if you’d please stop trying to find me a husband.”
“Sophia…mio Dio…you’re twenty-nine already. I had two children by that age, and my family is my greatest joy.” Her mother’s tone turned wistful. “I just want that for you, too.”
Although she could do without the age reminder, Sophia knew her mother wanted what she thought was best for her. “I know, Ma. And I want a family, I do?but on my terms. If you stopped finding me dates, and my brothers stopped scaring away the ones I found, I might’ve been married by now.”
A sigh rustled through the phone. “All right, I’ll back off, but if you don’t have any viable prospects by the beginning of September, I’m stepping back in.”
Great. A three-month reprieve.
“Thanks, Ma.” Smiling, she ran a comb through her wet hair. “I should probably go and finish getting ready. I’m supposed to meet Phoebe in less than an hour.”
She should probably check in with her first, though.
“Okay, dear. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Before she could reply, or groan, her mother hung up.
Hopefully, she wasn’t going to call every single day for the next three months.
Still, better than being in the Big Apple and under their microscope, she thought to herself as she put in her contacts. It hadn’t been a total lie. Coming to the Poconos was job related, and although Sophia would do anything for her family, she also needed a break from them and their well-meaning interfering.
Other than her mother’s daily phone call, though, she was pretty much free during her stay. A smile spread across her lips and an invisible weight lifted from her shoulders. There was no one around to keep tabs on her here. That brief visit, all those years ago, had instilled a sense of freedom she never forgot, another reason Sophia always longed to come back to the Poconos. It was that feeling of autonomy she desired…not the mind-boggling orgasms from a certain sexy Guardsman.
Nope.
