I wiped the same thumb around my mouth, and her eyes told me her brain went just where I’d wanted it to. A reminder of the power I had in that thumb and the lips it was circling and just how both could make her feel.
“I wouldn’t call it running into you.” She finally tucked those strands behind her ears. “I would call it following.”
I laughed. “Now you’re reaching.”
“Hiring my brother is reaching?” Her hand flattened on the table, her rings making athudwhen they landed against the wood. “No, it’s actually semi-stalking.”
“Can you believe this shit?” I asked no one in particular, knowing these dudes weren’t on my side, but the audacity of her was something else. I sat up taller, my legs spread wide. “You can blame Troy for that. He’s the reason I’m here right now. I had no intention of hiring someone on the other side of the country. But Troy told me how good he was and?—”
“Save it.” Her hand lifted and swished the air. “I honestly don’t care. What matters is that you’re here and I’m disgusted by it.”
“Then it’s a good thing this dinner is over.” I smiled.
The table went silent, the timing almost perfect with the waitress appearing, holding our digital bill. I handed her my credit card without looking at the total.
“We’ve got this?—”
“No,” I cut off Jones. “I’ve got it.” It was the least I could do for tonight’s entertainment.
The only thing that caused me to glance away from Sophie was the waitress setting the card reader in front of me. I pressed the necessary buttons on the machine to tip her and fingered my signature on the bottom.
Everyone stood.
I shook hands with the fellas, exchanging a few sentiments—an attempt to smooth out the last few minutes, an argumentthey shouldn’t have witnessed. While I was speaking to Jones, Sophie must have left. I was too busy to know which direction she had gone, not that it mattered.
When the guys exited the restaurant, I opted to relocate to the bar. My buzz had completely worn off from the showdown, so the sensation Sophie caused in my chest was hitting hard. I’d much rather drink the evening away than return to an empty hotel room.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked once I took a seat.
My exhale sounded like a bursting tire. “Something strong and unforgiving.”
Like her.
“I’ve got just the concoction,” he replied.
I pulled out my phone, making sure there weren’t any notifications from Lindsey about Ellie, and as I was putting it back in the pocket of my shorts, I saw her. She was rounding the corner near the far end of the restaurant, which told me she hadn’t left. She’d gone to the restroom, probably hoping I would be gone by the time she got out.
She was adjusting her outfit, pulling down her skirt, fixing her top, and the moment she lifted her head and looked up, her eyes were on mine.
“Here you go.” The bartender placed a tumbler in front of me.
“I might need another one of these soon.” I hadn’t even tasted it, but the sight of her made me want to drink more.
“I’ve got you. Just holler.”
I was positive Sophie was going to walk right past the bar and go in the same direction the guys had gone in. But as soon as she turned at the base of the bar, I knew I was now her target.
I pulled the drink into my fingers andtook my first sip as she halted in front of me, tucking her small purse under her arm, as though she needed both hands for whatever she was about to do.
“How dare you talk to me that way in front of them?!”
“Me? I’m at fault?” I pointed at my chest. “I thought we were done. That we’d beaten a dead horse—isn’t that what you said?”
She took the glass out of my fingers and downed the entire thing. “Unfortunately, we’re just getting started.”
FOURTEEN
SOPHIE
