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Tears spring to her eyes, and she’s two seconds from running.

This is the reason she’s in her head. This is her block.

Sophia has been in survival mode and never felt safe with any man. No one has ever taken the time to love and care for her the way she deserves, and now I’m ready to go to war with the world to make things right. She is my Helen of Troy.

“Who? Who did this to you?” I grind out the words. I need all the names of every man who failed her. Who in their right mind would hurt someone this perfect, this beautiful, and this badass. They are my enemies now.

Sophia shakes her head. She can’t answer, or she’s not ready to. Her shaking dissolves into tears, and I quickly gather her into my chest. Her arms slide around my back, and she melts. She lets her guard down and cries.

“It’s okay, let it out,” I say.

Every bit of pain every bastard has placed on her shoulders seeps out onto my chest. Hearing her sadness brings back memories of my grief with Amber. Sophia and I are more alike than expected. We’re a mess of broken trusts, broken dreams, and broken hearts.

“No one should have to bear the weight of what you just shared. No one.” I cradle her head.

She eases away until our gazes connect. Her eyes glimmer with unshed tears.

“You deserve everything you want. You deserve love. You deserve great sex. You deserve to come so fucking hard, you see rainbows. Hell, you should become a rainbow, you’re so goddamn beautiful. Fuck that! A universe of rainbows! And you deserve to be with someone you trust, someone who treats you like a queen. When you find that person, everything will fall into place. You hear me?” My thumb brushes away a tear on her cheek.

The part I leave out is the voice in my head screaming that I want to be that person. It’s so loud, it echoes through my chest and rings in my ears until my eyes blur.

Sophia stares at my lips like she’s lost in my words. I’m a bit lost in them too. I want the same things and more. So much more.

As another teardrop tips over her lashes, I listen to the voice telling me I am her person. This time, though, I accept it as truth. My palm slips to the nape of her neck, fingers gently thread into her blond waves, and I grip, holding her in place.

“You can trust me,” I say softly. “I’ll never hurt you like them. Ever.”

Her hands clasp my arms like she’s steadying herself. And my God, all I want is to show her what we could be. I want to kiss her and make her forget every asshole. I want to prove myself worthy.

She licks her plump lips, and my gaze drops to them. They’re glistening in the morning sunshine. Her eyelids droop heavy as I lean closer, eager for another taste of coconut cookies and hope. Our foreheads touch and our noses slip back and forth. I breathe her in before I brush my lips to hers, once, twice.

I’m ready to put my heart on the line. I will do anything.

Anything.

“Um, Gio?”

When Casey’s voice breaks into our private moment, Sophia quickly steps back a few paces out of reach. She’s too far away, and I want her back immediately. My hands twitch at my sides.

I scowl and turn to Casey. She’s waving her phone in the air.

“Um, we have a situation. There’s been a huge development.”

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sophia

Ass-Smacking Pizza Dough

I stare at Gio as Casey rambles on about something work-related, but I’m not listening. I’m too busy processing what Gio said. He always says the perfect thing and holds me the right way, which is why I was two seconds from throwing myself at him.

Again. I shake my head.

“Terry says there’s high interest. He’s scheduled three meetings.” Casey claps with a little bounce. “This is it. This could be your big break.”

“That’s amazing,” I tell Gio.

I didn’t realize he had an agent or aspired to be anything but a sexy social-media chef. But then, I’m still learning about him. I’ve kept him at a distance, too busy cultivating our rivalry. I don’t want to be interested in his dreams, but I am. Very much.