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Gripping the wheel, Sophie stared straight ahead at the tall fountain in the middle of town. “I’m busy with several projects,” she answered. “Surely you understand.”
Once again he said nothing for a moment.
“We need to talk,” she told him. “In person and not in a rushed setting.”
There. She’d gotten that out. She seriously hated confrontation, but staying with Martin any longer just wasn’t possible, and he deserved to know.
“I don’t like the sound of that,” he said, his tone low. “What’s going on, Sophie?”
“I’d rather speak in person. I’m showing a house this afternoon, but I’ll be home all evening if you’d like to stop by.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Sophie said her good-byes, not wanting to draw out the tension-filled conversation another minute. If Martin were in tune with other people’s feelings, he’d most likely pick up on the fact that they’d grown apart. Even before Zach’s bold step into her life recently, Sophie just wasn’t feeling a connection with Martin like she’d had early in their relationship.
On a sigh, Sophie grabbed her messenger bag and headed into her office. She’d showered and changed at the gym after her class, so she was ready to go. With her assistant still out on vacation, Sophie was running the place single-handedly and was doing quite well, if she did say so herself.
After letting herself in, she punched in the security code and headed straight to her office. She had a few phone calls to make, then an open house that afternoon on a newly listed property. She fully expected to receive multiple offers, which would hopefully drive up the asking price.
Just as she booted up her computer, her cell rang again. Glancing over, she was actually relieved to see it was Liam. Relieved yet curious, because he rarely called her.
Sliding her finger across the screen, she answered. “Hey, Liam.”
“Do you have a minute?”
Surprised at the intensity of his tone, Sophie eased back in her cushy desk chair. “Of course. Something wrong?”
“No. But I want this conversation to stay between us.” Now she was really intrigued. What could Liam have to discuss that was so private?
“I won’t say a word to anyone.”
Since the accident years ago, Sophie had always had a special bond with Liam. He’d been at the hospital with her and sat with her after her surgery. Even though he’d been patched up and hurting, he’d stayed by her side. Since that time, he’d call her, check on her and offer that silent support. She knew without a doubt that he would do anything for her, and the bond they shared over a tragedy could never be severed.
But Sophie had wanted to reach out to Zach after the accident. On that she and Liam disagreed. When Zach had been sent to prison for a year, he’d refused her visits. Once he got out, he’d been even angrier, more closed off than ever. More than once Liam held her as she’d fought back tears, and he never said a word. He understood her feelings, just as she understood his where Zach was concerned, but Liam never judged her.
And while Liam was very much closed off to the world, Sophie could always get him to open up to her.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine. I want to know more about this project my brothers are taking on.”
Sophie smiled. So, the brother adamant on keeping his distance is now interested. She truly hoped he’d get on board. Chelsea would’ve loved knowing her disgruntled siblings were working on a project in her memory . . . and a women-only resort and spa, no less. Chelsea was no doubt smiling down from heaven.
“Actually I want to know what’s going on with the property now. With the payments on the back taxes coming due, can you tell me what the next step is?”
This was an area Sophie didn’t want to get in the middle of. She didn’t want to play both sides, or all three, technically, with the Monroe brothers. Everything she was doing now was for Chelsea.
“When Braxton was home he and Zach did a walk-through of the property. They made several notes on what needed updating to get the place up to code. I’m not sure what the final numbers are. Zach was going to do some figuring before they looked at costs for the cosmetic work.”
Even thinking about the day of the walk-through, the turning point with Zach in the tunnel, got her flustered. She hoped her voice remained strong and steady because every single time she thought about that moment when he’d kissed her so passionately, she seriously felt like a puddle of emotions.
“Why didn’t you ask Braxton about all of this?”
“I didn’t want a speech on why I should be contributing,” Liam answered. “I’m still not sold on this project and it could be a huge failure. The only reason I’d want in is because of Chelsea.”
Sophie swallowed the lump of remorse at the thought of how much they all missed the feisty, free-spirited friend and sister. There was a way to make her legacy live on, and Sophie desperately wanted all the guys on board.
“We’re all doing it for Chelsea.” Sophie eased forward in her chair, pulling up her list of e-mails. “Do you honestly think Zach and Braxton had their hearts set on a resort and spa?”
