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They really could only be from one person, right?
She lifted the card from the envelope.
Dear Sophie,
Thanks for today.
~Zane
She twirled around the room and fell back onto the bed, where she maybe let out a squeal and did a shimmy that shook the mattress. This working vacation was the best thing to ever happen to her.
Work! She rolled off the bed. She had less than an hour before she had to be at Zane’s rental house for the cocktail party tonight. Elena had graciously agreed on short notice to cook the appetizers and help set things up. Honor was supposed to help, too, but she’d called saying she wasn’t feeling well. Sophie had a feeling the sudden illness concerned one tall, dark, and handsome Bryce, whom they’d yet to discuss.
Back in front of the bathroom mirror, she stared at herself again. Then, keeping one eye on the breathtaking flowers, she got ready to go.
Five minutes late, she shook out her borrowed umbrella and knocked on Zane’s front door. The party didn’t start for a couple of hours, but she hoped Zane would be home. Danny opened the door.
He looked her up and down like he didn’t recognize her before saying, “Hey, Sophie. Come on in.”
“Hi, Danny. Thanks.”
“Elena’s in the kitchen. Follow me.”
“Oh, wow. The house is perfect,” she said. And spectacular. Floor-to-ceiling windows, dark hardwood floors, furniture in creams and beiges. Beachy chic with a warm, inviting feel that on a day like today made Sophie want to curl up with a good book. “I’m glad you suggested we do this here.”
Danny looked over his shoulder. “It was Zane’s idea, actually. We appreciate you making it happen with little lead time.”
“Of course.” She waved her hand to say it was nothing. “Mention Zane’s name to someone and it’s a done deal. Is he, uh, here?”
“He’s upstairs. He’ll be down soon.”
They stepped into the huge gourmet kitchen where Elena was already at work. “Hi, Sophie,” she said.
“I’ll leave you guys to it.” Danny pressed a hand on the granite countertop, his eyes taking her in one more time. “Sophie, the place is yours. Feel free to do whatever you want and give a shout if you need anything.” His smile put her at ease, and she smiled back, blinking away the momentary fear that she’d dressed inappropriately or something.
She turned to Elena. “Thank you again for doing this.” She placed her bag on the rectangular oak table and rounded the kitchen island to get a closer look at the food Elena had spread out. “If you’re okay in here, I think I’ll take a peek around the dining and living rooms and figure out where we’ll set up.”
“Sounds good.”
There really wasn’t any spot in the house that wasn’t ideal. Each living area was charming and warm, and with a dozen or so people attending tonight’s event, they had more than enough room. She ended her brief tour at the huge glass window with the sand and surf just on the other side. The tropical storm had arrived, but even colorless, the view of the beach filled her with awe.
All of a sudden, the energy in the room changed, like a bolt of lightning had slashed across the space, and Sophie caught Zane’s reflection in the window. Her heart stopped. And if she reacted that way to his mirror image, what would happen when she turned around?
She pretended not to notice him.
But then his right hand touched her waist and his mouth grazed the side of her neck and his chest was practically touching her back and he whispered, “It’s a good thing we’re not alone in the house.”
Oh my heavens. She melted against him. She’d been so anxious about her attire, but he obviously liked the form-fitting little black dress with lace at the bottom that she’d gone back to Ivy’s to buy. White and aquamarine flowers were sewn into the lace, and Sophie loved the deep V-neck in the back.
She’d also taken special care with her hair, drying it super-straight and then using the curling iron she’d bought at the drugstore to make loose, beachy waves that fell just past her shoulders.
“You are so sexy I can’t see straight,” he added.
Neither could she, so she closed her eyes and enjoyed the silky sensations streaming through her body and landing at every erogenous zone. She tried not to squirm. For some wonderful reason, Zane liked what he saw.
“I’m worried about what’s going to happen when I turn you around.” His husky voice turned her nipples into tight buds that he’d no doubt discover when he did turn her, because she wasn’t wearing a bra.
Only the lacy white panties she’d gotten at Ivy Bleu’s when shopping with Honor.
