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“I think she does.”
“Becky, what are you— Oh, hello. Can I help you?” An older version of Becky came around the doorframe. The older version liked what she saw a lot more than younger Becky had, her eyes taking him in top to bottom before settling back on his face.
“I’m here to see Sophie. Is it okay if I come in?”
“Sophie Birch?” the woman asked in surprise.
“That’s the one.”
The woman frowned. “Really?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything. And I’m pretty anxious to see her, so if I could come in, that would be great.”
“Okay. Sure.” She opened the door wider, and Zane stepped through. “I think she’s in the back. Follow me.”
“Whose party is it?” Zane asked, smiling and nodding at the people he passed.
“It’s my aunt and uncle’s twenty-fifth wedding anniversary,” the woman tossed over her shoulder. “They’re leaving later today for a trip to Niagara Falls, so we’re celebrating with brunch this morning.”
Wow.He liked his timing.
They entered the backyard, where colored balloons were tied to chairs and kids were running around.
Zane stopped and scanned the area. Someone bumped into him from behind and he turned to find that everyone who had been in the house had followed him out.
“Sophie,” Older Becky called out. “There’s someone here to see you.”
In the middle of a group of women standing on the grass, he found her. His heart tripped over itself, got up, and tripped again. She twisted around and their eyes met.
Her tan had vanished and she wore her glasses. She had on a powder-blue V-neck sweater, jeans, and flip-flops. Wavy red hair, a little shorter than the last time he’d seen her, fell around her shoulders. God, she was beautiful.
“Zane?” she said, shocked. But it didn’t overtake the sweet, soft sound of her voice, and for that he was grateful.
He strode right toward her, his gaze never leaving the turquoise-green depths he’d missed like crazy. “Hi.”
She blinked up at him like she wasn’t sure she could trust her vision. “Hi?”
“Think I could have a word with you?”
“Sophie, who is this young man?” a woman said, sidling up to Sophie and linking arms.
“This…this is Zane.” She kept staring at him like she couldn’t believe it.
“Zane Hollander.” He put out his hand. “I’m guessing you must be Sophie’s mom. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Sarah Birch.” She shook his hand, but her eyes were wary. “What do you want with Sophie?”
That was a loaded question. One he didn’t think Sophie would appreciate him answering honestly in front of a crowd. A crowd that had grown and circled them and no doubt wouldn’t let him escape with Sophie without some kind of explanation.
An older man at Sarah’s left cleared his throat. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“Mr. Birch?” Zane asked, a splinter of worry digging under his skin. Her father’s approval meant a lot to him, but not more than Sophie’s forgiveness.
“I’m Sophie’s father, yes.”
“I came here to apologize to your daughter.” God, he wanted to touch Sophie so badly, but he held back. His grip on the surfboard tightened.
“With a surfboard?” Sarah asked.
