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“Don’t be silly. We’re just getting worked up about nothing,” Sophie swallowed.
Forcing herself not to run, she rose, strolled to the door, and peered through the peephole. Kelly followed close behind her.
“Crap,” Sophie muttered under her breath. She squared her shoulders and opened the door.
“Nick? I thought you were gone until tonight?”Please don’t let me have a giant neon sign on my forehead flashing “Jump my bones.”
Bailey barreled past her, leaping for her dad. If Bailey wanted something, apparently she had no problem going for it.
“Bailey, manners.” The huge dog ignored him, her entire body wagging along with her tail.
“Wow, she definitely missed you.” Sophie laughed, momentarily forgetting she’d nixed her questionable idea to have a fling with him.
Despite her kissing him the last time they were together. And dreaming about him. Because right now, he looked too tempting to resist. Oh, she was in trouble.
Nick brushed a kiss on her now heated cheek. “Hi, beautiful.”
“Umm, Sophie?” Kelly waved a hand in Nick’s direction.
She pasted on a smile. “Oh, sorry. Kelly, this is Nick Morgan, my landlord.” She retreated a step and crossed her arms across her chest.
“Hi Kelly, that’s me, the landlord.” His lips twitched and he offered her one large tanned hand. “I take it you’re up visiting from San Diego?”
“Yeah, I just arrived. Sophie didn’t mention that you were so…um…young. I imagined some elderly caretaker.” Kelly smirked.
“Elderly caretaker. Funny.” He flashed his killer grin. “Sorry to interrupt. My meetings ended early in New York, so I caught an earlier flight.”
Sophie leaned down to stroke Zack, who’d settled down next to her feet and attempted to ignore her best friend’s probing gaze. Crap, no way would Kelly allow her to avoid all the questions once he left.
Kelly returned his smile. “Actually, Nick, you didn’t interrupt. We were just catching up and figuring out our plans for the weekend. Any suggestions?”
“Oh, I can definitely show you a great time here.” He flicked his gaze toward Sophie.
Sophie gritted her teeth. “No need. Alyssa already suggested a few spots—”
“Don’t be silly,” Kelly said. “Maybe Nick could be our tour guide and show us some must-see places? We’d like to check out a few art galleries, maybe have some sushi, visit a wine bar...”
Sophie’s eyebrows almost flew off her forehead. What was her friend doing? Couldn’t she see Sophie was attempting to distance herself from him? Time to stop this before it got any further.
She held up a hand. “That’s okay. You must be tired from your trip, and I know you’re busy. Maybe a few suggestions before you leave, though?”
Subtle, girl, subtle. Sophie didn’t need a tour guide. She didn’t need a man. She didn’t need Nicholas Morgan. After their last two encounters ended in incredible kisses, she needed to get her hormones under control. If only her traitorous body would get on board with her resolve.
“I’d love to go. You know I wanted to see you again when I got back. I’ll pick you up at seven, and we’ll hit a great little wine bar and then the best sushi place in town.” With a wink and another devastating grin, he backed out the door.
“Great. You’re too kind. We’ll see you then.” Kelly waved goodbye before Sophie could protest.
The door shut with a decisive click, rendering his exit as dramatic as his entrance.
Sophie sailed past irritation into the world of aggravation. “What were you thinking? I don’t want him to take us anywhere.” Sophie crossed her arms across her chest and glowered at her friend.
Kelly’s eyes widened. “Excuse me? I think you’ve been holding out on me here. The most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen greets you with a kiss, and you fail to even mention his existence to me? Much less that the sparks flying off you two could ignite this whole cottage. Since when did you start keeping secrets? Spill it.”
An expert in denial, Sophie could do a fine job of denying she had any interest whatsoever in Nick or his opinion on anything at all. Funny, she’d never held back anything from her best friend in the past.
She sighed. “I really didn’t want to talk about it. You know, ostrich with the head in the sand and all that. It really is nothing. Classic scenario where the guy pursues the woman who isn’t interested.”
And she wasn’t interested. Liar, liar.
