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As Hannah and Sophie discuss the necklace, I’m transfixed with Sophie. Her eyes, her smile. Her brightly-colored fingernails as she slides her fingers along the necklace chain. They’re a coral color. I think back to Vegas, remembering the pretty sky-blue color they had been. How the image of her hand and those blue fingernails wrapped around my cock has been burned into my brain. The sparkly silver dress she had worn that night. The way it shimmered in the club’s lights when she danced, then easily slid from her body to the floor of my suite.
Everything about her and that night is an easy recollection. It’s been haunting my dreams recently.
“What do you think?” Hannah turns to me, but I’ve been stuck in my head and missed the entire conversation they were having.
“Huh?” I say unintelligibly.
“The necklace?”
“She’s beautiful. I mean,it’sbeautiful.”
At my Freudian slip, Sophie’s cheeks flame and Hannah’s lips twitch.
What the fuck was that?
“Thank you for having me,” Sophie says, unclasping the necklace so she can place it back on the display. “Your boutique is gorgeous and I aspire to own a piece of your jewelry someday.”
“That’s very sweet. Thank you.” Hannah gives Sophie a hug.
Sophie glances in my direction, giving me a small nod, before leaving.
“Real smooth.” Hannah smirks at me. “What is going on with you?”
“Nothing.” I shrug, taking a sip of my cocktail and fighting the instinct to glance in Sophie’s direction. “I’m tired, that’s all. It’s been a busy week.”
Her laugh is light and commiserating. “Isn’t it always?”
She’s right. This week is like no other in terms of work. The only difference being my mind’s preoccupation with a certain blonde whose presence is still on my radar even when she’s on the opposite side of the room.
“Okay. I’ve got to keep circulating.” She gives me a tight squeeze. “Oh, a columnist fromThe Postis here and they want a picture of us. ACartwright kids, what they’re doing nowtype thing. Don’t leave. I’ll come find you in a few.”
I nod, then occupy my time by making the rounds, talking with friends, and humoring Hannah’s request for photos.
For the rest of the night, I make a point to steer clear of Sophie.
But it’s clear, not having her again is doing something to me.
I shouldn’t want Sophie, because of our age difference, because she’s Griffin’s sister, but with every encounter, my willpower to stay away is crumbling.
CHAPTER6
Sophie
I’ve spent most of my time this week on the Delancey-Kilgore’s wedding favor search. Johnathan was right. They have rejected nearly every traditional idea. We’ve gathered in the conference room, and after Johnathan goes over checklist items, it’s my turn to present what I’ve come up with for favor ideas.
“Nothing.” Demi Delancey does her best to lift her eyebrows, but Botox keeps them in place. “That’syour suggestion?”
Johnathan laughs nervously. “Notnothing. You’re giving them an unforgettable evening at the Botanic Gardens.”
Johnathan’s eyes flick to me, the panic evident on his face. The unspoken words there.
What are you thinking, Sophie?
“Your wedding is at the Botanic Gardens. Clearly, you enjoy nature,” I say, trying to keep the confidence in my voice that I felt before Demi and Bryce started looking at me like I’d grown a horn. “What better way to commemorate your love for not only the Botanic Gardens, but our planet in general, by making a donation in every guest’s name as a favor?”
“A donation?” Bryce questions.
“It’ll show you care about the environment. Not only are you foregoing a traditional wedding favor that could produce waste, but also giving back to a place you enjoy spending time.”
