Page 1 of Sophia & Cameron
1
Sophia Palmer
Five Years Earlier
“Oh, he’scute.”
Sophia swung her attention around to see where her hotel roommate was gesturing. Unsurprisingly, her eyes locked with the man she’d seen nearly everywhere she looked. He was tall—at least a good foot taller than her five-foot-three frame. The muscles in his arms bunched as he lifted his arm to smooth back his hair. His dirty blond hair was pulled back into a knot on his head, and he completed his hippie sort of look with ripped jeans and a T-shirt that showed off just how fit he was.
Yes. He was mouthwatering and the sort of guy a girl could melt into the floor over. Normally, he’d be the exact kind of guy she’d go for. He looked like he was up for a good time with no commitment.
But there was something in the way he smirked at her that unnerved Sophia to her very core. The hair on her arms rose as his unabashed stare continued to remain locked with her own.
Darcy leaned closer to Sophia, and her hot whisper brushed at her skin. “I think he’s got a thing for you. I haven’t seen him pay attention to any other girl.”
Sophia rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to the crowd of mostly college-aged individuals who were dancing to the pop music playing at this particular dance hall. “Maybe he’s looking at you.”
From her periphery, Sophia noted the way Darcy tilted her head as she continued watching the stranger. “Nope,” she said, popping the “p” as she turned to look at Sophia. “He’s definitely into you. Maybe you should go ask him to dance.”
“Pass,” Sophia said with an exaggerated flourish. “We only came to this place to get out and eat a few appetizers while we’re at it.” She winked and then jutted her chin at two men in hockey jerseys on the other side of the room. Now they were her type. Their lack of interest in anything serious couldn’t have been more obvious.
With a wrinkle of her nose, Darcy shook her head. “Nah. The other guy is much better looking.”
Yeah, the other guy was better-looking. He was probably charming as all get-out. And in thirty minutes, he could probably have her begging for something more. Sophia shook her head adamantly.
“How is he any different than the otherappetizersyou’re interested in, huh?” Darcy pouted. Even though they’d only just met yesterday when they checked in for the horse breeding conference, she was already acting like they’d been friends forever. Darcy’s face now blocked Sophia’s view of the hockey hotties. With exaggerated movements, she darted her eyes in the direction of the man. When that didn’t seem to work, shejerked her head in that direction. “Come on. He looks completely delicious.”
Sophia took a sip of her sweet tea and nodded. “Of course he does. But Mr. Manbun over there doesn’t look like he wants a snack. He’s here for the full five-course meal.”
Darcy tossed back her head with a laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s harmless. Just look at him.”
She had been looking at him. She’d looked at him in no less than four of the seven classes she’d attended at the conference. She’d looked at him the second he’d shown up at the venue they were at. Sophia had looked at him so much that she could probably draw him from memory if she had the inclination. That wasn’t the problem.
Mr. Manbun had looked right back.
Darcy groaned when she apparently realized she wasn’t going to convince Sophia to take the steps necessary to hook the guy. If this was a simple catch-and-release, Sophia would have been on board. But something told her it wouldn’t be that simple.
As if against her will, she let her eyes drift in his direction. But he wasn’t there.
Sophia stiffened. Where had he gone? Had some other girl captured his attention? Probably. Darcy had said as much. The guy looked like a catch. Her focus bounced from person to person.
“Looking for me?” a male voice said from behind her.
The hairs on the back of her neck lifted, and her heart stumbled. She didn’t have to turn around to know who was behind her. His voice could only be described as a husky purr. Already, Sophia wanted to wrap herself up in the sensation of it.
Slowly, Sophia turned to face her visitor. She was forced to lift her chin in order to meet his eyes. Gorgeous blue eyes that looked almost gray peered down at her. One side of his mouthquirked upward in an infuriatingly handsome smirk. His facial scruff was neatly trimmed and only added to his allure.
No.
Sophia refused to allow this stranger to make her legs quake.
And yet, that smile drew her in.
It was all she could do to hide behind her own flirty and outgoing mask she wore when she was around any man.
She smiled and tilted her head as she narrowed her eyes. “Not hardly. I was trying to decide if it was time to leave. This place has lost its appeal. The music is giving me a headache.”
For a moment he didn’t move. But then he leaned in, and her breath caught in anticipation of his lips meeting hers. Why wasn’t she backing away? Disappointingly, his face hovered just above her shoulder, his lips so close to her ear that she could feel the heat of his skin. “Liar,” he whispered.
