And I feel awful for making her feel that way. It was an honest mistake. And she even said she needed to tell me something when I first walked out. It wasn’t her fault that a fan beat her to the punch.
I exhale with a noisy breath and hold out my arms. “Come here.”
She walks into my arms, pressing her face against my chest between my suit lapels, mumbling against the fabric of my shirt.
A low chuckle rumbles through me. “I didn’t catch anything you just said.”
Her head falls back, but her eyes are closed as if she’s trying to hide her deepest self. But what she doesn’t realize is she’s given me full access to her neck, and I’d like nothing more than to nuzzle the area behind her ear down to the gentle curve of her collarbone. Then I’d brush my lips over the soft skin of her shoulders, left bare by that enchanting rose-pink shirt she’s wearing.
I take a deep breath to clear my head and wait for her to speak first.
“I can’t believe I screwed that up, Luke. I mean, how could I do something so stupid? I promised you I wouldn’t let your full face be shown, and I blew it.” Her eyes pop open. “And why aren’t you mad? I thought you’d be livid, but instead, you’re being so…so…”
I can’t contain the grin spreading on my face. “So…?”
She looks down, her voice barely a whisper. “Nice.”
I hook my finger under her chin so she’ll lift herface. “It’s okay. Crisis averted.”
That’s what I’m choosing to believe, anyway. As long as those photos stay in Florida, I don’t have to think about the possibility of my father deciding to make contact. He made the choice to leave his family for a life of crime a long time ago, and we did just fine without him, thanks to my mother. Kinsley and I don’t need him in our lives.
“Aren’t you going to beat me up about it? Just a little bit?”
I grunt. “I think you’ve done a good job doing that all on your own.”
Her eyes turn watery, her voice a husky whisper. “I really am sorry.”
I nod. “I know. It’s okay. Now let it go.”
“Are you sure?”
A slow smile spreads across my face because I’ve never been more sure about anyone like I am about her. “Surer than sure.”
CHAPTER 21
SOPHIE
“So, what do you think?” I’m holding my breath as I wait for Mia’s reaction.
The idea hit me this morning during a much-needed walk on the beach at sunrise to contemplate my situationship with Luke, which is fast turning into a relationship. I know I should be over the moon, especially after that very public kiss at the game. And the way he handled the mess up with his photo—thinking it through rationally—felt like he was fighting for us.
But I’m afraid to get my hopes up, considering how well I’ve done so far in the romance department in the past.
Yep. Sophie + romance = disaster.
However, whatever this is between Luke and me feels different. More natural and surprisingly easy at times. With the other guys I dated, I tried so hard to make the relationships work. Maybe too hard. Like trying to fit two pieces of a puzzle that didn’t belong together.
But when I’m with Luke, I can be myself—something that seemed to work against me with my previous boyfriends.
Mia faces me, arms crossed. “We’re standing in a parking lotstaring at the Turtle Tide and the Sandpiper Inn. What exactly am I supposed to see, Sophie?”
Just before dawn, I headed to the beach with my camera to capture the sherbet colors painting the sky and reflecting in the water. Behind the lens, I can connect with nature and myself, which allows my brain to process whatever I’m struggling with. I figured that would help declutter the Luke-chaos lingering in my head. That’s when I saw two of Sarabella’s most favored places in a whole different light—literally and figuratively.
Standing behind her, I turn her toward the restaurant and the inn. “Two years ago, the owners built that breezeway so that guests could go back and forth without getting soaked during the rainy season.”
She sighs. “Goody for them.”
“But they also used it for their Christmas wedding, which I heard was an event to remember. Just picture it, Mia. You in your Madam Tulard original gown, walking down the breezeway to where Ethan is standing, looking gorgeous in his tux, waiting to make you his wife.” I add a dramatic flourish to my voice.
