Seeing her offence at his lack ofpoliteness–well what was actually an expression ofoh-shit,because she couldn’t believe she’d reacted so strongly to him–heleaned toward her and placed a sadly fleeting kiss on her cheek.Hesitating a moment longer than needed, he whispered, “Thank you.”His breath brushed across her ear, before he pulled away.
Before she knew what had happened, he wasback under the truck. What the hell was that? Her cheek stillburned where his lips had been, her hand still gripped thenon-existent bolt in the foolish hope that he’d touch heragain.
She’d really lost her marbles. Shaking offthe moment, she grabbed her bags and headed for the house. Beratingherself for falling into exactly the trap Pippa had warned heragainst, she tried to deny the desire he’d stirred in her.
Pippa was already inside. Lincoln and Gradyhad gone to unload the bulk of their belongings alone and head homefor the evening. Sophie was glad for some peace and quiet. Shereally enjoyed Lincoln and knew she would hit it off with Grady asa friend, but his persistent attentions were gettingexhausting.
Everyone expected them to get together,particularly now that they were best man and maid of honor, andliving in the same town, but Sophie just didn’t see it happening.Maybe once she was settled, she’d give it a try.
With her fresh new start, maybe a fresh newlook at his handsome face would tempt her. Although, after herresponse to Asher, she wasn’t so sure.
***
Sophie inhaled the familiar, fresh and homeyscent of the Sutherland’s house as she stepped inside. Dinner wasnigh; Denise was clearly cooking up a storm to welcome thegirls.
Home… good feeling. Not that it was actuallyher home, but it immediately felt that way, since her first trip,like a favorite aunt and uncle’s home you visited every summer.Part of that was Denise, ensuring she had a welcoming hug as sheentered, cheery conversation, and her own space when she neededquiet. What else could she call it, but home?
The open floor plan set the tone. To theright of the entry, the dining room flowed into the kitchen. To theleft, a sunny great room was cozy and inviting with plushfurniture, a huge fireplace, and family-style coffee table.Straight ahead, an understated staircase led to the large loftsitting room that was surrounded by four bedrooms.
Of the spectacular home, her favorite partwas the massive wall of windows that displayed a broad mountainvista. The Cascades were glowing green as the sun was starting tolower in the sky. She could almost smell the breeze wafting throughthe fir, pine, and cedar trees in the evening sun.
Young kids would have been a terror in thishouse. Throwing stuff over the loft rail to the living room below.Blasting the tv loud so the whole house could hear. No wonderDenise and Paul had built their own master suite downstairs, underthe open loft and behind thick walls.
Dropping her bags in her bedroom, Sophiefreshened up in the connecting bathroom. Well, the Jack and Jillbathroom that attached to Pippa’s bedroom. Of the four bedroomsupstairs, each pair shared a bathroom in between. Normally sheshared with Pippa, but, judging by the men’s toiletries scatteredaround the left-hand sink, and NAVY swim shorts hung over theshower, Denise must have moved Asher and Pippa around.
Another drawback to the loft-style bedroomslooking over the living room: she could hear everything thathappened downstairs. Enough problems of her own, Sophie didn’t carefor eavesdropping. More secrets, more worries. She was just leavingher bedroom and about to head downstairs, when the conversationbelow stopped her.
“Go easy on him. He’s had a rough time.”Denise’s voice was just above a loud whisper, the soft volume paledin contrast to the firmness in her tone.
She’d heard Pippa receive an earful more thana few times about her refusal to bring Sophie to visit when Asherwas home, making it a rarity when Pippa actually saw her brotherover the years. Certainly, she never spent holidays with him, asAsher typically offered up holiday vacations to others of his SEALteam with families of their own.
Pippa’s voice was not so soft, not caring whoheard her annoyance. “Why is he staying in my old room next toSophie? She’s no match for him. Why do you think I’ve never beenhere when I knew he was going to be here? I love my brother, butI’m sick of him leaving my friends brokenhearted.”
Before she realized the gravity of what she’ddone, Sophie found her fingertips in her mouth, her nails quicklywasting away to nothing. Dammit, she didn’t want to bite her nails.Disgusting habit and a glaring sign of weakness.
Guilty, guilty, guilty. She’d beenaround Asher for a grand total of five minutes, and already wasfantasizing about him taking her from behind while she was leanedover the hood of his truck. What was up with her rabidly hornyimagination running on overdrive? Grady was just as attractive butdidn’t cause nearly the reaction.
Clanking pots and pans echoed across thehouse, as Denise shuffled through the cupboards more dramaticallythan necessary. “He’s your brother. I put him in the quietest, mostspacious bedroom since he’ll be here the longest. And, you haven’tseen him much these last few years; he needs to be able to escapewhen things get hectic. Knowing you and Lincoln might appreciate alittle privacy when he stays the night, I put you in the completeopposite room.”
Pippa’s voice softened a bit. “I doappreciate your thoughtfulness. I love my brother, despite ourdifferences during those awkward teenage years. I’m so proud of hisaccomplishments. But–”
Before Pippa could finish, Denise cut her offwith now frank exasperation in her voice. “He’s been home for amonth. Guess how many times he’s been out?” She didn’t let Pippaanswer. “Not once. I don’t think Sophie is in any danger. Hedoesn’t talk much, doesn’t go out, nor has he during his lastseveral trips home. If you had come to visit him more often, youmight have noticed.”
Her friend’s guilt was almost palpable fromclear across the house. Despite their differences, she did careabout her brother. Even when they were at the worst of odds, Pippastill called him every month. “You’re right. I’m sure I’moverreacting. Do you think he’s going to be okay?”
Denise sighed. “I don’t know. He won’t saymuch, but he’s seen some terrible things. It’s been getting better.I think the therapy and R&R has been good for him. Just… goeasy on him, okay?”
“I will. He’s still okay with being in thewedding party, right? Because it’s all about me, and he’ll lookvery handsome alongside Lincoln and Grady up front.” Pippa laughedat herself. She was not someone Sophie would consider selfish undernormal circumstances, so joking about it reflected herself-awareness and guilt when her thoughts strayed towardself-centered.
Denise laughed with her. “Whether he’sagreeable or not, it’ll be good for him. He and Lincoln were alwaysgood friends anyway. Even before you two got together.”
Sophie’s poor imagination went wild,imagining she and Asher on a double date with Pippa and Lincoln,then later the roles reverse at her own white wedding with Asher.Where had that come from?Raw lust was one thing, butwedding bells was the last thing on her mind. Must be all thewedding talk rubbing off on her.
3
“Don’t you wear those filthy boots in the house,Asher Sutherland.” Denise hollered at her son as he entered thehouse. Can’t get away with anything around here.
Obediently, Asher pulled off his smelly oldcombat boots and socks, bundling them up with the greasy t-shirthe’d already peeled off. In front of Sophie. It really hadn’t beenintentional. Although, her reaction had been a nice boost to hisself-esteem that had undergone too many hits the last sixmonths.
