Although unnecessary, Denise’s worry wasquite reasonable. As a considerate person, he wasn’t about to leavethe nasty shoes for the entire house to smell, not with the dinnertable less than twenty feet from the front door. Wearing nothingbut his ragged jeans, clutching his grubby work clothes, he dashedfor the stairs.
In his hurry, he nearly bowled over Sophie.He hadn’t exactly allowed for proper introductions earlier, butnone had been needed. With the raving his family had done about herover the years and pictures around the house like she was one oftheir own, he knew exactly what Sophie looked like. Knew about heraccomplishments in college, how Aunt Jane was hoping she’d join hersoon-to-be two-person accounting firm.
Miss Perfect is what she was. An enlargedUCLA graduation photo of her wearing a sweet little white sundresswas even framed over the mantle with the rest of the family photos.He’d developed a total crush on her from the moment he’d seen thatphoto.
None of the pictures or stories were evenclose to reflecting Sophie in person. Mysterious with those stormygray eyes. Cute with her easy dimples. A fucking knockout withmile-long legs. Hair that was artfully neither blond nor brown buta rebellious mix that declared she couldn’t, or wouldn’t, belabeled.
Playing the ever-humiliating game of whichway to move to let the other pass, they shared a clumsy smile asboth were stuck on the wrong side of the landing. Her spontaneous,lyrical laugh resonated in his head, a pleasant surprise that noone had told him about. Genuine, sweet, feminine… with a hint ofwicked.
Gripping his boots and shirt in one hand, heleaned against the wall and motioned her across gallantly. Hecaught her scent on the way by; so clean and soft. Something subtlyfloral and earthy but not overpowering, more like she’d been hikingthrough wildflowers rather than bathing in perfume like his lategrandmother.
Dammit, not at all what he needed right now.Pippa had been smart to ensure they never met. Well, no good way tosay it; he enjoyed women. A lot. And she tended to make friendswith some very attractive women.
Not that he’d done anything like that inyears. Too busy training, then too many floozies looking for thecompany of a Navy SEAL for the night. Easy access sort of cured hisquickdraw dating habits.
One look at that sort of women and hepictured his dick rotting away from STDs. No thank you. Not thathe’d ever even let a woman touch him unless there was ahigh-quality condom between any part of her and his dick.
Plus, he liked to think that he’d grown up abit.
Sophie was different. She exuded an easyconfidence and, well, she was downright capable without making afuss about it. Without regard for her pristinely white t-shirt,she’d climbed right up onto his truck and pulled out the bolt he’dbeen trying to reach for hours. Given him a spectacular view of herass in tight denim while she was at it.
He’d enjoyed her double take when he’d peeledoff his grease-stained shirt. That hungry look on her face matchedhis own reaction. In an instant, his little crush had blown up intoa colossal case of gut-wrenching lust.
But… more than anything, he needed tonotmake it with Pippa’s best friend. Again. Thatrelationship was tenuous enough.
Cringing, he vividly recalled the worst ofall his conquests was on Pippa’s prom night. He’d been visitingfrom college. Pippa and her good friend at the time had met attheir house. Her friend… what was her name again? Dammit, hecouldn’t even remember her name. Whatever, she was nineteen andfriendly and… experienced.
Unfortunately for Pippa, what’s-her-name wasa little offended he never called her back after and had silentlyblamed Pippa for his callousness. Pippa hadn’t even known why herfriend stopped talking to her for months. He’d gotten an earfulwhen she found out.
Yeah, he should probably steer clear ofSophie. Based on his response to her today… fuck, he was stillbattling the threatening erection, it wasn’t going to be easy tostay away from her. He’d been celibate for so long he was about tocall Guinness. How tough could a few more weeks be?
After a quick shower, his second today, hewasn’t quite so sweaty or coated with motor oil. Inevitably, someof the grease was still embedded in the creases of his hands.Throwing on his cleanest t-shirt and jeans, neatly folded in hisdrawer–thank you Mom–he dashed downstairs in time to join thefamily for dinner.
When he’d first gotten home, he’d tried tohole up in his room twenty-four-seven, even for meals. His dad hadput a stop to that right away. He’d been right, which Asher wasn’tpleased about. PTSD wasn’t going to get any better if he isolatedhimself, so said his therapist.
His mom was just putting salmon, salad, andhomemade baked fries on the table. That’s what smelled so good,they were crispy and everything. Dousing the homemade fries inketchup, he dove into his meal ravenously.
Wolfing down the delicious handful of fries,he glanced up to find the whole table was looking at him. Denisescowled at his abhorrent table manners. Paul gave him that look,theDon’t be a dumbasslook he’d earned many times in hislife. Pippa eyed him anxiously, ensuring he wasn’t looking atSophie. Sophie, however, bit her cheek in a teasing smile beforestarting on her salmon.
Giving his mother a wink, he slowed down andtried to eat like a normal human being. His mom ought to dine withsailors on a sub or destroyer sometime. Not so keen on themanners.
Hating to cook for himself, Asher had spentmost of his meals in the galley on base or eaten microwaveablemeals in his closet apartment alone. A few times a month, he’d goout with his few pals, Zane and Jack. Despite his relief to leavethe Navy, he missed his friends.
Granting him a reprieve, Denise opened thetable to conversation. “Pippa, darling, is your appointment atTracey’s Apparel and Alterations tomorrow or the next day? I forgotto write it down.”
Politely swallowing her mouthful, Pippadelicately wiped the corners of her mouth before speaking. Showoff.“Didn’t you get the calendar I shared with you? It’s tomorrow attwo o'clock. You’ll be there, right?”
“Of course, sweetie. I wouldn’t miss yourfinal dress fitting. Why was I thinking it was the day after? Ican’t seem to get your calendar to sync with mine.” Denise lookedinto the air as if the answer was hovering above the table.
Pippa hopped up from the table and grabbedher organizer from her purse. “Then, the day after we meet thecaterer and finalize the menu, then we confirm the cake order. Thenon Monday we pick up place cards, Tuesday the party favors shouldarrive. The rehearsal rehearsal dinner is in ten days, the dayafter Freya gets in. Then the bridesmaid and tux fittings for thelast-minute tailoring.
“Oh, and the bachelor and bacheloretteparties, but we haven’t nailed down dates for that yet since wehadn’t decided what we’re doing for those. Bridal shower will beafter the rehearsal rehearsal dinner, and rehearsal dinner just twodays before the wedding, a day to relax, then the Big Day.”Breathless from the long litany, Pippa beamed at her organizationalskills.
Seated next to her, Sophie pointed in the airwith a fry and nudged her friend. “Did you really just sayrehearsal rehearsal dinner? I’ve never been married, but I wasn’taware that was a thing.” At least someone had their head onstraight around here.
Rolling her eyes at her friend, Pippa nudgedher back. “It’s totally a thing. Just ask Pinterest. The rehearsaldinner is all of us, the wedding party, Lincoln’s family. Therehearsal rehearsal dinner is just the wedding party so everyonecan get to know each other.”
Trying to make sense of what her friend hadjust said, Sophie considered for a moment. Asher liked watching herthink. She wore her thoughts right on her sleeve. Nothing dishonestor shrouded. “That sounds fun. We can nail down bachelor andbachelorette parties and other to-do’s together. And I’m lookingforward to meeting Freya.” She was too good to his crazysister.
