Looking up at him, not as far as usual in herfreakishly tall heels, the corner of her mouth quirked up inenjoyment before she responded. “About the time you took your shirtoff to wipe the grease off your face and hands. Call me shallow,but I couldn’t wait to get my hands on those abs.”
Her teasing elicited the chuckle she’d hopedfor. “I believe they call that falling in lust. Not love.”
“Well, that’s when it started. I was soldthat day sitting over the creek. You weren’t quite the womanizinglecher I’d been led to believe. Easy to visit with, fun to jokearound with when I needed a distraction. As always, you made mefeel respected. Normal. Sexy but not objectified.”
He continued to hold her close. “It started abit sooner for me.”
“You hadn’t even met me yet. Now who’sconfusing lust for love?” She knew they would be missed soon, buthad trouble caring.
“I’ve been dreaming of those lips of yoursfor years. Was a little hesitant that you’d be as uptight as mysis, maybe more so as an accountant, but I knew there was more toyou with all the secrets you try to hide behind those stormyeyes.”
From across the grounds, they heard Lincolnbellow their names.
“Shit, we are absurdly late for pictures.”Sophie dragged Asher at full speed to the men’s suite. “Be quick.Your tux is hanging right inside. I brought a bag of yourtoiletries; should be on the bathroom counter.”
Pulling her back for a quick, but profoundkiss, he gave her a quick pat on the ass. As she walked out ofsight, he whispered just loud enough for her to hear, “Don’t worktoo hard. I’ve got plans for you later.”
20
A Long Day
Leaning back in her chair under the stars, Sophieheld her very full stomach. “I think I ate too much.”
A very satisfied and mellow Pippa nudged herin the side, “You’re not getting out of dancing at my wedding thateasily.”
Lincoln leaned across Pippa, “Hey, we paidgood money for that cake. You’d better have saved room.”
Sophie chuckled and sipped her wine, “Not asmuch as you think. It’s actually three birthday cakes from thegrocery store bakery that Denise stacked and scattered candiedflower petals over.”
Overall, they’d done pretty well shaving offsome of those big expenses. She tried to not toot her own hornoften, but it was well deserved in this case. Lincoln and Pippa gotup from the table and made some rounds, chatting with their guestsas others finished their dinners. Sophie couldn’t imagine knowingso many people to invite to her own wedding; half the dang town washere.
As many of the guests finished eating, otherswandered the grounds and socialized before toasts, cake, anddancing. Timed to the minute thanks to Pippa’s meticulous planning,they had about twenty minutes until the next set of weddingobligations. Who knew weddings were such hard work? No wonder Pippahad lost her mind planning it.
Heading to the back to freshen up a bit andescape the crowd for a few, Sophie caught an earful from someoneshe’d never even met. Stopping abruptly in front of her, a short,wiry old man shook his finger at her. “You must be Sophie Jones. Iheard about what you did to your poor aunt. Framing her for anembezzling scam and sending her to prison in your stead? Forshame.”
Wanting to argue, but knowing it was anuphill battle, Sophie brushed past the strange man. She made it afew paces before she heard a weeping sound she knew only toowell.
“She really is a sweet girl, justmisdirected. I don’t blame her for the conflict that has occurredbetween us, really. I manage just fine now that Sophie’sinvolvement in that prostitution scandal has calmed down.”
Turning slowly, dreading what she would see,Sophie approached her dear old Auntie Yvette. Hair a homely shadeof brown, attire toned down to a lavender pantsuit and flats, shehardly even recognized her. A small crowd had gathered to hearYvette’s woes and the incriminating gossip about the town’s newestaccountant. The stranger from the big city.
Sophie was done with it. Placing her handsweetly on Yvette’s arm to capture her attention, Sophieinterrupted the hurtful conversation. Yvette feigned a chin quiverwhen she saw Sophie.
“Lovely to see you Yvette, but I can’t sayI’m surprised. I guess you didn’t get the Netflix role. Need a fewthousand more for another boob job? Or is it more Botox this time?I’m really not sure your landlord would appreciate another blowjobin lieu of rent this month.” She’d thought of all kinds ofaccusations. Maybe something about the jail or to ask after herpimp. It was tough to choose just one, so she went with the truthas it was equally damning.
She felt Asher’s fingers link with her own ashe came up from behind her to stand at her side.
Those damn butterflies in her stomach wereflipping out. Holding her ground, she was terrified yet exhilaratedto stand up to her vile aunt so boldly. So publicly.
Asher didn’t hesitate to reprimand Yvette.Unflinching, calm and collected, as Sophie had discovered him to bein a fight, he called her out, “I don’t recall my sister invitingyou. It’s time for you to go.”
Grady stepped up her other side. After adisgusted glance at Yvette, he turned to Sophie, “I believe Ioffered legal assistance regarding your aunt’s threats, should youneed it. I would be happy to write up some documents to protect youfrom any further slander or defamation of character.”
Before Sophie could fully process the wall ofsupport forming around her, Jane appeared next to Grady. Voicesteady and even, Jane didn’t bother to hide a superior smirk. “Youmust be Yvette. I am Sophie’s new employer that you calledyesterday. As I mentioned on the phone, Sophie has my full support,and I will not lend credence to your lies.”
Jane’s tone abruptly turned harsh despiteYvette’s wide, moist eyes and meek façade. “What kind of aunt triesto get her niece fired? Very creative tales you spun, but Sophie’srecord is quite clean. I would know, as I recently ran theappropriate background checks I would for any prospectiveemployee.” She reached across Grady to pat Sophie on the shoulder.“I hope you don’t mind, but I already filed a complaint with thepolice department.”
The crowd no longer looked so sympathetictowards Yvette. Looks of disgust were swiftly redirected. Sophie nolonger felt the dread, the exposed sensation that rotted andfestered in her stomach that she’d grown to expect when in publicwith Yvette. Warmth from the show of support from her friendsfilled her veins.
