Her British Bard (Dream Come True Sweet Romance Book 2)

by Darci Balogh

  So, when Ian was fully distracted and not looking in her direction, Sofia said her goodbyes to Bea and Travis.

  "Would you like us to walk you home?" Travis offered.

  "Not necessary," Sofia said. "I'll get a cab. I'm not too far from here. Thank you, though."

  Travis looked a little disheartened. His introverted self probably wouldn't mind going home either.

  "You don't want to say goodbye to Ian?" Bea asked hopefully.

  "Tell him goodbye from me, and thank him for inviting me to the concert, I had a great time," she responded. Then she made her escape.

  By the next afternoon Sofia felt much better. With some distance between her and Ian's intense physical presence, she was able to put their entire interaction into perspective. While it was a pleasant diversion, dating a rock star was definitely not part of her grand life plan. There was no reason to pursue such an ill-advised match in her opinion.

  She spent all day reading her pile of books, finishing her ironing, and catching up on emails and social media with her friends and family back home. Mid-afternoon she left to go for a little walk to get some fresh air. She thought she might pop by the funny gingerbread candy store and pick up some more treats. Luna was supposed to call her sometime today, so Sofia left her phone volume up as she strolled to the candy store.

  "So, you're back," the shop lady said brightly as Sofia stepped inside to the sound of tinkling bells ringing above the door.

  "I am," she answered. "I'm addicted to Pear Drops!"

  "Aren't we all?"

  Just as she was about to put in her order, Sofia's cell rang loudly from deep in her purse.

  "Excuse me," she said and stepped back out the door politely. When she got hold of her phone it was on the third ring, but instead of Luna's picture popping up on the screen, it was the selfie she had taken with Ian on the London Eye. Unfortunately, she had attached it to his phone number in her phone in a moment of weakness. Seeing it pop back up like this sent a flurry of butterflies through her. Ian was calling.

  Her finger hovered over the screen for a long moment as she decided what to do. Then, when she was about to answer it, the phone stopped ringing. It had gone to voicemail. Standing in the middle of the sidewalk Sofia stared at the now blank screen where she and Ian's selfie had just glowed, happy and fun. A twinge of disappointment quivered in her heart, but she shook it off. Probably for the best.

  She turned back into the candy shop and put on a bright smile for the nice shop lady, who introduced herself as Lottie.

  "My Mum used to buy us five pence of Pear Drops when we went on picnics," Lottie explained as she plunged a shiny contoured scooper into a bulbous glass jar filled with the pale pink and yellow candies.

  "I'll want a few more than five pence worth I think," Sofia said, much to Lottie's amusement.

  She left the store with a small brown bag half full of her newest favorite treat. 100 grams worth. She was still not used to counting everything in grams, but she had more than enough in her little bag.

  Instead of turning right and heading back to her flat, Sofia turned left toward the Thames. It was a pleasant afternoon. Overcast and not too hot, she thought a walk along the river would be good to clear her head. Clear her head from what, exactly? She couldn't, or didn't want to, put her finger on it, but Sofia felt restless. Dissatisfied.

  She popped a Pear Drop in her mouth to enjoy as she walked. Once on the tree lined path, she went the opposite direction of the way she normally took to King's College. It was Sunday and she didn't want to think too much about work if she could help it. The path was busy, but not uncomfortably so. Bicyclists rang little bells to warn pedestrians on foot that they were approaching. Couples walked hand in hand. Dogs led their owners on leashes. A huge barge passed slowly on the wide river along with other smaller vessels, some of which looked like luxury passenger boats.

  After about 20 minutes of walking, Sofia found an unoccupied bench and sat down to look out over the water. She had grown up in Denver, Colorado, which had a lot to offer as far as outdoor experiences. Something Denver did not have, however, were large bodies of water like oceans and rivers. Not rivers like the Thames anyway. She took a deep breath of the damp air. Seagulls, who apparently lived everywhere in the world, called out in the distance and she watched them fly and dip down over the water. It was all very nice. Very, very nice. Really, really, really nice.

  She sighed. What was her problem? Sofia popped another Pear Drop into her mouth. She knew what the problem was, but she was angry that it was a problem at all. It was her phone. Her stupid 'always connected to the world can't have a day to herself' cell phone. That ridiculously adorable picture of her and Ian on The London Eye. Glancing up she could see the Eye in the distance. It was over 450 feet high and twirled around like a stupid giant Ferris wheel, of course she could see it. Nothing about her date with Ian would be ignored.

  She sighed again, frustrated at her weakness.

  While she'd been chatting with Lottie and trying to enjoy her Sunday off she had felt her phone buzz in her purse, letting her know that she had a voicemail. Since that moment the thought of Ian leaving a voicemail had pricked at the back of her mind like a fly trapped in a window trying to get to the outside. Annoying. Relentless. Futile.

  What could he possibly have said in a voicemail? They had no plans. She had not agreed to see him again. Surely Bea and Travis would respect her wishes and not encourage him in pursuing her anymore. She leaned back against the bench and focused hard on relaxing. In her peripheral vision she could see the giant, slow moving cantilever that was the London Eye. Sofia growled under her breath. She would listen to his message.

  Reaching for her purse she heard her phone erupt into vibration and ringtone. He was calling again.

  With exasperation she shoved her hand in her purse and yanked out her phone. The picture showing on the screen was not the offending ginger haired rock star. It was Luna.

  "Luna!" Sofia answered with relief and a twinge of disappointment she tried to cover up.

  "Hi cousin, how are you?" Luna's voice, sweet and familiar.

  "Oh, you know..." Sofia started to speak when without any warning at all her voice trembled and she couldn't continue without crying.

  "What's the matter?" Luna asked. If she couldn't hear Sofia struggling to speak through tears, she most certainly sensed it. They were close. Also, Luna was highly intuitive.

  "Nothing, not really..." Sofia managed.

  "Something's the matter," Luna pressed.

  "I'm just..." Sofia searched for an excuse Luna would accept. She didn't want her to think she was blubbering about some man. "I think I'm homesick," she sniffled. That wasn't exactly untrue.

  "Oh, honey," Luna cooed.

  "I think I've just been so busy, you know? And now that I have a little down time...I'm missing home," Sofia explained, pleased that she was able to say it without breaking down in public.

  Luna understood, asked questions, and listened patiently as Sofia told her about her flat, her job, Bea and Travis, and purposefully excluded Ian.

  At a lull in the conversation, Luna asked, "What about the cute guy?"

  Sofia swallowed. "What cute guy?

  "The guy in the picture! Thomas sent it to everyone," Luna explained. "So who is it? Bridget thinks it's the rock star from London."

  Sofia deflated slightly. She wasn't going to be able to keep up her nonchalance with Luna. Luna sensed every emotion someone had almost before they had it.

  "I wouldn't exactly call him a rock star," Sofia said. On the other side of the world, Luna squealed. "It's nothing. He's nobody," Sofia tried to sound convincing.

  "He didn't look like nothing," Luna giggled.

  "He just showed me around the city a little bit. No big deal."

  "Hmm..."

  Sofia could tell Luna didn't quite believe her. "He's not really my type, cuz," she said, trying to blow the whole thing off.

  "That's exactly why I was excited for
you!"

  "There's nothing to be excited about. Not with him anyway."

  "Okay," Luna paused. "You look really good in that picture," she added. "Happy."

  Sofia closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, then changed the subject.

  Chapter Twelve

  Another week of work flew by and before Sofia could blink, Tawnyetta and Michael were back in London on more fundraiser errands. It seemed to her that they could conduct more of these meetings on a conference call or over Skype to avoid making the trip all the way to London from the Highlands every other weekend. But maybe they liked the traveling.

  "You two certainly are busy with this event," Sofia commented as they approached the car and driver Michael had rented to take them around for the day. The two shared a look and Sofia narrowed her eyes at them suspiciously. "What?"

  "I'll tell you in the car," Tawnyetta promised. She seemed agitated, excited about something. So did Michael.

  "So what's going on?" Sofia pressed once they were settled in their seats and Michael had given the address of their destination to the driver. "Where are we going?"

  "We're making one wee stop on our way to Bea and Travis' for dinner," Michael explained. "But that's not the big news."

  Sofia looked from him to Tawnyetta and back again. They were both beaming and she couldn't imagine what in the world was making them so giddy.

  "I'm pregnant," Tawnyetta exclaimed, throwing her hands out in celebration.

  It took a few moments for her friend's words to sink in. Sofia was stunned. This had not been on her radar at all.

  "What?!" she exclaimed.

  Michael threw his arm over Tawnyetta's shoulders and pulled her to him, kissing her temple. Tawnyetta flushed prettily, still beaming from her news and nodded emphatically.

  "I know! We weren't expecting...to be expecting!" Tawnyetta laughed.

  "Congratulations!" Sofia broke free of her surprise and leaned across the car seat to hug them both. "Oh my God! This is huge!"

  "I know, we have been trying to break the news to everyone. My parents are on a weekend trip to their cabin and don't have cell service. So we haven't been able to reach them yet," Tawnyetta chatted happily. Michael watched her with pride and joy. Their love for each other and their excitement over this baby was obvious.

  "How far along are you?"

  "Twelve weeks."

  Sofia bubbled with questions, but they got all jumbled together. The happy news was making her grin from ear to ear. "I can't even think what to ask you, but I want to know everything!"

  "Our wee one is due April 28th," Michael offered.

  Sofia put her hand on Michael's knee. "You, sir, are adorable." This made Tawnyetta laugh and Sofia turned her attention to her next. "Have you told everyone?" By 'everyone' she meant the other besties; Bridget, Luna, Angie and Thomas.

  "Not yet, although Bridget suspects something. We were video chatting when I had pretty bad morning sickness. And you know Bridget, she picks up on anything to do with engagements, weddings or babies, and jumps to conclusions."

  "But she would be right about this one," Sofia said.

  Tawnyetta nodded, "Yes, I just don't want my parents to hear about it from anyone but us. And once Bridget knows for sure, who knows what will happen."

  Sofia understood. Then a thought struck her, "So I'm the first one to know?"

  Tawnyetta smiled and nodded.

  With that they were lost in conversation about pregnancy and babies and everything that entails. Sofia and Tawnyetta kept chattering and giggling in the car, in the elevator, all the way up to the door where Michael stopped and knocked.

  "What is this place?" Sofia finally thought to ask.

  "Michael's friend, you know him–" Tawnyetta's explanation was cut short by the door opening.

  Sofia's brain raced ahead of what Tawnyetta was saying and she knew with a sudden rush of surprise, even before seeing him, that it was Ian's flat. Sure enough, he pulled the door wide open and smiled at them. She sucked in a breath before she could stop herself and Tawnyetta gave her a sideways glance.

  "Hullo," he greeted them.

  Sofia's emotions were everywhere. She'd been so wrapped up in Tawnyetta's big news she hadn't given one thought to anything else. And now, as Ian stood there grinning, the familiar thrill of being in his presence returned.

  He wore an olive green dress shirt that was untucked and rolled up at the sleeves. The color suited him, especially his golden eyes that were dancing at her with an intimacy she knew the others did not see.

  "Ian, how've you been?" Michael grabbed Ian's hand and they pulled in for a brief man hug.

  "Good, good," Ian answered. He stepped back and ushered them inside, "Come in."

  Tawnyetta stopped and gave him a hug. Then it was Sofia's turn. Still tongue tied and not sure how to act, she paused in front of him, the scent of his cologne tickling her nose. Ian looked down at her and paused for a mere millisecond, searching her eyes with his. In that brief moment she saw amusement, embarrassment and attraction in his eyes, and felt her own convey the same to him.

  With a hint of a nervous swallow, he said, "Hullo, Sofia."

  "Hello," she answered. She let her eyes linger on his, enjoying the secrecy they shared. Then she dropped her gaze and followed Tawnyetta and Michael into the living room.

  Ian's flat was a loft. High-ceilings with exposed beams, floor to ceiling windows on the outside wall, and modern, if slightly used, furniture throughout.

  "This is a wee bit nicer than your last place," Michael said as he looked around the room.

  Ian laughed in agreement, "You're right about that."

  They sat on a low black sectional sofa while Ian got them drinks. Stella in bottles for Michael and Sofia, and a sparkling water for Tawnyetta. Three tall narrow abstract paintings hung on the wall behind the sofa. Black, blue, red, green and yellow paint splattered in different patterns on each. In the corner of the room next to the windows were five different guitars placed on stands, two acoustic and three electric. There was also a keyboard, a microphone on a mic-stand, and two tall stools.

  "Sure you don't want anything stronger?" Ian asked Tawnyetta. "I've got mixers."

  "No, thank you..." Tawnyetta gave Michael a look full of meaning.

  Michael cleared his throat and said, "Actually, Ian, there's a reason Tawnyetta can't drink." An unabashed look of pride came over his face. "She's expecting."

  For a moment Sofia could tell Ian was processing what he'd just heard. He looked dumbly at Michael, then at Tawnyetta, then at her for verification. Sofia nodded almost imperceptibly at him.

  "What's this?" Ian let out a shocked laugh. Michael's eyes twinkled with pride. Tawnyetta blushed and Sofia thought she had never looked lovelier. "That's fantastic news, isn't it? Congratulations!"

  Ian's reaction charmed Sofia. He was boyishly shy when speaking to Tawnyetta and overwhelmingly enthusiastic with Michael. He sat down next to Sofia while they chatted about the big news and was so comfortable that she felt like they were a couple. As if Tawnyetta and Michael had popped over to their house to make the announcement. Sofia liked that feeling and found it difficult to ignore Ian's lean frame sitting next to hers.

  Tawnyetta's cell phone buzzed in her purse. She checked it and said, "It's my Mom."

  Michael stood up, "We should talk to her together." He looked at Ian, "Do you have another room we could step into for a moment?"

  Ian showed them through a door that she presumed led to his bedroom. Sofia sipped her drink and let her eyes wander around the tastefully decorated living room. She wondered what his bedroom looked like.

  "So," he said as Ian closed the door and turned to her with a mischievous smile. "Alone at last." He took three long steps and hopped over the edge of the sofa, landing in a seated position next to her. Close, but not touching. She yelped in surprise then giggled. Ian threw his arm on the back of the sofa and raised one eyebrow at her. "I take it my blistering good looks, natural c
harm, and rock star status has not impressed you."

  She acted shocked. "Why would you say that?"

  He grimaced and sucked air through his teeth. "I did give you a ring, and you didn't answer, and you didn't ring me back."

  "Oh, that," she arched her brows at him. "I guess I was busy."

  He chuckled, looking across the room as if thinking of something clever to say. Sofia found her gaze drifting across his jaw to the tattoo on his neck, which flexed as he turned back to face her. For a long moment he looked into her eyes and the air seemed to sparkle between them. Then he made a decision and solidified it with a quick nod to himself. "Friends, then?" he asked.

  Sofia suddenly realized she'd been leaning into him and their shoulders were touching. She pulled away and cleared her throat so she could speak, "I'm afraid so."

  Ian let out a sigh by puffing up his cheeks and blowing the air out through pursed lips. "All right, then. If you insist. Friends it is."

  A pang of disappointment moved through her, but it was for the best. She was sure of it.

  "This is a really nice flat," she tried to change the subject.

  "Thank you," he said, taking a swig of his beer.

  As he moved his arm muscles flexed. He held the beer bottle in his hand, turning it and running his finger along the label. Her eyes were drawn to his Beatles tattoo and there was a tingle in her fingertips, urging her to touch it, to touch him. Sofia stood up. Ian's eyes followed her.

  "These are all yours?" She moved to the guitars in the corner and pretended to study them intently. Stupid question, but all she could think of in the moment.

  He followed her and stood at her elbow before answering, "Yes, every one."