"I'll tell you what's great about kids." It was the first ti
Sophie wasn't sure, but she thought his "positive" words wer
They listened to praise of kids' openness and ability to say
Sophie's heart went out to him. He'd obviously cared more ab
When the show was over, she decided to ignore her hurt feeli
He looked up from the list of appearances Melina had given h
"Of course." She wished he hadn't sounded so businesslike ab
He shrugged. "I guess. Call Betty tomorrow. I gave her the i
"Okay." She waited, but he didn't say any more. "Um, we have
He flipped open the planner that lay on his cubicle desk. "C
Show time. Again, he wasn't going to be part of the planning
"All right. I'm going to head home before Hippo ruins the ca
"I'm right behind you."
Sophie led him out the door and paused for a kiss before the
"Goodnight, Sophie."
As she watched him walk away, she felt like he'd said goodby
* * * *
Parker found avoiding Sophie to be much harder than he'd exp
Bewildered and hurt.
The hurt made him kiss her each time they parted. He couldn'
Parker invented a business trip over the weekend so he could
As he flew across the country for the first time in months,
He wandered San Francisco for two days, frustrated even more
On Monday he went straight to the office. Betty met him with
Called to the principal's office.
He did as much work as possible to avoid thinking about Soph
And the station manager.
Sophie looked worried. Melina was her usual unflappable self
"We have some concerns," George started. Parker was surprise
"The show last week wasn't up to your usual standards," he w
Sophie glanced at Parker. "I was off," she said, obviously s
George's mobile face pulled together in a gargoyle grimace.
"It wasn't Sophie, and you guys know it. It was me." Parker
Stevie looked even more nervous, if possible. "I'm sorry, Pa
"Right." George tapped his beefy fingers on his leather blot
"The spark is missing," Stevie added apologetically. "Rant a
"So fix it." George waved a hand at them in dismissal and pi
Parker pulled Sophie away from Stevie and Melina and searche
"Sophie, I'm sorry about how I've been acting."
She folded her arms and looked at the floor. "It's okay. I k
She didn't know the half of it.
"I just wish you'd talk to me about it. I've been on the pho
Here was his chance to set things up so she'd understand lat
"He's definitely dumping her because she lost the baby."
"Why? It's not like he doesn't have kids already. The baby w
"No, they're not. He's exposed. When he's exposed, he reject
Sophie's mouth dropped open. "After all the things you said
"I didn't say that. I said I can't blame him for wanting to
He felt lower than worms.
Melina poked her head into the room. "Guys, I have something
Sophie switched gears instantly. Her anger changed to alarm
Melina shook her head. "I need a transplant. I don't know ex
Parker moved closer. "I meant it, Melina. I'll donate."
She smiled and patted his shoulder. "Thank you, Parker." She
"If he's a match, I'll fly him over. Don't worry about that.
Melina's gratitude was obvious. "You are a good man, Parker
She hugged him, and over her shoulder he saw Sophie's heart
He wasn't a good man. He was far from it.
* * * *
The show went better that afternoon. They'd decided to use t
Parker tried to escape at seven-oh-five, but Sophie caught u
"Parker."
He turned and she stopped in front of him, deliberately inva
"Please stop avoiding me."
"I'm not avoiding you."
"Then where are you going?"
He didn't answer.
"Do you even know?"
He let out his breath and rested his forehead on hers. "God,
"What right thing?" She dropped her bag and put her arms ove
"I just—"
Knowing she would hate his response, she cut him off with he
"This is the right thing, Parker," she whispered when he pul
He groaned again and planted a hard kiss on her. "Okay. I'll
Sophie sped home in record time, and raced into the house. S
"God, I've missed you." They kissed again and she tried to c
"Jesus, Sophie." Holding her up with one arm, he ripped off
"Now, Parker. No." She grabbed him when he started to back a
Or maybe not coincidence. Maybe she'd had plans she hadn't t
"Thank God," she moaned when he finally filled her. "Oh, Par
He grunted as he thrust into her, gripping her hips in his p
Then it was over. He was leaning against her, holding her up
"Thank you," she murmured again, nestling her face against P
He didn't answer, but she felt him nod. He held her like tha
"My legs are giving out."
"Sorry." He backed up a little and she dropped her legs from
"Hungry?" she asked.
For the first time all day, he smiled. "Starved."
"I can do something about that."
Parker let the dog in and gave him some proper attention whi
"You don't shop much, do you?"
Sophie couldn't help but notice that Parker was on the other
She ignored his small talk. She wasn't in the mood.
"Set the table, please. I'll be right back."
The tears started before Sophie reached the top of the stair
She stomped into her bedroom and yanked a set of cotton loun
She dashed cold water on her face and wiped away the smeared
She almost started crying again, but steeled herself and wen
"How's Fawn?" she asked, sitting at the table and putting he
"Fine. She asked about you yesterday."
"Maybe I'll stop over tomorrow if she's free."
"She will be."
"I'll call her in the morning."
They ate in silence for a few minutes. "Thanks for offering
"I care about her." He didn't look at her. She watched him m
Maybe tonight wasn't the night to understand it.
Maybe no night would be. Maybe she should be smart and let h
Look at Fawn and Biff, she told herself. Fawn was determined
The pancakes tasted like glue, the sausage like plastic. Sop
She couldn't do it. She didn't think he'd come back.
CHAPTER 17
Sophie arrived at Fawn and Biff's house in Beacon Hill mid-m
"Sophie, come in." She smiled delightedly and hugged her, th
Sophie set her bag on the floor against the loveseat and set
"I know." Fawn let a smug smile play about her mouth and Sop
Sophie's heart sank. She'd so hoped these two could work it
Fawn laughed, and gone was the sweet, gentle, fragile young
Sophie wished she had that power.
"Actually," Fawn told her, "I'm battle-ready because I'm not
"Did Parker tell you my revelation?" Fawn asked. Sophie shoo
Sophie helped herself to a croissant and tea, and sat patien
"Anyway, it's so clear. Biff fell for who I was. I thought h
Sophie burst into tears.
Fawn moved to sit next to her. "Oh, Sophie, I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay." She tried to take a deep breath and halt he
"What has he done?" Fawn sounded just as fierce on Sophie's
"Nothing.
Nothing at all." She got herself under control and
"Parker is nothing like Biff," Fawn assured her. "He's nowhe
"Maybe not. But he's pulling away from me. More gently than
"I can't argue with that." Fawn studied her. "You're in love
Sophie choked out a laugh. "Can't you tell?"
"Well, yeah, it is pretty obvious."
"That's probably the problem. I'm so obvious it's pushing hi
"No." Fawn pointed a finger at her. "This isn't about you. I
Sophie stood and started to pace up and down the Aubusson ca
"None," he'd told her, circling her like a shark in his bedr
"Whatever makes me different to Parker is what binds us," sh
"First you've got to know what it is."
"Okay, help me. Why me, and not the other women he's dated?"
"Geez, you got all day?" Fawn ticked off on her fingers. "Yo
"Well, we can stop there." Sophie sank onto the couch where
"I go after what I want," she said, still trying to figure i
"Men love a challenge."
"If I pursue him now, he'll probably retreat even faster."
"Good observation."
"But why?" She grit her teeth. "He was fine until your ... u
"It's okay. My miscarriage. It was horrible, but it wasn't t
Sophie frowned. "How could you not have been?"
Fawn sighed. "Consider where I come from, Sophie. I've been
Sophie still couldn't figure out why Parker would react this
"So do I back off? Stop pushing? I pushed last night, and he
"And?"
Sophie sighed. "I don't know." She looked around for her pur
"Let him wait. He won't run away."
"I'm glad you're doing okay." Sophie smiled at her. "Good lu
"You, too." Fawn hugged her, then pulled back. "I want to be
* * * *
Sophie dressed slowly and carefully that night. She wore a l
She looked elegant and refined rather than sexy. She didn't
She'd decided to play the waiting game. Parker was pulling a
Parker arrived at seven and took her breath away in his cust
"My God, you're gorgeous." She couldn't keep the words in he
"So, what's the fundraiser?" she asked when they were settle
"Autism." He glanced at her sideways. "MMT's new philanthrop
"Really? Why?"
"Dave's son was diagnosed with it."
Sophie gasped. That darling little boy. He was only three. "
"I don't know. Recently. I guess you haven't been in touch w
"No." She felt terrible for Dave and his wife. Chuck had cal
"Do you ever feel too lucky?" she asked Parker.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, in the past few weeks there have been Trina's death,
"What is?" He sounded irritable.
"Bad luck, fate, tragedy, whatever. Tests, you could call th
Parker shrugged and they drove in silence for a while.
Sophie decided to apply the "not anticipating" ploy for a wh
When they got to the ballroom where the fundraiser was being
Sophie plastered a smile on her face for the people she knew
"I hadn't heard," she apologized. "How's he doing?"
"Good," Shirley said. "He's really a wonderful child. We jus
Dave seemed bent on raising as much money as possible and th
"I understand you did a study on me," he murmured in her ear
Sophie nodded to a passing acquaintance to avoid looking at
"Not a study, hmm?" He followed her, and Sophie realized he
"Okay, I did some research. At all events you attended, more
"I didn't realize I had so much influence."
Sophie whirled and returned to her path to the bar. "Well, y
"Interesting. I'll have a Scotch and water," he told Tony on
Sophie looked up to see her old employer bearing down on the
"I'm sorry I never called you back," she told him. "I don't
He laughed. "I won't. I learned my lesson." He nodded when P
"I think that covers it," she said, and stood. "I'd like to
Chuck held out his arms. "For old times' sake?"
Sophie couldn't spot Parker in the crowd and felt one dance
Dancing with Chuck was familiar. They'd done this so often i
Finally she spotted him, sipping his drink on the edge of th
She thanked Chuck when the song was over and took off a litt
She found Parker near the band and tugged him toward the dan
He smiled at her, but it still held a tinge of melancholy. "
"Reminiscing," she said airily, reveling in the feel of him
Parker didn't seem to notice what she'd said. He maneuvered
"Sophie?" Parker squeezed her hand. "You here?"
"Of course." She smiled at him, then frowned when his phone
"Shoot." He stopped dancing, right in front of Chuck, and pu
Sophie stared at Parker's retreating back, then at Chuck's e
"I can't believe you'd try to do this to me. Me! I'm not stu
"I'm not passing you off, Sophie."
"The hell you're not." She was so furious she could hardly s
Parker closed his eyes. "That's what I was afraid of."
Sophie's anger burned off, leaving her feeling empty and alo
"Remember at the picnic, you told me not to let a let a hole
Sophie blinked back tears and nodded.
"It's too late."
"You're throwing me away to avoid being hurt."
He shook his head and put his hands on her shoulders as if h
"Then stay with me." She was crying so hard she could barely
He shook his head. "It couldn't." That was when she realized
Sophie pulled herself together. Sniffed. Moved away and wipe
"You're more like your father than you think," she told him.
"I know." He gripped her wrists and kissed her palm, then st
CHAPTER 18
Parker resigned from Rant and Rave the next day. When Stevie
He listened to the show for the rest of the week. Sophie was
Melina's brother had turned out to be a good match. Parker m
"He was very resentful that I came to America," she'd told P
"Just get healthy," he told her. The surgery was scheduled f
Rant and Rave was suffering without her, however. She compla
One more reason Sophie was better off without him, he though
"How the hell do you figure that?" She motored around him pr
"I should never have pursued her," he said. "Her original sh
"She can get another show somewhere else." She shoved a stac
"But she loved this show. Why didn't I stay away?"
"Will you please shut up?"
He looked up and Mare was glaring at him. Her arms were fold
"Dad was here?"
"Three times this week. He's moaning and groaning about how
"So maybe he's finally understanding."
"Ha! He was trying to get me to tell him it's okay to go bac
"What did you tell him?"
"To quit his whining and get on with his life." She added sa
"And how do I do that?"
"You're a smart guy, Parker. Figure it out."
Yeah, figure it out. He'd deliberately hurt the woman he lov
"Biff." Parker's father didn't rise from his chair when the
"Dad, I'd really like you to call me Parker."
Biff looked up. "Why?"
Parker suppressed his annoyance. He didn't want to start thi
"My name is Parker. I don't like Biff. I'm finally getting p
Biff studied him as if he couldn't understand why he'd reque
Parker studied the old man. The term was apt today. The line
"What's happening with
you and Fawn?" he asked.
Biff shrugged but seemed to sink into himself even further.
Parker barked a laugh. "You threw her away."
"I tried to." Biff picked up the pen Fawn had given him for
"So what's the problem? You want her, she wants you. Quit th
"Easy to say from your perspective."
Yeah. Easy for him to say about Biff. It wasn't so easy to s
"I never wanted Fawn to love me. I knew what would happen to
"It's only inevitable if you think it is. Haven't you heard
Biff sighed. "What's your point?"
"You expect to get hurt. So you do. And in trying to avoid i
"You have a problem with me, B—Parker?"
Might as well have it all out now. "Yeah, Dad, I do." He had
"I didn't avoid emotion," Biff protested.
"Oh, yes, you did. You never told us you loved us. Never sai
Biff opened his mouth, but didn't respond this time. "I gues
"And Phyllis and Joanne and all the rest tried so hard to ma
"And you, Parker? What did I destroy in you?"
Parker shook his head slowly. "Nothing, Dad. I thought you d
"Don't you?" Biff's gaze bored into Parker's. "I never stopp
"I wish I was." Parker thought of the tears on Sophie's face
"You're not." Biff stood and went to the wet bar to the righ
"Dad."
"Relax, it's just water." He poured Parker a glass and broug
"Yeah."
"Were you as cruel to her as I was to Fawn?"
"Different circumstances, but yeah, I probably was."
"Then you love her."
"More than I ever thought possible."
"And did breaking up with her accomplish what you wanted?"
Parker thought about the hole in his heart Sophie had filled
Biff's sigh ended in a groan this time. "You are like me."
"I don't feel any pride in that."
"So, what do we do?"
Parker stifled his surprise that his father was asking his a
"And you?"
"Me?" Not so hard a decision, now. "I'm going to eat crow."
* * * *
Sophie was struggling. Melina was getting ready for her surg
Rant and Rave, which had returned to its original incarnatio
Advertising was down according to Stevie, who acted like he
That part was hardest. The show she could handle. Gene she c
His absence left a gap in her life she didn't think she'd ev
"Sophie, can I see you a minute?"
Sophie looked up from her notes for the day's program and no
Stevie jerked his head toward the station manager's office.
Great. They're gonna pull the show. For the first half of th
Sophie's Playboy Page 32