by Cate Beauman
Her gaze flew to his, and she smiled as she moved to the door. Twisting the lock, she let him in. “Hi.”
“Hey.” He breathed in her familiar scent, kissing her. “Sorry I’m late. Hold up.” He stopped her from pulling back with gentle fingers against her jaw, kissing her again, loving the feel of her soft lips pressed to his. “The roads were a mess.”
“That’s okay.” She glanced at her watch. “I didn’t even realize you were running behind. It’s been another busy day around here.”
“That’s good, I guess.” He stepped farther in, setting the bag of food aside, studying her shiny hair curled with loose ringlets and her cute, cropped skinny jeans she wore with the fancy draped black tank top deal and spiked heels. She was so damn beautiful. “You look good, Soph.”
“Thanks.” She flipped the lock into place and closed the distance between them, straightening the collar on his polo. “You’re looking pretty handsome yourself.” She laced her fingers at the back of his neck. “How did work go today?”
“Not bad.” He hooked his arm around her waist. “But I have a feeling I’ll be heading out of town again in the near future.”
She wrinkled her nose. “You just got back.”
“That may be, but Ethan said something about Madrid when we passed in the hallway this afternoon.”
“Hopefully it’ll be a quick trip.”
“That would be nice.” He didn’t like traveling now that he had Sophie to come home to. He glanced around the shop, absorbing the easy elegance she was creating. “You have been busy. This place is really coming along. I see you picked the color for the wall.”
She nodded, looking over her shoulder. “I finally chose powell buff. I was driving myself crazy, so I bought a gallon today and got to it. Thank goodness I have the shower upstairs. Things got a little messy.”
He thought of water cascading over her gorgeous naked body. “I’m sorry I missed it.”
She sent him a baleful look.
He smiled. “Get your mind out of the gutter, Soph. I was talking about the painting. I could’ve helped you out.”
She laughed.
He grinned. “Then I would’ve offered my assistance in the shower.”
“Tell you what,” she snuggled in closer, “I’ll let you help me paint upstairs, so we can get a tenant in the apartment, then I’ll let you double check the plumbing in the bathroom.” She snagged his bottom lip, tugging as she wiggled her eyebrows.
He gripped her hips, sliding his hands around to clutch her ass as his hormones responded to her teasing. “Maybe we should check right now.”
“Tempting, but I don’t think so.” She eased away from him and walked over to her glass cases. “I’m too obsessed with my new stuff to think about that right now; besides, Murphy’s sleeping on the couch up there. He told me he doesn’t want to be disturbed. He’s still worn out from our afternoon walk.”
He raised his brow. “Is that right?”
She smiled. “Yes it is.”
“Huh. Murphy understands everything you say, and now he talks. That’s a damn spectacular dog I scooped up off the side of the road.”
“It’s amazing what a little love can do.”
“We should probably get him an agent.”
She grinned as he continued to stare at her. “We’ll discuss Murphy’s talents later, after you tell me what you think.” She gestured to the spotless glass. “Everything came in today. I’ve been dying to show you.”
She’d texted him just before his lunch meeting to share that the cases were being installed. “Looks great.”
“I know.” She stroked the edge of the glass the way he wished she were touching him. “I’m going to buy some plants tomorrow and maybe a couple of flowers for this counter here. I can’t wait until the fashion show, but I don’t know if I’m ready to host an after party.”
“We’ll find out in a couple weeks.”
“I guess so.” She let out a deep breath. “Sometimes I wonder if I’ll be able to compete with all of the other jewelers around here.” Her excitement vanished as she worriedly glanced around the place.
“Hey.” He walked to where she stood, rubbing his hands down her arms. “This place is going to kick ass.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I know I’m right. Lily and Abby’s association will draw them in, but your stuff will sell itself once people walk through the door.”
Her eyes softened as she smiled. “Thank you.”
“I mean it.” Her jewelry was spectacular. He still didn’t know how the hell she took pieces of wire and bead and crystals and made the things she did.
“I know you do.” She kissed him. “What would I do without you?”
He’d been wondering the same thing about her. They’d been together for mere weeks, yet he couldn’t imagine not having her in his life. “I don’t want to find out.”
“Me neither.” She sighed. “I’m going to have to put in quite a bit of overtime with my pieces. I’ve been so busy here. I haven’t had much time to create.”
“You’ll get it.”
“I miss you.” She hugged him, settling her head on his chest. “I haven’t had much time with you either.”
He slid his fingers through her hair. “I miss you too.” He’d been as busy with work as she was. They hadn’t eaten together since they snacked on Chinese food in bed several nights ago. “I brought us dinner.” He pointed to the bag by the door.
“Aw, that’s sweet. I’ll make us a meal at home tomorrow. Promise.”
He’d missed their quiet evenings at home and Sophie’s cooking. “That’s a deal.”
“Should we eat?”
“Yeah.” He eased away from her and grabbed the bag. “I brought drinks too…which are in the car. Shit.”
“That’s okay.”
“I’ll go get them.” He handed over the bag with her grilled chicken salad and his burger. “Be right back.” He turned the lock and stepped out into the warm evening, sliding his hands in his pockets, completely at peace. He and Sophie’s schedules were a little crazy right now, but they were making things work. He wanted to make them work. For the first time since he’d lived with Chuck, he had a family. And he had every intention of keeping it.
He unlocked his door and grabbed the iced teas he’d ordered to go along with their meals, pausing when he noticed a man sitting in his vehicle with a camera across the street. Frowning, he slammed his door and crossed, memorizing the California plate as the guy started his car, pulled into traffic, and drove away. “Who the hell was that?” But he had an idea and didn’t like it. He adjusted the drinks he carried, making his way back to McCabe Jewelers, dialing Ethan’s cell, as Sophie let him in.
“Cooke.”
“Hey, it’s Stone. I need for you to run a plate for me.”
“Give me the number and I’ll write it down. I’m just about to read a story to Kylee and Emma. I’ll call you back when I’m finished.”
“Sure. You ready?”
“Yeah. Go ahead.”
“California plate. 293AG6.”
“Got it. Give me about twenty minutes.”
“Talk to you then.” He hung up.
Sophie frowned as she took the drinks he held sandwiched between his ribs and his arm. “What’s going on?”
“There was some guy sitting in his car with a camera. It looked like he was taking pictures of the shop.”
She turned away, crouching, setting their drinks next to their meals she’d set up on a tarp on the floor.
He narrowed his eyes, studying her suddenly stiff movements. “You don’t seem surprised.”
She picked up the napkins, folding the squares into perfect triangles.
“Soph?”
“I think it’s Eric’s private investigator,” she said quietly.
“What?”
Sighing, she stood, meeting his eyes. “I think it’s Eric’s PI.”
“You think or you know?”
�
��I know. I met him once when we were in New York City. I’ve seen him around a couple of times over the past few days.”
Was she kidding? “When were you going to tell me about this?”
“I wasn’t.” She shrugged. “It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal? Sophie, I need to know these things. We have to call the police.”
“No.” She shook her head adamantly.
“Soph—”
“No.”
“This totally violates the agreement he signed. He’s supposed to leave you alone.”
“And he is.” She pressed her lips together as her gaze left his to look at the floor.
He stared at her in frustrated amazement. “Am I actually hearing this? No he’s not. He’s got some asshole following you around taking pictures. That’s called stalking.”
“David can take all the pictures he wants as long as Eric stays away.”
“Bullshit.” He stepped closer to her, growing angrier by the second. “Bullshit we’re putting up with this.” He snagged her wrist, needing to make her see how wrong this was, and she cringed. “Hey, don’t you do that.”
“I’m sorry.” She took a step away.
He dropped his hands to his side, giving her the space she seemed to need. “Don’t be sorry. I’m not him, Sophie. I’m mad. I’m pissed. I’m going to get pissed from time to time, but I will never touch you like that. Ever.”
“I know.” She brushed his arm. “It’s going to take some time to get used to that.” She pressed her fingers to her temple. “I want to leave this alone.”
“You want to let this go?”
She nodded, swallowing. “Yes.”
He turned away on a huff of pure frustration, jamming his hand through his hair. “You’re asking for too damn much.”
“Please.” She grabbed his arm. “Please, Stone.”
He whirled around. “How do you expect me to do that? How do you expect me to sit back and let some creep mess with my wife? Isn’t this why we got married in the first place—so we could deal with bullshit just like this?”
She moved toward her display cases, crossing her arms the way she did when she was upset.
“Look.” He settled his hands on her shoulders, trying to pretend he didn’t notice her flinch. He took a deep breath, doing his best to gentle his voice. “Let’s call it a day and go home. We’ll figure this out when we get there.”
She nodded. “I’ll lock up and meet you there,” she said so quietly he had to strain to hear.
Like hell she was driving home alone in the dark. “I want you to come with me. I’ll drop you off in the morning.”
“I’m fine to go on my own.”
“I know your completely capable, but humor me anyway.” He turned her to face him, settling his hands on her hips, needing to show her that this is how an argument could end despite the anger eating him up inside. “Go ahead and get your stuff. I’ll get Murphy and pack up our dinner.”
She nodded, her eyes weary as she looked away.
“Hey.” He lifted her chin, pressing his lips to her brow, then her mouth.
Sighing, she cupped his cheeks, giving him a small smile. “Give me five minutes.”
“All right.”
They separated, and he gathered their food, trying to figure out how to convince her that they needed to deal with Eric Winthrop once and for all.
~~~~
Sophie rushed around the half-finished kitchen, grabbing the olive oil and kosher salt from a box on the fl0or for the shrimp and vegetable skewers she was preparing. She’d promised Stone a home-cooked meal, and she planned to deliver even if she didn’t have time to make one.
She hated that they’d disagreed last night. She hated it even more that things had been tense when he left for work this morning. They’d solved nothing yesterday evening. He’d tried to bring up Eric on the drive home, then again while they ate, but she’d interrupted, using her hectic schedule as an excuse not to talk about it. As a result they’d both crawled into bed sometime after midnight, kissing and bidding each other a strained goodnight. She’d rolled on her side, staring at the wall, while he’d tossed and turned until the sun came up.
Ultimately Stone was right: Eric was violating their agreement. But she didn’t want to contact the police. What would be the point? Eric would only up the ante when he realized he was bothering her, and Stone would get more angry. She could handle things the way they were. David was welcome to follow her around with his camera. He could load memory card after memory card with her image on it as long as Eric stayed in Maine. The idea of him being any closer sickened her stomach.
She shook her head as she pushed the last jumbo shrimp on the skewer, following it up with a wedge of onion and cherry tomato, refusing to waste one more second thinking about her past. Stone would be home soon. Tonight was about reconnecting—dinner and a cozy night on the couch…and work after he went to bed, but no more Eric talk.
The Mustang pulled up, and moments later the front door opened. She secured plastic wrap over their meal, putting it in the fridge, then rinsed off her hands. She smiled as he walked up behind her, sliding a bouquet of pale purple and creamy white roses in front of her.
“Hey,” he said next to her ear.
Her heart melted as she turned, meeting his gaze. “Hi.”
“How was your day?”
“Okay.” She kissed him. “Much better now.” She wrapped her arms around him, sure she could never love anyone as much as she did Stone. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
“The purple ones kind of reminded me of your eyes.”
She touched his cheek as his sweet words left her undone. “I love them.” She took the plastic-wrapped blooms from him, searching for something to put them in among the disarray of the kitchen, arranging them in the light-yellow utensil crock in lieu of a vase then set them in the center of the table. “Gorgeous.”
He walked up behind her again, settling his hands on her waist, kissing her neck. “What’s for dinner?”
Heated tingles rushed along her skin as she tilted her head to the side, giving him room to continue. “Shrimp and veggies.”
He snagged her ear with his teeth. “What’s our ETA?”
She put her arms up, wrapping them around the back of his neck. “Whenever I put them on the grill.”
“Good.” He walked her forward, slipping his hands under her blouse, playing with her breasts on the way down the hall to the bedroom.
“Stone,” she shuddered out, sliding her fingers through his hair.
“I don’t like arguing with you.” He turned her around, pressing his lips to hers, sending his tongue deep.
“Me neither,” she said against his mouth, pulling him closer for more. “This is much better.”
“Agreed.” He lifted her tank top over her head.
She grabbed the hem of his polo, easing it up.
He tossed his shirt aside and turned, collapsing backwards on the bed, taking her with him so she lay on top of him. She attacked his neck with hurried kisses, nibbling at his ear, listening to his deep groan before he dragged her mouth back to his and slid his calloused hands down her waist to her hips and butt, clutching, grinding her against his erection.
A hum of anticipation escaped her throat with the promise of pleasure as he tugged up her skirt on his way back.
“God I love your underwear, Soph.” He fingered the barely-there scraps of black.
She grinned. “Abby had some of her new designs come in. She dropped them off yesterday. I have several more options.”
“That woman’s a genius.”
“I’ll tell her you said so.”
“Later.” He slipped his thumb in the front clasp of her bra. “Much later.” He freed her breasts, feasting with his hungry mouth, teasing with skillful fingers, driving her crazy. “I need to be close to you. I’ve thought about you all day.”
She bit her lip, moaning, reaching for the button and zipper on his slacks.
“Stone.” She reached for him, ready, already throbbing as he pushed her knees to her shoulders and arrowed himself deep inside her.
“Mmm,” she whimpered, clutching at his wrists with the rush of sensations as he pumped, bringing her legs up, locking them around his waist so she arched her back in a slight bridge. He anchored his hands on her hips, moving faster, harder until she moaned, on the edge. “Yes, Stone. Yes.” Gasping, she stiffened with the sudden, intense rush of heat overtaking her, and cried out.
He quickened his pace, now frenzied, making the bed squeak as his breath steamed out. Closing his eyes, he groaned as she rocketed up to fall with him for the second time. He collapsed on top of her, kissing her with as much passion as he’d taken her with and eased back, staring into her eyes. “This is so good.” He rested his forehead against hers, gripping her hands in his, pulling them above her head. “We’re so good, Soph.”
She nodded, drowning in overwhelming emotion for the man still nestled inside of her. “Every time we’re together you find a new way to destroy me.”
“I can’t get enough of you.”
“I’ve never—”
His stomach growled loudly, interrupting her. He winced. “Sorry.”
She smiled. “Sounds like it’s time for dinner.”
“Naked dinner.”
“Is there any other kind?” She grinned as he did. “We haven’t had nearly enough naked dinners over the past couple of weeks.” This was just what they needed, because Stone was right—they were great together.
“Things will settle down again eventually.”
“I can’t wait. I love our quiet nights—just you and me.”
His cell phone jingled with a text. “Hold that thought.” He pulled free of her and leaned over the bed, searching for his phone in the heap of clothing on the floor. “I’m Hunter’s backup on call tonight. Let me make sure he’s good.”