He left without another word.
~ ~ ~
This being-tied-down thing wasn’t working out for Vince. He drove around for a long time, all tangled up at the way Sophia just got all up in his business and danced all over his guts. He finally ended up at his brother Gabe’s house. If anyone knew what love was like and if it was worth it, it was Gabe. He’d already been engaged once before, and he’d fallen hard for Zoe.
He knocked on the door and waited a really long time. The house was dark. Maybe they were sleeping. But was he really supposed to go back home not knowing what to do? He pulled out his cell and called Gabe.
“Hello?” His voice was groggy.
“Hey, I’m on your porch.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked, sounding alarmed. “Vince? Is it Dad?”
“No, he’s fine. I just needed to ask you something.”
“Now? I was sleeping.”
“It’s ten o’clock.”
“Zoe gets tired because of the pregnancy.”
So did that mean Gabe had to go to bed too? He shook his head as the reason why, of course, his brother would want to join his wife in bed early came to him. How did they work around that huge belly? Vince would be terrified of crushing the baby. Maybe if she was on top, but there was still so much bulge between them.
Vince blew out a breath. “Can you just come downstairs for a minute?”
Gabe grumbled something and hung up. Vince waited. The door swung open a few minutes later. “What is so important?”
Vince pushed his way in. “How did you know you had the real thing with Zoe and not just a case of lust and painful indigestion?”
Gabe rubbed the back of his neck. “Indigestion,” he echoed.
“Yeah. Sophia is driving me crazy. It’s awful.”
Gabe smiled. “Really?”
“I’m going to smack that smile right off your face,” he threatened. Gabe tried not to smile, but he could tell he wanted to. “She talked to Father Munson about me.” He jabbed a hand in the air. “You heard her at dinner going on about my mom.”
Gabe nodded. “She means well.”
“How did you know it was the real thing? Cuz I'm thinking of cutting my losses.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” He couldn’t take much more of this excruciating inside-out feeling. Like Sophia was just dancing all over his guts. In stilettos.
Gabe shoved a hand in his hair. “All right. Well, it's like something deep you feel and…you just know.”
“Know what?”
“You know she's the woman that's meant for you. And you'll kill any guy that tries to come between you.”
He considered that. He didn’t want her with another guy. Still. He paced the foyer and finally stopped and turned to Gabe. “She just keeps poking at me, stirring up stuff that's better left unstirred. Like with my mom.”
Gabe yawned. “So tell her not to do that stuff.”
“I did, and she said she's sorry, she's just used to fixing stuff.”
Gabe waved a hand in the air. “Then it's fine. Goodnight.”
“What if she does it again?”
“What are you so afraid of?”
“Nothing,” he snapped.
“Just be firm with her.”
“You mean like a firm hand?” Vince asked, just to be sure.
“Yeah.”
“Like a spanking?”
Gabe’s eyes widened. “What? No.” A beat passed. “You want to spank her?”
He waved that away. “Nah, you're right, she'd like it too much. All right. Thanks.”
“So what are you going to do?” Gabe asked.
He sliced a hand in the air. “I’m gonna tell her no other guys.”
Gabe’s lips twitched. He’d sock him one if he wasn’t so grateful for the advice. "Sure, that's a start. And tell her to lay off the mom stuff.”
“I don't want to be harsh. Geez. She said sorry twice.”
He cocked his head. “Well, good luck.”
“Yeah. I don't need luck. I got this.” He left, feeling a huge load off because he hadn’t been too keen on actually cutting Sophia loose, and Gabe just told him he didn’t have to. He just had to be firm.
When he got home, he was relieved to see Sophia was still there. She was sitting on the living room couch, watching TV.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey.” She turned off the TV and crossed to his side.
Time to be firm. “Sophia,” he barked, “no other men touch you. Got it?”
She narrowed her eyes. “You walk out on an argument again, and I walk out for good.”
“Fine.”
“Fine,” she snapped.
They stared each other down.
“I know you meant well about my mom,” he added.
“I’m sorry for butting in,” she said. “I’ll try not to fix things.”
“I’ll fix you next time,” he countered.
She crossed her arms, hugging herself, looking cross and vulnerable. “I’m not broken.”
“Me either.” He wrapped her in his arms. “You made me whole.”
She hugged him back, and he nearly sagged with relief.
“Gabe told me to be firm with you,” he whispered in her ear.
She pulled back, and the look in her eyes was lust incarnate. “Do it. Be firm with me.”
He laughed, scooped her up, and spun her around. His dream girl was back.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Vince had finally made it to the finish line—today was the groundbreaking ceremony with his dad there to see Vince dig a shovel into the earth in a symbolic gesture. Well-earned promotion in hand, he would act in an official capacity as partner at Marino and Sons, bringing in new business and signing contracts on his own. Sophia would cut the ribbon on behalf of Capello Construction along with the mayor. After the ceremony, there would be ice cream from Shane’s Scoops, balloons, and that kooky guy Barry from The Dancing Cow had arranged for pony rides. Barry would, as usual, be entertaining the kids in his dancing cow costume. His wife brought along their baby girl in a baby cow costume. Pretty damn cute for a cow.
“You think your dad will show?” he asked Sophia while they waited for the ceremony to begin. They’d gotten there early to set up the signs he’d ordered with both of their company names. They’d planted them on the front and side lawn, so anyone passing by would see who was working the project. His own dad was chatting up the town council.
“Absolutely,” she said. “In fact, he’ll want to be right up front. He never misses a chance for publicity for the company.” She bit her lip. “As long as nothing happened to him. If he doesn’t show up today—”
“He’ll show.” If it was her dad behind the arson, he needed to quietly walk away. And pay for what he’d damaged. “I need to talk to him.”
She raised a brow. “About what?”
“Sophia!” the mayor called. “Over here! The Clover Park Record wants to ask a few questions.”
Sophia nodded and headed over. Vince was about to follow when he saw Joe Capello arrive. He headed straight for him before the guy could start glad-handing the town council members like he had so much to do with this project. It was him and Sophia who’d done all the hard work.
“Hello, Joe,” he said.
The man whirled. “What do you want?”
He lowered his voice. “They confirmed arson at the church annex. Where were you that night?”
“I was traveling.”
Vince leaned close. “I don’t want Sophia upset. If it was you, I’d advise you to retire down on that alpaca farm of yours before the police put two and two together.”
“Our name is in the headlines.” Joe gestured to the signs. “Everyone knows we’re working this project. How would a fire help us?”
“I don’t know why you’d do it. More publicity? More donors to make up for the loss in the book collection. Making Marino and Sons look bad? Take your pick.”
“You’re just
as bad as your old man,” Joe spat. “Always jumping to conclusions and flying off the handle.”
“I’m perfectly calm.” He jabbed a finger at him. “All I’m saying is fix it, Joe.”
“How dare you! I forbid you from seeing my daughter ever again! Sophia!”
He marched over to where Sophia was chatting with the reporter. Vince wasn’t worried. Sophia loved him. She wouldn’t listen to her dad. But then it looked like they were both too busy talking up the project with the reporter. As soon as they finished, Vince headed over to the reporter to put in his two cents on behalf of Marino and Sons.
“Oh, thanks,” the reporter said. “But we already got a quote from your dad. He’s the owner.”
Vince inclined his head, working on scaling back his unreasonable irritation. He would be part owner soon.
Finally the ceremony began. The mayor spoke at a podium set up with a microphone about the wonderful way the people of Clover Park had come together to support the new library. Then he went on and on about Clover Park’s grand history and finished by dramatically pulling a cloth off a scale model of the finished building. The crowd of about fifty people applauded.
Vince picked up the shovel, ready to break ground as soon as the mayor’s speech ended. The blowhard finally finished up. The crowd politely applauded again. The mayor asked him to break ground, and he dug a nice hunk of soil, smiling at the photographer nearby. More polite applause. Then Sophia’s dad went with the mayor to cut the ribbon while Sophia stood next to her dad, fake smiling. Obviously her dad had taken over at the last minute after Sophia had done all the grunt work.
Then it was over. Everyone was talking and riding ponies and eating ice cream, so Vince headed over to his dad, who he hadn’t gotten a chance to speak to this entire time.
“Well, you saw it,” Vince said. “Me breaking ground for Marino and Sons as promised.”
His dad pumped his hand. “Good job, Vince. I’m glad to see you came through.”
Vince waited. He wanted more than an attaboy, and his dad damn well knew it. “So now I’m partner. Right?”
His dad’s lips formed a flat line. “I gotta be honest with you. I’m not too keen on the way you went about this project. You had it in hand, and then you lost it. Then you got it back, but only through your involvement with Sophia. I mean, that’s just not how you do business.”
His temper spiked into the red zone. “You think I slept with Sophia to get the job? We worked out a partnership way before she became my girlfriend.”
His dad thumped him on the back. “Next one, son. Show me you can bring it in all on your own. Just Marino and Sons on that there sign.” He pointed to the sign that read Clover Park Library Construction Project and, under that, Capello Construction, then Marino and Sons Construction.
Vince clenched his jaw. “I saved this deal. We could’ve had nothing. Now we have a major stake.”
“My projects are all one hundred percent our crew,” his dad said.
Vince’s hands were in fists. “So no promotion?”
His dad inclined his head. “This one got messy, though I know what you see in her. She is beautiful. Speak of the devil.”
Sophia appeared at his side. “Hey, Soph,” Vince said, “I was just leaving.”
“Why?” she asked. “There’s a reception. We should be mingling, talking up the gala dinner. We’re not at full capacity and could really use the fundraising.”
“I’m sure my dad could handle that,” Vince said. “He’s the boss. Still and always. He thinks I was too busy admiring you to have done any real work on this project, so no partnership.” He threw his arms up in the air. “Bah! I’m outta here.”
Sophia grabbed his arm and held him in place. “I can assure you that’s not true, Mr. Marino. Vince worked his ass off on this project way before we got involved. I couldn’t have done it without him, and I’m very much counting on him to run the crew once the demolition begins.”
His dad smiled indulgently. “That’s very nice, Sophia, but I think you’re biased.”
Sophia’s eyes flashed. “You're the one who should be biased, in his favor! He’s your son, and he’s been working for you since he was eighteen! He told me how he worked his way up. You’re damn lucky to have him. Any other firm would snatch him right up.”
“I’m glad you think so highly of him,” his dad said. “Of course I do too. It’ll just take a little more time. I’m not saying no. I’m saying not yet.”
Vince tsked, ready to take off before he said something he’d regret, and then Sophia shocked the hell out of him.
“Capello Construction is out!” she hollered. “Vince will take over the project full control, full crew. Everything he should’ve had in the first place.”
“Sophia!” Vince exclaimed.
Sophia’s dad appeared out of nowhere. “What’s all the shouting over here?”
“Joe,” his dad said, “your daughter just quit the project for you. Looks like it’s all Marino and Sons.”
“She doesn’t have the authority!” Joe hollered.
“You know what?” Vince boomed. “Soph, you don’t have to quit because I do. I’ve waited long enough. I’m through!”
“What kind of stupidity is this?” Joe said. “Everyone gets pissy and quits? There’s a ten-million-dollar project at stake.”
“Twelve million,” Sophia muttered.
“That’s not how I do business,” his dad said.
“Kids today!” Joe hollered, gesturing wildly. “No sense! And your kid accused me of arson earlier. That’s a serious accusation!”
Sophia turned to Vince. “What?”
Vince sighed heavily. “He was the only one with motive. I didn’t say I was going to turn him in. I asked him to keep it quiet—” he gave her dad a stern look “—and pony up the cash to replace what he did.”
“He didn’t do it!” Sophia cried. “I can’t believe you went behind my back and accused my own dad. He’s innocent! Are you trying to ruin what’s left of my family’s reputation? Trying to push us out?”
“Soph, come on,” Vince said. “I just wanted him to fix things. I didn’t want you upset. And I sure as hell didn’t want the cops involved. It would ruin both our companies.”
“He didn’t do it!” she hollered. Her shoulders sagged, and she looked at the ground. “I can’t believe you, Vince,” she said softly. “I thought we were on the same side.”
“We are!” he bellowed.
And then her lower lip trembled, making Vince feel like a total ass. He rushed to comfort her, putting his arm around her. “Don’t cry, Soph.”
She shook off his arm. “I’m so tired of the men in my life screwing things up. I don't know why I bother with any of you.”
“Don’t let your dad come between us,” Vince said. “This is stupid. I was trying to protect you.”
Her eyes flashed with fury, taking them all in. “The hell with all of you!” And then she rushed off.
Vince started to go after her when his dad pulled him back. “Give her a chance to cool off, son.”
Vince shook him off. “I’m done listening to you, and I’m done working for you too.”
“Vince,” his dad said.
“Done,” Vince barked as he headed after Sophia. He got to the parking lot just as she peeled out of the lot. What happened to not walking out on a fight?
Chapter Twenty-Three
Vince drove around for a bit and finally headed home, utterly defeated. It was good that Sophia wasn’t at his place because he was not up to an all-out fight, especially knowing he’d been unjustly accused of doing the wrong thing. Her dad had to have been behind the arson and those were the cold hard facts. He tore off his suit and threw it on the bed. He had to find a new job, but for now nothing would make him feel better than pounding the shit out of something. He dressed in an old T-shirt and jeans and headed to the tower room with his toolbox. He started ripping up rotted floorboards, and he didn’t stop until the place was gutte
d, all three floors.
He finished in a dusty, sweaty mess and climbed down the ladder, carefully stepping around the debris. He took a shower, feeling a lot calmer. Sophia’s bag was gone. She must’ve gone back to her place. He’d reason with her after she blew off a little steam. He should be able to get a new job in construction easily with all his experience. Of course, his dad not having any faith in him, that was another story. One he couldn’t easily forgive. He got dressed and headed to the living room only to see his dad through the glass door, sitting on the chaise lounge on the patio, apparently waiting for him.
Vince pushed open the glass door. “I didn’t hear the doorbell.”
“I figured. I saw your car so…hell, I heard you swinging that hammer to beat the band. Thought I’d let you get that out before I came back here hat in hand.”
“What do you mean?”
His dad stood. “I don’t want this to come between us. Please don’t quit. I want you to be partner. Soon.”
It was always soon, down the road. A damn carrot in front of him since he was eighteen fucking years old. Vince forced down his temper and tried to make his case.
“Dad, I know you think Sophia somehow screwed up my thinking on this project, but it’s not true. The project is still a good one for us, and she’s not just some pretty girl I’m fooling around with. I love her, and I want to marry her.”
His dad’s eyes widened. Vince was a little surprised himself, though he’d been getting more and more used to the idea of being tied down. Once he got Sophia to stop being mad at him.
“I didn’t know things were so serious,” his dad said.
“Well, they are. And I’ve done nothing but dedicate myself one hundred and ten percent to Marino and Sons Construction my entire work life. This partnership saved us business when we could’ve had nothing, and if we continue it, it means even more business into areas we’ve never had a foothold in. We’d have a diverse workload with commercial, residential, and historic buildings, which would help us ride out the ups and downs of the economy.”
His dad shook his head sadly. “I don’t think Joe will ever let us fully into that kind of work.”
“The hell with Joe!” Vince boomed. “He’s a figurehead. Sophia calls the shots over there, and she’s more than happy to let me run things on the ground.”
Not My Romeo Page 19