“Wow, what a dress. The colour suits you,” he said, eventually finding some words as he stared.
She fumbled with a sparkling red clutch bag, smoothed her dress and smiled, her gaze not ever meeting his. “Thanks, I bought it with Cassie.”
Another quality of Sophie’s - she lacked confidence. She didn’t realise how beautiful she truly was, and it made her all the more special. Women moaned that men could be bastards, using their good looks. Yet women knew how to use their looks, too. Even Lauren, a nice enough girl, knew she was attractive. He’d noticed her flirtatious behaviour in the car today. Some women flaunted it so much they lost their appeal.
“I thought you didn’t like shopping.” He smirked, his anger taking a back seat. A sort of calm came over him at the sight of her. He couldn’t stay angry at Sophie for long.
“You know full well I don’t like shopping. Cassie dragged me around. We’d gone out for lunch. She spotted the dress and insisted I buy it.”
“Glad she did.”
“The sad thing is she thought I should buy it to please you,” Sophie said, lifting her chin as she shut her door. She strutted down the corridor, not waiting for Adam and he stared admiringly. Cassie was right; the dress did please Adam. Sophie’s curves filled the dress magnificently, it accentuated her bum – and fantastic legs.
Where Sophie lacked confidence in her appearance, she’d gained in asserting herself. Ever since she’d buried Simon. Adam liked this fiery side. She’d become someone who stood her ground. Adam imagined lighting that fire, having a blazing row, so he could apologise and make it up to her … making love, taking that passion into the bedroom.
But because Adam respected her, and wanted to keep her at the company, he kept his brain inside his head and not down in his boxers. Well, he at least tried to. His brain could quite easily move south, as he stayed back and groaned, watching Sophie sashay. Shaking himself out of his reverie, he strolled after her, secretly enjoying the view.
Even his mother liked Sophie. Had he messed up there, letting his mother meet Sophie? She’d telephoned this morning, reiterating how wonderful she found Sophie, wanting to see her again. And reminded him if he continued with his fatal string of romances, he would follow the same path as his father. Adam had argued, of course.
“If you love her, hold onto her,” were his mother’s last words to him this morning.
Maybe Sophie transferring to Manchester would be a good way to end their so-called relationship. It would let Sophie off the hook with her friends and Adam could use it as an excuse to appease his mother.
But there the icy feeling was again, churning away at his insides. He didn’t want Sophie moving away. He liked her where he could see her – especially wearing that dress!
Outside the hotel their taxi waited. Adam slid into the back beside Sophie, yet she remained silent. For the first time, he felt a frosty aura around her. Her legs crossed away from him, her body twisted, her back to him as she stared out the window. Adam wasn’t sure whether opening his mouth would charm her or annoy her, so kept it shut. Did he really want to get into an argument about her leaving? He needed to think of a solution – and fast! One where she didn’t move to Manchester or Cornwall, never returning to Surrey, to him.
At the restaurant, they were shown to their table by the waiter. A bar stretched along the back wall, with bartenders polishing glasses or shaking cocktails. Everything gleamed like it was brand new.
Nick and Lauren were already seated opposite one another, so it forced Sophie and Adam to do the same. This was much to Adam’s annoyance, though he knew it evened up the table; Sophie sat next to Nick. The four of them talked, but if Adam tried to get into the conversation with Sophie, but she wouldn’t allow it. She’d give closed answers, shutting their exchange down where possible. However, Nick had her full attention.
Adam unclenched his fist, hidden under the table, and smiled, falsely.
With each course served, the wine flowed and Adam wished Lauren and Nick would disappear, wanting Sophie to himself, to sort out their problem. Not that he’d worked out a solution, yet.
“Shame you’re not here for a couple of days, could have shown you around,” Nick said, topping up the glasses of wine, emptying the bottle.
“I would’ve liked that,” Sophie replied. “Sounds poor, doesn’t it, but this is the furthest north I’ve ever travelled.”
“What? You’ve not been to Cumbria?” Lauren said, then sipped her wine. Sophie shook her head. “Manchester is a great city.”
“Ah, yes, what a city,” Nick added.
“Oh yeah,” Adam couldn’t bite his tongue, sarcasm lacing his words, “Nick can show you all the clubs and bars he knows.” He laughed and Nick joined in heartily with him.
“Okay, so I know a few.” Nick played along, taking Adam’s digs in jest.
“I’m sure you have some stories to tell for each club.”
“Hey, pot calling the kettle – I’m sure you do, too. You’ve seen a few with me!” Nick chinked his glass against Adam’s and chuckled again.
“This could be where I’m going wrong.” Lauren frowned. “To catch a classy guy, I’ve got to go clubbing.” She winked at Adam.
“Get your heart broken, more like,” Sophie mumbled. Adam’s expression sobered.
“So, when did we last do the clubs?” Nick asked Adam, changing the subject slightly. Adam shrugged, not wanting his antics in Manchester discussed in front of Sophie.
Adam had known Nick a couple of years now, going out for drinks when he had meetings at Jerrisons. They got along well. Nick wasn’t much different from Adam when it came to women. He was another prime example of a man making the most of his good looks. What was Nick’s interest in Sophie? Purely business? Or could he have other intentions?
Nick would not be right for Sophie. Any more than Adam would.
“So, if you move to Manchester, will we need to show you the nightlife?” Nick said, resting his arm on the back of Sophie’s chair. “Are you a secret party animal, Sophie?” He nudged her shoulder.
She put her glass of wine down and shook her head. “No, it’s not really my thing.”
“No, Nick, the girl’s got some class,” Lauren said, pushing her plate away.
“Yes, sorry. I’m rather boring,” Sophie said.
“It’s not boring,” Lauren said. “I tell you what I find boring. Shopping.”
“Agreed.” The girls chinked their glasses together.
“No problem. I don’t like shopping either,” Nick said, and they all laughed. Except Adam. He chuckled, trying to play along but jealousy bubbled below the surface, and he concentrated on keeping it in check. He had no right to be jealous.
Simon was different. He had felt no jealousy where he was concerned. But Nick – he was a threat.
“But you’ve got gorgeous clothes,” Sophie said to Lauren.
“I’ll let you into a secret,” Lauren said, softening her voice and Sophie leaned across the table. “I have a personal shopper.”
Sophie giggled. “Sounds like heaven. I should do that.”
As the night progressed, and the dinner finished, they walked up the street to a small club Nick knew, insisting Sophie got to see at least one club. Sophie and Lauren found a table, while Adam went with Nick to the bar.
Nick put the drinks on the table, but didn’t sit.
“Sophie, will you dance with me?” Nick asked, before Adam could even suggest it. He’d been planning how to separate the two and thought whizzing her off to the dance floor the best option. But the bastard got there first.
“Sure,” Sophie replied. She looked Adam in the eye, then let Nick lead her down to the dance floor.
“Would you like to dance?” Lauren asked Adam, interrupting him from his envious reverie.
He grimaced. “No, I’m not much of a dancer.” He was. But not with Lauren.
***
The music slowed in pace and Nick took Sophie into his arms, slowly dancing. They’d
been talking, laughing, and now dancing together the whole evening. It felt strange to Sophie, yet good.
And so what if Adam had to watch her with Nick? She’d sat through a four-hour car journey listening to Lauren’s, at times, flirtatious chit-chat. Adam had been chatting with her all night, too. Although that could be largely due to Sophie ignoring him.
She felt awful actually. She’d been topping up Lauren’s wine glass all night, and only a little of her own, hoping the more Lauren drank, the less attractive Adam would find her. Unfortunately, Sophie had been trained by the best – Cassie – in topping up drinks. Though, Cassie usually filled her own glass up too, and got equally as drunk. Tonight Sophie remained sober.
Poor Lauren. She actually was a lovely woman. Sophie liked her, but she didn’t want her having any hope of success with Adam.
Sophie Trewyn, you should be ashamed of your behaviour.
“Is anything going on between you and your boss?” Nick whispered into Sophie’s ear breaking her thoughts.
“Uh, no.” If only. She glanced over Nick’s shoulder as they turned, and sure enough, Adam watched them. “Why?”
“He’s looking over here like he’s praying I’ll spontaneously combust.”
Sophie giggled. “He’s a friend. Maybe a bit protective. But I’m not with him.”
Maybe the green-eyed monster in him might make him come to his senses. Instantly, she felt bad about using Nick. But she wasn’t, really. This was her trying to get on with her life and not dwell on Adam. Besides he’d made her angry today and this was her way of dealing with it. And If Nick wanted to pay attention to her, she would let him. This was real. None of it fake. They genuinely liked each other and could hold a pleasant conversation.
“Good. Because, I mean, you know, if you get to work with us, then maybe you and I could hang out more?” Nick smiled at her. He was handsome, yet in an opposite way to Adam’s light features; he had short, spiky, coal-black hair and dark brown eyes, but his smile didn’t have the same effect as Adam’s.
“It would be nice. I’d appreciate the friendship.”
He didn’t smell as good as Adam, but then she was biased on that score too. And they didn’t gel in the same way she had with Adam on the dance floor at the wedding.
“I thought more –“
“Let’s see if I get the job first, huh? I’d rather we concentrate on being friends.” But a date wouldn’t be out of the question – if it meant trying to forget a certain person.
“Of course. Hope he doesn’t put his foot down and insist you stay in Surrey.”
“He won’t. He’ll go with whatever is best for the company.”
“James doesn’t give you enough credit.”
“James?”
“Uh, oh.” Nick winced. “I’ve been sprung.”
“Did James put you up to this?” Sophie stopped dancing and frowned, but Nick twisted her around, keeping her moving with him. What was James up to?
“You know, he needn’t have bothered. I would have asked you to dance anyway.” Nick pulled her closer, whispering in her ear. “He asked me to look after you, show you a good time.”
“Good time?”
“Oh, but he said if I tried to get in your knickers he’d be up here in a flash ripping my head off.” Nick grinned cheekily. Sophie stared, taken aback. “Look, he’s concerned, and wanted me to boost your confidence. To be honest, I’m not sure what he was going on about. The way he talked I thought you had two heads or something.”
“So are you pretending to like me?” she asked warily, easing away from him. Great, can’t even find a man to really like me. James still has to intervene, yet concerned for the welfare of my knickers it seems.
“No, no, no!” Nick said. He tugged her closer, then brushed his thumb along her cheek – it didn’t feel as good as when Adam did it. “On the contrary, like I said, I would’ve chatted you up anyway. You’re a catch.”
***
If he tries to kiss her …
“Are you sure you don’t want to dance?” Lauren said.
Adam tore his attention from Sophie and Nick on the dance floor and looked at Lauren. She leaned closer into him. He could smell her perfume mingled with the alcohol on her breath. Poor girl, he’d hardly been company for her.
He shook his head. “No, I think it’s time we headed back. I’ve ordered a taxi.”
“We?” Lauren’s eyes lit up.
“Sophie and I. We’ve got an early start with the meeting, remember? We need it to end on time so we can head back home in the afternoon.” And he couldn’t sit here any longer and watch the woman he loved in the arms of another man.
He loved?
“Oh, right. Yes, of course.” Lauren flustered.
Adam strode over to the dance floor and tapped Nick on the shoulder. If he’d been a Neanderthal caveman, this would be where he dragged his woman back to his cave by her hair– after punching this guy’s lights out. But Adam wasn’t prehistoric; his mother had brought him up to have manners, and Nick was a client.
“We should head back to the hotel - early start tomorrow,” he said over the music. “The taxi will be waiting outside.”
“I don’t mind escorting Sophie back if you want to leave early,” Nick said, still not removing his arm from around Sophie’s waist, which really annoyed Adam. He clenched his jaw, then released it, trying to relax. Nick wasn’t to know he was treading on Adam’s toes.
“I need to talk to Sophie, and there’s no point in taking two taxis,” Adam said, his expression stern, and Nick frowned. “Besides, someone needs to take Lauren home.” Adam gestured towards Lauren, still at the table.
“It’s okay, Nick. I’ll go with Adam,” Sophie said, to Adam’s relief. “It does make sense to get the taxi with him.” As Nick let go of Sophie, Adam placed his arm around her. Sophie scowled at him. Fight – make love – fight – make love. Let her scowl.
Nick assisted Lauren out of the club, Adam and Sophie following. Adam got into the back of the taxi with Sophie, yet she sat as far as she could from him, staring out the window, in a similar way to how they’d arrived.
“So your sister’s pregnant?” Adam said, trying to break the silence.
“Yes, but if I move to Manchester I’ve buggered up moving closer to home,” she said, her tone cold, still unable to look at him.
He wanted to say 'You are not moving to Manchester.' But he kept that to himself. He would clear it up in the meeting tomorrow.
“Did you have a good time tonight?” He tried again to drum up some conversation. He’d been aware how little she’d said to him all night, another thing he’d loathed. Her lack of interest in him hurt his pride. “You seemed to get on with Nick.”
“Yeah, he’s a nice guy.”
“He’s a rat.”
Sophie’s eyes narrowed as she turned to face him. “Oh my God. You are jealous.”
“I am not jealous of Nick.”
“So why have you been staring at us with your face like … like thunder.” Her cheeks were red, matching her dress, her fists clenched.
Stoke the fire.
“He’s no good for you. He’s like Simon.”
“He is nothing like Simon!”
“Then, he’s like me.”
“He’s nothing like you, either.”
“He won’t commit, Sophie.” Adam tried to keep his tone calm. “He’s looking for a roll in the hay, then he’ll be gone. I know, when we’ve gone out for drinks, how he likes to smooth talk women.”
“And so what are you now? My bloody fairy godmother? So what if Nick’s a rat? If I have to find out the hard way, I will.”
The taxi pulled up outside their hotel. As Sophie tried getting out of the car elegantly, her tight red dress making the process slower, Adam tried giving her his hand. She slapped it away.
“I can manage,” she hissed.
In the lift she stood silently, and her chest heaved. Her eyes were glistening, trying to hold in tears. He’d seen that
look so many times, and it wasn’t a trick; she didn’t turn them on or off like a tap. He knew there were genuine tears forming.
“I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to upset you,” he said, stepping forward, trying to take hold of her hand.
“Don’t touch me.” She snatched it away and the lift pinged. They were at their floor.
The doors opened and he gestured she exit first, then followed. She stopped and turned on him.
“How dare you? How dare you?” she said vehemently, pointing at him, her other hand clutching her handbag tightly, showing the whites of her knuckles. “Why can’t you even admit you were jealous?” she dabbed at her eye, then started to walk off.
“All right, I was jealous,” he shouted, striding after her. “All night you haven’t paid me the slightest bit of attention and I’ve hated it. Happy now?”
She paced towards her room, fumbled with her purse to get her key card out. She swiped it down the panel in the door, and opened it. “No, I am not happy.” He opened his mouth to speak, but she held her trembling hand up to stop him. “And I don’t want to shut you out, but what choice do I have? Good night.” And she disappeared behind the door, it closing before he could jam it with his foot.
He’d bottled it. He was going to tell her how he felt. But she was gone.
He entered his own room and paced. Was his mother right? Would he never know until he tried? He certainly didn’t want to make the same mistake his father made, even though he was the product of that mistake. He didn’t want to wind up with a pregnant woman he didn’t love, having to marry her – however careful he usually was. But who’s to say a woman wouldn’t do it? He was rich. Ridiculously rich. One way to lay claim to him would be to have his child. Then he would be lost, unable to share his life with Sophie.
And his mother was right. He was a better delegator than his father. He’d already been working towards hiring the right people, training existing staff so they could take on responsibility. With a good secretary, he could organise his time. He could make time for Sophie.
He already knew he didn’t want to lose her.
And he certainly didn’t want her with another man.
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