“Catch one?” Raindrops fell with more frequency now.
“Yep.” She grinned.
“I’m a vanilla guy.” Who could think of a lot of better things for her to do with her tongue.
She frowned. “Nuh-uh. There is nothing ordinary about you, Zane Hollander.” Then, as if realizing her mistake, she quickly covered her mouth with her palm. “Oops. You meant the shake.”
He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, their steps in sync down the increasingly wet sidewalk. “You let me know when you’re ready to discover my other flavors and I’ll deliver.”
Her head canted down, but he caught the playful quirk of her mouth, felt the shiver race through her body. Damn, she was irresistible.
And so beautiful inside and out that it hurt to think about saying good-bye to her.
…
Sophie swiped her hand back and forth across the steamed-up bathroom mirror and barely recognized the girl staring back. Tanned face, bright eyes, smile that wouldn’t quit, and yes, a few new freckles. She pressed her hands to her cheeks. They were starting to hurt from all this grinning.
While she’d stood under the shower, she’d replayed every word Zane had said to her today. Everything he’d shared. His playfulness had delighted her to no end. His seriousness had touched her. She got the feeling he hadn’t shared the shelter with anyone else before, and she hoped he knew his past was safe with her. She’d also sensed he didn’t want to dwell on it, so she’d dropped it the second he’d changed the subject to food.
His teasing after that tickled her pink. They clicked in a way she never had with any other man. With any other person. As nervous as he often made her, he also made her feel completely at ease with her thoughts and her body.
She wasn’t so naive to think a fling with Zane would mean the same to him as it did to her, but that was okay. They only needed to agree on discretion. She could do her job and do it well, and if she had her way, fall into his arms late at night. Despite lingering doubts about how deep Zane’s attraction went, she liked the changes in herself this week. Liked whom she’d become, even knowing something with Zane wouldn’t last.
A knock sounded on the hotel room door. She grabbed the softer-than-soft terry cloth robe off its hook and wrapped it around herself as she hurried to see who it was. “Just a minute!”
Peeking around the open doorframe, she let out a gasp.
“Sophie Birch?” said the man holding the most gorgeous bouquet of flowers she’d ever seen. At her nod, he smiled and handed over the arrangement.
“Thank you.” She forgot her modesty and swung the door wide to accept the gift. Her hands barely made it around the glass vase. And she faltered for a moment at its heaviness.
The deliveryman lifted it from the bottom until she had a better grip.
“Thanks. I’ve got it now.” She kicked the door shut with her foot and carried them to the desk. Closing her eyes, she bent and touched her nose to a rose petal. She wanted to breathe in the amazing scent all day. The pink roses, gardenias, purple hydrangea, and gerberas in orange, red, and yellow were the prettiest blooms she’d ever seen. She plucked out the tiny white envelope stuck in the middle of all the spectacular color.
They really could only be from one person, right?
She lifted the card from the envelope.
Dear Sophie,
Thanks for today.
~Zane
She twirled around the room and fell back onto the bed, where she maybe let out a squeal and did a shimmy that shook the mattress. This working vacation was the best thing to ever happen to her.
Work! She rolled off the bed. She had less than an hour before she had to be at Zane’s rental house for the cocktail party tonight. Elena had graciously agreed on short notice to cook the appetizers and help set things up. Honor was supposed to help, too, but she’d called saying she wasn’t feeling well. Sophie had a feeling the sudden illness concerned one tall, dark, and handsome Bryce, whom they’d yet to discuss.
Back in front of the bathroom mirror, she stared at herself again. Then, keeping one eye on the breathtaking flowers, she got ready to go.
Five minutes late, she shook out her borrowed umbrella and knocked on Zane’s front door. The party didn’t start for a couple of hours, but she hoped Zane would be home. Danny opened the door.
He looked her up and down like he didn’t recognize her before saying, “Hey, Sophie. Come on in.”
“Hi, Danny. Thanks.”
“Elena’s in the kitchen. Follow me.”
“Oh, wow. The house is perfect,” she said. And spectacular. Floor-to-ceiling windows, dark hardwood floors, furniture in creams and beiges. Beachy chic with a warm, inviting feel that on a day like today made Sophie want to curl up with a good book. “I’m glad you suggested we do this here.”
Danny looked over his shoulder. “It was Zane’s idea, actually. We appreciate you making it happen with little lead time.”
“Of course.” She waved her hand to say it was nothing. “Mention Zane’s name to someone and it’s a done deal. Is he, uh, here?”
“He’s upstairs. He’ll be down soon.”
They stepped into the huge gourmet kitchen where Elena was already at work. “Hi, Sophie,” she said.
“I’ll leave you guys to it.” Danny pressed a hand on the granite countertop, his eyes taking her in one more time. “Sophie, the place is yours. Feel free to do whatever you want and give a shout if you need anything.” His smile put her at ease, and she smiled back, blinking away the momentary fear that she’d dressed inappropriately or something.
She turned to Elena. “Thank you again for doing this.” She placed her bag on the rectangular oak table and rounded the kitchen island to get a closer look at the food Elena had spread out. “If you’re okay in here, I think I’ll take a peek around the dining and living rooms and figure out where we’ll set up.”
“Sounds good.”
There really wasn’t any spot in the house that wasn’t ideal. Each living area was charming and warm, and with a dozen or so people attending tonight’s event, they had more than enough room. She ended her brief tour at the huge glass window with the sand and surf just on the other side. The tropical storm had arrived, but even colorless, the view of the beach filled her with awe.
All of a sudden, the energy in the room changed, like a bolt of lightning had slashed across the space, and Sophie caught Zane’s reflection in the window. Her heart stopped. And if she reacted that way to his mirror image, what would happen when she turned around?
She pretended not to notice him.
But then his right hand touched her waist and his mouth grazed the side of her neck and his chest was practically touching her back and he whispered, “It’s a good thing we’re not alone in the house.”
Oh my heavens. She melted against him. She’d been so anxious about her attire, but he obviously liked the form-fitting little black dress with lace at the bottom that she’d gone back to Ivy’s to buy. White and aquamarine flowers were sewn into the lace, and Sophie loved the deep V-neck in the back.
She’d also taken special care with her hair, drying it super-straight and then using the curling iron she’d bought at the drugstore to make loose, beachy waves that fell just past her shoulders.
“You are so sexy I can’t see straight,” he added.
Neither could she, so she closed her eyes and enjoyed the silky sensations streaming through her body and landing at every erogenous zone. She tried not to squirm. For some wonderful reason, Zane liked what he saw.
“I’m worried about what’s going to happen when I turn you around.” His husky voice turned her nipples into tight buds that he’d no doubt discover when he did turn her, because she wasn’t wearing a bra.
Only the lacy white panties she’d gotten at Ivy Bleu’s when shopping with Honor.
“Mmm…your hair smells good,” he added.
The hand at her waist slid down her hip, down her thigh, and the urge to hi
ke up her dress and spread her legs was so strong that if she didn’t break contact, she was going to moan his name and beg him to touch her. To take his fingers and stroke her, enter her.
She spun around and tried to back up, but the window got in the way. Arms straight at her sides, she flattened her palms against the cool glass to keep from reaching for him. Because YUM. He wore a white linen button-down, jeans, and tousled dirty-blond hair that took sexy to a whole new level.
He smirked, and his eyes did a slow rake down her body.
“Cancel tonight,” he said, thankfully keeping what little space there was between them.
“What? Why?”
“Because.” He leaned forward with his hand on the window above her head. His lips came close to hers, and her legs shook. “You are going to distract me all night in that dress, and every man here isn’t going to be able to take his eyes off you.”
“That’s ridicu—”
He pressed a finger to her mouth. “I don’t know what kind of men you associate with in Montana, but they’re all fools for not digging on you.”
She giggled. The song “Diggin’ On You” popped into her head, releasing some of the tension coiled up inside her. She ducked under his arm.
“What’s so funny?” he said.
“You know that’s a song, right? I’m diggin’ on you, you diggin’ on me…” She tried to carry the right tune but was pretty sure she failed.
“Really?” He stepped toward her; she stepped back.
“You knew.”
“I didn’t.” He inched closer. She inched away. And the back of her calves hit the couch. She plopped down.
She scooted the hem of her dress down and tried to appear calm and collected. He sat next to her. Near enough for her to breathe that scent of his that should be outlawed.
“We should discuss this evening,” she said, getting them on the topic of work and his image. Staring at his chiseled face, it was easy to see why girls fell all over him. And she imagined his shenanigans stemmed from the issues he’d had with his father and having the freedom he did at such a young age. The man sitting beside her now had so much to offer, and she’d help him however she could.
“Canceling is out then?” One corner of his mouth lifted.
“It is. And oh my gosh, I’m sorry I forgot to say thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful, Zane. Thank you.”
His eyes softened and she almost leaned into him.
“You’re welcome. I’m glad you were with me today.”
“Me, too. And don’t worry, none of that is on the table tonight.”
“I appreciate it.” He shifted, and even though he’d added very little space between them, in that split second, it felt like miles.
“Okay, well, the mayor will be here tonight, as well as several city council members and their spouses. A reporter from the local paper and the athletic director from the local high school round out the group.”
“That’s impressive. Thanks.”
“We’ll keep things casual. Eat. Drink. And then I thought we’d sit down in here for the question-and-answer. This afternoon while confirming with everyone, I made a few suggestions on topics and included SHE.” Sophie had heard the nonprofit mentioned on the beach this morning and had had a quick phone conversation with Danny about it.
She watched his chest rise and fall.
“The ambassador position. It’s important to you?”
“Yeah. I want it bad.” He broke eye contact.
“But?” She could see the big old “but” sitting on his shoulders and weighing on him. The stupid thing dragged his posture down right before her eyes. She took his hand. “Zane? You know you can tell me anything and I’ll keep it confidential.”
“You heard me today. I can talk about surfing and the water no problem, but when the conversation turns to things that really matter, I can’t think straight. I can’t…speak.”
“You’re worried people won’t think you’re smart enough?”
“Yes.”
“You’ve got intelligence in spades, Zane. I’ve never once thought you weren’t smart. The passion and knowledge you have for the ocean is incredible. SHE is no different. Feel that same intensity, and whatever you have to say will be worth hearing. What you feel matters more than what facts you get right. There’s your gut and your heart and if you listen to those, everything up here”—she let go of his hand and touched his temple, brushing away his hair—“will follow beautifully.”
He took her wrist and brought it to his mouth. Her pulse leaped for probably the hundredth time since she’d met him as he dropped a delicate kiss there. When his lips moved to her palm, her hand went limp. If that spot between her thumb and pointer finger cured stress, then that fleshy part of her palm under her thumb triggered lust.
She knew this because she was suddenly very hungry and very thirsty and it didn’t have anything to do with food.
Also, she was tingly. Everywhere.
His gaze dipped to her chest.
And now he knew about the spot on her hand, too.
“What do you want, Sophie?”
He’d tossed out that loaded question on purpose. She could tell by the twinkle in his eye. But he also looked sincerely interested in knowing something about her that wasn’t connected to her sexual appetite. And didn’t that just make her lose a little bit more of herself to him.
“I, uh…” She slipped her hand back and tucked it under her thigh. “I want to do a good job here in White Strand so I can prove to my boss that I’m capable of more events on my own. But ultimately, I’d like to get into fund-raising. Since I already volunteer with the ACS, I’m thinking I’d like to pursue a full-time position with them.”
“They’d be lucky to have you.” If he looked at her with any more intensity, she’d permanently attach herself to him.
She shrugged and cast her eyes down to the wood floor. “I guess. There are a lot of people out there with more experience than me, though. Better ideas and more—”
“Not more feeling,” he interrupted.
As the girl always overlooked, she felt her spirit soaring at Zane’s compliment.
He lifted her chin and turned her head. All this eye contact was new for her, too. Must be the contacts.
“Ahem.” Bryce cleared is throat. “Sorry to interrupt.”
Sophie pulled back. Bryce and Danny strode into the room, both of them focused solely on her. “Oh, you’re not interrupting.” She stood. “I was just heading back to the kitchen to help Elena.”
“Great, thank you,” Bryce said, looking at her funny.
With a quick nod, she walked away, careful to put one foot in front of the other so she didn’t trip over her own feet. Those three men in one room equaled the ultimate hot guy trifecta. As soon as she turned the corner, she sagged against the wall to give herself a minute to gather her wits before she saw Elena.
“Dude, I knew you liked her, but what the hell was that?”
Sophie didn’t move a muscle. She should hurry into the kitchen, since eavesdropping wasn’t polite, but her feet didn’t get the memo.
“What was what?” Zane said. She’d committed the sound of his voice to memory.
“You guys were making googly eyes at each other.” Bryce.
“And you had her chin in your hand.” Danny.
“Okay, first off, what are you? Ten? Men don’t say googly. And second, I can put my hands wherever I want.”
“Don’t we know it. But since you’ve been notably absent from the party scene, word’s spreading that you’re turning over a new leaf. Getting serious about SHE and things that matter. Getting into Sophie’s pants, or rather under that hot dress, could hurt the progress we’ve made,” Bryce said.
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“No? Don’t toy with her, man. She’s not like the other women you associate with. You’ll break her heart.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
Sophie’s head swam.
Zane wouldn’t break her heart. Not on purpose.
“Then don’t do shit like take her to meet your mom and sister,” Bryce said.
No one made a sound, and she really wanted to peek to see what was up, but she didn’t dare risk getting caught. She pictured Zane shaking his head.
More silence, then, “She quiets the crap in my head,” Zane said.
Her heart squeezed and, afraid she’d let out a happy sigh, she covered her mouth with her hand. She did mean something to him.
“You know it can’t go anywhere,” Danny said.
A loud clatter sounded from the kitchen. Sophie jumped and made a mad dash to get there before one of the guys went to check it out.
“Let me get that,” she said to Elena, a little out of breath and leaning on the kitchen counter. A glass bowl had fallen and shrimp were scattered everywhere.
“Good thing I bought extra shrimp,” Elena said with a chuckle.
Several hours later, Sophie stood back from the group gathered around Zane in the living room. The evening had gone off without a hitch, Zane chatting and mingling with everyone until about ten minutes ago when he’d excused himself. She guessed it was to gather his thoughts before the Q&A started. Now several questions in, he’d answered every inquiry with sincerity and humbleness. She was so proud of him and pretty sure everyone in attendance—even the men—had a crush on him now, too.
“This new Zane Hollander everyone seems to be talking about,” the reporter said. “I’m assuming has everything to do with SHE?” He glanced over his shoulder at Sophie. “Or could it be your recent beach rescue has turned into more than that?”
“Both,” Zane said without missing a beat. His eyes caught hers, but only for a split second, because she had to look down at the floor. Both? Her cheeks heated.
“Sophie’s a friend, and she’s driven by charitable causes as well, so we’ve been sharing thoughts on that.”
“Really? So there’s nothing romantic going on between the two of you?”
“I’ve decided to keep my personal life off the record from now on.”
Keeping Mr. Right Now: A Kisses in the Sand Novel (Entangled Bliss) Page 12