Debt Collector

by Weston Parker

  “I didn’t know you were back,” she said. “How was your trip?”

  “It was incredible,” Andrew said. “How are you doing, Amy?”

  Amy’s eyes widened in surprise. Just a week before, she’d finally met Andrew in person after years of working for him. She was downright shocked that he would ask her about herself.

  “I’m doing well, Mr. Hopper,” Amy said. “Thank you for asking.”

  “Will you get the horses ready for us?” Andrew asked politely. “We won’t be out long. Just a quick ride around the property.”

  “Of course.” Amy smiled at me and then disappeared inside the stables.

  I stared at Andrew blankly. Amy wasn’t the only person surprised by his sudden change in attitude. When we first met, Andrew was all work and no play. He lived and breathed Hopper Antiquities. Nothing and no one could tear his attention away from work, and now, he was a completely different person.

  “Why are you staring at me like that?” Andrew asked nervously.

  “I just,” I began, shaking my head slowly. “It’s nice to see you this way.”

  “What way?” Andrew asked.

  “Relaxed.” I shrugged. “I guess, I thought when we got back you would dive into work like before. I never imagined you would drag me out of my office in the middle of the day on a Friday.”

  “My priorities have changed,” Andrew said simply.

  I smiled and fought the urge to kiss him. Amy reappeared, leading the horses by their reins. They were already saddled and ready to go.

  “Here you go,” she said when she reached us. “You guys need anything else?”

  “Nah,” I said. “We’ll be back soon. Thanks, Amy.”

  “Why don’t you head home?” Andrew offered. “It’s the weekend. Get out of here and have some fun.”

  “I should really wait to put up the horses,” Amy said with a frown. “They’ll need to be cooled down.”

  “I can handle that,” Andrew said. “I won’t let anything happen to them, I promise.”

  “Are you sure?” Amy asked nervously.

  “Positive.”

  Andrew smiled at her warmly before turning to help me onto my horse. I climbed up easily and settled onto the saddle. Andrew waved to Amy and then jumped on his own horse. He glanced at me and jerked his head to the side, leading the way out of the courtyard.

  We rode away from the stables and fell into an easy silence. Just like the last time we rode together, we lost ourselves in the peaceful moment. The wind blew through my hair and cleared my mind in a way nothing else could. I sighed and closed my eyes, leaning my head back and letting Gemma take the lead.

  When I opened my eyes again, Andrew was pulling on Donna Lee’s reins. She slowly came to a stop beside a small pond I hadn’t seen before. Gemma and I trotted over to meet them and then stopped. I jumped down just as Andrew’s feet hit the ground. He took both horses over to the pond and tied their reins up on a nearby tree.

  I watched him as he moved. His footsteps were lighter, and his eyes were full of a newfound brightness. The blue one shone in the late afternoon sunshine, and the green practically sparkled. He kept a faint smile on his lips, almost as if he didn’t realize it was there. I couldn’t stop my own smile from spreading across my face.

  “What?” he asked when he found me staring at him again.

  “You’re different.” I shrugged. “It’s nice to see.”

  “It’s because of you,” Andrew said. He motioned for me to join him on the grass. We sat down, and I leaned back on my hands, titling my head up toward the sky. “That lesson my mother tried to beat into my head. Well, I finally realized what she was talking about.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked, turning slightly to look at him.

  “Work isn’t everything,” Andrew said. “There are more important things in life. Mom always said it, but I never truly understood. Not until I met you.”

  I felt my cheeks blush, but I didn’t look away. I was becoming more used to Andrew’s compliments. They didn’t shock or surprise me anymore. Still, I wasn’t sure I deserved that much credit.

  “If your priorities have changed,” I said. “Then that’s because of you, not me.”

  “Don’t sell yourself short,” Andrew said softly. He reached out to tuck my hair behind my ear. I leaned into his hand and sighed.

  “This is crazy, isn’t it?” I asked.

  “Us?”

  I nodded. “We met two weeks ago,” I said. “How can we already be so…”

  “Into each other?” Andrew asked.

  I nodded again, but Andrew just laughed and moved closer to me. He pulled me into his arms and sighed deeply as we looked out over the pond.

  “My mom used to say romance is something that exists outside a time limit,” he said. “She always told me that love was the one thing you can never plan. It sneaks up on you, it knocks you on your ass, and it completely turns your life upside down. Whether you’ve known someone for twenty years or twenty minutes, they can impact your life. It’s just one of those things that can’t be explained.”

  “Your mom sounds amazing,” I said.

  “She was.” Andrew sighed again. “I just wish my father had been, too.”

  “From everything I’ve heard about him, he was.”

  “No.” Andrew shook his head. “Not everyone knew the real him.”

  “Tell me,” I said softly. I shifted in Andrew’s arms so I could look up at his face.

  “When my mother died,” Andrew said, his forehead creased. “Dad was out of town. He was on a dig somewhere, and well, he just didn’t make it back in time. Liam assured me he tried, but I don’t believe it. Someone with as much money as him should have been here to say goodbye. He should have been the one holding her hand when she finally passed, and instead, he was working. He left me alone to handle everything, and still, everyone thinks he was a goddamn hero.”

  I’d never heard Andrew speak so frankly about his family. His eyes were darker than before as he remembered that time. It broke my heart to see him in so much pain.

  “I’m sorry.” I breathed and sank into him. “I can’t imagine being alone when my mom died. My dad was my lifeline during those first few months. Without him…”

  I shook my head and fell silent. I didn’t even want to think what would have happened if my dad had been MIA when my mother passed. The thought was too horrendous to entertain.

  Andrew and I sat together for a while longer. Neither of us said a word. We watched the sun begin to set over the pond, and Andrew held me close. Our conversation had taken such a serious turn that neither of us knew how to bring it back to something light. Truthfully, I didn’t want to.

  I loved that Andrew and I could talk about something real, something difficult. His mother was right, time didn’t matter when it came to finding the right person. I was beginning to think I’d found mine.

  “Are you cold?” Andrew asked, his lips resting against my ear.

  “No.” I shook my head. “I’m perfect.”

  Andrew kissed my earlobe. Goosebumps erupted all over my body. I squirmed in his arms as he continued to kiss me, his lips moving from my ear to my neck. By the time I craned my neck around to find his lips, my body was on fire.

  Andrew laid me down on the grass and made to love me in a way he never had before. It wasn’t quick or animalistic like it had been before. There was no desperation or aggression in his movements. He wanted me more than ever, I could see it in his eyes, but he took his time with my body. He made sure I felt every single kiss he laid on my naked skin.

  When we finished, I laid in his arms until the sun was nearly gone.

  Chapter 25

  Andrew

  We said goodbye to the horses and hurried inside. The sun was already beginning to set. I knew Liam would have dinner on the table any minute.

  “Thank you for getting me out of the office,” Sophie said as we made our way toward the dining room. “I didn’t realize how much I
needed a break.”

  “I couldn’t focus at all today.” I sighed. “All I could think about was you.”

  Sophie smiled and slipped her hand into mine. She leaned into me as we stepped into the dining room. Just as I suspected, Liam already had dinner on the table. He was laying out the last platter when Sophie and I sat down.

  “How was your day, Mr. Andrew?” Liam asked. “Miss Sophie?”

  “Amazing,” Sophie said immediately. “Andrew made sure of that.”

  She shot me a smile, and my stomach flipped. It was crazy how easily she could make my entire body ignite. A simple smile was enough to send electricity shooting through my limbs.

  “I think I’m still on Africa time,” I said with a laugh. “I couldn’t focus on work today. My mind was just too preoccupied.”

  “You’re tired from the trip,” Liam said knowingly. “I would be surprised if you weren’t.”

  Liam laid out the last of the food and then slowly made his way back to the kitchen. As I watched him go, it suddenly felt wrong. My eyes fell on Sophie’s face. She was frowning and staring after Liam.

  “Liam,” I said quickly. “Won’t you join us?”

  “What?” Liam turned around, a deep frown on his face.

  “Join us,” I said again. “Please?”

  Liam looked from me to Sophie and then back again. He was beyond surprised by my invitation, but when Sophie smiled warmly at him, he nodded and pulled up a chair beside her.

  “Thank you,” Liam said. His old eyes were bright with happiness as he sat down. “I would love to.”

  The three of us spent the evening eating and talking. Sophie and I told Liam about our trip, leaving out the personal details. Liam regaled us with tales of his own travels. He’d led a more interesting life than I’d ever imagined.

  “You sound like my father,” Sophie said after Liam finished telling us a story about an adventure he had in Europe. “He always has amazing stories about the places he’s visited. I used to sit and listen to him for hours as a kid.”

  “Mr. Andrew can relate,” Liam said. “His father was the same way.”

  “That’s probably why they were such great friends.” Sophie smiled and stared wistfully away from us. I knew she was thinking about her dad. My chest tightened nervously.

  “They were very close,” Liam said with a nod.

  Sophie smiled at him, but her forehead was creased with thought. I watched her, hoping the subject would shift on its own.

  “I still don’t know what happened between him and Andrew,” she said, glancing at me quickly. “He was so upset when he called me that morning.”

  “He never told you what happened?” Liam asked with wide eyes. He stared at Sophie, shocked to hear that she didn’t know.

  I shot him a warning look, but he didn’t notice. He only had eyes for Sophie. I cleared my throat and pulled both of their attentions back to me.

  “It’s not worth talking about,” I said firmly. “Right, Liam?”

  He looked at me sharply, but I glared right back. What was he thinking? We were having a nice dinner, and now, he was on his way to ruining it. Sophie’s father was a thief who gave up his daughter to avoid jail time. He wasn’t worth talking about, but I knew how much Sophie loved him. Just hours before, she’d told me how much he meant to her. I couldn’t take that away. I couldn’t let Liam spout off the truth and spoil their relationship.

  “Mr. Andrew is right,” Liam said quickly. “Please, do not let me ruin your evening.”

  “You’re not ruining anything,” Sophie said kindly.

  The rest of dinner flew by quickly. Sophie answered all my questions, but she was distant. Her smile never once reached her eyes, and when Liam tried to pull her deeper into the conversation, she resisted.

  I chastised myself for letting Liam bring up Rick. Sophie’s father was the last person I wanted to discuss, but I could tell from Sophie’s face that a conversation was inevitable.

  “Thank you for the dinner invitation,” Liam said as he began to clear our plates. “You two relax. I’ll see you both in the morning.”

  “Goodnight, Liam.” Sophie smiled sadly and followed me out of the dining room.

  As we walked back to my room, I let Rick Newman leave my mind. Sophie and I were finally going to be alone again. I remembered our little trek in the woods earlier, and my stomach tightened. As I wrapped my hand in Sophie’s, I felt a familiar spark of desire fly through my body.

  We reached my room, and I tugged Sophie over the threshold with a grin. She was still distracted, but I was determined to pull her focus back to me. The evening had been temporarily ruined with talk of Rick. It was time to get things back on track.

  Sophie closed the door behind her and followed me to the bed. I turned to face her, my eyes traveling slowly down her body. Dinner was fun, but I’d been dying to get her alone again.

  “Come here,” I said softly.

  Sophie smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. I moved forward, touching her hips gently. She didn’t pull away, but she didn’t encourage me. Instead, she turned her head and stared out of my bedroom window. Her eyebrows were pulled together with concern.

  “Sophie,” I said. I put my finger under her chin and turned her head toward me. She sighed when our eyes met and took a small step backward. “What is it?”

  “It’s my dad,” she said. She sat down on the edge of my bed and trained her emerald eyes on my face. “I can’t stop thinking about what Liam said at dinner.”

  “Like I said before, it’s not worth talking about.” My voice was firm, but gentle. I didn’t want to upset her, and I knew that talking about Rick would do just that. Sophie didn’t yet know the truth about what happened. If she knew the truth, it would change the way she looked at her father. I cared about her too much to let that happen.

  “It is,” Sophie said. “Andrew, it’s insane that I don’t know what happened between you two. He’s my father, and you’re my…”

  She trailed off, unsure of how best to define our relationship. I longed to hear her say the word “boyfriend,” but it wasn’t the time for that.

  “Sophie,” I began slowly. “The last thing I want to do is come between you and your father, okay?”

  “Andrew, I’m only here because of my father.”

  Sophie’s words hit me like a punch to the gut. She wasn’t wrong. I knew why she was there. I’d known all along. But somehow, I hoped her reasoning had changed. After our time in Africa, I wanted to believe she was staying because of me. Not her father.

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” Sophie said softly. I looked up to meet her gaze. She’d seen the sadness on my face. “What you and I have is something I want to explore. I just meant that I only came here in the first place because my father asked me to help you.”

  “I know that,” I said quickly. “I do. It’s just, it’s complicated.”

  I fell silent. I didn’t know what to say. Sophie loved her dad. She’d already lost her mother, and now, the truth threatened to take away her father, too. How would she feel when she found out? If I told her that her father was a thief and that he’d broken into my home with the intent of stealing from me, how would she react?

  “Just tell me,” Sophie said. “I deserve to know. Honestly, I can’t believe I’ve lasted this long without demanding the truth.”

  “Did you ask him?” I asked.

  Sophie nodded. “When he first asked me to come,” she said. “But I let the issue drop because he seemed so upset. I didn’t want to make things worse for him.”

  “He should be upset.” I sighed.

  “Why?” Sophie demanded. Her eyes flashed dangerously. She was losing patience. “Why should he be upset?”

  I stared at her. Her answering glare was worse than anything I’d ever seen. I hated to see Sophie so angry, especially when it was directed at me.

  “Fine.” I sighed. “Okay. You’re right. You deserve to know.”

  “Thank you,” Sophie
said. She took a step toward me and waited.

  “A couple of weeks ago,” I said. “I was lying in bed when I heard someone break in downstairs. It was your father, Sophie. He was in my study, rifling through the artifacts I kept behind my desk at the time.”

  “He did what?” Sophie stared at me blankly.

  “He broke in to steal something,” I said. “I don’t know what he was after. It might have been a specific piece, or maybe he was just after something he could sell. I don’t know. I was too angry to ask him.”

  “My father doesn’t steal,” Sophie said.

  Her eyes never left my face but as I watched, they darkened dangerously. She wasn’t just angry anymore. She was livid. I took a step away from her. I knew she’d be upset, but I never imagined her anger would be directed at me. Not once she knew the truth.

  “I didn’t want to believe it, either,” I said softly. “Rick was so close to my father, Sophie. I never imagined he would do something like that, but he did. I caught him myself.”

  “You must have misunderstood,” Sophie said. “You didn’t give him the chance to explain himself.”

  “What was there to explain?” I asked. “He broke in in the middle of the night, Sophie. He was digging through the crates in my office.”

  “My father is not a thief!”

  Sophie glared at me, her cheeks bright red. I just shook my head and looked away. All this time, I’d been protecting her relationship with her dad. I didn’t want her think poorly of Rick. Despite everything he’d done, I couldn’t stand the idea of taking Sophie’s father away from her. But it turned out, that was the last thing I should have been worried about.

  “Sophie,” I said. “I’m telling you the truth.”

  “You misunderstood,” Sophie said again. “I mean, you didn’t even give him the chance to explain, did you? You just jumped to conclusions and threatened him!”

  “How are you mad at me right now?” I demanded, my own patience slowly slipping away. “Your father is the one who tried to steal from me!”

  “You’re wrong.” Sophie shook her head. “You don’t know him. You don’t know everything he’d been through since my mom died.”